Now I need a limited gun!!

Ok, so I know I'm just getting started at this, but I don't think I can fight the urge much longer. I want a Limited gun!! So, I'm hoping to get some opinions from you guys that have some experience with the division.

What I want:
An EDGE. Have Dawson Precision tune it up, do the trigger job, and install a FO sight when I order it. Then, Koenig hammer, some radical slide lightening cuts/ tri-topped, an SVI sight tracker barrel (maybe), Tungsten rod, Flat trigger, Stippled grip, Dawson Big ICE magwell.

What I REALLY want:
5" Infinity build... Pretty much exactly like this one, only with full dust cover.. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/194.jpg
But yea, thats not gonna happen right now.

What I will probably do:
Get an EDGE from Dawson's with FO sight, trigger job, and ICE magwell, and just shoot the crap out of it for a while. Modify it later, or as I have the time/ money.

Mags:
IDK? prob just 4 or 5 STI mags with Dawson basepads?? But which spring/follower combo is the best?

Anyways, Would like to hear yalls thoughts.

I know sometimes you just gotta have new.... but my standard advice on this question is look at used first. Honestly, getting a Limited gun to run smoothly takes some doing. You have to find the right combination of load length, mags, springs, followers, etc. STI's and SV's are made to run hundreds of thousands of rounds so getting one with a year or two of use on it hasn't hurt the gun at all, it can still be customized with cuts, finishes, different grips, etc. later on for small cash outlays at a time, and most of the time you can pick up a gun and four or five mags that have already been through the proving process for less than the cost of a new gun.

Other than that, I really like your taste in mods. The only one I don't totally agree with is the Sight Tracker. That one just doesn't seem to be quite living up to the hype. The rest are great.

ssanders224 wrote:Ok, so I know I'm just getting started at this, but I don't think I can fight the urge much longer. I want a Limited gun!! So, I'm hoping to get some opinions from you guys that have some experience with the division.

What I want:
An EDGE. Have Dawson Precision tune it up, do the trigger job, and install a FO sight when I order it. Then, Koenig hammer, some radical slide lightening cuts/ tri-topped, an SVI sight tracker barrel (maybe), Tungsten rod, Flat trigger, Stippled grip, Dawson Big ICE magwell.

What I REALLY want:
5" Infinity build... Pretty much exactly like this one, only with full dust cover.. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/194.jpg
But yea, thats not gonna happen right now.

What I will probably do:
Get an EDGE from Dawson's with FO sight, trigger job, and ICE magwell, and just shoot the crap out of it for a while. Modify it later, or as I have the time/ money.

Mags:
IDK? prob just 4 or 5 STI mags with Dawson basepads?? But which spring/follower combo is the best?

Anyways, Would like to hear yalls thoughts.

Plan on shooting my Cameron built STI next time we get together. It has most of what you are looking for. I agree with John about the Sight Tracker.

Example (as posted on the Brian Enos classifieds):

I just sold my son's Dawson "Super-Tuned" EDGE on this site. This pistol is mine. It is the exact same gun as my son's. We bought them at the same time. The pistol is in EXCELLENT condition. It has all the bells and whistles that come with Dawson's "Super-Tuned" package. The gun has been shot very little. It was my 3-Gun pistol and has less than 1,000 rounds through it. There are five "Tuned" magazines with Dawson no-slide-lock followers, IMI springs and Dawson Precision base pads (20 round capacity). The Mags have my name (Mike) lazer engraved on them, but that can easily be buffed out. The plastic gizmo that you need for taking down the Recoil Master spring system, the owners manual, an extra magazine follower and some extra skate board grip decals for both the magazine base pads and the grip are included. I'm not looking for any trades or low ball offers. My son's pistol sold in less than a week and I have already had several people requesting PM's when I list this pistol, so I have to think that it is priced right...feel free to ask questions.. $2400 Shipped to your FFL in the CONUSA.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=141531

Funny you posted that ad, John. I'm pretty sure Brandon just bought that one.

Some good advice from the guys above. Defintely shoot Gale's Cameron and a few others folks' guns if you can. That is a decent price on a low use Dawson-tuned Edge, too (so good for Brandon if he got it). It has $550-$650 worth of mags with it. My only recommendation would be to chunk (or better yet, sell) the recoil master and put a steel or tungsten guiderod and straight-rate spring in it and shoot the heck out of it.

However, I know the feeling about being anxious and wanting a new one, as I was in your shoes some time ago...

Any one of the three you mentioned would be capable of winning any match in the country including the Nationals in the right hands, assuming it was tuned up and reliable with good mags and ammunition. You may have a few teething issues, but once you get these guns set up and running, they typically run very well and are very reliable for a LONG time (again with good ammo and good magazines). Magazines will be discussed below, but note that while most of these guns will run factory ammo pretty well, they are designed around a .45 sized frame and typically prefer long-loaded .40 ammo. The longer round hits the feed ramp sooner and has less of a chance to nosedive. Mine have always hand-cycled ammunition out at near 10mm length the smoothest, but I have had really good luck loading in the 1.185" - 1.195" range and have done so for years. For many, 1.200" is considered "the standard" for loaded ammo length for STI/SV .40's, so I would recomend somewhere in this ballpark for best reliability. Factory .40 max OAL is 1.135 I believe.

My thoughts, and you can take them for what they're worth:

I am partial to SV Infinity stuff. I have a "factory" SV that I bought at the Nationals in 2001 one year and a month after I started shooting. It has been great, even though I parked it for a full custom built mainly on SV parts a few years ago. That being said, I will admit an Edge is a great base gun. There are a few small parts in the STI that I don't like as much as SV or others, but the general package is great. Dawson knows what they are doing and I really like their front sights (although I am blacking one out currently and not using it). The Koenig hammer is good as are many others these days. I have seen a few break part of the spur area off after many rounds, but they still work after this (just don't look right). Slide lightening is fine, and I am partial to tri-topping as it takes off some weight, lowers the sights a small amount, and just looks cool. Both of my Limited guns and my single stack are tri-topped.

The sight tracker barrel is a tossup. Some like them, some don't. I have shot two and wanted to like it better than a standard setup but I can't say that I did. It may be just because I am used to what I have been shooting, but it didn't seem any better to me and I don't think I tracked the front sight any better. They aren't dominating on the National scene or anything. One hasn't been used to win the Nationals yet as far as I know, although I am sure some Area Regionals and State level matchs have been won with them. My advice would be to shoot one. I shoot a lightened 6" now, and while I like it, it isn't for everyone either and I don't know that I shoot it much better, if at all, overall than my standard length gun. The sight radius is nice on occasion, but let's face it, the majority of the shooting doesn't need it. You are welcome to put a few rounds through both of mine if you'd like.

On the tungsten guiderod, I like them and use them and also run relatively light recoil springs. My current guiderod is an SV that has been fluted for the heck of it. It took off about 1/2 oz so the weight difference is nominal but it was mainly for aesthetics I will admit. If you get one, I would recommend going ahead and dropping the money on an SV. Knock on wood, I have never heard of an SV breaking. I have seen several other brands break. SV saw what was happening and re-engineered the attachment of the head to the guiderod. Basically they swapped the male and female parts of the rod and head to make it stronger, if that makes sense. Anyway, STI used to make Tungsten rods but after getting tired of the complaints and returns of broken rods they gave up and came out with their "recoil master". I am not a fan of it or of the springco's, but again that is personal preference. To me it adds a weird feel to the recoil that isn't consistent.

I like a flat trigger, but that is all personal preference on feel. A strippled grip is a good choice and I like and use the ICE magwells.

The full Infinity build would definitely be sweet, but a lot of money and probably a long wait. They are heavy with the metal grips now (mine has the plastic grip like an STI) but sure do feel good in the hand and shoot soft.

Going with an Edge as you mentioned is not a bad idea. You can get it just how you want and then have it refinished or what have you. Another option is finding a good used gun in decent shape. Deals come along here and there. I can name a few absolute steals. Just depends on how patient you are. I wasn't when I was in your shoes and knew (or thought I knew) what I wanted.
What I will probably do:

Mags:
4 is plenty although more never hurts if you can swing it. I think SV tubes are a little more dimentionally consistent these days. That being said, I have 8 STI tubes that I run along with an SPS and an SV and they are all great. The SPS tubes are supposedly a little softer so I would spend the extra money on the American made tubes. I have one South African Rescomp tube but most basepads make it too long for Limited and the ones that don't are short on capacity. Dawson basepads are great. I use Gram's because I have for years and like the feel but admit they are not as convenient, being two pieces and needing a tool to take apart, or quite as durable in the long run. The "+1" Dawsons are legal for Limited on pretty much all tubes. The newer "SNL" or "sometimes not legal" gives you a little more capacity but, as the name implies, sometimes requires some fitting to fit the mag gauge and make the magazine legal for Limited. The "+2"'s are too long for Limited and will bump you into Open. I would get at least some SNL's if you don't get all in that form, just for the few occasions you need the extra capacity. I typically run 19+1 in all my magazines although I have the ability to go 20+1 if necessary. It seldom is though. Some people can get more with the right combo, but Emmanual Bragg lost a Nationals and an Area match because of magazines like this that let him down at the wrong time. He got rid of the offending mags and all of his hold 20+1 now and he says they all run like a clock.

On spring/follower, there are several good choices. I run Gram's Engineering (http://www.gramseng.com/) and probably give up a small bit of room for absolute reliability and ease of use. Bolen's stuff is very popular too but are more likely to need tuning to keep them from popping out of the top of the magazine. I have heard good things about Dawson's spring and follower as well but I have no experience with them. I had some Arredondo long ago and didn't like them. SV may have some new ones, but their older design required gluing to the spring which was a pain. There may be others but I think I would stick with one of the first three.

One more thing, it is hard to set these guns up to give absolute maximum capacity and still lock the slide back reliably. The reason is that the followers are so thin to hold the maximum number of rounds that they tend to lock back with one round still left in the magazine. The solution is to set the gun up not to lock back. Most everyone does this either by grinding the follower, the back of the slidestop, or less often putting a detent on the slidestop. Since you should be reloading before the gun is empty there is no loss of time. If the slide is back for any reason, you instantly know you have a jam.

Hope my long-winded reply was at least somewhat helpful. If any of it didn't make sense or you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I don't claim to be an expert, but if there is one subject on here that I can say I know a little bit about, this would be it. Ha. Good luck, and look forward to seeing what you end up with.
Bryant

Actually I'm still debating on buying it - I do have first dibs on it and frankly if I didn't have 4 mags and a limited gun about done being built - I would have already bought it.

Steven - if you want that gun I can tell the guy its for me - he already approached me about buying it since I was wanting the last one. Its a helluva deal - set up ready to go all you need is a holster and mag pouches and you are ready to rumble!!!

ETA - HOLY SMOKES that is freaking long DBC - You lost me at the first paragraph!!!


Read what Bryant says though (I didn't) he knows his stuff and would not steer you wrong!

bsdubois00 wrote:ETA - HOLY SMOKES that is freaking long DBC - You lost me at the first paragraph!!!


Read what Bryant says though (I didn't) he knows his stuff and would not steer you wrong!

Yeah, I can be a bit wordy. While the price on that used Edge is good, I have seen better ones from time to time, but they are fewer and farther between.

Yea there was one last week for 1600 in great shape - the problem is - those usually go within MINUTES

Whoa! thanks for the replies... and novel LOL. All good info.

Brandon, I'm tempted to just go ahead and drop the coin on that gun ( Ive been looking at it since he posted it). BUT, I dont think I'm ready to make a decision just yet. Want to look around a little more/ shoot whatever I can.
For one, my hands are so darn big that I cannot comfortably grip a gun with a standard ICE magwell. I need the BIG ICE for the extra room. I know its a small thing that can be changed relatively cheap, but still.

Ugh, to many choices HA.

You guys just better hope it takes me a while to make up my mind, as to prolong the time before I start kicking butts.

Just kidding guys... just kidding

I understand not being ready to drop the coin, but I wouldn't let the magwell be a deciding factor. $80 for a "big" one and you could probably get a good bit of that back by selling the one on it.

Another thing to consider whether you get this one or another, these guns typically hold their value pretty well after the initial hit of not being new anymore. If you get the right deal, you can shoot it for a year or two or longer and they turn around and get almost all of your money back, if not make money in some cases. I've broke even before.

You guys just better hope it takes me a while to make up my mind, as to prolong the time before I start kicking butts.

Just kidding guys... just kidding

That's heady stuff for only having one match under your belt, but I like the attitude! I've been there, too... Reminds me of an old commandment of shooting I learned long ago. It goes something like, "Before thou expecteth to kicketh butts, thou shalt prepareth to have thine own butt kicked." I think it's pretty much universally true across the shooting sports...

Now you got me wanting to buy that damn limited gun - off to enos to PM the guy....

DBChaffin wrote:That's heady stuff for only having one match under your belt, but I like the attitude! I've been there, too... Reminds me of an old commandment of shooting I learned long ago. It goes something like, "Before thou expecteth to kicketh butts, thou shalt prepareth to have thine own butt kicked." I think it's pretty much universally true across the shooting sports...

Ha I know, just tryin to get a rise out of you guys .... Believe me, I plan on getting my butt handed to me PLENTY lol.

Brandon, yea buy it! So I can see it in person and realize how bad I screwed up by not snatching it up....Ha

I already sent him a PM - I'll end up selling the mags I only need the gun - and really I don't even NEED that - but never hurts to have a back up :-)

Whats yalls thoughts on a Freedom gunworks build??

Bobby makes some very fine guns. The ones I have handled are super smooth, but I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one.

ssanders224 wrote:Whats yalls thoughts on a Freedom gunworks build??

You can check out the gallery at www.freedomgunworks.com to get some ideas. He was running a promotion recently where if you ordered a new gun he'd cut $250 off the completed price. If you're interested, PM me and I'll see if I can still get you that deal.

Damn Tom just bought that gun!!!! Guy didn't take my offer lol

bsdubois00 wrote:Damn Tom just bought that gun!!!! Guy didn't take my offer lol

I saw that. Bummer.
Was hoping I'd get to see that thing.