Defender Food!

So I continue to work with the Colt Defender.  I seem to have found some food it and I like for the range.

 

















15 rounds with 10 at 7 yards, 5 at 10.  The reloads with 4.2 grains of Tite Group powder and 230 round ball totally changed the nature of the Pistol.  It fed and fired them without a hitch and turned it into a fun Pistol on the line.  I was not expecting that the gun would function with those powder loads.  Yeah, I pulled the first two rounds to the right as I expected the recoil and tightened my grip before the trigger broke.

So I got an idea.  The Commander is now fully in retirement and I thought that she and I did well at USTC.  Now she looks to occasional range time and will not be carried.  I thought I would be smart and get the CT lasergrips off and put her back to original Walnut grips and put the CT's on the Defender to replace the stock Houge grips.  

 







BZZZT! Wrong!  The compact 1911 platform requires a different model.  I looked around and CT does have a NRA  Instructor discount.  About 40% off retail.  Woo-Hoo! 

In other news it appears that even after people seeing me in HD TV, it did nothing to slow this weekends attendance for Basic Pistol and Concealed Carry Classes.  25 New shooters Saturday and 28 CCH students Sunday. 

I'm ready!  I have my spiffy shirts ready to go! 

 














Wish me luck!  I have never taught this many students before at one time!

The BBTof Happiness Showed Up!

The Big Brown Truck of Happiness showed up today and it is always special when the driver whips out the hand cart to deliver.

I hesitate to show this picture. I don't want to give away my secret supplier, but to my Blog friends I will share. Big order, they shipped and had excellent customer service to boot. 

There is 96 pounds of something in these boxes. With Appleseed, Tiger Swan and hopefully other classes coming this year I thought I should stock up. I hope to have a busy training season. 

I paid for this so the FTC can pound sand! 

Getting Ready....

As you may know I am spending my vacation this year at the evil Blackwater unicorns and rainbows USA Training center. I need at least 1200 rounds of .45 ACP for my stay. Brigid has an excellent primer on reloading. (Groan, no pun intended) I chose to go large and got a progressive press. I have been reloading for about a year. Looks like this tonight (click on pics to enbiggen):

Loading .45 ACP. B. notes that the Blue Press catalog looks like a Frederick's of Hollywood calender. The calender above the press is for research only! My photographer friend over at The Sweeter Image is interested in doing a theme calendar (really).

Close up of what is going on:

A progressive press is on the surface pretty simple. Stick a piece of brass in one station, put a bullet in another and pull the handle. In reality, it does require attention to detail. You also need to be a bit mechanically inclined. I check the powder load and case gauge every 10th round.

I chose a Hornady press over the Dillon. I trust Hornady cartridges. If they make live ammunition, I would assume the reloading press would reflect their experience. Cheaper too.

Several comments on B.s post were of the "if you can follow a recipe out of a book you can reload". I disagree. I am the consummate book reader and that will not replace practical experience in my opinion. Good friends showed me how they reload. It was very valuable!     

   

Getting Ready....

So for vacation this year I need to have "1200 rounds of ammunition". I'm working on it:

.45ACP; some assembly required!

Hey Grandpa, what's for supper?

Brass! I have not purchased anything to clean brass with yet, so I found a wet solution on the Interwebs supposedly from an NRA 1957 article. Tried it and although a PITA, I am pleased with the results. Anyone have an opinion on wet vs dry cleaning media?  Anyone, class, Bueller?

This....

is my bullet...There are many like it (wait, it's a .380 there aren't) but this one is mine. This is the first bullet I made. I have shot for many years and bullets in the past were something you just buy. Well the days of 8 bucks for a box of .45ACP is long gone. The continuing shortage of .380 ammo was the tipping point. And the pistol manufacturers continue to crank out .380 models! S&W just announced one at the SHOT show.

I think I will enjoy this part of the shooting sports just as much as shooting!