ezra650

I like my chip mags with their brand extended base pad. I mainly use them for steel challenge. I did have to clip a coil off the mag spring to get them to seat easily with 1 round in the chamber and 10 in the mag. However, if I were going to seriously compete in uspsa I'd pick up a set of dawsons. Also the chip mags will also strip a round out when removing the mag. Not every time, but it happens.

That one looks super high for me. I have small hands but my fingers are not too short. I'll check out the CK adjustable before I buy. Thanks!

Whats the recommendation for thumb rests on smaller hands? Or do you just mount it in the closest hole? I was looking at the DAA adjustable. It's affordable, adjustable, metal, and looks nice. So thoughts for small hand sizes?

Disregard last post. Just found your welcome thread: https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/271432-welcome-to-a/ Looking forward to placing an order!

What is the source for the 9mm brass? Indoor range? Military range? Outdoor Range? Govt Auction? I've been looking at where I'll make my next order. I need to feed my new open gun and was looking for something like this that is pre sorted. Sounds like a great deal! Hoping I'll be able to order next month sometime.

The tops of my quads are always a little sore after a USPSA match. Tells me I was getting low... also tells me I'm not in as good of shape as I could/should be I know I had developed the habit of staying low stance when I started shooting steel matches regularly with an overly aggressive stance. I loosened up a little for steel. It's still good to be low to keep the targets at about eye level and to absorb recoil.

Yeah I was wondering if it would be worth the cleaning. An ultra sonic might work, just lean the gun up in it with only the comp submerged. Whose plated bullets do you shoot? I was looking at buying from RMR bullets. I've heard lots of people who like the World Shooters powder, might have to give it a try. Not very economical, but does such a thing in open exist haha I'm probably going to order a 7lb, 8lb, and 9lb spring to see what the gun and I like. Right now I believe my gun has an 8lb in it. Thanks for the data!

Yep still all in the white. The top end is only about 2k rounds old.

I agree. I noticed that as well. A small divot where it looks like the extractor is hammering the barrel when going back into battery. It's an aftec that was probably just dropped in the gun.

Its shoddy machining, not the barrel but other spots on the gun. I'm more concerned about parts on the inside of the gun. I could care less if they are shiny on the inside. I just want it correct. But if the guns already been running for 2k rounds I see your point.

Oh that's a cool setup. I really was planning to do a single stack open build just for steel, but a deal worked out for a 2011 and I do like to shoot some USPSA. Thanks for the HS-6 data, I'll start around there!

Thank you for the advice guys. I test fired the gun beforehand and all seemed to be good. I can live with it and won't lose any sleep over it. It seems that everything locks up tight/correctly, but the machining/filing is all rough and sloppy. Needs to be finished. Would it be appropriate to sand the rough spots out with 600/1000 grit sandpaper? I'm about to duracoat the gun and figured I'd get everything smooth as it can be so I don't have to hack on it afterwards.

Does this barrel need to be replaced? It's in a 9major 5" open gun. KKM barrel. This is not wear. The top end was just built by a smith and has 2k rounds on it. I just traded a good running low mileage 2011 limited gun and $200 for this. Did I mess up? I mean look at the radius on the ramp. A friend of mine saw the pics and was concerned and mentioned getting a new barrel.

Thanks for the info. If the cleaning/maintenance requirements are the same it might be the same choice for me. I can get by pretty cost efficient with plated bullets.

Just picked up my first open gun this week (yayy!!... I think). I wanted to do a poll of sorts and see the results of shooters running home powder coated bullets and commercial coated bullets. I cast and coat my own and was hoping I could at least get by using them for minor steel loads. I'll be using RMR or PD copper bullets for major most likely. I've read the thread about coated for major so lets just try and avoid rehashing that topic. I'm thinking my minor steel load will be around 150pf or so. Whatever works the comp enough and keeps the gun reliably running. I already have Longshot powder on hand and will be getting some HS-6 so even better if you are using those powders. Thanks in advance. See the questionnaire below... Bullet Weight/Mold/Profile/Manufacturer: Powder Brand and Charge weight: COAL: Velocity (FPS): Recoil Spring Brand/ Weight: Cleaning Requirements for gun: I.E. Number of rounds before cleaning comp, cleaning procedure/methods etc.

If you buy 3 cases(3500rd) of BBI (Black Bullets International) you can get them for .06c a piece and that is shipped. Use code TTURNERBBI at checkout. I believe that is a 7.5% discount.

Well... I'm going double stack. Traded my edge for a 9major gun this weekend. Tripp frame STI slide with KKM bushing barrel and EGW 7 port cone comp. It's a little big for a steel gun 5", but it should get me started. Thinking I'll just duracoat it flat black. The frame/slide is in the white still.

Who does DLC/PVD, other hard coatings in the North GA/ATL area? Also open to business in Anderson/Spartanburg Area and anything closer to the GA/SC state line. Athens, GA could work too. I live in Lula, GA I'm planning to get a new 2011 this weekend and the frame/slide are still in the white. Suggestions for inside of slide and frame were tolerances are tight? I though about browning the insides and then taping it off to duracoat the outside surfaces. This was the best cost efficient method I could come up with.

I'm keeping one 1911 as is for iron sighted shooting in limited/single stack. I'll either build the springfield I have now into an open gun or get another gun just for that. In the meantime I'm going to run just a slide mounted optic and see how it is. Your build sounds badass! Whose frame mount did you use?

Yeah we had talked about it in the other post I started. I've actually already bought the EGW slide mount for a vortex venom, will be getting the optic soon. I would like to have a comp fitted at some point, just not in the shooting budget ATM. Also may go frame mounted optic with a CMORE slideride. I just love the CMORE dot clarity, if the vortex wins me over I'll stick with it slide mounted. Mainly just curious if there is anything besides springfields that people are using to build 1911 open guns. Of course I'm sure there aren't many 1911 open guns being built today as there was years ago. If I pickup another gun to turn into an open rig it will probably be a colt competition, springfield RO/loaded, or a possibly a ruger 1911. I like the idea of a ramped barrel, but if people are running 9mm reliably through unramped ones....

Sweet, I've heard the Venoms are even tougher so it should be good plus Vortex has great CS/warranty from what I hear.

What are some preferred model 1911s for building an open gun off of for steel challenge? My personal requirements are 9mm ramped barrel, and series 70 design. I'd prefer stainless, but could live with a blued gun. I'd say the springfield RO/loaded is the top pick for me right now. I've got a stainless loaded and love it. I'd probably use it or leave it as is and pick something else up for single stack. What about the RIA Ultra FS 9mm? Has anyone ever built an open gun from those? I'm also curious about the ruger 1911s, from what I've heard people saying they are GTG. Opinions on using an aluminum frame for minor open? Ruger makes a commander length lightweight one that I imagine would be quite fast for steel. Another option I've thought about is the colt competition guns, although I'm not sure the barrel is ramped on it. The main concern with the above mentioned models is also slide durability and quality of steel.... so thoughts?

OP- How is that venom sight holding up? Been wanting to put one on my 1911 via EGW mount

11lb or 12lb. Steven Sanders (limited GM who wins) swears by Sprinco springs. I've always just used wolff variables. Put up a uspsa target or any piece of cardboard. Put 3 or 4 strips of duct tape horizontal on the target evenly spaced. Use the same aiming point for each spring. Also shoot some quick shooting drills on the clock a few times with each spring and take note of your shots. When I first started shooting my edge I thought a 10lb spring felt the best and I would have kept using it except I shot a match with it and noticed all my shots were stringing high. I couldn't grip the gun down enough to shoot accurately with the sight picture I needed using a 10lb. I put a 12lb wollf variable in and thats what I shot. Some people say replace every 5k rounds... I'd just do it once a year. The springs should really last longer than that. Keep an eye where the slide/spring plug bottoms out in the frame for wear, right where the guide rod sits.

See the link. It has the side ports up front so it's listed as 4 port. http://ccgunworks.com/4-port-compensator/ Only 2 comps listed on the site. Also see Gans comps. He doesn't do titanium, but he does offer a shorty 2 port comp. http://www.gansguns.com/MAINCOMPS.html