At the Zimbabwe open IPSC match this weekend one of the swiss shooters had the most interesting modification to a "standard gun" that I have ever seen. Everybody in the top 20 used either an STI or SV pistol, with many a trick to keep recoil down, but this worked better than any thing I had tried. Using it Hans was able to get splits between shots of 0.09 of a second regulary, and even I could manage splits of 0.12 (and I usually shoot a revolver). It has as little muzzel flip as most guns in the "Modified" class (which have compensators)

I Have asked Terry to post the photo's below- especially as it was built on an SV pistol and Mike Voight frequents this forum ;, along with a few other top IPSC shooters from arround the world

So, ya gonna give us a hint what the mod is? Or just keep it a mystery?

C'mon Don, if it wasn't a full auto selector what was it?
Peter.

Sorry Guy's Terry is obviously working! Photo's are much better than words, but basically, the gunsmith cut the slide 1½" from the muzzle, and replaced that front portion with a tungsten block. Then built up the slide to act as a barrel bushing-

So... You now have a weight of ½" on the front of the barrel which doesn't bounce arround, and a very light slide that recoils very fast. Less gun movement due to slide opening and closing, and that bloody great weight on the end of the barrel keeps the muzzle down.

Don,... interesting. Why not just make the comp out of a heavier material, wouldn't that accomplish the same thing? I had a Russian target 22 pistol (Vostock) designed for rapid fire, that had weights for the underside of the barrel, so this is not new. Presumably there is a trade off between weight and speed. In what used to be called the Bianchi Cup (don't know if it is still around) I used to use a S&W 686 with an add on underlug, an extra weight that slid on to the existing underlug, to make it even heavier. But then, speed was not a major factor, accuracy was!
Peter.

Interesting! Isn't this similar to the "full dust cover" type guns that are made? I think that part of that purpose was to make it more muzzle heavy. Actually, I don't know how long you guys have been around, but a guy by the name of Bill Rogers (of Rogers holster fame) designed a couple of Bianchi cup guns for his wife (and himself as I recollect). Buzzy Clifton built them and they have a similar comp setup. I believe that they were featured in some of the shooting rags way back when. I have a Buzzy built gun in 38 super and I love it! Peter.

Hi Peter

The gun had a full length tungsten dust cover to ad weight out front, but under IPSC rules you are not allowed a "Barrel weight or compensator" I used to have a huge bock of steal attached to the front of my browning (in the bad old days when you could have a single stack .45 or 15rnd Browning), but no longer usable. This is just a facinating way arround the rules. Just goes to prove that if you make rules, some cleaver man will beat them! (that's why I shoot revolver class - I have seen a few nifty ideas, but they make minimal difference- skill alone wins at the end of the day)