Ken6PPC

Random drawing for Prize Table items is the best for the sport. I can't even remember how much money I won from shooting in past matches, but I certainly can remember the randomly-drawn prizes I won. I also remember buying some new products that I learned of from friends who got them from the prize table. Placing well in the match is its own reward, while getting product into the hands of competitors is both a bonus for the shooter who didn't win, as well as the manufacturer that is trying to gain name recognition. Items on the prize table are never purchased using match fees, and should not be distributed based on match placement. If they are, attendance will diminish, and then donations will suffer. Not good for the sport, and not good for the match.

https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/Shockbottle-Economy-USPSA-Box-P4917.aspx

I wear hearing aids, and I haven't found any hearing protection that will allow me to hear hits on steel plates all the time. (I do have severe hearing loss...) I am currently using Howard Leight Impact Pro electronic muffs when it is cool enough for me to stand them, and they work OK to hear steel plate hits - MOST of the time. They have a very good Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), and the sound quality is pretty good. However, they are MUCH too hot to use during the summer. When it is hot, I use Walker Silencers (mine use standard hearing aid batteries). They are pretty comfortable, but they don't reduce gunfire noise as much as I like, and the sound quality isn't the best. I can't detect steel hits with them with any regularity. The tips have to be replaced pretty often... An alternative would be these: https://www.decibullz.com/custom-molded-percussive-shooting-filters/ But, again, I don't know anyone who has any personal experience with them, plus they don't have any amplification capability. I have also been thinking of trying a set of these: https://www.espamerica.com/ However, I would definitely want to hear from someone with personal experience with them before I drop that much $ for a set...

Sounds impossible to me too, but strange things happen sometimes. If it turns out that your primers fired, but didn't ignite the powder, that is the first I know of in nearly 50 years of reloading! I certainly have not experienced anything like that myself. I would try a different brand (or at least a different lot) of primers next to solve the issue, but it would be educational to find out exactly what DID happen...

I have compared loads using SP and SR CCI primers, and the results were pretty much the same. However, if you have lightened the trigger pull by reducing the hammer spring, you might have problems igniting the SR primers. CCI primers are harder to ignite than say, Federal primers anyway.

Oversized bullets help to prevent gas blow-by. Gas blowing past the base of the bullet is more likely to soften the lead to the point where it strips off and sticks to the rifling. All other things being equal, oversized lead bullets simply shoot better, and fouls the barrel less. Within limits, obviously...

Duh.... Yes, of course that is what I meant. Thank you!

I run 11# recoil springs with ~130PF loads in all three of my Shadows... no issues.

I was told the same thing in the early sixties!

Lyman and RCBS both sell check weight sets. Midway has them...

Note the link in my post above is 5 GRAMS, not grains... 5 grams = 77.1618 grains

This is probably the best price you will find... https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/5-gram-calibration-weight.html

I got my slide cut for CZC's RDS mounting system, and it was done in a little less than 8 weeks. I had some other work done at the same time though...

I also go to church, and regret the lack of matches not held on Sunday. In addition to the ones already listed, Target World (in Sharonville - close to where I-275 and I-75 intersect on the north side of Cincinnati) holds indoor IDPA matches on the second and fourth Tuesday evening of each month. https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/1cff77_d2e2fb5159404b76b3a1694e42a833fa.pdf Attendance usually drops during the summer months, so check first to make sure the match isn't cancelled. Signup for tomorrow's (June 11th) match here: http://www.idpamatchsignup.com/osm_match_signup_main.aspx Starts at 6PM, and finishes by 9. We usually have a couple new shooters at every match.

I know! 10!

I had Primary Machine mill my CZ Pre-B slide for a Vortex Venom, and I am very happy with it. It looks and works great! I am using the milled Pre-B slide on my Shadow for now. Primary Machine CZ Slide Milling Although it is a more expensive option, my Shadow slide is currently at CZ Custom to be milled for their RDS plate system. CZ Custom RDS Slide Milling I'm sure I will be happy with it as well, plus I will be able to change plates if I decide later I want a different brand of optic, or even go back to iron sights if I choose. (Links are live...)

I only say try a new mag spring, because I had the exact same issue, only in my case, it happened with one magazine only. A new spring fixed my failures to feed with that magazine. If you think about it, it makes sense. A weak mag spring might not lift a round quickly enough for the slide to pick it up before the slide tries to close. I also use an #11 recoil spring on all of my Shadows, but my loads are ~130 PF. One more thought - if you are running a buffer on the recoil spring guide, you might want to try shooting without it. It limits the rearward travel of the slide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUecHstU4QQ

Try a fresh mag spring...

PUT DOWN THE RED BULL! Seriously though, assuming your pistol (and I certainly think any CZ S2 is...) and your ammo is up to the task, you should be able to do better. Try balancing a quarter on top of the front sight. Grip, aim, and squeeze the trigger until it breaks. Did the quarter stay on the sight? If not, practice until it does. That should help eliminate your trigger press as an issue. Shooting your ammo from a rest should tell you if either your gun or ammo is the problem.

SO, less ammo in the mag is faster? OK, if you say so...

+1!

10 round 9mm 1911 magazines are commonly used in IDPA, so you get 10 + 1 in the chamber to start. Coincidentally (or not), that is the ESP Division standard capacity to start. Not all 10 rnd. 9mm 1911 mags are equal though. I prefer either Wilson or Dawson Precision. I reiterate my recommendation to the OP to start IDPA with the pistol he has now, and is most familiar with...

Mike Seeklander could probably win using a High Point! (High Points actually shoot pretty well for what they are...!) IDPA was originally designed for shooting your carry gun in competition. Use the pistol you are most comfortable with now. If you plan to buy a pistol specifically for IDPA, I would advise against it if you are just starting out. Shoot what you have now, until you get a few matches behind you, at least. There is a class for just about ALL types of pistols, so what you have now will most likely qualify for one of them. Granted, there will probably be better choices than your current carry gun for competition, but I guarantee you will gain skills with your carry gun by shooting IDPA. Plus, after you have shot in a few matches, you will have a better idea of what direction you want to go, if you still want to buy a gun especially for competition.

I have both a Mark II Competition and a Mark III Hunter, and they are both great pistols! I had a great Mark I Target as well, but I sold it, like a dummy... I was using my Mark II Competition in steel matches, and while the accuracy and the trigger is top shelf, the bottom magazine latch KILLED my times during reloads. So, I found a decent deal on a Mark III Hunter, and I bought it. It is ALMOST as accurate as my Mark II, and I got a good deal on it because it was replaced by the Mark IV on the shelves... Granted, I bought it with the intentions of installing some aftermarket Volquartsen and Tandemkross parts, but the finished product is much better for steel matches than my Mark II. It was easy to install a Tandemkross hammer bushing to eliminate the magazine disconnect, a Volquartsen sear, and a Tandemkross extended mag catch. I wouldn't consider buying either a Mark III or a Mark IV without at LEAST eliminating the hammer bushing to get rid of the magazine disconnect. Worst ingenious solution to a non-existent problem ever! I have to laugh a little when I hear complaints about the take-down procedure for the Mark I, II, and III pistols. Yeah, the Mark IV IS easier, but come ON! It is NOT that hard to take down the first three versions...

OK, suppose the lights are LED's?