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Questions and Answers for week ending:
June 2nd, 2004
| Submitted By: |
Shannon Smith of Tampa, Florida |
| Category: |
Equipment - Hammer Follow |
| Question: |
I'm a barely GM in USPSA Limited and have been having
problems with hammer follow. I've switched the guts of the STI .40
more than once and had a couple gunsmiths look at it. The pull is
about 1 3/4 lbs. I've changed everything more than once. It
is random but only happens when I'm gripping and ripping on close, hoser
targets. I use a pretty firm grip (some of my buds call it the
death grip) and the faster I'm shooting the harder I'm griping.
I've heard that you also use a firm grip. My question, is there
any way this has an influence on the sear/hook contact? Have you
experienced this? As I said, it's random...I can't "make" it
happen, but it only happens when I'm firing fast and nobody seems to be
able to diagnose it. |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
This is all about trigger timing, assuming no other
mechanical problems with the gun. I've seen this in many other
shooters, myself included. It probably has damn little to do with
how tightly you're holding the gun. It's all about when you
release the trigger during the cycling of the gun. If the slide is
closing, especially if it closes hard, as you are releasing the trigger
to the forward position, the possibility exists for hammer follow.
You can make your trigger pull real heavy, but that doesn't always solve
the problem. I have found long sear/hammer hook engagement to be
the only reliable way to keep a light trigger that you can shoot fast.
What matters here is how the trigger job was done. There are two
basic methods, the one I mentioned above and that using a break-away
angle on the sear, reducing the engagement length. I can't make
the latter system work without having the trigger weigh 2.5 - 3.0 pounds
minimum. Sounds like you need a good trigger job. RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Lucas Vomela of Polna, Czeck Republic |
| Category: |
Training |
| Question: |
When you train, do you train using drills or stages?
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| Rob's Complete Answer: |
When I shoot a match, I break down a stage
into basic shooting functions. I then practice those
functions as a drill until I perfect my performance.
Next time I see those drills as part of a stage, I know how
to shoot them.
I only train using drills, unless I'm shooting a known
course of fire like the Steel Challenge or Bianchi Cup.
Stages are too complicated and don't allow you to properly
improve a specific area.
Best of luck with your training ! RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Ted Ornelas of Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Category: |
Equipment - Recoil Springs |
| Question: |
I have been a USPSA competitor for many
years. Over the last year I have been trying to adjust to the .40
S&W from the .45 because of the extra round capacity. It seems
like the 40 recoils harder than the 45. I use 200 grain Molly bullets
& a medium burn rate powder (WSF) in my Para-P-16. My Question to
you is about different recoil spring rates for the 1911 & clones.
I use a 14 lb. now but many of my buddies use light springs any where
from 10 lb to 13 lb. Are the light springs safe & what effect do
the lighter springs have on the felt recoil & cycle time? |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
A .40 or .45 loaded to the same power factor deliver
approximately the same recoil. Power factoring is, in essence,
equalizing recoil for the sake of fair competition. Picking
between a .40 and .45 to gain an advantage from the standpoint of recoil
alone is pointless. The magazine capacity of the .40 is the only
reason it survives, and it is a legit advantage. Light bullets
create sharper recoil and snappier gun movement than heavier bullets at
the same power factor with the same powders. This is a personal
preference issue that no one agrees on, so pick what you like.
I personally prefer the heavier bullets, heavier gun, softer feeling
recoil setup. I use long slides and long bull barrels whenever
possible.
Springs are much the same. First and foremost, however, is that
the setup works. I have seen many problems with high-cap .40s
trying to run too light of a recoil spring. Mine are generally at
least 12 lbs. and often 14 and 15 lbs. I want the gun to work more
than I care about the difference in feel that 2 pounds of spring will
make!
As far as safety goes, I don't see how the spring rate makes any
difference. All of these guns cycle faster, if they work correctly
and smoothly, than you and I can shoot them. Cyclic rate is NOT a
factor.
By the way, I will soon have my new Springfield Hi-cap .40 long
slide from the Custom Shop. The slide has been lightened to weigh
the same as a 5" slide. This gun feels in recoil like a
short gun, but gives me the long sight radius of the 6". I can't
wait for the Nationals! RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Al Surko of Matawan, New Jersey |
| Category: |
Equipment - Loads |
| Question: |
I just bought my first open gun. It's a shorty
built by Dan Bedell. I like the gun a lot, but I'm driving myself
crazy trying to decide which powder to stay with for
IPSC (major load), and also steel matches. I use the gun for
steel also, since its short cycles are fast and the titanium comp keeps
it pretty light.
I'm currently using IMR7625 with Zero 125 grain JHP for my major IPSC
load, and Winchester 231 for steel with 115 grain Zero JHP.
I've also tried VVn-320 for steel loads.
I'm at the point now that I'm not sure which is best for me.
Any suggestions on determining which powder is best for IPSC and steel?
I do notice on my open gun that the dot jumps more or less
with different powders. I chrono loads with different powders and
get the velocities around the same, then I compare them in the same
magazine, shooting 4 of each. |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
You ARE driving yourself crazy for nothing.
Sounds like you've got a couple of good loads already. You change
loads basically to try different things, generally to change the feel of
the gun. If you like the way it looks when it kicks and the recoil
is not an issue, then you're already there. It's not going to get
any better. Different shooters prefer different loads.
I like the gun to be soft, sacrificing muzzle flip for recoil. Other
shooters, Kippi for instance, do not care how much the gun kicks, but
want muzzle flip kept to a minimum. I don't like her loads, she
doesn't like mine. Who is right? Doesn't matter ... We both
like our own set ups and we shoot well with them. That's what
matters. RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Adrian of Kingston, Jamaica |
| Category: |
Match Performance |
| Question: |
I've been waiting a long time for your site.
My name is Adrian & I live in the wonderful island of Jamaica. I
am a member of the Jamaica Rifle Association (jamaicarifleassociation.org)
where I participate in IPSC/USPSA. I am ranked locally in "A"
class (limited). I shoot a Glock 17 using a Hogue holster and CR
Speed belt & pouches.
I'm having a problem. I used to shoot moderately fast before &
used to always be in the top 10. I always placed in my class.
I'm still placing in the class but am dropping outside of the top ten.
I have a tendency to be getting at least 5-6 misses per match.
These cost me points which would allow me to place higher (top 5) & even
win the class.
I'm seeing the target & watching the sights. All the other
shooters are using 40 cal. I'm still the only one using 9mm (my
carry gun). I used to beat them. It's becoming very
frustrating. Do I need to slow down? What could be the
cause? Can you offer any advice as to some training drills I can
use to correct this problem? I can assure you that it's not
my ability.
Hope you make a video soon & hope to meet you some day. |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
Every time you shoot an event, you are exemplifying
your ability, like it or not. If you're missing 5 - 6 shots per
match, it doesn't matter how fast your times are. You've got
to do something about the missing. First thing to determine is why
you are missing ... Obviously, it's because the gun is not pointed at
the target when it goes off. The real problem isn't even that.
I'm more concerned that you're not seeing all of those misses when you
fire them! If you are, why aren't you making up the shots?
Chances are, you are not aware of the errant shots when you fire them,
because you are just not seeing everything that's happening.
Pick any drill you like. How you do it, not which drill, is what's
important. See the gun when it goes off. See where it's
pointed. The three elements you must be visually aware of are: the
front sight, the rear sight, and their placement on the target.
Don’t' mistake this for telling you to just slow down. We all want
to shoot as fast as possible, but the catch words here are "as
possible", not as fast as you WISH you could. Everybody can
shoot faster than they can hit. A good shooter shoots
only as fast as he/she can hit. Good luck, Adrian!
RL |
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