IDPA BUG match with PM45

[schtever]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to shoot an IDPA BUG match this weekend with my PM45. I've had the PM45 about a year as an EDC, but have been shooting it a lot for the last month as practice for the match. Here's a list of the things I've done to it to make it run reliably, all thanks to the folks here:

• Beveled the stripper. This was big as I had many FTFs after reloading until I did this. Thanks to gb6491 as described here: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php...71&postcount=4.
• Radiused and thinned the extractor so it wouldn't score casings anymore. I didn't do controlled tests on this, but I think this was causing FTF/FTEs by adding drag on the slide while cycling. Thanks to 100percent for a great picture on this in http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23277.
• Dehorned the slide lock lever as described http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php...72&postcount=5 (h/t gb6491 and jocko). The slide serrations still abrade the inside of my thumb knuckle, so I might smooth those out next.

I had previously trimmed the magazine followers and feed lips as described here http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php...67&postcount=2.

I've put about 1000 rounds through it since finishing the most recent work without any problems. Thanks to everyone on these forums for the high quality information on problems and solutions!!

The only thing that bothers me at this point is that reloading at slide-lock SOMETIMES causes the slide to release and go into battery. I'd prefer that it always do one or the other. I have to do some tests, but I think the 5 round mags do this, while the 6 round mags leave it in slide lock. My guess is that the top round, while riding up the (new!) bevel, is pushing the slide back far enough for the slide lock lever to drop. I think the 5 rounder's higher spring tension doesn't allow the top round to inch forward, but instead pushes the slide back. Maybe some polishing will sort that out.

I'll be shooting 230gr Plated RN over 4.0gr Clays, OAL 1.258. It's stout enough to cycle the PM45 properly but light enough to shoot 200 rounds in a session without turning my hands to jello. My big disadvantage will be the long trigger pull and the large caliber. I've been shooting a lot of revolver this past year, so my trigger stroke has improved, but not enough to match a single action trigger. I expect that I'll be the only one shooting .45 out of ~150 contestants. My advantage is the inherent accuracy of the PM45 - if I do my part, I'll make hits where other similarly sized guns will miss.

I'll post an after-action report next week.

[wyntrout]

There's slop in the magazine cavity/tunnel at the top and it depends on how you insert the mag, whether there's enough forward movement to trip the slide release. I don't usually "slam" the mags home, but I have had a few slide releases with my Kahrs when enthusiastically inserting the mags, but only a few over the years.

When reloading for carry, I usually insert the mag until it clicks and then use my thumb on the bottom of the mag and fingers on the slide to force the mag all the way home to insure retention... after I top off the mag from chambering a round for carry.

Wynn

[garyb]

schtever,
Good luck at your match. IDPA is lots of fun and good training for you with your carry gun.

[schtever]

Hi All,

The match was lots of fun, but most importantly, the PM45 ran flawlessly, with a round count of 180. There was one failure to go into battery, which I'm attributing to the ammo. It was more accurate than I was, even on the longer shots (~20 yards).

There were a couple of strong hand only and weak hand only stages, where I wasn't able to pull off repeated shots accurately due to the DAO trigger. I've got some work to do there.

Thanks to all for the advice and fixes!

[garyb]

That was a lot of shooting....180 rds for an IDPA match. Ours are usually at or under 100 rds. Did you reshoot it? Glad your PM ran good for you. All too often we only read of problems, problems, problems. My follower is broke, the gun is failing, wa wa wa. It is nice to read some positive stuff from a guy who actually gets out there and does some productive training while having fun...IDPA. Good for you schtever! Keep it up.


And yes, that DAO trigger gets tricky with the single hand shooting....I agree. It is a Good skill to develop with that PM. That's the beauty of IDPA. It forces you to train where you may be weak AND improves those skills and gun handling in weaker areas. Many guys don't ever "think" of trying some of the things that come up in some of the IDPA training stages. All good stuff for gun handling. It is not like going to the range, standing the same way at 7 or 10 yrds and shooting a box of ammo. Rather, you work on your CCW skills in many ways.

[schtever]

That round count was without any reshoots. 13 stages, 10 with 3 strings of 5, and 3 with 2 strings of 5. It was a long-ish day. The BUG match rules made it very interesting - no reloads on the clock and most of the stages were limited Vickers. So, accuracy was critical since there were no make-up shots. I think that's one big advantage of a Kahr - they are dang accurate for their size.

I'm really pleased that the PM45 ran without problems. It is my EDC and that outing only increased my confidence in it. Once again, I thank everyone here at kahrtalk.com for their insight and solutions.

[Bawanna]

I need help.

No reloads on the clock? So you get 5 shots for 5 targets? So it's all about accuracy or are they concerned with safety issues during a reload?

And what's a Vickers?

I've often wondered in a match like that where your shooting relatively low capacity mags, is there a limit to how many mags you can have on ya?

Take a poor shot like myself, where I might need lots of chances, might need lots of mags ya know?

[JohnR]

Vickers is the name for the scoring formula.

I'm really impressed with how accurate my PM45 is too, it seems more accurate than my K9. Of course, that's only a measure of how well it conforms to my natural point of aim, not my shooting prowess.

[b4uqzme]

I need help.

No reloads on the clock? So you get 5 shots for 5 targets? So it's all about accuracy or are they concerned with safety issues during a reload?

And what's a Vickers?

I've often wondered in a match like that where your shooting relatively low capacity mags, is there a limit to how many mags you can have on ya?

Take a poor shot like myself, where I might need lots of chances, might need lots of mags ya know?

I've only shot one BUG match and I'm a little fuzzy on the rules. But I thought I remembered some 5 shot strings where you were able to load 7 (giving you 2 extra shots to spare or re-shoot). Then there were other strings where you had no shots to spare. With no reloads, you are required to shoot for accuracy. I don't think it had anything to do with safety. Reloads are allowed in regular IDPA matches...in fact they are part of the strategy.

[Bawanna]

How about 26 reloads? I'm not a very good shot. Folks would probably laugh at 26 reloads! Maybe I could squeak by with just 20?