gemcityshooter

Those that like the 1911 feel seems to like the XD. They get an action job done by one of the known people. The S&W M&P is a new player in the game and is also a good choice. People don't like the Glock because it has a different grip angle from the 1911. My first ever handgun was/is a P89. I still shoot it from time to time when I think of it. I would probably already have a Glock except that I am not fond of the grip angle. My XD is the 4" model and I would have done some internal work to it but it is also my carry gun and I am leaving it alone. I am SO tempted to try a Para, but I have had so many people telling me about reliability issues that I need to pay attention to them. I will fall back to a 5" XD when the time comes if I don't have another option. There is a guy that shoots at my club that might let me try his CZ.

Well, I have had the thoughts lately of getting a new gun for the sole purpose of shooting Production. I have an XD which I do like but with my starting to shoot Single Stack, I am really liking the 1911 feel. What is popular out there for those looking for a 1911-like DA gun? Para and CZ come to mind. I would be interested in a Para, but certain circles have caused me to think otherwise. What are you all shooting? XD and Glock are the main players in my neck of tthe woods.

Guys, I have read and re-read all of these posts so that I can soak-up all of the info that you gave to me. THANK YOU!!!!!! I am trying to get my head into all of this planning early so that I can do the best I can at making a good match. Hopefully, all will work out. Thanks agaim. Matt

Well, it seems that what I was thinking could happen is really does happen. I have just the standard button on right now. I have been using it fine for now, but I will see what I can doo as far a shaping it. Thanks All!!!

I have been pondering the idea of putting a oversize mag button on my 1911. I am a lefty and have been hitting the button with my trigger finger instead of getting any kind of ambi button. I was curious to see if anyone has tried this and if they had any problems with it.

Just wanted to say that this was my first time working a big match and I would like to let Ron and his staff know that they did an excellent job. I will use this experience as a good example of what to do when running a large event. So, with that said, Ron, if you need help with a future match, count me in. Matt

Get the EGW U-die. I had a problem with bullet setback and the FCD was only a band-aid and not a very good one at that. Once I got the U-die, no need for the FCD anymore.

Well, the U-die came yesterday. I went and loaded a few dummy rounds with no powder or primer. After cycling them thru the gun, the setback was only .002" average. I did not use the LFC only the light crimp from my seater die. It seems that this is going to help me greatly. I have loaded some rounds and will be trying them later this week.

I am hoping to elimnate the need for the FCD. I am getting the U-die. My only issue with the U-die is that it is only .001 undersize. In my head, that is not enough although the people I have spoken to about it said that it would help a lot. I also have to say that the feed ramp on my gun looks to be quite long and steep. I was able to look at a buddies Edge in 40 and the feed ramp was MUCH different. What kind of magazines are you using and what OAL are you loading to? Single stack .40s can have issues feeding the first round from slide lock because factory .40 ammo is so much shorter than .45, which is what the gun and magazine were designed around. Using Wilson 47NX, Tripp or McCormick 40/10mm mags and loading longer than factory OAL can make the problems go away in many guns. You'll have to check how deep the chamber is cut (so the bullet doesn't hit the rifling)....either make a Cerrosafe casting of the chamber and measure it or take a case that hasn't been resized, carefully put a bullet barely in the case and put it in the chamber slowly....then take it out and measure it. I've gone as long as 1.250 in my STI, but the chamber was cut for long loads....made all the difference. Well, I shot 2 local matches this weekend and a friend gave me some longer loaded 40's and a couple 45 mags. They worked flawlessly. So far I have been using the one factory mag and some Metal forms. I bought some Mec-Gars but they are garbage. The followrs suck and they are rusted. I am going to send them back. I am very seiously considering using 45 mags and some good followers. With the 45 mags and longer ammo, the setback was minimal. Maybe only a few thousandths.

I am hoping to elimnate the need for the FCD. I am getting the U-die. My only issue with the U-die is that it is only .001 undersize. In my head, that is not enough although the people I have spoken to about it said that it would help a lot. I also have to say that the feed ramp on my gun looks to be quite long and steep. I was able to look at a buddies Edge in 40 and the feed ramp was MUCH different.

I just ordered the U-die. For $30 I'm gonna try it. I tried Hornady sizer( actually, 2 sizers, Hornady sent me another after I call with my issue. But both are exactly the same) and also a LEE sizer. All same results. I have been using the LFC. That is why I ruled out crimping as the problem. After I get a batch done, my final step is to run them thru the LFC. I am actually using too much crimp. Thanks Guys. I appreciate the comments. I chose the 1911 in .40 to try to save a little on the cost of ammo. I am starting to think I should have just gone with the .45.

Does EGW still make an undersize die? I am looking for solutions to my bullet setback problem that I've posted about before. My Kimber STainless II in .40 apparently doesn't like to feed rounds from the mag to the chamber. A brief description of the issue is with factory ammo, the bullets setback of a round is an average of .006" when cycled thru the gun. With my reloads, I get an average af about .013" when cycled thru the gun. I have tried adding more crimp. I do not believe that the crimp is the issue. I am also not belling the mouth of the case at all. I am going to polish my feed ramp. My next step is to get an undersize die. After that, I don't know what to do. I guess the Kimber just wasn't made to use .40.

DVC40JIM, Thanks for the info. Just curious, what business do you have/represent? I'll definitely keep you in mind for when the time comes.

Ah, just what a Section Coordinator loves to hear! 2009 has a probable, but 2010 is open. Can I pencil you in? Hehe. Not just yet. It is still an idea.

Well, I'm not looking yet. I am just trying to gather some info. I think that my club would make for a nice sectional someday. But there is a lot of work in putting on a larger match. I certainly don't have the experience in this game to make it work yet.

I am curious about how to go about getting match/stage sponsors. At all the large matches you see a stage sponsor. How do you go about getting the sponsor and what do you ask of them? Is it a monitary donation for advertisement, or an exchage for material items? I am just curious. I may need to hold a bigger match one day, and wouldn't know where to begin.

In looking thru the posts here, how much smaller is the U die than a spec die? I looked at the EGW site and it is only .001" smaller? Doesn't seem like much of a difference as the tolerance on the die is probably +/-.001-.002 anyway. Am I missing something?

We have an indoor range, so foul weather usually isn't a problem. In the summer we shoot rain or shine. I did stop a match becasue of a thunderstorm once. In the winter, we just have smaller matches cause we have the indoor range. If the snow isn't bad (under 8 unches) I'll setup some steel outside. Gotta love living in the snow belt!

+1 on Kimber Stainless II in .40. I love mine. I bought Mec-Gar mags and have had prolems with them. So my advice would be to stay away from MecGar. I have heard good things about Tripp mags. I have also used Chip McCormick .45 mags with success.

Easy kids! Don't make me turn this forum around and head home!

Does anyone have a good height for a Cooper Tunnel? I will be making one and was thinking of 4-1/2 ft high. Just low enough to make people duck, but not need to crawl. I have some older shooters that wouldn't appreciate needing to crouchdown. 4-1/2 feet seem ok? Maybe 4ft?

OK. I get you are all saying about the crimp. I'll be checking the belling die. I believe that I set it so that it didn't add much flare. My 9mm doesn't have much flare on them and I have never had any problems with the 9's, so I just tried to duplicate the same process. I have checked the sizing die and the id is .417. I will need to check the ID of the sized cases tonight. The components I am using are: - Lee Pro1000 press (please keep the laughter to a minimum!) - Hornady dies with a Lee powder thru expander - Mixed brass, most is once fired CCI/Winchester - Montana Gold 180gr bullets (looking at Berry's though when I get the cash) - Bullseye powder - finished OAL is 1.120 I will post more when I get the measurements done.

Thanks guys. i am going to: 1. measure the diamter of my sizing die. 2. check my expander in and make sure that it is not too big. 3. after finding the results of 1/2 I will make adjustments. I may get a u-die anyway. seems like there are nothing but good comments on it. $20 is cheap investemnt.

I have a problem with my .40 loads getting compressed when the round feeds from the mag into the chamber. The bullet gets pushed deeper into the case. I have been getting some very high pf's. When I unload/show clear, I look at the round that came out of the gun and into my hand and see that the round is short. SO, I check over my dies and press. The crimp die is not out of adjustment. It is crimping. I have adjusted the crimp as heavy as it can get before kinking the case. I went through and put all of the rounds I had loaded thru the crimper once more. The new re-crimped loads were a little better, but it didn't completely take care of the problem. I have aLee factory crimp die on order. Someone suggested that that would possibly take care of the problem. If you guys have any other suggestions, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks. Oh. Shooting a Kimber Stainless II in .40 Single Stack.

I have a 2 part question. I have tried to look thru the previous posts, but gave up. I have a local shooter that shoots in Production. The shooter has a 5" XD that has been sent to the factory for a ton of mods. Internal work, extended mag button, hard chrome plating to the slide and all metal parts, the works. Now per the current rules, It would be legal. (I am still unsure of the ext. mag button). Basically, it is now a limited gun. Is this legal as the mods were done by the factory? I am led to believe that under the new draft for the rules that you won't be able to alter the finish of the gun for Production. Will this make his gun illegal? Thanx.