Ken6PPC

Surgical gloves...

Does anyone believe that ammo manufacturers WANT us to reload?

It is also much better if you can seat and crimp in separate dies. Most reloaders that I know using coated or plated bullets go to using separate dies for seating and crimping, sooner or later...

This tape has held up well for me. https://dawsonprecision.com/1-dawson-precision-grip-tape-blanks/

No, the lighter spring and heavier loads won't hammer the slide back into battery. The lighter recoil spring will exert less forward force to return the slide into battery. The lighter spring CAN allow the rearward motion of the slide to hammer the frame as it slams backward into it. In the worse case, running a spring that is too light MAY (or may not) cause a damaged frame.

Weak hand is my nemesis too. The best advice - practice! I don't LIKE to practice weak hand, because I am so bad at it. However, I do find that I shoot any weak hand stage better when I recently put some time in shooting weak hand...

My bad... I found Ruger 22/45 sights on Dawson's web site: https://dawsonprecision.com/sights/ruger-sights/ruger-front-sights/ Still haven't found any for a Mark II target, but at this point, I won't say they don't have them listed... somewhere!

I don't believe Dawson sells sights for Ruger Mark I, II, III, or IV pistols.

I like the sights on my Mark III Hunter. The fiber optic is bright, and the v-notch is fast. Works great for me for steel. Here is one source: http://www.majesticarms.com/id24.html

I couldn't paste the image from the links. I think that was because they were httpS... I just copied and pasted them.

Attempt to post pictures:

I can't help with an opinion on the 617, but I have something to say about rimfire ammo. Both Federal 550 and 525 bulk packs have been terrible disappointments for me lately. Failures to fire and/or keyholes happen at least once every mag full with the last lots I purchased. Federal Auto Match have also disappointed me with way too many failures to fire. I have pulled many bullets from FTF's, and I have consistently found a crack (and void) in the priming mixture directly where the FP hit the case head. I can't say for certain it was cracked BEFORE the FP hit, but that is my suspicion. I have given up on any Federal 22's that aren't Gold Medal, and GM's are too expensive for "normal" use for me. Most of my use is for steel matches from auto-loading pistols or rifles, and high speed ammo usually works best for me for that purpose. CCI Mini Mags have been the most consistent and accurate in my guns since I stopped shooting Federals. Using them, I have not experienced even one FTF or keyhole, and I have found them (on sale) at pretty decent prices. Anyone interested in buying a few thousand Federals?

I would imagine you shouldn't take any ammo to sell... LOL!

3) Wookiee?

Congratulations, Sarge! What will you do in your spare time? LOL!

I think this is good practice...

Measure the OD of your flared cases, and post it here.

Yes, of course that IS a possibility. Does the Dillon seating die even HAVE a crimping feature? OP said he crimps in a separate crimping die on his 650...

If the case is flared enough, it won't shave lead. If it is shaving lead, you need to flare it more. Try flaring it more than you think you need to. Your seating stem does need to be reasonably matched to the profile of your bullets, but it would have to be pretty badly mismatched to seat a bullet out of concentricity as much as you are describing. I always modify my seating stems as required to match the bullet I am using. Are you using round nose bullets, flat nose bullets, or something else? What is the shape of your seater stem?

If you are shaving lead, you need more flare. Nothing else causes shaving. If you increase the amount of flare, and then just crimp enough to take that flare out, your problems will go away.

Although it is hard to put a value on other people's guns, Rowdy is probably right. Sell your Glock outright, and then buy what you want!

I bought a 1992 75 Pre B with the intention of using it in ESP class in IDPA matches. My biggest obstacle was the safety. The standard safety is hard to manipulate (IMO), because it is too thin for me. I couldn't find an extended safety for it, because newer CZ's have a different design safety. Since you want to switch to SA too, you will probably want an extended safety as well. If the safety has the detent inside the safety itself (nearly all Pre B's do), you probably won't be able to find anything to change it to. The Pre B's came with a magazine brake that prevented the magazine from dropping freely. However, you can get a drop-free mag brake for it from CZ Custom. If the mags are dropping freely now, the brake has already been changed (or possibly just removed). Many of the currently available magazines won't fit Pre B's, but since the one you are considering already has 4 mags, that might not be a concern. Also, a 1983 Pre B will have a front sight that is problematic to change. If the front sight isn't held in place with a roll pin, it isn't easy to change. So, if you want a fiber optic front sight, you will have a problem. Personally, I'd say if you like the way the Pre B is now, go for it. They are very good solid steel-framed pistols, and have a pretty good DA/SA trigger. If you want to make changes, you should probably pass. The newer CZ's are easier to find accessories for.

I bought a set of the Walker Silencers. I like them! They don't provide as much protection as my Howard Leight Impact Pro muffs (30 db), but they work pretty well. Outside, I think they are sufficient without using a set of muffs over them. Indoors, I need a little more protection. My main reason for getting these was to use them while shooting outdoors in hot weather. For this purpose, I am very happy with them. Indoor practice, I find that I can use the Silencers with light weight passive muffs over top. If I need to engage in conversation, I just take the muffs off, and rely on the Silencers. They aren't quite as clear as my Impact Pros for speech, but they are good enough to communicate while others are shooting. For an indoor match, I much prefer the Impact Pros. I still need to break down and get myself a real set of hearing aids. I hunted way too much without ANY hearing protection, and I suppose I am paying for that now. Learn from my mistake! I think the Walker Silencers would be great for hunting!

My recommendation is to look for a used CZ SP-01 Shadow. While a new one is probably not in what you refer to as "mid-range", a used one has come down recently, and I think is just about a perfect fit for USPSA Production.