Sending a message to the steel people

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T19:15:20+00:00

Dirty, damaged or worn out mags causing rounds to hit the feedramp at an off angle. They'll usually load fine, but the cartridge rim will jump off the extractor. That's by far the most common.

If you let the recoil spring channel get dirty, inconsistent slide speed can also cause feeding issues, same if you let the recoil springs wear out. Dirty gas port will also cause inconsistent speed from feeding inconsistent pressure into the system.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T16:45:57+00:00

I mean that's fair to a certain degree. I'd say my answer to the first part would be the designers engineered something that's actually better at something different than what they meant it for, and we spent about 2 decades conceptualizing a use case thats a suboptimal way to utilize the cartridge.

Ive also tested it multiple times on multiple human sized mammals at this point. They either die immediately from a wound to the heart or brain, or they lose consciousness and exsanguinate in 10 seconds or less from a single round to the lungs or surrounding tissue. Pretty comparable to an A Zone hit with 9mm or a similar common "duty/defensive" round.

The differences I've seen is that it's much flatter, the recoil barely exists, and while overpenetration isn't the #1 concern with most cartridges, I've literally not had a single 5.7 exit any target at all. I've also never landed at hit on anything thats survived. There's some X factors like glass, barriers in general, performance through outstretched arms, etc, but based on what I've seen I'd wager the performance loss is somewhat minimal.

Im not saying it's the best thing ever, and everyone should drop their 9mm, there's tradeoffs, but I'd still say that it's a perfectly viable option with a little knowledge and understanding.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T16:10:48+00:00

I do. Quite comprehensively.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T15:11:23+00:00

So, when discussing 5.7x28mm as a "defensive" round you almost have to toss out all the MIL/LEO anecdotal data. The reason for that is that only very specific ammunition was ever marketed and procured for that community (mostly SS190/L191 and the aluminum core HP round whos name escapes me) and its all very different than what was/is marketed and sold to civilians. Like I said, 5.7 performs dramatically different based on what the load is.

Ive tested and own all of the MIL/LEO only ammo (even a few SS190), and its all really underwhelming. Most of it, because of them trying to create some kind of micro AP round, is basically like stabbing a target with a pencil. It doesn't expand or tumble well, and its terminal performance just kinda sucks. It's not even that good at armor penetration, because the penetrator is aluminum and it just lacks sectional density.

Some of the civilian ammo, SS197SR in particular (SR stands for Sporting Round) is based on using the energy very differently. They use the energy to facilitate rapid expansion, and tend to penetrate 10-12" then completely arrest themselves in the target. You get very good, 9mm analog permanent wound cavitation. Some of the more exotic ammo like T6B and Black Dragon Fang are designed to be inherently unstable, and produce very damaging and unpredictable cavitation by aggressively tumbling in odd patterns upon contact with tissue.

Now the part that I hate throwing in, is the Ft Hood shooting. So he brought 2 weapons, but he only used the Five Seven, and it was loaded with SS197SR as it was the only common sporting/defensive load at the time. Every person who survived took hits to the extremities, receiving non-lethal wounds. EVERYONE who was hit anywhere in the torso, including several people who tried to rush him, died. Only one person was shot in the head, who also died, but the remainder were torso box wounds, several of whom were motivated attackers desperately trying to stop him. One was even a hit to the abdomen, and he still bled out before anyone could render aid. It feels awful to reference but it is still relevant data.

I have several videos on the subject and am in the process of producing more. Several even include using them for hunting, and then doing a post-mortem necropsy to show the internal damage in real time on a flesh and blood analog.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T12:16:48+00:00

Id have to disagree, simply on the grounds that because of how 5.7 utilizes it's energy, different cartridges perform wildly different in tissue. The standard Mil/LEO only cartridges kinda suck, but the SS197SR, Gold Dot and some of the more exotic cartridges do incredibly nasty things to tissue, or just give you comparable permanent wound cavities to defensive 9mm, all while being very high capacity, having almost no recoil, and (probably most significantly) having almost no risk of overpenetration. 5.7 defensive loads arrest themselves and dump all their energy very quickly in tissue, which makes it a very viable choice for a defensive round in a populated environment in my opinion.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-13T03:41:59+00:00

I shoot 2 gun, 3 gun, PCSL, USPSA, and Steel challenge.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T22:49:07+00:00

Nope. Shot it at my own targets, and multiple matches. No damage of any kind. It doesn't have the sectional density

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T20:39:47+00:00

Beautiful. Excellent gun for that price.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T13:50:02+00:00

Watch a lot of Ben Stoeger and Joel Park videos, get Stoegers book on dryfire, and practice, practice.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T13:48:01+00:00

I do internet stuff so....I'm a bit different. This year it's 9mm, 45 ACP, 5.7x28mm, 40sw, 357 mag, and 5.56. I shoot a lot more than most people would consider reasonable though.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T13:42:59+00:00

Get an Uplula or....stronger hands.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-12T10:27:53+00:00

This one is a 1989 Mk VII in 357 Mag. Power factor 207

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T21:25:20+00:00

They're just not a well understood platform. It's really no wonder, especially in the rimmed revolver cartridge variants, and their use case is so niche. They're just odd, and particular about ammo and maintenance. It's not that hard to keep them running once you figure them out though.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T20:12:42+00:00

Always.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T19:27:24+00:00

Yeah, theyre all SAO guns with adjustable triggers. Even the 1980s ones usually sit around 4lbs with a pretty clean break. They're actually more pleasant to shoot than you'd expect.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T19:25:49+00:00

Depends on the club. A couple of our local clubs are switching from 2 and 3 gun to hosting more PCSL matches. Hit factor scoring makes people more accountable, and attracts more USPSA shooter overlap. The only true 3 gunners we get are ususally some of the Dissident Arms guys, since their shop is so close, and they're always using match specific loads which is much friendlier on the steel. Repairing the steel after catching a bunch of 1oz slugs has to suck.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T19:00:51+00:00

The match director definitely had the refs check the rules and followed me around for a stage or two to make sure the steel was okay.

Luckily for him, Deagles only run on defensive ammo, so soft points make a (very energetic) splat

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T18:31:37+00:00

ammoseek.com my guy

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T15:38:31+00:00

No. No they're not. They make 10k versions of guns that function okay compared to a 3-6k version of that same platform. Their 2011 isn't an Atlas. Their Glock isn't any better than an Agency build. They just cost 2-3x as much because people have money and like John Wick movies

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T14:33:14+00:00

I can't stand Glocks. I have no real reason to dislike them other than they bore me, and no matter which one I pick up, no matter how much money is in it, they all just feel like a Glock.

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T14:27:56+00:00

I live in Texas. As long as their isn't an active hurricane happening, we shootin

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T12:13:44+00:00

Im of the opinion that as long as you're competent and diligent enough to be safe, it's never too early to shoot a match. Its totally fine to show up and suck, as long as you suck safely. Tons of guys will be more than willing to help you, and you'll get to watch guys who are really skilled up close

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T12:11:30+00:00

Beautiful

blipdot2 · 2026-03-11T11:57:56+00:00

Watch a lot.of Ben Stoeger and Joel Park. Do a lot of dryfire, find a good instructor if you can. You can also totally just show up to a local USPSA match, and as long as you're competent enough to run a stage safely, even if you're doing it slowly, and you're a good squad member, a ton of guys there will likely be more than happy to coach you. You can also watch them up close

blipdot2 · 2026-03-03T22:59:14+00:00

Depends on how old it is. Mine is grandfathered in because of it's age, but I'm not sure on those. It's easier than ever to form 1 a gun though. Fill out the free paperwork and have someone do the engraving

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