Wilson Combat X-TAC

[woodyz]

So my M9 was my carry gun for years, but I bought these Wilson Combat X-TAC Compact custom guns in .45, 9MM and 38 Super, the same build, just different caliber. I thought I'd end up carrying the 9MM.

www.wilsoncombat.com/x-tac-compact/

I remember I bought the X-TAC compact because it felt like holding my COLT 1911 MK.IV /SERIES 70 45ACP 3 1/2" bbl instead of 4", not the new ones, but one made in the 70's and much better than those made now. Compact, stainless and my carry gun for years. Well the X-TAC, doesn't shoot like the old colt, they shoot better. But, they should. they are made way better. They cost more, I think I paid $1200 for the Colt and that was used.

I didn't pay $2786 a piece for them because I bought 3, but, I had not spent from my monthly gun budget for about six months, I did have some additional customization done, so I'll admit to $2500+ apiece, at least that is what I will admit to my wife. Hey!They did have to make them, they didn't have any like I wanted in stock. I did buy her a 13 oz LCR in magnum .22 which she wanted, she wanted it in .22, but I agreed to .22 magnum, which she has shot and agrees it's a good fit for her to carry. After shooting it they make a 5 shot 9MM revolver, which I may get for an ankle carry, I thought I already had one, but after searching all the safes and everywhere it might be I don't find it. I did find an ankle holster for one, so I think I did get one a few years ago.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_LCR

The X-TAC are single stack magazines, 7,8 and 9 rounds, with a 4" bbl, 4# trigger about 40oz., they feel really good and today I finally put 500 rounds through each of them. I've been target shooting at 25 yards with no problem putting a mag from either of them into a 9" pie pan in rapid fire, I will close to about 17 yards to fire.

The .38 super costs the most but I have decided it is what I am going to carry, from now on in the X-TAC.

I use Hornady 130 grain XTP HP for the .38 super at about .38 per shot, I can reload for about .25

Hornady 230 grain XTP HP for the .45 at about .28 per shot, I can reload for about .18

and Hornady 124 grain XTP HP for the 9MM at about .19 per shot, I can reload for about .10

I have already been shooting my reloads, so I know they work fine in the guns. Some reloads don't, but I have pretty much developed a reload match to the caliber and gun. Like my Remington model 700 in .243. I must have loaded and shot 1000 different combinations one summer to find the perfect fit for it and me. I feel like I can't miss with it and my loads for it. And THE 7.62X39, I loaded for far shots, close shots and silent/subsonic shots with it. trying differt loads, until I had just what I wanted for the range I wanted to shoot.

The conceal carry holster cost me about $90, it fits all 3 and it's shark skin so it looks good and should wear good

I figure at my age I should have what I want.

I can/do shoot standing, sitting, laying from by deck and have 20/25/50 yard handgun ranges 50/100/300/500/800/1000 rifle ranges in my backyard. It slopes down for about 70 yards then goes back up, so I made shooting lanes across the bottom. Targets are on railroad tie skids with railroad tie backstops, with a 2'x4', 1/2" plywood target. I like to use 9" aluminum pie pans and if I want to shoot small I add an ACE card.

I use Hornady or Sierra MatchKing Bullets, BTHP, IMR powder, CCI primers, but Federal and Winchester cases depending on the gun or load. I use an RCBS Rock Chucker loader and RCBS dies. I'll start with a 1000 cases, but after weighting, polishing, and picking over them, I only reload 300 or 400 from each batch. I am really picky about the cases and bullets for the rifles. Not as much for the handguns.

I shoot .22LR/.22WMR/.223/.243/7.62X39/7.62X51/.30X06

I don't reload any of the .22's spinning them to get the powder in the rim with any consistency just isn't in my DNA.

I never got into the small calibers other than .22WMR or .243, though I did have a .222 and a .22-250 and I never got into the big calibers like .50.

I had a .30x06 I tried about 50 loads for before I picked my .243, concentrated on building a load for it and gave the .30x06 to my Son.

I have shot at 1000 yards, but the 7.62X51 or the .308 and I found I could be consistent out to 800, but past that I got bad.

I don't even shoot at 800 because I lost my sight. I still shoot at 500 but it depends on the optics.

[marc]

You bought some damn fine guns with those Wilsons!

[woodyz]

Yes! I think I did! They cost too much, but they really shoot good and every time I shoot them it's easy to tell they are quality built. I am very afraid what will happen to them when I die, although I have got my Grandson interested in target shooting and may leave them to him.

I have been trying to get him to re-load and will leave him my reload equipment and supplies if he will get serious about it, right now he wants a car and any money spent toward anything else is wasted as far as he can see. I may load as many of each as I can and leave them to him, with the handguns, but am not sure he would appreciate them.

I have been holding back on the car to give it to him for graduation in May. He drives too fast, and I'm afraid to contribute to his ability.

[USCGME2]

Nice guns. Not that they are anything similar but, I loved carrying the M9 when that was our Coast Guard service pistol. It was just a good fit for me. Again apples to caviar in comparison. You DO have good taste Woody.

[woodyz]

I still have my M9 and I like it a lot, The M9 is the full sized gun I carry the most often, I have a .22 conversion for it so I shoot it a lot and often. If I had a .22 for the wilsons I would shoot it/them too. I like shooting a .22 with the same controls as a larger caliber, it's good practice and is easier to practice more often, But you have to shoot the real ones too, you have to have that recoil and feel of the gun to know what to expect. I'm anal about my reloads, the same case, the same, primer, the same powder, the same load, I clean and inspect each shell. When I shoot I want to expect the same performance from each bang, if I don't hit where I expected to I want to know it's something I did not the reload.

The Wilson's are short barrels and light, made to carry, and that's why I got them, but they are single stack and I only have two mags for each one. While I like to think I would only ever need a couple of shots I can't forget I am older and not as good as I once was.