ALF

I was chronoing some 9 mm Major loads last weekend. The temperature was -2 degrees centigrade (about 30 degrees Fahrenheit). The load was 7.4 gn Vith N350 Magtech 125 gn FMJ, Fed 100 once fired Norma cases.OAL 30,84 mm (about 1,21). My average was 1326 fps about PF 165,8. The gun is an SVI IMM with three popple holes and a three port comp. What can I expect in velocity when the temperature is say 80 degrees? I have heard everything from 1-10%!

I have the same type of gun (SVI IMM) except that mine has three "hybrid holes". The load I use at the moment is VV N350 7,4 gn makes about PF 168 in my gun. I have also tried Vectan SP2 9,2 gn made about 168-170, and also Hogdon HS 6, 8,6 gn made a PF of 170. N350 works great and is available almost everywhere in my neck of the woods(Sweden). My gun came with a firing pin that was a little to short but I had it replaced and it has worked fine since then!

I have a couple of thousand Remington 7½(Benchrest), I have had no problem with misfires so far. My normal 9 mm Major load makes a PF of about 181 with Hogdon HS 6 and Magtech 125 gn FMJ´s OAL 1.21. The presures are high no doubt about that,but no problems after about 600 rounds. My SVI IMM wont "ignite" any Rifle primer I have tried but, with my new top end no problem so far(Caspian slide BarSto barrel and 3port EGW comp)

Has anyone else had the same problems with Remington rifle primers? I have about 12.000 that I inteded to use in my 9 mm Major loads, but if the breechface will be damaged is it maybe not worth using them!

No I have no price yet. And I have some thoughts of using my new top end instead om my IMM one, just to be sure that I make major! My new one is a full lenght slide with a three port full profile comp, compared to the IMM slide that is a little shorter and has in addition to the comp three "hybrid" holes. The load that I used at this years Florida Open, was 8,6 gn of HS6 and 125gn FMJ bullet with Remington brass and primes made about 1370 fps(PF 171)iin the IMM configuration. I will have to do some more research before I decide which way to go!

As I plan to "enjoy" Florida Open 2008, is the process of getting ammo one of the hurdles. Taking ammo with me on the flight from Europe is out of the question, it is enough troublesome taking my pistol. I plan to shoot Open next year using my SVI IMM in 9 major.The problem is that you cant buy 9 major ammo except from a commercial reloader until now that is. Danny Wisner of Atlanta Arms is about to produce ammo labeled .355 Super(9 major). For me is that a huge relief as it means that I can get good reliable ammo delivered to the match. And shooting minor is not an option. If I couldnt get 9 major ammo would plan B to shoot Limited using my other SVI in 40 S&W.

My match loads is major no doubt about that. At this years Florida Open was my power factor 171. But this load should be used for practice and with a power factor of about 150-155. My gun is an SVI IMM in 9X19, it has a three port comp and three popple holes. Very flat shooting and also very loud!

I am looking for a practice load in 9X19 using N320 powder, Zero 124 gn FMJ bullet,OAL about 31 mm (I have forgotten how much it is in Inches 1.20?) For match use is the powders of choice 9,2 gn Vectan SP2 or 7,8 gn Vith N350 , these loads have in my SVI IMM a factor of at least 167. What I need is a load that makes a factor of 150-155. As I have N320 on hand why not use it? A guess is that about 5-5 gn of N320 should be "close" to what I am looking for. Any suggestions?

I have tried to load the cases up to five times with no problem at all. But as I have a good supply of once fired 9X19 cases, have I decided to play it safe and leave the brass on the ground.

Thanks for the info! I will look into USPSA´s ammo program. I have also contacted Atlanta Arms and they can get me 40 S&W loaded long (which is what I want)$183 for 1000 plus $20 for shipping. I know that Florida Open is a long way of, but since 9/11 have the rules for travelling on an airplane with a handgun changed and for a good reason to!Here is what happened to me after this years Florida Open. I got into problems with TSA in Chicago´s O´Hare this February as I was about to check in for the long flight home. The bags had been checked in Orlando and was supposed to go direct to my next flight, but the airline wanted to look into my bag to check on my "gun". They where satisfied but then came TSA into the picture. They opened my bag with the gun to have a peak no problem! But then someone decided to take a small piece of "cloth" and rubbed it onto the inside rim of my suitcase,. But when they put the "cloth" into this "mechanical nose" that things started to be interesting. The machine had found traces of explosives in my suitcase! To make a long story short it took them almost 60 minutes to get through my bags! Everything in my bags was taken out and searched. Finally came they to the conclusion that powder residue on my clothes that I had used during match could be the cause! Next time will I wash everything BEFORE I proceed home! I can smile about it know but it was not fun at all then!

It looks as Florida Open 2008 is a match that deserves to be "enjoyed"! Now for something different: As I live in Europe where gun laws are a "wee bit different" to put it mildly, have I a question about ammo! I will use my SVI Limited gun in 40 S&W this time, is it legal for me as a tourist to go to a gunstore and buy 1000 rounds or more of 40 ammo?To bring the ammo with me across the big pond is not an option!The airlines have this thing about ammo it is hard enough bringing my gun! Normally will the ammo be loaded for me by a friend of mine in Phoenix AZ. But on this trip have I decided to stay in Florida and "play the tourist" for a while! I plan to stay in the Miami area for a week or two before the match and shoot some local matches,and enjoy the weather. Any info is greatly appreciated! I noticed that Bass Pro shop sells Remington/UMC 40 S&W ammo in bulk pack for what seems to me (anyway) be a fair price compared to what ammo cost in "my neck of the woods"! I also read some good stuff about Atlanta Arms ammo would that be an option to get quality ammo for the match?

I noticed that one can register for the Florida Open 2008 already. Has anyone heard if the format will be the same as earlier(ten stages 300+rounds)? Or will the 10th Florida Open be special?

I have now has the chance to do some minor tests, and this is what I found! First both top ends works best with "hotter" ammo a PF of 168-173 seems to work best. I use Fiocchi cases and 8.7 gn of Vectan SP2 OAL 1.22, I have used different primers but the ones I like best are Remington small rifle. The bullets are Zero 125 gn FMJ. With the "old" top end is the dot hardly moving at all(it just "shudders thats it). But the gun is VERY loud and the muzzle blast is disturbing, but I get the impression that the time between targets is faster than with the "new" top end. With the new top end is the dot moving up and down (not much but compared to the other is there a clear difference) the dot never leaves the A-zone though. The impression I get is that the "new" top is softer to shoot and perhaps just a little slower between targets. This weekend will I do some more tests on some simple stages and also see what the timer and chrono will tell me.

I will be back with more how the new top end compares to the original,when the weather is better. I dont like shooting in the snow .

To be honest I dont know if he gave me a "good" price for old times sake! I have had a few guns built before by Frank and he has always delivered quality work. He has built a number of pistols for Robbie Leatham and Brian Enos to name two of his more well known customers! His website gives all the info one needs, www.glenncustom.com My first impression is that the new top end is more "stable" and not as"nervous" as the IMM top end! I dont know yet which one I will use in competition this season. As soon as spring arrives will I set up camp at the range and do some serious testing!

The work was done by Frank Glenn in Phoenix. In my humble opinion is he outstanding, one thing I forgot to mention is that cost of finishing the the new slide and comp was not included in the $1000.I will see if I can get some pictures in the near future.

I just got the new top end and the first impression is "nice"! It seems to me that in order to function, is a power factor of 168 at least needed. Yesterday I spent some time at the range, testing different loads. My match ammo for Florida Open (8,6gn HS6 OAL 1,22 Remington brass&primers) worked just fine with a factor of 171. The recoil spring is use for the moment is an 8lb, on the IMM topend am I currently using a 9lb. I will be back with more when the weather is better, in the meantime will I try to load some new ammo.

I have just got a price for the new top end,about $1000. This includes all parts and labour. I hope that I will have the gun ready by the end of March! What I am curios to find out is how much one loses in velocity with a shortened slide with popple holes compared to a "normal" lenght slide without "holes", and also how fast one can change between targets. The list of parts: Caspian slide. EGW 3 port full profile comp, and a Bar-Sto barrel, a Sidewinder slide racker and Aftec extractor, plus the usual small parts!

So this match requires 303 rounds ,this means that I will bring at least 450 rounds minmum with me this time!

If there is a drawback to the SVI IMM is it that the gun is VERY loud and the blast from the front end is also disturbing/could be because the hybrid holes?). I like the way the gun moves between targets, compared to other Open guns that I tried.But as I am curious and want to try something new, why not something that is on the other end of the spektrum. No I have not had any problems with bullet movement, the bullet I use at the moment are Zero 125 gn FMJ.Other that I have tried and liked are Magtech 125gn FMJ and Nosler 135gn IPSC. The Nosler bullet is in my gun the most acurate that I have tried.Powders that I have used are Vith N350 Hogdon HS6 and Nobel/Vectan SP2. The Vith N350 seems to procuce more smoke than the others, no problem though! One more thing I dont know if my gun is special but it seems to like loads with a power factor higher than 165 the best. I must confess that shooting a hybrid is different than a normal Open class gun, but it works and thats what matters.

About 15 years ago when I was the proud owner of one the first 38 Supers here in Sweden, did I a one of the worst screw ups ever. 38 Super brass was hard to find and expensive as h-ll when you could find it! After one of the big matches did I spend some time looking for 38 Super brass and I got a couple of hundreds to take home. I loaded them and testfired a few and everything was A1. The was it time to go to the BIG ONE "Viking Match" in Haugesund Norway almost 700 miles from where I live. The first few stages went well but at one of the biggest stages of the match did it happen! The gun just froze for me , it wouldnt eject the fired case whatever I did so it was a DNF on that stage. What had happened was that I had got a 9X21 case in amongst the 38 Supers it went of alright but it wouldnt eject.I learned that if you pick brass that is not your own be VERY CAREFUL and check not once but twice before you attemp to use it! That is one of the reasons that I shoot 9X19 Major nowadays NEVER have to pick brass again!!!

I have an SVI IMM in 9x19 it is a great gun in every way, but I am playing with the idea of getting a new top end, that is totaly different from the original one! My SVI has a slightly shortened slide with a hybrid cut (3 hybrid holes) and a 3 port comp. What I am looking for is something like this a full lenght slide with a 3 or 4 port fullprofile comp(like the ones EGW makes)and no hybrid holes, the slide should have some material removed at the rear end. Is it a waste of time and money or will this thing work? I shoot 9X19 Major loads with a factor of 168-170 OAL is about 31 mm. It would be fun to compare how I would shoot with two totaly different setups! Anyone that has some ideas about this?

When I use SP2 in my SVI IMM, is my normal load 8.6 gn with a Zero 125gn FMJ and Fed primers OAL is 31.5 mm. I get about 168 in PF. It seems to me that SP2 burns cleaner than Vith N350(less smoke).The same PF with Vith is 7,3 gn. If I use Hogdon HS6( as I will on this years Florida Open) is 8.6gn needed to make 168.6 PF. The reason that I use HS6 is that my ammo is loaded in the States to my spec, and HS6 is the only powder that I could find on both sides of the big pond, that would do it!My IMM has 3"hybrid holes" and a 3 port comp. With the right load is the dot hardly moving at all! Any drawbacks, yes it is loud VERY loud so I use both plugs and ordinary hearing protectors. But I love shooting 9X19 major!

Thanks! Just what I needed to know!

I will shoot Florida Open this February, and I have worked up a load in 9 major that is as follows:Remington cases and primers, Winchester 125gn FMJ bullet, 8,6 gn of HS6,OAL is 1.22. I get a factor 168.6 as an average of 10 rounds in 35 degrees weather .(Winter is just around the corner here in Stockholm Sweden) My question is as I have not used HS6 before what will the weather in Florida with the higher temperatures do to My factor? The gun that I will use is an SVI with a 3 port hybridbarrel and a 3 port comp I think that SVI calls it an "IMI". I dont want to shoot in Florida and find out that I have a power factor of 185 or more, or even worse not making major!