want2race

Ooh, has anyone chronographed the Apex and compared it with the stocker (same ammo)? I'm curious if it's faster or slower. I can probably get to it next week...

I was thankful to have the Apex barrel this weekend. Shot an IDPA state match with many head shots and hard cover shots. Even the 25 yard standards stage was shot with confidence. I was telling anyone that would listen, "you NEED one of these barrels!" Lol.

I'm running a used 13#. No issues. If you fit the barrel VERY tight, that is when you might run into issues. Mine has broken in and closes easy, still stupid accurate....when I do my part.

Mine was that tight after I was done fitting. Closed with a push of a thumb if slow racked. I have 500 rounds through it and it's broken in to where I can't get it to hang open any more. Still shoots amazing with the right ammo. It's funny that now I KNOW it's the ammo, not the gun.

Nice thing about the sport, you pick what gives you an advantage...real or perceived. The reset distance is long with the Classic line, unless factory parts are replaced or worked over. Short stroking the trigger before reset happens often for me trying to shoot them fast. You can install a short trigger, but that just moves everything to the rear. The SRT is needed to reduce reset distance, however does the trigger stop or continue forward after the sear resets? That is my issue with CZ's. The sear reset is short, but the trigger continues forward another 1/4 inch or so. Maybe it's an 1/8th. Yes, CZ custom now has a fix for that too. Either way, I had a tuned SP01 and it never got passed the "testing" phase. Sold it before I shot it in a match. Hated it. Others love them. Some GM's win with them. Still doesn't suit me. Other than that, and these are clearly just my opinions, I have no idea why they are not as common as striker fired guns. Barrel length? Sight radius?

If it worked, it could save $200 though. While it did work to reduce group sizes, I'm obsessed with "best".

I hate, HAAAAATE DA/SA guns. I don't care if the CZ has a 3#/1.5# pull possible. Stupid long reset (unless fixed on the CZ). The 226/229 are tall guns, high bore axis. The grip panels (left side specifically) do not agree with my hands, E2 grip is better though. The 320 is an all around good production gun with growing aftermarket support. Not to mention, it's cheaper.

I can, but it's ugly. Lol.

I was getting a weird phenomenon with the stock factory barrel, the first round of the group would be substantially lower. No matter how I loaded it, always the first shot was low. The groups hovered in the 2.5 to 5 inch range, unless the first round dropped very low then it could open up to 6" plus. I had some groups with the stock barrel that were pretty good but it was roughly double of what it can do now. Doug Koenig has said that the hand loaded round will alter the group size, which is why he only loads once when shooting a Bianchi event. I've never seen it this bad. The work I did only proved to me that the Apex barrel really does live up to the claim. Seriously. I don't know how long it will group this tight but if it lasts 10k then it's a bargain. I will try to Ransom it and shoot some 50 yard groups as well.

This was a practical accuracy test. Freestyle, unsupported. Two rounds at 7, 10, 15 and 20 yards. I had made a couple clicks of adjustment from the last group.

I welded up the stock barrel and recut it to achieve the delayed unlocking. Made the necessary adjustments and it locked up almost identical to the Apex I installed earlier. There is more hood clearance though as I didn't weld up that. The group's don't lie. I did everything I could to produce the best groups. These were shot standing, rested on a bag with light pressure on the gun. 100% function with both barrels. Ammo is factory, bullet is 100gr compressed copper frangible. Crazy that they shoot so well.

Having some hood clearance will decrease the wear on the slide lock up surface. Otherwise, that edge may roll over time. By "some" I mean a thou or two. The hood length was so much easier to get right than a 1911. Measure the opening. My Gunsmith fit barrel was only .002" too long. In fact I could tap it into lock up with a mallet. I removed the .002, then polished with 600g. The polishing have me the "some" clearance I wanted. Since the barrel and slide lock up surface are nearly right angles, I break the edge slightly on the slide.

I have tested both back to back. Although the Sig had the stock recoil spring. I do like the trigger once it's down in the 3.5# range. The reset sear makes dry firing awesome. However, with the Apex barrel my Smiff just became more accurate than the stock 320. Not too mention I can do 2.5# triggers in the M&P. Not there yet on the 320. I think the "super target" is going to be the next production must have gun though.

I guess I've been lucky. Although I have witnessed horrendous accuracy from standard models, both Pro's I've shot extensively grouped well enough for me to not even think about it. The obvious issue Smith is having is unfortunate because I really support Smith in general. Sig is about to blow the doors off. I predict a large number of used M&P's hitting the market very very soon. Sig is watching and listening. I'll save the direct comparisons for another thread though. I just finished installing the Apex barrel and I'm impressed.

I think the left shots are me. I'll continue testing with other bullets weights but this is the ammo that shoots the best from my Bianchi 1911, my 5" 1911 also likes it. These were shot indoors, which I historically suffer with. Kind of dark. I do better with natural light. Still, way better than it was. I'm impressed with this barrel. This was a gunsmith fit and it went in pretty easy.

Fit mine. It's tight and it's right. LOL. I stopped removing material when it was close and lapped in by hand. Then also polished the top of the locking block a little. They are pretty rough. First session when pretty well. I may Ransom it later, but this is promising.

I'll post pics tonight. Shot the Apex barrel today. Lockup is tight, if I lower the slide slowly it will hang open just like a tight 1911. Only had to remove .002" from the hood and the chamber is perfect. Did not require reamer. Bottom lug was oversized, as it should be. Cut it until the lock up was just a hair too tight, then lapped it in. I shot from a supported freestyle position. Hands on a sandbag, standing. Using 100gr compressed copper factory ammo at 20y, 5 shots at 1.1". Best I could do at 25y was 1.583 something inches. Easily within my margin of error. From a Ransom I can see groups being even smaller. For me, that is over 100% improvement in accuracy. As for welding up the stocker. It's quite involved. Cam down ramp has to be modified to allow for the delayed unlocking. I'll get it done and test it, but unless you can personally weld and recut it.... not worth it.

I'm testing the factory barrel stock vs. welded up. My Apex barrel just arrived yesterday so I'm going to test that compared to stock, then I'll see if I can get similar accuracy with the modified barrel.

I run the same holster for everything. Simple kydex belt holsters for all my pistols. Same for all divisions. Consistency is key.

Now I have to try a large....

I warm up as well. Getting the heart rate up and blood flowing. Then light stretching.

shootersconnection.com has the reduced mag catch spring for your 1911. That's where I get mine at least.

I like the Medium if that's what comes standard. Curious about the large though. Is it wider and longer (front to back)? Just longer?

If you are going to order stuff, definitely get the spring kit. I just use what I have on hand, because I can. The spring kit from Apex is great.