vujade

I measured the test group from S&W wrong (it was a picture of target paper/group and i had to scale it). His 15 yard group was actually 1.86 inches.... that translates to roughly 3.1 inches at 25 yards; handheld. That's pretty good shooting and tells me the gun is ok? I spoke to a customer rep this morning. They use any of the following for groups/function testing: 230 grain Winchesters 185 grain Remington 230 grain Federal Hydroshocks I'll loud up some 200 grains (i don't have any 185s) to see if that improves. I'm thinking 5.0, 5.5. and 6.0 grains of Unique under a lead 200 grain SWC from MBC. I'll let you know how it goes...

I took it apart again to check measurements, check for any flaws, crown damage, damage to rifling... nothing, all perfect. The only thing that 'looks beat up' is the stock bushing itself: [IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/2ymeo74.jpg[/IMG] [img]http://i48.tinypic.com/xm4g2a.jpg[/img] it looks like a robot dog used it as a chew toy; well, the new bushing is on the way.

I got it back from S&W. I'm a little disappointed. Along with the gun, there some paperwork including a form letter that says, "The enclosed firearm was test fired and deteremined to meet factory specification. No repairs were necessary as the firearm is in proper working order". There is a photocopy of the target which details that it was tested at 15 yards. By an M. Edwards with an arrow pointing to the P.O.A. There is a 1 hole ragged group right there on top of the POA! I'm estimating here but I'd say the group size is about 3 inches (so at 25 yards, that's should equate to about 5 inches). Here is the thing: The note said the group was "hand held". I'd be happy if I can shoot 5 inches hand held but I shot this thing benched and could maybe get 5-6 inches?! I'm going to give it another try at the range. I picked up some 200 grain SWC that I'll load up. I'll fire some more of the left over factory ammo as well. I did some reading and a common replacement part seems to be the bushing so I ordered one (EGW match bushing). I'll see if that makes a difference and I'll report back. Anything else that can go wrong with a 1911 that I can check/replace? This doesn't take away from the sheer beauty of this 1911. It feels great too. I just hate that I can't get it to shoot.

Another +1 on the primary arms. I have the m3 version on my Saiga 308. It's a little big but I like it nonetheless; if i were to do it again, the microdot better for a few bucks more would be better. They have very good customer service also.

another curiosity; how bad was it during the Clinton ban years? I heard of high cap mags going for over $100. Was that the price tag and no one was buying or were shelves empty and so folks can command those types of prices and folks would actually buy them? I'm also curious - I assume you all knew when the AWB was coming, there must have been some major panic buying the months that lead up to it? and then all quiet during those 10 years? I imagine some folks who already had a decent stash, just laid low and waited for the 10 years to pass? I'm slowly building some inventory like I said, part of me asking this is if I should concentrate on buying primers because powder and bullets will always be available or did you all have issues finding powder or bullets as well. i figure brass will always be pretty readily available.

interesting read guys. I try to stock up when I can but with family and bills, it's hard to do when especially when I tend to shoot a lot. =) Reloading has helped but I only started that a few months ago. Never too late to start right!

not sure about co-witnessing, on the AK, the dog leg attaches to where the rear sight would be. At least her dog leg rail came with a rear peep sight that even without a red dot, she uses that to great effect. I don't remember but with the red dot, i think the peep sight would be too low. it's a good back up though, just rip out the red dot when it's bad and you have peep sights.

I really like the dog leg rail; my sister has it on her saiga with a Primary Arms micro dot. It's a great set up.

I wasn't reloading back in 2008. I experienced the shortages on ammo; I remember buying my 380 LCP but couldn't get rounds for at least several weeks. I would hear stories of reloading supplies being hard to find but never really experienced it since I wasn't into that then. Can someone explain what it was like? What items were hard to find? (was it just primers or powders or bullets or all the above? Were some sizes/calibers harder to find than others?) What prices/price increases did you see? Did prices go back down? I assume since less people reload than just shoot, the shortages of reloading supplies were just a fraction of what the shortages of ammo was? I know gun stores are probably busier now but there seems to be no sign of any shortages/price gouging (not yet and hopefully just not).

thanks. I'm waiting for the bullets to come (and hopefully the sw1911 which is with S&W for repair) and then I'll start to reload (and shoot).

well, i just ordered some 200 grain SWC and 230 round nose from MBC. I'll make some loads when they come in (200 and 230 seemed to be the most common out there) and see if there is a big shift in poi.

I just called S&W. Gun arrived to them last week so it's been about a week with them. She said repairs take 3-4 weeks. Oh my gosh, I can't stand the wait!!

nice. thanks for the link.

While my sw1911 is still at the shop, I've been reloading and reading about reloading so that I can reload some more. I think I'm going to get into using some lead bullets. Much cheaper and from what I read, won't hurt the accuracy. I'm hearing good things about Missouri Bullet Company and looking at their 185, 200 and 230 grain models. Question - will point of impact change dramatically when shooting 185, 200 or 230 grain bullets at 25 yards? I don't have adjustable sights. I'd like to find the best bullet for accuracy and without having to change sights. I'm also debating between the round nose, round nose flat top or semi wadcutter. I assume if i can chamber an empty case, I should be good with the swc. And if i can chamber a swc, those are the best for target practice?

Had several Beretta PX4s. My first was one of those on the spot purchases where I bought it as soon as I held it; didn't know anything about it before then. Interests changed and I'm a 1911 fan now.

thanks for the posts guys. I'm going to start to visit some schools with my daughter. I'm really looking for a school that teachers traditional Kung Fu (with the animal styles); preferably Southern Shaolin but Northern would be fine too. I know, one can argue that there are more effective and efficient styles out there (I dabbled in Muay Thai (if you're looking for a great school, Tiger King in Nashville is awesome) and even BJJ) but this is mostly to spend time with my daughter. We're part Chinese as well so this is part to connect with our culture. Yes, I carry when I'm out and have a bedside gun when I sleep. I agree with the comment about close mindedness to one martial arts is damning. The gun is a martial art. But when that is our only self defense plan, we're victim to that same close mindedness. I'll say it this way and I don't mean to pick on anyone as I'm gotten 'chubbier' over the years as welt. I think in the event of a life or death situation, some of us won't even have the opportunity to get to our gun either because our hearts are too weak and some of us may just heart attack right then and there.

title says it all. I'm looking specifically for a Kung Fu school. I practiced a long time ago and would like to introduce my daughter to the art and hopefully get my butt back in a shape that's not circular. Can someone share any experiences they may have had with some of the local schools here. I've been checking google/websites. I'm interested in real/candid review/feedback. Thanks!

I've got one of those hand priming tools. It's pretty old but served the person before me well and was given to me as a gift. It worked really well until one of those plastic parts had a slight break which caused it more difficult to seat a primer. I just got this in my email box in less than 48 hours: (what awesome customer service!) I am sending replacements under warranty - no charge. Have a great day! Thank you, Technical Services/ap ATK/RCBS Operation (800) 533-5000 Customer Service Hours: Monday-Thursday 6:30am to 3:30pm

called S&W. I was surprised they didn't really ask a lot of questions. They said 'just send it in (no charge) and we'll look at it". I just went online to fill out the form and now going to wait for the shipping label.

For my next chrony, I was thinking of bringing my bore sight laser so that I can see where the bore is pointing at that close distance.

Yep, the bushing is definitely loose but I was worried as Joonin said, it may not account solely for this sized groups. I'll give S&W a call on Monday and have it sent it. I'll let you know how it goes; thanks guys.

Wilson combat's bushing has an ID of .584 (.006 difference with my barrel vs. .034 now). OD of .703 (.001 vs. .007 now). My question is how tight does a bushing need to be to be accurate. Or would this amount of inaccuracy need to be something else other than just a bushing issue?

any replies here: thank you,

I made some measurements: The barrel is .578 wide. Bushing's interior width: .612 Bushing's exterior width: .697 Slide opening where the bushing/barrel will fit: .704 Are those 'within spec for accuracy or does it need to be tighter?

I've got a sw1911 with some accuracy issues that I can use some advice/help: Picked up used but looks new (case, papers, etc.) It's tight (very little side to side movement. I've tried a box of Federal 45 230 grainers and a broad mix of careful handloads (unique, blue dot). I can't break anything less than 5-6 inches at 25 yards. The average seemed to be 3 or 4 of the 5 shot groups 'on paper'. This is benched. I had a friend at the range who is known to be a good shot give it a try and while he couldn't find anything wrong with the gun, he too was surprised when it didn't shoot where he aimed. He couldn't best 5 inches at 25 yards either. I've stripped her twice tonight looking for anything that can be wrong. The trigger breaks at a nice 4.75 pounds. The sights aren't loose. The barrel crown isn't damaged; clean (I ran some cotton around there and nothing snagged). The rifling is strong/no visual cues that something is wrong. I'm not proud of my handgun skills but I took a p228 in 9mm as well. i easily grouped 1.5-2 inches at 13 yards using cheap russian ammo. I also shot my s&w 686 at 25 yards benched and got an easy 2.5 inches with cheap aguila ammo. Do I send this back to S&W and who has experience with their customer service? Or do I replace some stuff? Maybe a barrel bushing? This is front of the gun: The back: This is probably the best group of the day: