Gunmac

I have a new 90-TWO Beretta with a point of impact lower than my aim. On a rest it groups well with 2" @ 50 ft. It is slightly low, about 3 inches from the point I am aiming at. I have searched for adjustable sights but cannot find anyone who makes them for the 90-TWO. Assuming I cannot change to adjustables is my only solution to aim higher?

Okay so if I go with the SDM front and Millet or LPA rear will that impact on the Blade Tech holster I already have for the stock sights? I remember when I bought my Blade Tech holster for the Glock 34 (Dawson precision FO) they told me the holster needed to be made to fit the taller front sight. I also don't understand the need for night sights for a competition gun. I have Meprolights on my GP100 since this is my "home defense" equipment. I find the dot arrangement harder to use in day light than the FO/black rear set up on the Glock.

I added a 686 to the collection this year. Like the gun but a little disappointed in the stock sights. I tend to loose the red/orange ramp under different lighting conditions. The best sights I have on any gun are the Dawson fiber optic /adjustible rear combination on the Glock 34. Any recommendations for 686 sights? I have done a search and see for the 625 most like the SDM fiber optic front and Millet rear. Would that be the same for the 686? Also is this something I can install myself? Primary use would be for IDPA competition. Thanks, Tom

I have a Competition Electronics ProDigital that I am happy with. It would seem like the only real difference in accuracy would be due to the distance between the chrono eyes. Longer distance should have an advantage in accuracy. I gather that the CED seem to be very consistent between units. How does consistency equal accuracy? If my ProDigital gives a different reading from the CED how do I know the ProDigital is off and not the CED? Unless there is some calibration technique I don't understand how CED has become the judge and jury on velocity measurement.

When I ordered my press from Brian it was free shipping for over $400 not sure if Dillon has the same deal. Dillon has the same warranty for anything you buy from Brian. I had a few questions about the press and got to talk to the legend himself. Brian was a very nice guy and took his time answering my questions. My opinion is if Brian sells it that is where I buy.

Okay - so it seems like experimenting may pay off. I do know that my Glock 34 seems to like 231 better than the other powders I have tried. When testing for accuracy I assume everyone is using a rest? Are there any rests on the market which lock in the handgun. The true test would seem to take any aiming errors out of play.

I have tried 9 mm 115-124 and 147 g bullets by various manufacturers (Berry, Ranier, Winchester and Remington). I do not see any big difference in accuracy. All would be fine for IDPA. Definitely from a feel perspective I prefer the 124 g size based on recoil. I am starting to think buy by price is the answer (which would be the Berry). Am I missing something here? Can bullets make a big difference in accuracy?

Would the trigger job video by Jerry M be a good reference to begin with? If I were to try my home version of a trigger job I was planning on getting replacement trigger components and not damage my already broken in trigger on the guns. Is it possible to get down to a 6 or 7 pound pull on a double action revolver? As much as I like shooting the revolvers after 100 rounds I get some finger fatique and the sights do not hold steady like my Glock 34 would.

Instead of going to a gun smith can you purchase tuned parts for a revolver that can be dropped in? Primary interest would be GP100 and S&W 686. Thanks,

Just as I thought; a little oil is good. Not sure why some do not include oil as part of the cleaning routine. Thanks, Tom

Can you post a picture of your solution?

In October I reached the same conclusion; bought the IR version with the PACT chrono. Never really worked indoors as advertised. Even with the overhead lights off wouldn't read consistently. Then the screen error comes up and the unit is no longer functional as a chrono. PACT is telling me the two symptoms are related to the same problem. PACT has also told me that they will fix the problem and the unit will read indoors. I agree with yoshidaex and think the best route is to wait to see how this shakes out. My guess is there may be more than a few units waiting to be sold that have the same problem.

I also have had a brand new PACT returned for "evaluation". Not only the screen triggered together error but also when it did work for the first week I had it would only read 2 out of every 5 in the string. This was indoors. Yesterday PACT also told me it would be "returned next week". They didn't look at it yet (after two weeks in the shop) but they suspect there is a bad piece on the circuit board which got into the production line. A number of units have been returned for the same symptom. I haven't given up on PACT but this does not make me feel comfortable. Is CED the only one that works indoors?

I have been lightly oiling the barrel of my GP100 after each cleaning. That is what I have been taught. Usually I run a mop through and then follow up with a patch. I also see a number of sources on gun cleaning where the barrels are not oiled. Should I oil or not? The GP100 will not sit more than a week between use. Will the same logic apply to a semi auto barrel? Thanks,

My 550B shows also shows up to a plus or minus .2 with the loads. Finer powder like 231 is pretty consistent while Unique shows some variation. I also notice when loading a large number of cartridges that the charge decreases as the level in the powder supply drops. I then either add more powder or adjust the charge. Checking every 50 rounds picks this up. The best advice I have gotten is to go for a higher power factor so the minimum charges will still be okay. For IDPA I go for a 130 pf to give some buffer.

I have seen quite a bit of variation with suggested overall length on the 9 mm cartridges. Low of 1.05 to 1.135 in the manuals I have. The commercial ammo I have averaged 1.157 overall measured length. Being on the safe side I use the commercial measurement. They fit in the Glock magazine and load without any problems. As long as the cartridge fits and feeds is it better to be on the higher side to avoid compressed loads as long as you chrono them?

I cannot use my Pact MKIV/infra red skyscreens for more than a couple of hours before the low battery warning comes on. Is the battery consumption really that high? The batteries still seem to be fully charged when I use the battery tester back home.

If you have never reloaded you may want to get the Dillion 550B reloading video. I purchased it and found it helpful to get started with. I also use the Sierra handloading manual. Dillion Video Manual I collected three manuals so far and found the data to be confusing. Load information varied quite a bit. The closest to the chronographed loads were Bullseye, 231 and Titegroup in the Sierra manual. In the end I use the Sierra manual as a start and the Pact chronograph to fine tune.

I currently use Bullseye, HS-6 and Unique for reloading 38 specials with a Dillon 550B press. Once I set the powder charge Bullseye and HS-6 seem very consistent. The Unique on the otherhand seems to vary. I see a variation as high as .2 grains up or down. I have checked the weight every 25 rounds and very seldom see the same numbers. Is there something I should be cleaning on the Dillon so Unique levels out or is this normal? I like Unique to reach required pf for IDPA but would be interested if there is a similar powder which charges with a more consistent amount. Thanks, Tom

I did some more work with the Pact chronograph and can now meet a 128 pf with the slowest of the six shot string using bullseye, unique and hs-6. Looks like I am in business. I also did some manufacturer ammo with the GP100. Results are: Winchester (white box) USA38SP 125 g - 118 pf Winchester (white box) Q4196 150 g - 121 pf CCI Blazer 3522 158 g - 126 pf CCI Blazer 3519 +P 158 g - 144 pf So the +P Blazer looks good if you don't want to reload. One final question is why is there such a wide spread in velocity with my test loads. Same brass, same bullet, same primer and powder trickler/dillon electronic scale for weight. Dillon 550B press so everything should be consistent. Can the same reload vary in velocity by 50 ft/sec ? The manufacturer loads seem to be within 20 ft/sec. Thanks, Tom

After loading 1500 WSP primers with 100% going bang it seems like my GP100 is happy with the choice. I will get a box of the Federal to try them out. As you can probably tell I am a newcomer to this forum. Very impressed with how many responses you get and the level of detail in the response. Thanks,

Bill: I am using 158 grain SWC and JHP together with Unique and HS-6. Primer is WSP and brass is Starline. Should I be trying something else?

I am currently using WSP primers for my 38 special reloads. Most of the reloads I make do not make the velocity that is shown in the Sierra or Speer handbooks. Both handbooks indicate CCI 500 was used for their recipes. The reason I use the WSP primers is based on a discussion I had with Brian Enos when I ordered my Dillon Press. He didn't like the CCIs with revolvers and recommended WSP or Federal. As long as the primer detonates is there any real difference between the primer manufacturers?

Thanks for the chrono procedure reference in the rulebook. The first time I read the rules I did not have a chrono and skipped the section. I didn't think about looking at the index to see if it is covered. +10 pf seems like the high end of +P range. I like the concept and will probably move things up to 130 pf to see what that does. thanks, Tom

I am trying to find a load for 38 special which would meet the 125 PF. Although I have found a few recipes which make an average PF of 128 (using 6 shots) there is always one or sometimes two which fall below the 125 requirement. Does the 125 PF requirement apply to an average string or should all shots be above the limit?