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Questions and Answers for week ending:
April 8th, 2005
| Submitted By: |
Tim Hudson of Thornton, Colorado |
| Category: |
Equipment |
| Question: |
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What kind of holster do you use on your speed gun (Open)?
I'm
shooting a 1911 with comp and Dr. Optics sight. Wanted to start
practicing the real deal so I can someday shoot against you!
Thanks for the lessons on American Shooter, they have helped tremendously. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I use a Safariland 012 for open class. Get yourself one and maybe
I'll see you at the Steel Challenge in September, as I'm shooting
Limited and L10 this year at the Nationals! I'm glad that AS
has been helpful. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
James Nortz of Jonestown, Pennsylvania |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
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Rob, I need your help. I have been shooting STI frames now
for several years and due to my smaller hands, I have developed some
ligament issues in my strong side (right handed) thumb area. I
went to an Orthopedic Dr. and he recommended that I look for a
smaller/narrower frame. He also suggested switching to a heavier
frame to help absorb some of the recoil impulse. Both should help
take some pressure off that area of my hand. I would greatly
appreciate any recommendations you would have in finding a quality Hi
Cap frame that works well with smaller hands. Would the
Springfield frame be narrower than the STI? If so, how do I get a
Springfield HI CAP frame? I cant seem to find them anywhere. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I would agree with the heavier frame thing. I have always chosen
the heavy gun route myself. The Springfield frame is not narrower
than the STI/SVI type. You would benefit greatly from adding a
steel mainspring housing and a Tungsten magwell from Beven Grams at
www.gramsengineering.com.
Good Luck. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Mike Patrick of Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Category: |
Equipment / Holsters |
| Question: |
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TGO, A "friend" here in ABQ told me to practice more and that I
suck. He told me that if I got a Ghost holster that I would be a
little better. Any comments on Ghost holsters, models, and
favorites of yours? Take care TGO. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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Enough with the TGO already! ;-) If you need to improve your draw,
a new holster may help. Realize, though, that you may not be
sucking at the draw! Either way, I do not like the models that do
not block the gun from being pushed out from the front. I use the
Safariland 012 and can recommend that model or at least something safer
than the types that only contact the gun at the trigger guard.
Your "friend" is probably right about you needing to shoot more. I
only tell really good shooters they suck, so maybe this is a good thing
for you! Get some rounds down range! Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Rod Hom of Sierra Vista, Arizona |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
G'day Rob! Greetings from SE Arizona & Happy Chinese New Year!
Hope you and yours are doing well. I have a question referencing
your photos from the gun vault section of your web page on both the
USPSA open and limited guns: What is the brand/type of ambi-safety
that is on both of those pistols? Since I’m left handed by
birth, right handed by force, and confused by nature ...
;-) I’ve been looking for ambi-safeties that don’t use the Swenson type
tab to hold the right side in place. It looks as if the ones
you’ve got installed are held in by a modified hammer pin. Thanks
for the info. Cheers! |
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Rob's Answer: |
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Those ambidextrous safeties are from KING'S GUNWORKS in California and
are indeed held on by a slot in the right side safety and an extended
hammer pivot pin. They are available in several widths. Gotta get
ya some! Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Bill and PJ Lohr in Tucson, Arizona |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
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My son and I have just started into IPSC, IDPA, Steel Matches,
etc. We were thinking of putting some optic on our weapons.
We both have XD9 tactical models and we both love them to say the very
least. They are the sweetest shooting weapons that I have ever
fired. Can you tell me where to find a mount for these great
weapons? |
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Rob's Answer: |
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Remember that an optical sight is not permitted in IDPA and it will put
you in the Open Class in all the other events. If I were to scope
an XD (which I have yet to do), I would try to mount a Dr. Optics type
sight directly onto the slide. There are several different
manufacturers of this type of sight. I am currently trying models
from JP Enterprises, Docter optics and a new model from Pride/Fowler
Industries. I know that our Custom Shop just did a neat install
for a customer, but it required drastic modification of the slide.
Good luck. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Bernardo del Carpio of Arequipa, Peru |
| Category: |
Guns / Trigger Weight |
| Question: |
Hi Rob,
Are you coming to the World Shoot in Ecuador this year? I hope so!
:-) I was wondering what's the trigger weight you specify on
your 1911's. Also, what's the trigger weight on your Springfield
XD's? Thank you! |
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Rob's Answer: |
Yes, I will be at the World Shoot! Regarding my guns, I have
different trigger weights depending on the caliber and event that I am
shooting:
| Discipline |
Caliber |
Trigger Weight |
| IDPA CDP |
.45 |
2 - 2.5 lbs. |
| 1911 SSC |
.40 / .45 |
1.5 - 1.75 lbs. |
USPSA/IPSC
Limited & Std |
.40 |
1 - 1.25 lbs. |
| USPSA Open |
9 X 23 |
1 - 1.25 lbs. |
Bianchi
Metallic Sights |
.9 mm |
1.25 - 1.5 lbs. |
| USPSA Production |
XD
.9 mm |
2.5 - 3.5 lbs |
| Steel Challenge |
.9 mm |
1.0 lbs |
Hope this was helpful and not confusing!
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Dennis Chavez of La Quinta, California |
| Category: |
Ammunition |
| Question: |
|
Greetings Rob. I noticed in open class you're shooting major 9.
What powder and bullet weight are you using? Have you ever
tried 147 gr. for major 9? Thanks for your time. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I have used 135, 124, 121 and 115 grain bullets with N350 and N340
powder. I now prefer 121 or 115 grain bullets with N350.
Thanks for the question and sorry for the delay in responding.
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Merlin Orr of Fairfield, Texas |
| Category: |
Equipment |
| Question: |
|
I notice your Limited gun has a Tungsten sleeved barrel.
What
are the benefits - and disadvantages if any - of having the sleeved
barrel? |
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Rob's Answer: |
The heavier barrel slows unlocking of the barrel and slows the slide
velocity. This, in theory, lightens the hitting of the slide
against the frame at full travel. Static weight alone on
non-moving parts
of the gun can add a softening of the recoil impulse, but weight on the
barrel changes the whole fell to a more sluggish movement. I like
the feel but seldom notice it in a match situation. I can not say
it's a necessity, I just like it. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Unknown |
| Category: |
Equipment / Holsters |
| Question: |
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I noticed that you are not using model 012 holster in Production
Division. What is the reason for this? |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I use both the Safariland 560 and the 5182 models for Production class.
The 012 is not legal. The difference in draw time is less than .10
seconds, but the grip is much easier to get on the 012. I can not
only go faster, I can draw better more consistently. I have won
many National Championships with the 560 and 5182 and can recommend them
highly. They are fast and secure and very comfortable to wear.
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Joe Thompson of Jacksonville, Arkansas |
| Category: |
Guns / Equipment |
| Question: |
|
Rob, I have a couple of quick questions. First, will you be
shooting the IDPA Nationals this year? I am in the Air Force and
stationed here in Arkansas and would really like to see you shoot.
Second, I want to build a gun for USPSA's Limited category. I
would like for it to look a lot like the pistol in your gun vault except
I want it in .9 mm. What grips do you have on that pistol, and
who makes the mag well? Also, could the SA Custom shop make it
in .9 mm from one of their hi-cap .45 frames? Thank you for your
time sir. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I am scheduled to shoot the IDPA Nationals. Typically, I shoot on
the Friday afternoon and the Saturday morning, but I have no
confirmation of this as of yet. Now, on to your second question.
Yes, the custom shop can build you a Hi-Cap in 9x19. I have two of
them myself! The magwell is a Smith & Alexander for the Para
Ordinance and the grips are just factory grips that I have modified.
See you in Little Rock. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Tommy Roupe of Greenville, North Carolina |
| Category: |
Guns / Trigger Guards |
| Question: |
Who does your trigger guards? You and I are physically about the
same size, and I like the way a square trigger guard fits my hands.
I know that the Custom Shop does the mod, but do you know anyone else
that can do the quality work? I know that George can do it, up at EGW, and Dave Dawson could, but won't. He does not have the time.
Dave sells a lot of my grip mods for me. Any answers would be
appreciated.
Keep shooting well ... you have proven that we big guys can still move
with the smaller guys, although it is getting tougher as the years pass
by! Thanks for the time, Tommy Roupe |
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Rob's Answer: |
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Besides the Springfield Custom Shop, I have had Don Golembieski square
trigger guards for me, so I can definitely recommend him. His
website is
www.kodiakprecision.com. It is an easy job to screw up, so I
would recommend going with someone who has done it a few times.
Good luck, big fella'. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Eric Nielson of St. Pietersburg, Florida |
| Category: |
Guns / Sights |
| Question: |
|
We've heard that you are using the slide-mounted Docter sight for your
Open guns. Why do you like it - do you think it allows for
quicker indexing on close targets? By the way, Beven Grams
says he can melt you a Docter into any slide you want - he's doing one
for me right now. He also bullet-proofs and brightens the dot
while using the same battery. Can't wait to try mine! |
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Rob's Answer: |
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This was an experiment to see if I could come up with a way that
required me to make no adjustment to the presentation of the gun between
my open and limited equipment. I liked it so much that I used it
at the Steel Challenge in 2004. There are pros and cons, but it
did accomplish what I wanted. I draw and aim my limited gun
exactly the same as my open gun and make no adjustment. I have
been experimenting with it for open class (USPSA) and can find few
faults with the system in general. Durability is still a question
and the sights' field of view is smaller and moves. But the thing
sure is light for those who like that. Both my open and limited
guns now point and handle the same and that is what I was looking for.
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Miguel Reznicek of La Paz, Bolivia |
| Category: |
Match Performance |
| Question: |
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How do you handle your food and liquid intake during a match?
Are there things you specifically do or don't? |
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Rob's Answer: |
Miguel, Is this a serious question? ;-)
I try to stay off caffeine in the form of soda, because it keeps me
awake when I want to sleep. Otherwise, I eat about anything else I
want. I am not a nutritionist!! Big surprise there, huh?
I just try to never be hungry or full during the day. I drink as
much water as is comfortable, because I fear dehydration worse then
anything else. Must come from living in Arizona. I am not
afraid of sugar, but know that it doesn't do much for me. It just
burns off too quickly. Jerry Barnhart put me on to Myoplex
nutrition bars a few years ago and I like those, probably because they
taste like a candy bar. Cliff Bars are now my favorite.
Remember to eat and drink before you need to. When it hits that
you are hungry or thirsty, it is already too late. Maybe you
should ask Phil Strader this question! Rob, ;-) |
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| Submitted By: |
Bill Barron of Buckeye, Arizona |
| Category: |
Training / Practice |
| Question: |
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What drills do you recommend for improving at IDPA? |
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Rob's Answer: |
IDPA has very specific needs when it comes to a good performance.
Besides skill building shooting drills, that are the same for any action
pistol sport, you need to be adept at IDPA's specialized types of
reloads, unique and specific target engagement orders, drawing from
concealment and the use of cover.
Drawing, reloading, target acquisition, and all that is pretty much cut
and dry. You practice until you can do it without thinking.
Learn what "tactical priority" and "tactical sequence" means and become
comfortable doing them on demand. You will never get to shoot the
targets in any order you would like. You always have a specified
order and sequence. It throws some people a loop simply because it
is mandated and the potential for penalty exists.
The hardest part comes in determining what "cover" is. It is not
always hard to shoot from cover, but being fast is based on how much
cover you actually use. I saw many occurrences at the IDPA
Nationals this year, by shooters who are much more experienced in IDPA
than I, playing the "cover game". What I consider cover, as
defined by IDPA, is not the same thing as what I saw. There appears to
be no consistency in the permitted allowance for exposure, so I just
hide as much as possible and, though it's rather slow, hope I will not
be judged "exposed", thereby avoiding any penalties.
While I do know the rule book, I am not proficient enough in it's
interpretations to properly comment on what you can and can't do.
Suffice it to say that this is one of the areas where "judgment calls"
by the officials can have a large bearing on how you proceed and how you
finish overall.
Oh, one more tidbit ... be accurate when you can and fast when you
cannot. ;-)
Good Luck! Rob |
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