Rob Bartley

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I will let you know what I go with.

I am looking to purchase a gun safe. I have read the posts that indicate they will only keep out the "honest" criminal (read smash and grab), but really are only bumps in the road for a professional. I am mostly concerned with two-bit theives and really don't think a pro would pay me a visit. My local Gander MTN has Liberty and Timber Ridge (by Liberty). A local dealer also carries Cannon. Any thoughts on which is better buck for buck. It appears as though the Timber Ridge is the same as the Liberty Colonial Series and is about $200 less ($899 vs. $1099 for a 23 cubic foot model). I don't have current pricing on Cannon yet. Any thoughts? is there better for the money? Thanks.

You know, I am relatively new to this game and have only been seriously shooting (non-competatively) for a year. If the gun or the cartridges were the problem, then why do they work fine with every other mag that I own, and every other round (other than the first) in the Wilsons???? It does not make sense that the cartridges or the gun are faulty...

The first round out of the magazine, after I shoot the one in the pipe, does not feed completly into the chamber, and the slide does not go into battery. After I clear this round the remainder cycle without any problem.

I disagree, I think it's purely old-school thinking that makes people think they need to use 7-rounders for carry. Factory hardball (or any non +P defense loads that are the equivalent of hardball) just isn't all that hot. I shot Wolf factory hardball the last several years in single stack matches all over the place (including two Single Stack Classics). It's fairly mild stuff. My current Single Stack load just chronoed 179 p.f. at the WI Sectional yesterday, making it approximately equivalent to most factory hardball (traditionally a 230 gr. load marketed at 825-850 that actually goes somewhat under 800 fps). Have you changed anything about your ammo? You gotta watch using plated bullets, some guns don't like them. I briefly owned one pistol (an XD-45 Tactical) that shot anything I fed it except it would choke nearly every round with plated bullets (which are quite soft compared to hard cast or jacketed). I would be very curious to know how your gun functions with something other than those plated bullets. (By the way, plated bullets work great in my revolvers, I shoot lots of 'em!) After I purchased a press, this load is the only load I have shot. This is the same load that has been running well in the 7 round mags.

What kind of target do you shoot at when you are practicing? Do you buy USPSA/IPSC targets, shoot at steel/paper...?

I have not shot full house .45 with the magazines. I don't know exactly the power factor of my loads since I have yet to chronograph them (no chronograph at the match yesterday). I know it should be close to 165-170 PF being 4.0 Clays and 230 gr. Rainers. I will keep them loaded, and keep shooting them to break them in. Thanks for the help.

Shot my first local shoot this weekend and had a blast! However, the mags are still acting up. I had three FTF's in five stages with the Wilson's. I hope they loosen up soon.

Thanks...I will give that a try. I thought the issue might go away with use of the mags.

Actually they are the first or second round. Can it be that the spring is too strong? I have also noticed that releasing the slide lock is more difficult than with the other 7 round mags.

So I finally picked up a couple Wilson 8 rounders about a week and a half ago. I have a Kimber and have never had any malfunctions with my Kimber mag or two old military mags that I have...never. Since using the Wilson's I have had a couple FTF's. The Wilson mags have been loaded since I have owned them. Any thoughts?

They look great...how did you make them if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for the info. I have a few clubs near me and really see no need to spend money that I need for ammo on different club memberships. I will join USPSA however. Thanks again

I want to start shooting competatively this season. I have not yet become a member of a shooting club yet; I am fortunate enough to be able to shoot in my back yard. My question is this. Do I need to be a member at the local club level for each shoot and USPSA to compete? How does this normally work?

I went to my local gunsmith who had only Wolf springs. I purchased one and compared it to the original in my gun. The old spring was a half inch shorter so I replaced it. I will purchase a couple new ISMI springs to have on hand and replace as needed. Thanks for all of your help.