[No Luck]

I'm about to enter the Dark Side of the Open division... .40. After reading the .40 Open topic in the Open Tech Forum, I'm curious as to what other .40 Open shooters have used and like. If you would please, be detailed to include your pea-shooter set-up that you like the load in.

[shooter steve]

I hope you have done a lot of research into the open world, and accept right from the git go, that you will be behind at almost every match due to mag capacity. But, the cool thing about this sport, if this is what you want to do, have at it...

[Jman]

Welcome to the forums No Luck!

You and start here... http://www.brianenos...showtopic=77956

and here.... http://www.brianenos...?...ic=17086&hl

...good stuff.


Jim

[Jman]

shooter steve, on Mar 16 2009, 05:39 PM, said:

I hope you have done a lot of research into the open world, and accept right from the git go, that you will be behind at almost every match due to mag capacity. But, the cool thing about this sport, if this is what you want to do, have at it...

Not trying to be a turd in the swimming pool here but...Mag capacity and its effect on match performance is negligible. At least for 98+ percent of us. I beat A and B class Open and Limited shooters with a G17 and 10 round mags on a "fairly" regular basis. Anyway....


Jim

[dapribek]

I recently sold my open .40, but it was a hard chromed STI Edge with a full dust cover and a C-more sight. Dan Bedell built it for me. I sold it because half of the shooting I do requires iron sights and I found it too difficult switching back and forth to the red dot. Anyways, my standard load was 180 gr. Berry plated bullet, O.A.L. was 1.186, usually Winchester or Federal small pistol primers and 6.0 gr. of Alliant Power Pistol Powder. Hope this helps.

[shooter steve]

Hey Jim, there are a lot of good shooters out there who can do that. I'm not the best shooter in the world-only a lowly B shooter, but if I'm going out to play a game, I'm at least going to try to put everything in my favor that I can.

[ChuckS]

I shot .40 open at the Yuma Matchmasters Scholarship match this last weekend. There was not one stage where I had to reload where the guys with 38/9 didn't . 9 stages and 300 rounds. The only difference is that I had to choose a different place to reload (sometimes). 27+1 compared to 29+1 = 1 target. I am also a B shooter and there is a whole bunch of other shit in my way other than mag capacity. You don't buy your way out of B, you work your way out...

Peace,
Chuck


Edit to get back on subject: 135 rainier plated bullet over 8.1 gr of N-340. ~ 1.165 OAL. Kart barrel with an EGW comp.

This post has been edited by ChuckS: 16 March 2009 - 08:10 PM

[No Luck]

Quote

I am also a B shooter and there is a whole bunch of other shit in my way other than mag capacity. You don't buy your way out of B, you work your way out...

I agree 100%. For me, .40 advantages out weighs the disadvantages. I'm actually really going to the Darkside as I will be doing it with a Glock and giving up even more mag capacity.

[PINMAN44]

More power to you no luck. Do well.

[shooter steve]

I absolutely agree that you can't buy your way up the ladder. It takes a lot of work, a lot of practice, dry firing, maybe some lessons, and more work. When I bought my open gear I shopped hard and picked up all my stuff used. There is no way I could afford to have a new gun built, and buy mags and stuff, so I picked up a used package deal. I would also never say that you can't be successful at it with a .40. Most people should be able to look at a stage and adjust their reloads and stuff to do the best run for their gear. All I was saying, is that if I go to play a game, I want to be prepared as good as I can be. It may not happen all the time, but there are times when I enjoy my mag capacity, and there are times when doing a reload can bite you in the butt. For example, at Ft Benning this year with my Para limited gun on stage one. My idea was to shoot 9 rounds and move to the next station, pick my mag up off the barrell and do a reload onto a hot chambered gun. (You could only have 10 rds per mag) Things were going pretty good on the first group of targets and I ran my gun dry. Took off to the next box and did the reload and dropped my slide, and my first round stovepiped straight up in the air! This was on a stage with an 18sec partime! I did a quick clearance and kept shooting. I did ok on the stage, but changing from my plan bit me in the butt. I know I was limited by the stage description, and I had a little equipment problem from a gun that is usually reliable, but still the idea stands that a mag change can cause unfortunate problems, and if I can have a couple more rounds to help avoid them, I'll take that option. If you guys want to shoot open 40 knock yourselves out. Come shoot with us and lets have a good time, but I kinda don't see where the attitude is coming from because I'm trying to avoid potential reload problems....

[Jman]

Steve. Dude... . Please, lets back up. Read post #1 then post #2. No Luck was needing help with a .40 load. If I may, and I mention this with no disrespect whatsoever. You steered this topic in another direction. No one asked for validation or confirmation of a gun or purchase. He just wanted some experienced help on a load for his dot gun. By the way, I commend you on your decision (and discipline) to buy a great gun used, from a fellow shooter.
Definitely a great way to go.

Jim

[RiggerJJ]

No Luck,

Try a 7.8 load of HS6 under a 155gn bullet, crono and work from there. I think my ending load that worked in all 3 (STI, Para, Tanfoglio) of my open 40 guns was about 8.2gn HS6 under MG 155gn FMJ. You might also play around with comparing SP primers to SR primers, the latter seemed to burn the HS6 better in 40.

I've been working with 9mm lately, still using HS6 but SP primers work just fine.

welcome to BE land!
jj

[shooter steve]

Jim, you are right, I did get it sidetracked. I then got a little pissed by some other comments that I felt were directed at my choice of shooting super, and I shouldn't have done so. I also posted my first comment before reading the pros and cons of shooting 40 open that were hashed out on another thread. So a double boo boo on my part. Sorry about that. Good luck with your 40 projects...One I consider a different way to get to the top of the mountain. As long as you get to the top of your mountain is all that matters.

[Harmon]

no luck,

Have you got your gun working yet?

ill post a pic of my jager comped Glock 22 with a bushnell copy of the Aimpoint micro tomorrow nite.

Digital camera needs new batteries.

ive had really good luck with 155 grain LEAD bullets and HS6...but testing continues.


harmon

[splashdown]

I'm coming to this party a little late, but here's the last test I did at the range with my 40 cal open gun w/ 5" Schuemann AET.

135 gr Rainier FP, 8.2 gr Power Pistol, 1.18" COL, 155 PF.
155 gr Rainier FP, 6.8 gr Power Pistol, 1.18" COL, 153 PF.
165 gr Rainier FP, 6.2 gr Power Pistol, 1.18" COL, 153 PF.

These all felt pretty good, especially the 135 and 165 loads. There's plenty of room for me to increase these to major PF, but for now I'm out of Power Pistol. I've got 1 lb of AutoComp on the way now and will work with it next.

[PINMAN44]

Splash I played with Hs6 with the 135's before I left for school. I will try to find the load.

I don't shoot my forty open much so I had to get some play in.

[Flyin40]

shooter steve, on Mar 16 2009, 08:39 PM, said:

I hope you have done a lot of research into the open world, and accept right from the git go, that you will be behind at almost every match due to mag capacity. But, the cool thing about this sport, if this is what you want to do, have at it...

You'll have less capacity but your not really at a disadvantage. There is just a very small percentage of stages that capacity will come into play between a 40 and 9/38.


The biggest disadvantage of a 40 open gun has nothing to do with performance or shooting. The worst thing about a 40 is lack of bullet selection. Not alot of companies make bullets for a 40 open loads and some can be very expensive.

Unless you make zero mistakes, no mental errors, run every stage perfectly the capacity of your gun will be minor compared to the other areas that you can improve on.


Its not attitude your getting. Your just stating something that is an opinion and others disagree. Not sure where you did your research but all the big dogs don't run 31+1 mags. Capacity is not the answer. If I remember right Max won several nationals with 28+1 bigstick. He said he could get 29+1 but reliability come into play. If I'm remembering this wrong someone correct me. Not sure what capacity mag he is shooting now.


Anyways back to the topic

7.3 Universal Clays
135 gr Rainier
WSP



Flyin

This post has been edited by Flyin40: 16 September 2009 - 04:02 AM

[Harmon]

Flyin,

What OAL do yo load to?


Harmon

[Flyin40]

Harmon, on Sep 17 2009, 08:51 AM, said:

Flyin,

What OAL do yo load to?


Harmon

I have ran my loads from 1.135 and 1.165. Never tried anything else but those 2 lengths. Since 2005 I have only had 3 jams, 2 where at 2006 nationals because I didn't change springs since the yr before. Had my first one this yr since 2006 Nationals at the Michigan Sectional. I just stood there looking at the gun(duh) thinking to myself "What this?" It was in the Dark house and cost me quite a few seconds. Again it was due to not changing the spring. I wasn't planning on shooting at all this yr so I didn't change them. Decided to shoot a couple matches and it bit me. Just received 10 new springs at the beginning of the week.

I also had one other one that I believe was a light primer hit but wasn't able to recover the bullet to confirm it. Since last yr I have been running 1.165. I had some 165gr bullets that I was using and when I went back to 135's I didn't change the Oal and just kept it.


I think I'm going to try some HS6. I would like to shoot some VV but price and being able to get your hands on it makes it hard. I know there is probably better powder choice than Universal but since the dot tracks straight up and down and never leaves the lense I really try anything else. SAnderson said he liked 7625 for his Open loads. I swear he was using a 147 gr bullet too.


Flyin

[Harmon]

only downfall to HS6 is it is dirty. WSF or Autocomp may actually be better powders.

4756 and 135s feel good, but burns a lot of powder.

I am shooting a glock and i can deal with a little extra powder residue.

ill post a pic of my gun when my wife figures out camera batteries last longer when you don't leave the camera on.

Harmon

[herky]

John, I copied Steve's load and I'm very sure he was using 124/125s. I still use 7625 in my 9 supercomp open gun and have used it in major 40. PM if you want to know the specifics.

[Flyin40]

herky, on Sep 18 2009, 08:47 PM, said:

John, I copied Steve's load and I'm very sure he was using 124/125s. I still use 7625 in my 9 supercomp open gun and have used it in major 40. PM if you want to know the specifics.

When did you get his load? I can remember him switching to the 147's the last yr he was shooting. Maybe I'm remembering wrong....


Flyin

This post has been edited by Flyin40: 18 September 2009 - 06:18 PM

[herky]

Right after he started shooting Open, senior status doesn't let me remember the year.

[Harmon]

here are my pics of a "working man's" open gun

not pretty, just fast.

Attached File(s)

•  100_1642.JPG (1.02MB)
  Number of downloads: 63

[Harmon]

tried 8 grains of blue dot with the 155 cast swc at 1.125 oal. loud, but pretty flat..no chrono info yet but i anticipate over 175 pf.

Harmon