Get Crackin'!

The special-event Pistol Carbine e-Postal Match is supposed to end at Midnight November 30, but the entries aren't exactly pouring in.  Unless there are several last minute arrivals, I am going to extend the contest through the first weekend of December 11.  Beg, borrow or buy one of these nifty little shooters to take part and head to the range with targets, ammo, and friends.  Click here for all the rules and to print the target.

We have been busy with our little Hi-Point Carbine, and having a great time.  It shoots great with Winchester White Box ammo, but that load is definitely sub-sonic, making a nice boom as you would expect.  I re-read an old article from Shooting Times about pistol caliber carbines, and learned that you could expect 100 to 200 feet per second increase with .45 ACP depending on the load...so, I picked up some hard cast 200 grain semi wadcutters and assembled some healthy loads with Blue Dot, which is on the slow end of powders that can be used in the .45 ACP, in order to maintain a good push all the way down the barrel.  The first one out the tube made a satisfying CRACK and went right to the point of aim on my target.  That crack let me know that the load was somewhat better than 1100 feet per second, and the primers and brass still show no excessive pressure signs. 

Billll of Bill's Idle Mind has been writing to me about similar results with his Hi-Point in .40 S&W.  He also picked up an extra 50 feet per second by polishing his barrel with some lapping bullets.  Anyway, I am having a great time with the Hi-Point, and you would be hard pressed to have more fun for the price of one of these little carbines.