deerslayer

Not to hijack the thread, but is the book photo-heavy? I ask this because I want to read it on a kindle, but if it has lots of pics, I may get a hard copy.

As rbrooks said above, MSSA has IDPA matches on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. When it's cold, walk-through is usually 930. In hot weather, it's sometimes moved to 830. A first-time IDPA shooter would be wise to show up an hour or so before walk-through. It may be cancelled if it's really muddy or raining horizontally. The matches usually require 125 rounds or so (I always bring more). Take a right as soon as you cross the train tracks. The TWRA range in Bartlett also has a match every Tuesday night at 6 PM. They recently started having matches on Sunday afternoons at 1 or 2 PM. I would definitely call and make sure the Sunday matches are a go before driving there. The Tuesday night matches usually require 70-80 rounds (again, I would bring more). Rangemaster has IDPA-style matches every Friday night at 6 PM (usually 70-100 rounds). Basically, you will be well served with a 9mm, .40, or .45 auto with at least a 3" barrel and three magazines. A 10mm or a .357 SIG will do nicely, though. You will also need a strong-side hip holster and a double magazine carrier or two single-mag carriers. The mag carriers are not a must, but will help. A six-round revolver with 3-4 speedloaders can play, too. No appendix, cross-draw, or small-of-back holsters are allowed. Some type of concealment clothing is required, but first-time shooters can get by without it (they are not trying to run you off). Most who go just to watch regret not bringing their guns after watching three or four shooters. If you can draw your gun without touching the trigger or sweeping yourself, run across your living room without touching the trigger while keeping the gun pointed downrange, and hit a pie plate at 10 yards, you're ready to go. Be sure to show up early and let someone who looks like they are in charge know it's your first match. No matter where you go, they are always helpful (they want you to come back). PM me if you have any questions.

Try both. Like the above post said, IDPA is more defensive-oriented, and depending on the stage, is more choreographed. Both are games, but USPSA is stricly about figuring out the quickest way to complete the stage. Some want IDPA stages to be shot the same way, but a good IDPA match director can make stages that offer several options while following the rules and spirit of IDPA (shooting from cover, not exposing yourself to multiple threats, etc). Both are a blast. As for equipment, your Glock 34, assuming it has no major modifications (other than different sights, etc), is perfect for USPSA Production or IDPA Stock Service Pistol with the magazines downloaded to 10 rounds. I am partial to Comp-Tac holsters and mag carriers, but Blade-Tech is also popular. These are kydex products--for expertise on leather gear, someone else will have to fill you in.

Caster, I obviously don't know your address or the path your package took and it may have simply been missorted, but I wouldn't be surprised if going to Knoxville was the quickest way to get your package on a trailer that was scheduled to be processed early enough to get on a truck that would deliver it to your post office that day. In other words, they might could have skipped the trip to Knoxville, but it would add another day in transit because there were no other trailers going to Franklin that day or night. What is the normal time-in-transit? I bet this package is on schedule. Think of the airline industry--sometimes we have to make a connection in Atlanta or Houston to get where we want to go when we want to get there. The shipping industry works much the same way. Also, be aware that your package was shipped UPS Basic, which means that UPS picks up the package and delivers it to your post office for delivery via USPS. After they give it to the post office, it's no longer a UPS concern. When ordering something, I always make sure not to get my stuff shipped UPS Basic, because it involves the post office, it adds a day to the shipping time, and if there is a claim issue, you are SOL.

I brought my gun and 300 rounds of ammunition. The match director applied for permits to enter the country with a firearm for all the foreign shooters. The airport policia had copies of the issued permit, and he e-mailed me a copy too. I did everything right, but the policia still got excited because I had my gun and ammo in the same locked case (which is perfectly legal). For a minute, I thought I was about to go to Costa Rican jail. Just like some LEOs over here, they didn't know the law. Everything worked out, though. A couple shooters informed the customs folks that they had guns, but were ignored. They were told to put their gun through the baggage x-ray machine, then were told to have a good day! Not a reassuring feeling. Thanks for the compliments...I could have done a much better job of finding my front sight, though.

What started out as a quick trip to shoot the Costa Rica Nationals turned into a full-blown vacation with my wife last week. Costa Rica is a cool place. Below are all stages, except stage 10.

I was in squad three and we started on the 300 yard stage. Congrats on your first match. BTW, I have had good luck with these slugs: Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

Most people who go to "check out" an IDPA match wish they had gone ahead and shot after watching one or two stages. A three gun match is a little more complicated--you may want to come watch some of the February match first.

Keep in mind that speedloaders or a saiga can only be used in Open division (USPSA).

Which squad were you in? I was there Saturday.

Where will you be shooting? What rules will they be using? If you plan to shoot at MSSA, they use USPSA rules, which uses minor/major scoring, which means your less-than-perfect 9mm hits will be penalized. Minor power is 125,000, major is 165,000. Multiply bullet weight in grains and velocity in fps to find your power factor. A 9mm isn't the end of the world, but it will cost you some points now and then. Like RWF said, get a hi-cap with 5" or so of barrel (XD, M&P, or Glock will be fine). If you go the Glock route, I would avoid gen4. Gen3s are still a dime a dozen. Glocks have more aftermarket support than the other two, but none will be a problem. As far as shotguns go, a Saiga will put you in the Open division (at least in USPSA rules), and those donkey-dick mags are not as ergonomic to reload as one might think. An auto that runs 100% is a big advantage over a pump. If I were in the market for a 3 gun shotgun, I would find the right used 1100 off Gunbroker and add the goodies. A friend did just this and we share it when shooting 3 gun. It has a 26" barrel and a polychoke. It runs better than anything else that I've seen and he has <$500 in it. Also, 20" cylinder bore barrels are great for the house, but are sometimes inadequate in a 3 gun match. Some shotgun stages are decided not by who can shoot, but by who can reload the gun.

a bit of an understatement Indeed it is--Why not just prescribe patients meth?

I'm all for personal responsibility, and anyone who has read any of my posts on all the "let's give guns to felons" threads should know that I don't feel sorry for addicts. However, pain killers are a huge problem, the currect procedures don't work, and now we're about to get one 10 times stronger than the ones causing all the problems now. Heroine and cocaine would probably make patients forget their pain--should doctors prescribe them too?

Current hydro and oxy prescriptions are already STRONG. I personally know two people whose lives were ruined as a result of painkiller addiction. I'll never touch the stuff. I'm not saying ban them, but I do agree with Shumer that there needs to be some serious review and more strict controls before the new version, which is supposedly 10X more powerful, is released. IMO, it's more similar to issuing heroine to patients and then wondering why people get robbed for it or shipments get stolen than it is to a high-cap mag ban.

Chuck says that a new, stronger version of hydrocodone pain killer should not be released and he is right on the money (for once). Although usually not expensive as a prescription, hydrocodone sells for up to $40 on the street. A cop recently told me that the street value is higher than heroine. Senator Warns Of New Batch Of 'Super Painkillers' That Could Fuel More Deadly Robberies | Fox News

200 fps sounds a little optimistic, but never say never. I have a 9mm AR and can't get 100 fps more than my Glock 34 w/ WWB. If you chronograph each, let us know the results.

+1 Size a few and see what they look like.

Ok, Winchester Model 70 crowd.

He was probably a member of the so-called "Winchester 94 crowd." Don't get me wrong, I have a 94 in the safe. These folks believe it is their God-given right to own a deer rifle or shotgun, but privately scoff at the notion of regular folks carrying a handgun. We got into a discussion about IDPA and USPSA and I asked him if he shot handguns. He replied that he did not, but that he hunted a lot. It wasn't mere ignorance of the law or the store's rules; I got the feeling that he thought anyone who carried anywhere with one in the pipe was a little crazy. From my experience, there are more Model 94 types than one would think.

...according to one of their employees today. While searching for a case for checking a gun as airline baggage in the near future, an employee explained that a customer once removed his handgun from his holster to see how it would fit a certain case. The employee stated that this guy actually had a round in the chamber! At this point, I thought, "Wow, what a dunce for un-holstering his gun in the store." However, the employee thought he was crazy for carrying a loaded gun. He went on to explain that customers must inform someone at the store that they have a gun upon arrival and that they are not allowed to have a round in the chamber. I replied that he meant guns that were going to have a scope mounted, worked on, etc. He said that, no, it pertained to people with carry permits as well. When I asked him if this was posted anywhere near the entrance, he replied, "No, but anyone with a carry permit should be smart enough to know that you can't just walk around in the store with a round in the chamber." I started to inform him of how wrong he was, etc., but thought better of it and ended the conversation by simply replying, "Wow, I didn't know that." I decided not to go all it's-our-2A-rights-as-Americans and leave well enough alone because, for all I know, this sheep could have been the store manager and might push to get the place posted or some hideous rule like he was describing. I double checked the front doors on the way out and saw nothing about guns. Ignorance is bliss.

890-900 fps in my Glock 34 and 1.135 OAL. I had to bump it up to 3.5 to get a consistent 880 or so from my STI Trojan, but I also lengthened it to 1.155. Same load in the Glock goes ~930. My experience is that 9mm OAL does not make much difference on the chronograph (within reason). You need 851 with a 147 to make minor pf. The 3.2/1.155 OAL laod should be at or close to pf in your gun. You'll want to load them long in your 1911.

Precision Delta 147 FMJ 3.2 grains of Titegroup 1.155" OAL 10-12 pound recoil spring Trust me.

It's an extra plastic bin that adds on to your 550. It places empty cases right where you need them when you're loading: Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders ETA: I would also add a roller handle.

SHARPPOINT, Skip the additional single stage press. Most 9mm sizing dies will do all you need. Some folks also use a Lee Factory Crimp Die after seating a bullet when they are reloading slightly bulged brass, which comes from large chambered barrels like old Glocks. The Lee FCD re-sizes while crimping the bullet and works well. The Square Deal B can't use such a die, since it uses non-standard dies. With a 550 (and most other presses), yo can mix and match your dies. I would definitely recommend the Dillon seating die, though. I would also seat and crimp the bullet on two seperate stages. In addition to the press, I would pick up a scale (~$50), a bullet puller (inertia hammer type, ~$20), a dial caliper for measuring overall length and crimp diameter (~$35), and a cartridge gage (~$15). If you get a 550 and are really feeling frisky, I would get a strong mount, a bullet tray, and a case bin. None are a must, but man they are sweet.

If you are serious about getting into reloading, go ahead and get a Dillon 550. It's been around since the 80s and the bugs have been worked for a long time. I would avoid a Dillon Square Deal B--I believe it uses proprietary dies, where most other presses use standard dies. The 550 is fully manual, meaning that you can use it as a single stage press until you get the hang of things. Once at this point, you will quickly appreciate a progressive press if you shoot much at all.