BayouSlide

I knew you had the makings of a fine RO and was happy to to offer a little help in your journey. Congrats, my friend. Curtis

Welcome from another bayou resident. You'll find more info here in the Benoverse, from more helpful and knowledgeable people, that anywhere else on the net. Explore, ask questions and improve your shooting! Curtis

Are you using the basepads Dawson's made specifically for use with the ICE no gap? Curtis

Interesting...I ran into a half dozen of these as once fired range pickups just last week. Since I didn't recognize the headstamp, I just consigned it to the scrap pile to play it safe. Curtis

Can't answer the first part, but the Lone Wolf 3.5# is the cure for the mushy Glock OEM 3.5#. Curtis

I know as fellow South of I-10 residents, Darrell and Beauxdog have my best interests at heart...not my checkbook maybe, but definitely my best interests. Already had picked up a used STI 2011 in .40...now I need want a 9mm. After handling the Spartan and Trojan whenever I could get clear of Stage 3, I definitely prefer the Trojan...I like the balance better and it's less nose heavy. Nicer parts and fit and finish as well. Dare I say it, with a balance closer to my G34 The extra weight in the front in the Spartan might prove advantageous in .45 or .40S&W but doesn't float my boat for a 9mm steel gun. What can I say...I like 9s but it will probably be down the road a ways as I come to terms with my new Limited gun. The Spartan is nice, especially at the price point, and fit the budget but I think there's a Trojan in my future someday. And Richard, sorry I didn't see your note about asking for the Spartan in .40 before I left...drop Jay an e-mail via the sales contact link at STIs Web site. As we say in Louisiana, vote early and vote often Curtis

I would be the first one to catch my muzzle on a barrier going to prone. I'll remember to position it, and then me. Thanks! Controlling breathing hadn't occurred to me, I'm usually not running around right before I shoot though. Perfect warning for a bonehead mistake. I can imagine missing 6-7 times before I realized it too. I'm planning on verifying zero today and practicing on the longer ones a couple times if I can. I'll be wearing a red AL hat and glasses. What squad are you in? Sunday, Squad 1. Curtis

Take a couple of deep breaths before moving into position for the long shots: it helps. Know your zero. And squuueezzee the trigger for those longer shots. See ya there...it's a great match. Curtis

From my catbird seat on 50 Yard Fun, I was kinda shocked to see many shooters slapping the trigger at 50 yard targets instead of riding the reset. I kinda like the challenge...and occasional frustration of a long shot or a stage with strong hand or weak hand, especially when you work the oddball stuff into your practice regimen. My best stage was what I like to refer to as The Forest of Steel because I've been working on plate racks at 25 yards off and on recently. Curtis

Yup, Saturday and Sunday were pretty tough...I was scoring at everybody's fav...50 yard Fun...which means we hiked around 20,000 yards back and forth over the course of three days. I know my brain went to slide lock a couple of times due to the heat, but I rehydrated and soldiered on FWIW, efficiently managing a stage at a big match can be a real pressure cooker, maybe that's something that only competitors who have worked as an RO at a big match can fully appreciate. My advice to anyone who runs into an RO who's having an off day or copping an attitude, is to always remain polite and respectful when pointing out problems: that's usually the quickest way to defuse any potential conflict and get, in return, the politeness and respect you are fully entitled to as a competitor. I know I'm always grateful when a competitor politely points out an edge hit or a scoring error: I want 'em to get every single point they've earned and you're bound to make few mistakes in working 200+ shooters through a stage over three days. Curtis Edited: 'cause after this match, I can only do math up to the number 12, apparently

You need to do what I do, buddy...when you practice at 75 yards, those 50 yarders start to look a little easier I picked up 5 mikes, but I called one of 'em Curtis

You need to do what I do, buddy...when you practice at 75 yards, those 50 yarders start to look a little easier I picked up 5 mikes, but I called one of 'em Curtis

I seriously doubt they will fit the box and may actually put you at or over the weight limit depending on your other mods. Pistols are weighed with one empty mag. Now if you had 'em on a G19 with G19 mags, you'd probably be good to go, barring that darned weight issue. Curtis

That's the only difference. I've used both and, for USPSA, I'd go with the once-fired brass and save a few bucks. The new brass (used to be Starline) might be a little more consistent. But I never had a problem with the once-fired. In fact, I'm now on my tenth reloading for practice rounds from the original AA&A once-fired brass I saved. Curtis

Yup, merely a gnats whisker or two, just that fraction of a millimeter between shooting Limited and Open. Curtis

Great stuff. Used many thousands of rounds for a few years before I started reloading and based my reloads on similar specs to the AA&A loadings. Good ammo, good customer service. Curtis

FWIW, I recently checked my four recent manufacture Dawson 140mm mags and one older SVI 140mm, as well as four of a buddy's recent Dawson 140mm mags, in the official mag gauge. Not a single one of them was legal, as is, with the SNL basepads. Some were closer than others but every single one would require the rear feed lips to be filed down to fit. YMMV. Go to a match where they use the mag length gauge and you don't fit, "Welcome to Open." Curtis It's interesting that you had that experience, because mine was the exact opposite. At my RO class this past weekend, I gauged all of mine and they had a LOT of room to spare (all were legal). STI tubes + Dawson SNLs. Hmmm. You're right about that interesting discrepancy. But that's why they are SNL (Sometimes Not Legal). FWIW, all the STI tubes I measured were Dawson tuned mags. Hard to get an accurate caliper reading in there but the rear feed lips on the Dawson regular +1 pads had approx. 2.3mm clearance in the gauge. Those pads are 20.9mm wide in the rear where they lie on the back of the gauge. The SNL pad I just grabbed is 22.49 mm in width in the same area. These measurements jive with my initial evaluation that from .1 - .2 mm would need to be removed from the rear of the feed lips of the mags to make them drop freely into the gauge. As always, YMMV. Curtis

FWIW, I recently checked my four recent manufacture Dawson 140mm mags and one older SVI 140mm, as well as four of a buddy's recent Dawson 140mm mags, in the official mag gauge. Not a single one of them was legal, as is, with the SNL basepads. Some were closer than others but every single one would require the rear feed lips to be filed down to fit. YMMV. Go to a match where they use the mag length gauge and you don't fit, "Welcome to Open." Curtis

Funny how you should check into this thread, Bobby. You greatly resemble that "highly competent 'smith" I was mentioning earlier That check list is looking pretty good as a build sheet...I had meant to ask you about a flat trigger...the one on this used 2011 I picked up seems to suit my long finger well, but I got used to a Glock, right, so I can't be that choosy, right? I'm pretty sure you won't get to keep that gun for yourself, but I have an idea where it might find a good home down on the Bayou Teche. Curtis

Will do, Todd. I talked to the folks at STI and they will have a Spartan at their table at Area 4 so I will be able to check one out in factory configuration before deciding whether I want to order one and what mods I might need. From the threads here I have picked up on the fact that nearly everyone who bought one, feels it's a great value for the $$$, which means it will fit within the "like to have and can actually afford" budget even with a couple mods added to the bottom line. Curtis

Corey or Todd: Either of you guys going to be at Area 4 this week? I'll be working one of the stages (don't know which one yet) and would love to talk with either of you. Curtis

Thanks Corey and Todd. My first thoughts on initial must-haves were basic reliability tuning, a trigger job and the .40 FO, with a magwell down the road. Will take a look at both your suggestions on magwells. As a Glock guy, i'm still getting used to a thumb safety. I was familar with the standard STI ambi from a friend's Edge. I fitted the standard STI ambi to the used STI Eagle I bought and it seems OK to me...a foreign experience but I'm coming to grips with it. The STI I fitted went in without too much drama, but if I were to change out the thumb safety on the Spartan, I'd prefer getting this done with the trigger job. Both you guys dumped the single sided safety that came with the Spartan: what didn't you like about it? Appreciate the help. Curtis

Been there, done that, thanks. Not looking to rehash any info from existing threads, but some fresh insights from owners who spent some time with the Spartan...and edited to add...to examine some things that might only apply to my particular needs and circumstances. Curtis

The crystal ball foresees a 9mm Spartan in my future. If purchased, I will be getting it from a very capable 'smith. For a change of pace, I'm easing into the 1911/2011 realm after years as a Glock Production shooter, so I'm interested in opinions of those who know more than me— nearly anyone perusing this thread, I'd guess . Right out of the box, what would you Spartan owners see as the most essential mods you either made or wished you had done? I'm working on a budget so I'm looking for the most bang for the buck right now, as it comes from the 'smith, not necessarily parts I can easily add on myself after shooting it for a while. No plans to shoot Singlestack at present, though that could change. I would like to run it in steel matches, if that makes any difference in your suggestions. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate tipos typos!

I sold a G20 to a friend of mine recently (stock trigger components) and a Vanek trigger for his G34. The G20 had been 100 percent reliable with factory and my reloads (Winchester LP primers), the Vanek when installed in my G34 was 100 percent reliable (Federal SP). All my friend could get for his reloading are Wolf LP and SP primers. The result: lots of light strikes. He didn't have any problems with the Wolf LP in his Dan Wesson, either. Either VERY hard primers or ???. I am not impressed with Wolf pistol primers at this point for striker fired guns. YMMV. Put heavier striker springs in both and waiting to hear back from him. Curtis