Happy to report – NO jams to date! However, it will not eject when I load 115 grains down to 900 FPS! This is a 103 power factor for you comp shooters! Yea, it was an experiment. I just loaded 115 grains over the same load of Tight Group as I’m using for the 147s. I needed to find out how slow a load could go and still function the gun. My Steel load is working out to be a 115 at just over 1000 fps. I want to stay subsonic, that’s around 1060 at sea level.
Have been practicing for the Steel Challenge and am doing pretty well on a couple of the stages that have caused me problems over the years. I’m shooting the 5.25 much more consistently than my XDM 4.5 and I’m actually about as fast as I am with my Custom Shop 1911 longslide 9 mm. I still draw better with the 1911, but all the rest is pretty equal.
Compared to the 4.5, I am shooting Outer Limits much better with the 5.25. How much of it is the gun? How much is my new knees? I don’t know. I can tell you shots that would be “iffy” with the shorter gun are usually hits with the 5.25. There is no doubt the longer sighting radius and the excellent sights that are easily and precisely adjustable are helping. I’ve used fixed sights for so long in Production Division that I forgot what it is like to actually get the gun perfectly zeroed! With fixed, I can usually get it close with a little work, but have to have a few extra sights and a file to get it perfect. Not any more.
Speed Option is about the same as are the easy close stages, but 5-To-Go and Accelerator are noticeably faster for me with the 5.25. Hope I can carry that into the match!
I’m moving the best I have in many years. Thanks Dr. Tarlow and Chad Reilly. My new knees allow this to be fun again, instead of an exercise in pain control! I am looking forward to the rest of the shooting season. Exciting!
Rob
Post Steel Challenge Update: Rob went on to win IDPA ESP Division at the Steel Challenge and he placed second in USPSA Production Division by just .46 seconds – with his new XDM 5.25. Congratulations to Mike Seeklander for taking the Production Title.
Here is Rob shooting Smoke & Hope in Production Division at the Steel Challenge.