Gun guys (and gals)

[ericw.]

My newest range toy….. M&P 2.0 Metal Competitor. Have about 1000 rounds thru it already. Installed a 14lb recoil spring /guide rode this week but haven’t shot it yet.
I was having eject/feed issues with the husbands reloaded ammo (lighter). I also have a 15lb spring in the parts bin.

One of these days…. I plan to get a better trigger. I know Apex seems to be what everyones using these days, but I will do some research.

Excited to try It with the new recoil spring!!

Beautiful. You can try tuning for the lighter loads but have you just tried 115 or 124 grain boxed ammo?

I didn't feel a major difference between soft custom loads, 147, and basic 115gr... I actually think the 115 grain shoots best through my ported gun.

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[Janster]

Beautiful. You can try tuning for the lighter loads but have you just tried 115 or 124 grain boxed ammo?

I didn't feel a major difference between soft custom loads, 147, and basic 115gr... I actually think the 115 grain shoots best through my ported gun.

The hubby has been loading 124gr with 3.8g powder for at least 6 months, that’s shoots just perfectly thru everything else we own. For some reason…. I get some failure to eject/feed with the Competitor and his Prodigy. So, I’m trying to fine-tune for reliability (at this point). I think my problems are….lighter loads and weaker ‘girl grip’. The husband doesn't have any problems (bigger hands, stronger grip). He’s bumped up the powder to 4.0gr and that’s helped tremendously but not 100%. I’m hoping the 14lb or 15lb spring will get me to 100% reliability. He’s beginning to load the 4.0’s for everything.

We’re at the range every weekend blasting off 200-300 rounds each (the hubby and I). Buying factory ammo is out of the question (too expensive!!!!). The thought is……He’d like to find that perfect recipe that shoots in everything. He can whip out 800 rounds in an hour.

 

[ericw.]

The hubby has been loading 124gr with 3.8g powder for at least 6 months, that’s shoots just perfectly thru everything else we own. For some reason…. I get some failure to eject/feed with the Competitor and his Prodigy. So, I’m trying to fine-tune for reliability (at this point). I think my problems are….lighter loads and weaker ‘girl grip’. The husband doesn't have any problems (bigger hands, stronger grip). He’s bumped up the powder to 4.0gr and that’s helped tremendously but not 100%. I’m hoping the 14lb or 15lb spring will get me to 100% reliability. He’s beginning to load the 4.0’s for everything.

We’re at the range every weekend blasting off 200-300 rounds each (the hubby and I). Buying factory ammo is out of the question (too expensive!!!!). The thought is……He’d like to find that perfect recipe that shoots in everything. He can whip out 800 rounds in an hour.

lol yeah I hear you on the price. I buy bulk ammo from Target Sports for that reason. Thankfully 9mm prices in bulk, with member discount doesn't hurt too much.

Have you figured out what your average cost per round is with reloading? I'd be curious if you know.

Hopefully the spring swap helps! Otherwise you might have to master the death grip! Grip strength trainer stays on my desk.

 

[Janster]

lol yeah I hear you on the price. I buy bulk ammo from Target Sports for that reason. Thankfully 9mm prices in bulk, with member discount doesn't hurt too much.

Have you figured out what your average cost per round is with reloading? I'd be curious if you know.

Hopefully the spring swap helps! Otherwise you might have to master the death grip! Grip strength trainer stays on my desk.

with somewhat messed up arthritic thumbs….. I’d only be able to shoot 50 rounds using a death grip So yea, I’m hoping the springs help.

His cost to reload…..using 124gr jacketed hollow-points, Titegroup powder, and winchester WSP small pistol primers…. is abouti $.16-17 cents per round.
You could probably get it much cheaper than that, but he doesn’t like to go ‘cheap’ as its pretty important/critical. He just took ownership of a CMMG Banshee (9mm) and has the legalities in process for a Suppressor. Apparently, he’ll need to adjust his reloading recipes for that….even lighter loads yet. He’s like a mad scientist….he‘ll enjoy experimenting.

 

[Mad Mac]

The suppressor $200 tax stamp
goes away Jan 1.
Still have to submit the form but no tax.
There will probably be a rush that may delay approval, but I am a COB
(a Cheap Old Bastard).
I've been waiting 78 years.
A few more months is not a problem.

 

[ericw.]

with somewhat messed up arthritic thumbs….. I’d only be able to shoot 50 rounds using a death grip So yea, I’m hoping the springs help.

His cost to reload…..using 124gr jacketed hollow-points, Titegroup powder, and winchester WSP small pistol primers…. is abouti $.16-17 cents per round.
You could probably get it much cheaper than that, but he doesn’t like to go ‘cheap’ as its pretty important/critical. He just took ownership of a CMMG Banshee (9mm) and has the legalities in process for a Suppressor. Apparently, he’ll need to adjust his reloading recipes for that….even lighter loads yet. He’s like a mad scientist….he‘ll enjoy experimenting.

You can't beat that price even with member discounts! Very cool!

 

[Rusty PW]

The suppressor $200 tax stamp
goes away Jan 1.
Still have to submit the form but no tax.
There will probably be a rush that may delay approval, but I am a COB
(a Cheap Old Bastard).
I've been waiting 78 years.
A few more months is not a problem.

One local gun shop is advertising that. You buy your can now. They will hold it until the first, then send the paperwork in. If you wait until the first to buy your can. It maybe sold out by then. And you after to wait until the next batch.

 

[Rusty PW]

with somewhat messed up arthritic thumbs….. I’d only be able to shoot 50 rounds using a death grip So yea, I’m hoping the springs help.

His cost to reload…..using 124gr jacketed hollow-points, Titegroup powder, and winchester WSP small pistol primers…. is abouti $.16-17 cents per round.
You could probably get it much cheaper than that, but he doesn’t like to go ‘cheap’ as its pretty important/critical. He just took ownership of a CMMG Banshee (9mm) and has the legalities in process for a Suppressor. Apparently, he’ll need to adjust his reloading recipes for that….even lighter loads yet. He’s like a mad scientist….he‘ll enjoy experimenting.

I'm less than that. As I cast my own bullets. Unique powder, CCI small pistol primer, and my cast bullets with a gas check.

 

[ericw.]

One local gun shop is advertising that. You buy your can now. They will hold it until the first, then send the paperwork in. If you wait until the first to buy your can. It maybe sold out by then. And you after to wait until the next batch.

I've heard people claim that processing times could get really long as well. Idk about the accuracy of that but if they get slammed with applications on Jan 1st, that seems logical.

 

[Janster]

I'm less than that. As I cast my own bullets. Unique powder, CCI small pistol primer, and my cast bullets with a gas check.

Awesome!! The casting bullets is a whole other process.

We actually cast our own fishing weights & jigs. We have several molds and a little lead pot. Smaller scale for sure….. I told the hubby he should consider making the bullets, and he just said “I don’t wanna be bothered”
Perhaps someday when we’re retired and have all sorts of time on our hands.

 

[Janster]

The suppressor $200 tax stamp
goes away Jan 1.
Still have to submit the form but no tax.
There will probably be a rush that may delay approval, but I am a COB
(a Cheap Old Bastard).
I've been waiting 78 years.
A few more months is not a problem.

Some companies are offering discounts on the cans to cover the tax stamp.
The hubby wanted to get it now…. And avoid the craziness & delays later.
Although, with the gov shutdown….. who the hell knows?

 

[Mad Mac]

You are correct. It may take up to a year
for the market to settle down.

I have an AR-15 pistol in 300 Blackout
that would make an ideal suppressed weapon
with subsonic ammunition.
And a Ruger American bolt action rifle
in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Both have threaded muzzles
aching for a suppressor,
But personally, I'm willing to wait.

More power to you.

 

[Proximo]

Hey @Janster I think you will have better luck with your failures, with a high velocity round. My wife switched to 1640 fps and hasn't had any failure since. The bigger bang forces the slide to do it's thing.

 

[Rusty PW]

Awesome!! The casting bullets is a whole other process.

We actually cast our own fishing weights & jigs. We have several molds and a little lead pot. Smaller scale for sure….. I told the hubby he should consider making the bullets, and he just said “I don’t wanna be bothered”
Perhaps someday when we’re retired and have all sorts of time on our hands.

Bullet casting can be a bit of a black art at getting the hardness you want. Used wheel weights mixed with other alloys. When I worked at Elliott TurboMachinery. We made our own babbit bearings. I used to take some of the scrap lead mix home. At one point, I think I had about 1 ton of it. I'm down to a couple hundred lbs now. I have a 20 lb furnace, hardness tester, and molds for 9mm, 38/357, 40/10mm, 2 different 44, and 2 different 45, and a sizer/ lubricator. I have the raw bullets in 3 lb coffee cans and the finished sized and lubed bullets in 1 lb coffee cans.

 

[Janster]

Hey @Janster I think you will have better luck with your failures, with a high velocity round. My wife switched to 1640 fps and hasn't had any failure since. The bigger bang forces the slide to do it's thing.

I agree…that the higher loads help. His 3.8g powder loads were the worst for failures and the 4.0’s were better but not 100% failure free.

Actually…the 14lb spring worked perfectly yesterday. Went back to the original lighter 3.8gr loads that was giving me the most failures, and it was flawless (knock on wood). The gun felt a bit smoother too.

The whole idea…is to load ONE recipe for everything and keep the press setup for that load (consistency & accuracy of loads). If you start changing the charge (powder)…it takes a while to get It consistent.

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