Charles and I leave today for two 3 Gun matches. Our first of the year. This weekend we will be in Ephrata, WA for a one day event and then we take a long sight-seeing road trip to Vegas for 3 Gun Nationals next weekend. As I have mentioned before, West Coast Armory is sponsoring me for my venture in to 3 Gun with an FN SLP MK 1 Competition shotgun. Like it’s competitor the Beneli Ultimate 3 Gun, the loading gate has this evil prong shape that eats your thumb during quick reloads. I am still trying to figure out why they were designed this way. Perhaps the 3 Gun thing was an after thought? Guns were designed and then became popular for 3 Gun? Regardless, I had my gunsmith, Jim Corolo from WCA weld shut the “prong” and he also beveled out the loading well. He also did and entire run through of any factory burrs and smoothed everything out. Now it is quick and pain free loading. The top photo is of the new and improved and the bottom photo is the “before”. I do know that FN is currently designing a new competition shotgun. I am hoping they listened to all of their team members to make it truly competition ready.
It is a fact that no matter what firearm you have for competition there are always improvements or upgrades to be made. Any rifles I have will have better triggers or barrels put in. Pistols will have heavier or lighter springs and triggers. I suppose no matter how “competition ready” the gun is when you purchase it the new owner will change it anyway. You have to make it your own. I also added a large, bright red bolt handle to make it my own. I now love my shotgun as is. Would I even want the new one coming out? Mine is “comfy” to me.
So off we go to start our season. It will be busy. There are many rifle matches in between 3 Gun matches. By the end of August we can take a little breather but then in Sept and October there are a couple more big events. As for this next week I will post results of the two matches and our crazy round-about way to Vegas. Believe it or not I have never been to Montana or Wyoming. Yes, like I said, a big round-about way to Vegas. We have friends and family members to visit and I am very excited to see the one room school house near Sheridan that Charles’ brother teaches at. They still exist! It is the little things in life that are so great.
30calgal
“Shoot Like A Girl! If You Can…..”
Who welded your shell carrier?
Jim Carolo, the gunsmith at West Coast Armory in Bellevue, WA.