Flatland Shooter

To clear the dovetail slot I would need to trim it into the second notch. That doesn't leave a whole lot of material to hold that back scope ring. Bill An STI or SVI will probably be my next blaster. I've hesitated because I really like an all steel frame. Now that's a thought. We have a company making an all metal version of a Glock frame. Has anyone thought of making a metal replacement grip for a S_I frame? Bill

Talk nice to the Dillon rep. When I ordered a replacement powder measure to tide me over while they did warranty work on the old measure, they asked questions about the age of my equipment and what the bar looked like. They advised of the update and that I needed the new bar. And they were kind enough to include the new bar at no cost. Dillon = Good Folks. Bill

Years ago I was the company man on a drilling rig. The company policy was "wear safety glasses". A rule that was not strenuously enforced. An older floor hand, who refused to wear safety glasses, tore into a set of tongs with a small sledge hammer to change out the slips. On about the third wack he stepped back and grabbed his left eye. That was the last time he ever saw out of it. Big time believer of safety glasses ever since. All my prescription glasses are ordered with polycarbonate lense. I've never had a primer go off while reloading (Rock Chucker and Dillon 550B), but why take the risk? Bill

I measured where I could cut the dovetail on the front of the slide and still get sufficient rear movement of the slide to cycle without hitting the scope mount. The result is the cut would be where a typical front sight dovetail cut would be or just slightly farther back. A slide racke at this spot, with the slide in battery, requires my hand be up near the compensator ports. A little too close for comfort. Bill

Thats a good point. My ProPoint + mount weighs quite a bit more than a C-More with a Serendipity mount. My earlier Para had a ProPoint with a dust cover mount (5 holes on each side) and even though I was concerned with it cracking, it still was not cracked when I retired the gun. It probably had over 100,000 rounds through it in its lifetime,all 180 PF. If you are trying to keep the dot as close to the bore as possible, I think the Serendipity might be the way to go. Its looks like it will run lower than a C-More with a Red Buff mount. Bill Couldn't you just hang one off the right side? I tried mounting a slide racker to where the handle stuck out on the right side, but it just didn't work for me. If I was a southpaw it would be great. But a right hander like me had to reach over the top to get to the racker. And if I tried to tilt the gun over onto its left side to make the reach easier, it caused jams. I didn't give it a whole lot of time and went back to grabbing the serrations on the front of the slide. Bill

On the thumb safety, I trimmed less than 1/16" from the inside of the lever with a flat file to fit. The grip panels need to be shorten across the top for the scope mount and also on the bottom for the S&A magwell. I just recently switched to the skateboard tape. This gun was built about 12 years ago replacing another Para that had a scope mount on the dust cover. The frame on the earlier gun never did crack, but I was concerned with it. On the Red Buff mount (that's who originally made this mount back in the 90's) I've never had a problem with its strength or it causing problems with the Para frame. In fact, on weak hand draws I grab the top of the red dot with my strong hand freeing up the entire grip for the weak hand to grab. The only negative, I have yet to find a slide racker that will work. I guess I need to give George with EGW a call and see if he has any ideas. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Bill

Decided to give posting pics one more try. I'm using a different computer than the last time I messed this up. Bill All right. Even us techno-weenies can have a good day! Couple of notes: #1 - The angled slots were milled in after purchase. The stock mount is black aluminum without the holes. #2 - All the little dings are from many years of use, does not come from the factory with those.

The 2004 rules allows this. There is a penalty for not activating a target, but not for shooting it before it's activated. I commonly use this for drop turners although sometimes you can find situations were swingers aren't protected by cover or no-shoots. Just be sure to go back after you've fired your last shot and activate the targets, since you've already fired your last shot this is happening off the clock. The proposed 2008 rulebook assesses a penalty for shooting a mover before activation. I personally think it promotes lazy stage design and we'll see a lot of movers placed out in the open because of this rule. I know the stated intent is to make setup easier, but in reality we're killing freestyle with a death of 1000 cuts. Many course designers purposefully create a CoF that the movers can be engaged statically and I suppose under the proposed 2008 rules they still could, but their written briefing would have to state "shooting movers before activation is permitted" and the whole match would specifically look for those shots because the WSB said it was there. Choreographed shooting sucks. Good evening ihatepickles, I guess I'm unusually dense this evening but I don't understand your statement "Just be sure to go back after you've fired your last shot and activate the targets, since you've already fired your last shot this is happening off the clock." As an example, if pulling a rope activates a swinger, do you fire your last shot and then step back (if necessary) and pull the rope? When the RO says if you are finished, unload and show clear, you just do not unload until you've pulled the rope? Thanks for the clarification. Bill

I'm sorry but just not technically savy enough to post pictures here. Tried and failed. PM me your e-mail address and I can send you a pic that way. Bill

Steve, Now thats an excellent example of shooting the course description, not what the rest of the squad thinks the course designer intent was. I would like to shoot one of his stages one day. Bill

Good afternoon ihatepickles, I have no problem with any of the examples you have given and through the years have probably seen each of them in action. In my case, I would probably not try the first example simply because I do not intentionally incur any penalties. If I can lean out far enough to see that piece of steel, then its dead meat. But I will not cross the fault line to engage. But just because I would not do it that way does not in any way mean someone else should not do it. (disclaimer: If,in the future, I ever come across a stage that will really help my score by taking a procedural, I reserve the right to go for it.) All of the others are examples of a "thinking" shooter. The course of fire does not disallow it and the rule book does not disallow it, so where is the problem? Bill

Good to hear there is still room for a few more shooters. I have several friends express interest. Is there a date when the Self Squading will be set up? Thanks. Bill

Don't forget the cost of tools. The chamber reamer will run $55. Also the Brownell's catalog indicates the barrel with Trubor comp has "Extra material at the muzzle to allow precise fitting." I'm not sure what this means since the barrel and comp are a one piece unit, but you might want to find out before ordering to avoid problems. Sounds like a good project. Bill

If you are like me and have more time to dry fire than to live fire, check out Steve Anderson's book on dry fire practice. Steve's site can be found on the forum under the vendor section. I can't say enough good things about this fine book. (I have his first book and his second just came out recently.) Bill

I haven't seen one yet, but STI sells a short block. Frame, slide and barrel + comp fitted at the factory. May be good for the builder without the heavy equipment or time to do the precise fitting. Probably short chambered so it can be built into 9x19, 9x21, 9x23, 38 Super or Supercomp. Pricewise doesn't look like much savings versus an STI factory gun unless you already have the reamers, internal parts and scope + mount sitting on your shooting bench. Bill

Very nice work!

I couldn't wait to see how he was going to land that thing.

Oh, yes. Now where did I put that Brownell's catalog. Thanks Merlin.

Though rare, if I see a scoring mistake, I bring it to the RO's attention. I want to earn my points. I enjoy the mental aspect of the game. Therefore I may be considered a gamer. Knowing how I want to approach a stage and then see a "better gamer" run it gives me the incentive to improve. Just watch a GM or M go through what we thought was a straight forward stage. They are doing what they do best while us lowly B and C shooters watch hoping for the day we look that good. And how many times do they manage to do something that if a fellow B shooter tried, he would be labeled a gamer? And just because a gamer finds a better way doesn't mean I can duplicate his or her feat. If the better gamer just displayed a skill that I have not practiced, it would be fool hardy for me to try it in a match. But if its a skill I want to develope, I will practice it and wait for the stage I can use it. If tomorrow this game eliminated the free-style aspect, many may no longer be interested. Dang, the sinus medicine must be kicking in. I better log off before I dig myself any deeper. Bill

Now this is something I need to think about. I've got two .45 Para race guns in the safe that I will otherwise never use. How hot is the .460 Rowland? Would I need a ramped barrel? This may be my new bowling pin gun.

From my understanding: The indentations on the side of the Para magazine extend further down towards the base when compared to the MecGar mags. These indentations help to keep the bullets from spreading apart side to side and jam up the follower, hence the recommendation. The difference between 38 Super and 9x19 mags is a spacer in the back of the 9x19 mag to compensate for the shorter cartridge. This is intended to help bullet feeding. When you extend the mag length, the spacer will probably need to be extended also. Bill

It could be worse. Returning from Colorado my wife took her turn at the wheel and I took a nap. My daughters stuck a half dozen bows and other fancy things in my hair. We stopped in Salina, Kansas for gas. I pumped the gas, went in and paid, and no one had the good sense to tell me about my "new" appearance. Bill

I reviewed what is posted so far and didn't see if your .45 barrel is ramped or not. To shoot 9 Major you will need to go with a ramped barrel. The only change to the frame, other than cutting the ramp if necessary, will be an ejector change. And switching to a new top end will require fitting the slide to the frame and fitting the new comp to the slide and fitting the new barrel to the slide and then frame. If a newbie to all this type of fitting, a 9 Major gun may not be the best project for you. Too much pressure involved requiring well fit parts for most shade tree gunsmiths. See if there is a market for your .45 racer and then see if the extra dollars for a well built 9 major is still in the budget. Better yet, keep the .45 as is for a backup gun. I would keep shooting the .45 and start saving up for the 9 major. Maybe not what you want to hear, but just one shooter's point of view. Bill

Yes, owner's responsibility is the key. In my case, many years ago my wife and I had a female pit named "Brandy". She was an extremely lovable and loyal dog. I am the only person she ever bit and it was an accident. My brother-in-law used to play with her using a white cotton towel as a "pull" toy. She probably weighed only a few pounds less than him and enjoyed much time dragging him around the back yard. One cool day I was working in the back yard wearing white cotton work gloves. You got it right, my left hand turned into the new "pull" toy. A total accident, but at that point I realized just how strong she was and that 100% control of this dog was NOT possible. My wife was 6 months pregnant with our first child. With many tears, the dog had to go. Responsibility is tough. Bill p.s. We now have a toy poodle name "Ku jo".

SV Infinity has them listed so may be in stock. Its been a while since I noticed an update on their site. Site shows they hold 19 rds. http://www.sviguns.com/store/?indx=7 Checked Brownells and they do not carry .45 x 170 mm STI tubes or magazines. They do have both tubes and mags in stock for .40's Give Bevin Grams a call if you want to maximize the round count but be prepared for a long wait. (We are talking months.) He does excellent work therefore he stays busy. HTH Bill