jim vaughan

Flat nosed bullets work best with minor factor.

Don't. Sell the Edge and buy the 38SC. This advice is based on numerous attempts by lots of shooters that went down this route. You are missing the slide lightening, scope, scope mount, thumbshelf, racker, extended firing pin, cases, dies, bullets, etc.

To add further information to this discussion, I have had similar case ruptures with two SIG manufactured 38 super barrels. They have minimal case support and the blow outs look identical. I rechambered the barrels to 9x23 and was using 165 factor loads with 125 coated bullets.

I used Kroil recently and it works perfectly. Apply some Kroil to the ports and store the weapon so that the penetrating oil can soak in. Then shoot out the dislodged lead at your next range session or remove it with a straight Dremel wire brush. I had all of my debris removed in just 2 sessions.

A piece of 3-4" shim stock on the side of the dovetail would work if you are not prepared to wait for a replacement sight.

Check your leaf spring. It may have slipped off the sear sideways or it may be too short.

If one zeros at say 25m, then the bullet impact will be no different to shooting with a vertical gun. All that is happening is that one picks up the dot quicker with the master eye.

Can you tell the difference between a 8 and an 8.5 lb recoil spring? I just use a cheap electronic luggage weighing device and I get consistency down to below 0.5 lb.

If your bore to dot distance is large (mine is 60 mm), then it pays to cant the gun when used in the left hand so that the dot aligns with my master right eye. Thus cant for weak hand, vertical for strong hand is my preference.

As is usual in all aircraft level hard chrome plating, a hydrogen embrittlement removal process is done. After this process, I do not see the need for a ban on this type of plating. Both of my Aftec's have been plated as well as most of the parts on my weapon.

I do not understand why there is a recommendation not to hardchrome the Aftec.

I just don't like their recommended installation guide. They are adamant that the rear barrel lug recess depth should be 0.040" (1.01 mm) and must never be cut. I believe that a larger distance is in order for high volume, high pressure loads such as IPSC, USPSA and Pin shooting. Once I seated the barrel deeper I had a fit that lasted much longer. Jim

Ear muffs also dampen low frequency sounds that would otherwise travel through the bone directly behind the ear. Ear inserts of any form will not reduce this noise.

I cannot see the sight tracker barrel arrangement. Any chance of a top view?

Bullet diameter mismatch? Try larger bullets.

From what I see it looks like the bottom of the brass case is not fully supported by the chamber. The reason for this comment is that I had similar problems when using two new "fully supported" 38 super barrels which I then reconfigured for 9x23 loads. Using loads that had been proven over many tens of thousands of rounds, some cases blew in the area which had the least chamber support. A comparison to the earlier and later barrels showed that the ramp was machined too far forward. Jim

Has anyone tried using the Lee 158gr RN cast bullet coated with Hitek with a 9x19 case and an OAL of 31.7-32.0 mm? This is soft, accurate, economical and within published pressure limits. It also has a significant bullet engagement in the case (approx 6 mm) for stability during the loading cycle. Dot flip is a bit more than a light bullet but is very predictable.

Change back to 125 gr

I would check the chamber length first. It sounds like it is a bit short.

STI frames with STI plastic grips. I have 2 that need long leaf springs.

Find out whether you need an extra long sear spring before you order a kit, otherwise you will have to order twice.

The biggest problem with 3 leaf springs is getting one that is long enough on the left hand leaf. I have many that are too short for STI plastic grips.

I enjoy shooting with anyone who pitches in. Lower grade shooters welcome constructive advice. Shooters that are too serious need to be criticised and made aware that they are not prima donnas in the squad. Age sometimes has advantages!

Or just use thin barrels and cone comps. No problems at all since there is minimal torque on the comp and lots of threads to hold them together.

The normal request is for the opposite - 1st shot different to the remainder. Other ideas are loose sights, weak recoil spring, less than perfect barrel lockup, worn link and pin, worn slide stop, etc. Also try a slightly stronger recoil spring and see if the group pattern changes. Was your slow fire braced on sand bags? Try another shooter. Jim