Albert

If everything is going right I sweep to the draw.

Blade-Tech DOH w/SR attachment to the belt for Production division and a Ghost holster for Limited 10/Limited.

Stuart's got it right, that's the same one I have on mine that I asked Angus to put on when they were reducing my grip frame. Just make sure you check on the screws that secure the sight to the slide and keep them snug. -Albert

At an IDPA match I attended earlier this year where BUGs were allowed and encouraged, one of the shooters decided to make his own .380 casings out of 9mm cases. He did warn us of this and most of it got separated, but of course a few of them got by and the only way you would be able to tell was that they were a little shorter (he actually trimmed the cases down) than a 9mm case.

I've shot 121gr Rainiers w/Clays and 147gr Xtremes (plated) w/Clays, but have been shooting 124gr Montana Golds w/N340 and have been liking that load lately. I've tried a friend's load of 124gr Montana Gold bullet w/5.3gr of Ramshot Silouette out of his SP-01 Shadow and have been tempted to try that for a match or 2 or 3. The 147gr bullets give very little recoil, but does not get the front sight back fast enough compared to the loads using the 124gr bullet. -Albert

CR speed for USPSA, Blade-Tech for IDPA.

+1 for the Blade-Tech DOH

Sorry about you and your family's loss. It's always good to hear about the memories of your loved ones. -Albert

There are SP-01s with a decocking lever and if it does have one that it should have been used. Most popular are the manual safety models that do not double as a decocking lever and require the shooter to decock by thumbing the hammer down to rest on the firing pin. +1 on what PhilTerry stated.

Saw that one coming! Nice work Stuart, now time to stack up against the other GMs in production.

I separate the S&B 9mm cases as I've had trouble with small pistol Federal primers fitting in their tight primer pockets.

It was tough to get rid of the 2 SDBs I had, but liked use of standard dies of the 650. I'm glad I started on the SDB though. It's a very simple machine that does well for reloading 200 to 300 rounds at a time. I like my 650 but also like the simplicity of the SDB. Now if they could make one model that used a base frame like the 550 but allowed you to use upgrade to a 650 or stay as simple as a Square Deal B that would be something.

I've got the 97 and the TS and even they too are quite different. You are right, though, the TS is more like the 97 and I wish they had just used the same frame. The 97 is more like the standard 75, but just bigger IMO. -Albert

When we are dealing so close to the weight limit, everything counts. I weighed a whole bunch of grips and believe it or not the plastic grips were still heavier than the light wood grips like the walnut and the alder grips from marschal. You could be on the safe side and just shoot an 85 combat or a standard 75b that's tuned up. I prefer to shoot the SP-01 and I shoot IDPA and also want to stay within the rules, so I've been on the quest of getting my SP-01 with magazine to 39 oz. I've done it and say it can be done (of course with a little work).

In order for the SP-01 to be eligible to play in IDPA it needs to meet the SSP division weight of 39 oz or less with an empty magazine. This is not that easy to accomplish. If you do, then you can play in SSP or ESP. Most of the weight savings are achieved by getting lighter grips, either factory Walnut (which are not that easy to come by and don't show up as cataloged items). I took mine off my CZ 75 Tactical Sports. You can also get a pair of Alder wood grips from Denis Marschal. Also, to make weight use the 10 round magazine as it is much lighter than the 18 rd SP-01 magazine and the 16rd magazines. I've got an older 2-slot SP-01 that has made weight with the 18rd magazine, but more recently I've been able to get my 3-slot (newer) SP-01 to make weight using the lighter 10 rd magazine, and just for fun I did get my SP-01 tactical to also make weight (using the 10rd magazine). Good luck.

Yes, more pics please. Thanks for sharing Phil, that is one cool looking SP-01. I hope it runs well for you. Do you know if CZ-USA has built any others like yours?

+1 to what Middle Man has mentioned, he's dead on. You can get basepads for the TS to get 20 rounds and with it's substantial heavier weight it handles major power factor recoil much better than the CZ 75B SA .40S&W. I had thought to use the SA .40S&W as a back up to my TS, but they are too different and there are +1 maybe +2 round basepads available for the SA .40S&W which will only give you 13+1 or 14+1 (good luck getting that 2nd round in that basepad-CPMI). So, really it's onlly useful in Limited 10, but you could probably get it sprung correctly to handle the major pf .40S&W. Good luck.

I contacted them at the end of June and they invited me to come down to the shop (in Tacoma) to have the pistol fitted to a mold. Wasn't able to make it but called the next week and was told a mold was in the works (someone must have come in with theirs) and placed my order with the usual 4 week wait.

I'd also check the legs of the followers and make sure there are no burrs that might be hanging up in the magazine.

I called asking about a Sting Ray belt holster for the XD-M around the beginning of the month/end of June at that time they did not have one and offered to have me come down with my pistol to have it "fit" and a mold made. I mentioned I would try to get down there in the next few days, but never made and ended up calling early in the week and by then they said they had a mold and there was no need for me to come down for the mold to be made, but then gave me the standard 4 weeks for turn around. I'm planning to check in to the holster's progress by the end of next week.

Is that an Open SP-01? Please give details and mention what magazines you plan to use.

That's true but I was hoping that the "correct" starting position was "B" (and it can be engaged in this position). You can always try it until you run into a knowledgeable RO who will till you to set the hammer down all the way. Also, you can engage the safety but you don't have to.

I believe the rule requires those pistols without the decocker lever to have the hammer rest at the fully decocked position as shown in your photo/example A. I noticed a squad mate with the same pistol and he was cautiously setting the hammer with his support thumb into the decocked position. I let him finish all the strings in the particular COF and them discussed with him about this very same issue and mentioned and showed him the way I decock the hammer to the fully decocked position. Example B is for those pistols that have the decocking lever that will decock the hammer at the decock position as shown in your example/photo B.

Get a new set of dies.

Careful in "reshaping" the mag brake. I did that with a little bending and a little polishing and at the last stage on the last array of an IDPA state match the last mag change went in with some difficulty and it took a while and finally came out with a lot of difficulty when I was finished with the COF. The mag brake had weakend, snapped and then crammed up into the grip frame. I then ordered the stiffer mag brake from Angus and have never had an issue since. You want to have something in there to protect the mainspring/strut from the magazine when it's being inserted, plus it helps to keep some dirt out.