Introducing: Project Nemesis

[Rudukai13]

 

Here we go!

[Rudukai13]

 

Just got a package of custom gun buckets from OTGHex!

 

 

 

Ordered an AIWB and an OWB QLS w/ thumb break model and they both fit excellently. The kydex is molded smoothly, edges and corners are well rounded, and the custom fitting around the Atlas optic mount was done perfectly even without having the actual gun to go off of. And because I know someone will say it, the AIWB holster is fairly large in comparison to a regular light-bearing holster but compared to a Sidecar style holster - like the T1C Axis I use with the RS320s - it’s not really any larger in dimension:

 

The optic shroud on the AIWB piece was requested for two reasons, the first being structural rigidity so the holster doesn’t crush under belt tension after the pistol is drawn, and secondly to keep pressure from the belt from snagging on the optic and slowing down/stopping the draw stroke

[Rudukai13]

 

First trip to the range getting to work from the new holster on the EVO320, brought the OWB setup with me this time. Dryfire and practicing manipulations at home definitely helps the body mechanics on the firing line but one thing I do need to work on some is calming down my hand tremors, causes some shanked shots here and there especially when trying to move quickly. Another couple hundred rounds through the gun today brings it up to 2,500 total with no issues. I think it’s gonna get a good cleaning tonight, probably haven’t really scrubbed it down since about a thousand rounds ago

[Rudukai13]

Well, ran into a bit of a problem with the EVO320 - I believe the striker safety lock broke while dryfiring this afternoon:

 

Part #6 in this diagram

I was doing a little standard dryfire practice over lunch, had done about a dozen trigger pulls, when I went to rack the slide and the gun wouldn’t go fully back into battery. Took the slide off and took a bit of time inspecting and comparing to see what was wrong but it appears that the safety lock is no longer present on the EVO320 slide. Here’s a comparison between RS320A and the EVO320:

 

 

RS320A, safety lock clearly visible and functional. Round count is ~5,200 rounds

 

 

EVO320, no safety lock. Round count of ~2,500 rounds

I’ll have to actually remove the striker assembly later tonight when I have time to fully inspect it and see what’s happened. For the life of me though if it broke off I can’t find the little piece of metal either in the frame of the gun or on the ground where I was dryfiring, it seems to have just vanished…

[Rudukai13]

 

Yup. Here we see where the striker safety lock should be, and the small sliver of metal below the striker assembly is everything that was left of the safety lock piece. I’m gonna say that’s broken

[Rudukai13]

 

Replaced and fixed

[Rudukai13]

 

After trying it out for a while I’ve come to the conclusion I’m not quite getting the adjustment I’d like or the concealment I want from the AIWB holster once it’s paired up with my pants loops and belt. I’ve got the itch to try this kydex attached to a Phlster Enigma LB system. It has all the hardware points that would be needed to be compatible, so it might work - although I want to stress this will very much be an experiment that potentially fails. The only problem is the LB Enigma is currently waitlisted, so have to wait on a restock for now…

[Rudukai13]

 

Here we go!

[Rudukai13]

 

 

Good short day at the range while I wait for the Enigma. Top target is mine

[Rudukai13]

 

Let’s see what we can do with this

[Rudukai13]

 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV1P9OmARkU/

 

Honestly half of my ideas really have no business working nearly as well as they end up

[Rudukai13]

I saw the utility in the Enigma system before I got to try one, but after messing around with it at home for a few hours I’m astonished at how beneficial it is. Having nearly limitless adjustment that doesn’t rely on the position of my pants belt or belt loops significantly increases the concealability and comfort with carrying around such a large gun. This combination flat out works.

Next range trip I’m running concealment drills in my basketball shorts

[Rudukai13]

Couple hundred rounds at the outdoor range this afternoon since it was such a nice day, the EVO320 maintains its boringly reliable streak - just 100 rounds away from the 3,000 mark and a nice thorough cleaning. No shooting from the holster allowed (my brother and dad picked the range, not my favorite place), so no practice with the Enigma yet but that’ll come in the next week.

I did get yelled at for rapid fire, even though I was shooting intentionally slowly

[Rudukai13]

 

Just over the 3,000 round mark on the EVO320 this evening and the first real shooting test of the Enigma setup. The holster is remarkably stable and comfortable when drawing and reholstering, never once did I notice it shift or get out of position from where I set it up initially. I really wish I’d purchased an Enigma platform initially, not just for the additional adjustment I wanted for the larger EVO320. I doubt I’ll use anything else going forward. Tomorrow the gun will get broken down and get a good scrubbing.

And yes, I was shooting in basketball shorts 

[Rudukai13]

 

Broke the pistol down and scrubbed a bunch of carbon out. Inspected the innards and everything appears to be in good working order. Scraped some of the crud off the magazines while I was at it, the followers and feed lips in particular needed it. All back together and ready for the next 3,000 rounds

[Rudukai13]

 

A small curiosity satisfied. At least by weight, somehow the gun is shockingly still easily legal for USPSA CO. So there’s that

[UpYoursPal]

Have you tried this in a match yet?

[Rudukai13]

1 hour ago, UpYoursPal said:

Have you tried this in a match yet?

I haven’t yet, mostly due to some unfortunate medical issues of late that make much physical activity rather difficult. It’s certainly in the plans for the future though, particularly now that I think I’ve got the carry system pretty well worked out

[Rudukai13]

Interesting bit of information relevant to content previously posted in this thread:
 

 

Now, this comes with the caveat that backyard ballistics testing is still backyard ballistics testing - although TNOutdoors9 is probably on the higher end of quality for the DIY ballistics gel reviewers - but it’s worth noting.

As it pertains to this thread, a while back I did purchase a small bulk amount of the USA Ready 124gr +P loads as I couldn’t find any of my standard Critical Duty loads in stock anywhere. I haven’t purchased any more since, and probably won’t again. At this point I think in the case of defensive JHP ammo I’m pivoting my preference towards the Gold Dot/HST gold standards for the category, though still just about any 124gr +P load from a major manufacturer will be sufficient

[Rudukai13]

 

My brother got his slide back from Jagerwerks after milling and installation of 508T X2. Looks excellent, should be able to get it to the range this weekend to shoot it. I do believe fairly soon I’ll be upgrading the EVO320 from the current Gen1 508T to the X2 version for side-loading battery. I’m kind of leaning towards getting the green dot version too?

 

[Rudukai13]

 

Went to the local “guntry club” range today and shot the EVO320 a bit more, no problems there. Went there specifically though because reps from Phoenix Trinity were there with guns that they were letting people shoot. It was…Surprisingly disappointing.

To start they didn’t have any of the Open division Honcho pistols there which is really what they’re known for and what I was most interested in, but whatever. They did have a few of their new Morph carry guns to try, so I asked to shoot the 9mm and 10mm.

For one thing, apparently the guns don’t like lefties because every time I shot the 9mm it would cycle correctly but the hammer wouldn’t reset on the sear so after each shot I wound up with a live round in the chamber with the hammer down. Apparently a couple other lefties who’d tried shooting the guns this weekend had had the same issue.

As far as the 10mm, it just would not feed properly. The gun went back and forth between nosediving rounds and somehow popping the front of the next round up through the ejection port. The rep seemed to be implying I wasn’t shooting the guns correctly, until I broke out my personal gun and fired a full mag flawlessly. Not really impressed. I’m adding Phoenix Trinity to the list of products that aren’t for me. Right next to the Learjet and mega yacht.

Going to a different range later today with my brother so he can shoot the new P320 he just got back from Jagerwerks. More later

[Rudukai13]

 

More concealment practice for me and initial reliability testing for my brother’s new P320 (not pictured unfortunately). No malfunctions to report from either.

Anybody know how to convince someone that using bulk steel cased FMJ ammo as your zeroing ammo is stupid as hell? I’ve tried and nothing’s gotten through…

[Rudukai13]

 

Another range day and up to 3,300 rounds with no issues. Part of the reason my brother and I went today is because the range had a rep from Springfield Armory there with a bunch of guns to try shooting for free, including the new SA-35. Grabbed it to run a few magazines through, and my brother wanted to try the 10mm XDM. The HP worked great - The XDM malfunctioned. I’m shocked, I tell you

[ddc]

What was the particular XDM/10mm malfunction?

[Rudukai13]

11 minutes ago, ddc said:

What was the particular XDM/10mm malfunction?

A few failure to feeds. Three FTFs out of fifty rounds total isn’t a good ratio.

 

To be clear I don’t blame the cartridge, I didn’t have high hopes for the XDM and tried to warn my brother about it but it was free to test other than the box of ammo