mmcnx2

I currently reload super 38 and 40. The super 38 I run all new and recycle only my own brass, the 40 I purchase roll sized nickel. I'm just getting into 9mm for my wife's new Springfield EMP and wondered if the once fired 9mm brass should be roll sized. I was told the 40 had to be rolled due to the bulgde that a particualr brand of gun leaves in the brass, what about 9mm?

My Brazo has run 100% and I do not tinker. I don't even change brass manufacurer, I even ensure that the brass has been reloaded the same number of times in 2K-3K batches. I'm a firm believer that variation, even very small, raises the potential for a failure. I'm a little retentive if you can't guess.

I'd echo the idea of buying a open gun from a 'good' smith(including mags), use the load they recommend, break it in like they tell you and maintain it like they tell you. I have a Brazo and Bob has been wonderful to work with, the gun runs 100%. Bob gave me a recipe for loads that included brass manufacturer, brand of primers, starting point for specifc powder, bullet brand and size and OAL. He provided a starting point and worked with me to get to my final load, which was exactly where he said we would be when we were done. Pick who you are comfortable with but remember the price you pay for a custom gun is only as good as it shoot, so saving a buck from someone that does not have the expereince to provide the full package may not be a wise choice. That said there are a number of people that mentioned various smiths names, including me. You'll need to be the judge for you. For me; Bob is my guy.

As a very new open shooter I'm getting use to finding the dot on the C-More and have determined my old yellow bulls eye shooting glasses are not helping the siutation. I've tried clear and although they are better than the yellow, they also do not aid much. What color are most guys running?

As someone who also lives in the twin cities I believe I also spoke with the 'local' SV smith. My expereince was not what I was looking for with him, called him twice, left messages, had two existing customers give him my number and asked to call me. No contact what so ever. I went with a little different approach. I knew very little about a 2011 style open gun so expertise was what I went shopping for. For me Bob at Brazo Custom has been an excellent choice. I've had the gun about 3 months, 0 failures what so ever to date. I've let two expereinces open shooters run a stage with it and both said it was wonderful. Bob and his wife provide excellent consulting on the build, load data and outstanding service afterwards. When I order my next pistol, open or whatever, I'll just call Brazo. On a seperate note, where in the twin cities do you shoot? I'm in the west metro area if you want a chance to see a Brazo send me a note.

I'd like to attend some training this fall, 2-3 days and would prefer, small class size(might consider individual based on $), something approriate for a beginning open USPSA shooter and lastly something I can drive to in a day(600 miles or less from Minneapolis). I'd fly but the airport hassle with the pistol and ammo seem's like it would suck the fun right out of the trip.

I've posted a few time and some of you may know I'm really new to the the USPSA sport, 2 matches and 4 weekday league outings so far. I've been shooting for over 20 years, completed some formal training, both saftey and practical. As a new to this sport guy a few observations: 1. The vast majority of people in this sport go out of their way to be helpful, from offering advise, guidance, to picking up brass. It is very cool to have some of the expereinced folks(as in excellent shooters) come up to you after a stage and ask what do you think you did well and what could have you done better with. They listen, then offer some insight to your observations. I've got more information hanging around taping targets than I could self learn in years. 2. The vendors that support the sport are first class. I've done business with a number of the sponsers of this board and have been treated like I was a life long customer. Nice to see customer service is alive and well. 3. The people that put on the matches work their butt off. I've helped with setup and teardown on one match and it is amazing to see the effort needed to setup a challenging, fun and safe stage. And then the people who do all the paper work with a smile is unbelievable. 4. As with any group, there are a few 'special' people that you suspect must just not have a happy life. I've seen one RO that seemed to yell at every one, and one member of a squad that critized every shooter after they finished. The RO seemed to be an issue that concerned folks the other guy became the squad joke. Saw that same RO a few weeks later as a shooter - his personality had not improved with age. You have to ask why they put themselve through it if it bothers them that much, life is short. 5. I've not been DQ'ed(yet), seem to be hitting alot of A's, the new open gun runs 100%, reloading with a progressive press is alot faster than with the old C, picking up your brass is a great way to introduce your son to the sport, turning the c-more on makes the dot easier to find, unlocking the holster makes the gun easier to draw, even when c-more is on that crazy little dot is hard to find, althouth the RO feels obligated to use that fancy timer thing with the buzzer - he might as well use a sun dial to time my stages. 6. I'm hooked and having a blast.

I recently shopped for a new open pistol and talked to at least 4 big name smiths, all said if I want to have something that I knew would work with minimial or no messing around go super 38. The only expection was if you were going to make a open gun from a Glock, they only did 9. I was told that if I liked playing around with loads and potetnially gun tuning the 9 was option. There is just not enough knowledge base that makes as predictable. Again the only advantage they could come up with was brass cost. And my concern is that while range brass is cheap or free you never really know if it is once fired or ten times and someone left it lay. I'm conservative, some may say a perfectionist, with my equipment. I went with a super 38 from Brazo and am using his, powder, bullet, primer, and brass recommendation. I mark my brass(I do not pick up others 38 brass) and will use it 2-3 times based on how the primer pockets spec out. On the plus side the gun has run 100% right out of the box. Now all I have left to do is learn you to drive it!

Thanks for all the advise, I do think the load is a little close but I'm trying to change only one thing at a time and determine the result. I'll try to bump it up a little in the next batch of loads, I loaded about 1000 at this level to give me something to practice with and try some of advise I've gotten. We've also had major temp upswing here in the past three weeks and I'm a little conservative with a new gun that I'll go over the top. So, I may minor while I'm learning but at this point I'm pretty sure it would not actual impact my finish order, given last is still last.

While this may not be real technical, it could lead to a technical issue. Is there a source for a rain cover for an open gun? I was at a shoot and it poured rain. Mr. Zip Lock Bag worked but sure was not much of a fashion statement. Worse yet was the bag did not seem to like a hot gun after a stage. Some of the other shooters had slick covers made out of the same material they make range bags out of. Unfortantely, none of them had a tag on or could the guys recall where they got them, other than at a large shoot.

I'm a really new open shooter (less than a thousand rounds) with a brand new gun. I've got my loads running major(167pf) and the gun runs 100%. While I'm shooting tons of A's my speed is not great. Last weekend another open shooter mentioned after the shoot that I seemed to have alot of muzzle lift. He also mentioned he could see me waiting for the dot to settle and the lift was a signifiacnt factor in my lack of speed. After the first shot I do see the dot rise a few inches on a target and then drop back to zero. Given I have nothing to compare it to; I though I'd ask. Is there such a thing as normal muzzle lift with these guns? I read alot about grip pressure ect, and was wondering of I need a form change. I expect it to take a while for things to improve but would like to be comfortable that I do not have a setup issue that is prohibitive to the process.

First round and then periodically as we would shoot with my reloads.

I have a new para 16-40 limited. Running everything stock it eats White box ammo just great, althought the slide tension seems very high when you cycle the rail by hand. I loaded some light 40 ammo with 155gr hollow points running 900fps and put in a 12.5lb spring. About every 6-8 rounds the rail would fail to go into battery and if you cycled it by hand it would seem to repeat it. The ammo is rolled 40 nickel once fired brass reloaded in a dillion 650 to 1.125OAL. Is the 12.5 spring to light? The factory one seems very heavy, to the point my 13 year old sion has a heck of time even dropping the slide from the release.

I'm in the process of setting up a limited gun for my son. So I purchased him a new Para 1640, dawson ice magwell and dawson base extensions. Well I had some fit issues with the magwell and bases, the mags would just not lock in. I called Dawson, even though I had made the purchase from one of their distributors, they said send the lower and all the parts in. They return everything today and it works. They had to slightly modify the base pads due to close tolerances on the para frame, the parts look great and function as expected, and get this ---- no charge for the work or the return shipping. It is so common to voice concern when we do not get the service we expect I just thought it would be nice to share a good experience and give us all some hope that quality service is alive and well in a few places. THANKS DAWSON.

I also have a new(2006 model) 1640 limited and ordered the dawson ice magwell and baseplates. The magazines will not lock in on any of the three. I filed the edges of the aluminum base plate on one to see if I could get them to fit and that seemed to work. I think its kinda ridiculous Dawsons own products don't work togehter.