| Safety Dance...
(cont'd)
Here is the target array for the load
workup:
A quick look at this array obviously
points to the answer of question #4. "Does hand cycling (vs.
recoil cycling) have an observable effect on point of impact when using
the Ransom Rest?"
In 9 out of 10 groups, it was readily apparent
that racking the slide manually to load the first round had a
significant and negative effect on the first-round point of impact. Only in the 5.3 group was the effect "not readily
apparent". It is worth noting that I was very careful to ease the
slide forward to lock the first round. I did not simply drop the slide
with the slide stop lever. (Group sizes except 5.3 were calculated with
the "fliers" excluded)
Thus... "Yes, manually racking
the slide to load the first round produces an observable effect on the
first round point of impact."
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NOTE: In the last
group, I experienced a "failure to feed" on the second round in
the magazine that was cleared by pulling the slide back slightly and
easing it forward to load the round. Thus, the second round was
"out" of the group as well. This failure to feed was most
definitely not due to the reduced bullet jump. On closer inspection of the
fired case, I discovered that this round had not been taper crimped
in the last station of the loading press. This was apparently the last
round I loaded for this lot of ammunition, and I mistakenly forgot the
taper crimp. The slight bell in the case mouth caught on the lower edge
of the feed ramp.
Take a look at the two targets
in the first row. These are the targets I used to record the
"settling" or fouling rounds for the KKM and prototype barrels.
The fouling rounds consisted of various "left-overs" I had from
odd-lots on hand.
Which of these two barrels
would YOU want to have in your weapon at your next match? 
And
then?
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