xd1977

Yes!

I guess I'm specifically saying that my passion is USPSA, I am just tired of the bs that it has turned into because of the things I mentioned. I hadn't thought of it from your perspective though. It is really helpful and much appreciated....thanks!

First, a bit of background in the hopes that maybe someone who has been in a similar situation may have some advice: I gave up my first major hobby of drag racing and began competitive shooting in USPSA, IDPA and 3G since 2009. Since that time, I've achieved 3 gun master classes in both USPSA and IDPA (had to give up 3 gun due to the expense), but gave up the IDPA as well way back when it was decided to completely change up the rule book. So here's the dilemma. I'm at the point where my performance on the range is not what it use to be. I'm now chasing my GM cards in USPSA and I guess it could be called a rut. Age and aging eyesight are playing a part in this for starters, but this has be corrected and I'm still hitting the pistol drills, gym and cardio pretty hard 4 to 5 days a week. I'm still very fit at 46 years and the performances in practice are without question on point with the M/GM class. I have family, work and many other responsibilities like most everyone else; but lately, it's becoming harder and harder to prioritize the hobby/sport that I love and balance it with everything else. I can attribute being an RO for 12 years and being on the timer or score pad most of the match lately is playing a huge part in my performance declining a lot! Seems hardly anyone else wants to take part and help in RO'ing or scoring. Most claim they don't know how or they aren't an RO. It's a piss poor excuse if you ask me because no one is willing to try and learn. It was so bad at one of our local matches a couple weeks ago during 100 degree weather. No one was willing to help and hardly anyone was pasting. I gave a warning after 3 stages and when it happened again, I just put the timer down during the 4th stage and said.."I'm done", and I left. It left me exhausted and demoralized to the point I almost didn't want to go back. It deeply concerns me that other shooters aren't willing to step up and help because it NEVER use to be this way at our local clubs. It's almost to the point where I want to give up the RO certification, but if I do, I become part of the problem. Me transferring my training to the match is almost impossible and is only displaying every once and awhile instead of constantly now during my runs. My motivation is in the toilet because of this too. I've spoken with the MD's about folks helping us out. It's been addressed, but still falls on deaf ears when brought to other competitors attention. These local matches are very important to me because they in themselves are training tools for me as for the major matches I attend, so it irks me when this happens, which has been a regular occurrence recently. It's easy to just say "hand the stuff off", but sometimes it's not as simple as that. Different things come into play like get squaded with new or rookie shooters, shooting order, older folks who can't run nearly as fast as the competitor and being able to keep their eyes on the gun. Even having junior shooters on the squad plays in as a big factor for me, because I surely will not allow someone who isn't a certified RO to run our kids through a stage. This is coming from me as a parent and a RO. I have had to step away from the range for injuries and family issues for months at a time (a year was the longest, I think), but I was always hungry to get back out there on the trigger every single time. I'm worried that if I take a break from it this time, the hunger for shooting sports won't be there anymore. Any input would be appreciated....

+1 for the PT Honcho. It is the way to go with interchangeable breach and barrel configurations for different divisions. It will save you a lot of cash down the road

Half day format would have been great if we had started on time. We were slotted Sat PM starting at 12:45 and didn't get started until almost 2:00. We had two squads ahead of us before we could shoot that hadn't finished up in the am and ended up pasting our asses off just to get them out of there quicker. We finished up on the last stage at the speed shoot at dusk. I was real close to just going home cause it seems like every time I come up to Conyers to shoot, something gets screwed up..

If I'm not tearing the whole pistol down, I like using Hornady One Shot Gun Cleaner and blast out the dirt and buildup out of the frame, slide and barrel. You don't have to worry about wiping it completely out of the slide and frame because it dries itself pretty quick and leaves a non slick invisible dry lube film behind. I run a brush and swab down the barrel after, lube the rails, trigger assembly and disco with lucas pen oiler and use slide glide on the barrel lugs and a little inside the slide in the lug grooves. Works great

Just bought the Henning full checker grips and 6 basepads myself from BSPS. Had a little bit of an issue in which I went ahead and got hold of Henning. Solved my issue and had what I needed in no time. What a great dude to deal with!!

I have seen it more times than none when you are 15 to 18 deep in a squad and have no help. There is no excuse for this at any match, especially when 3/4 of the squad are experienced shooters. Their excuse is "I don't know how to do this" even after he/she has participated in the matches for a year or more. It's like our MD says..this is a volunteer sport from beginning to end and it takes people and their help to make it happen. I've been at the point in 100 degree weather at a match where no one would help paste and reset the stage after asking time and again. Nor would anyone offer help taking the timer so I could catch a break after running the full squad through a stage or two after damn near baking to death. This is when you just put the timer down and go have a seat. Even then, some ppl look at you and have the nerve to say "WTF?" Eventually, the message you send is clear and the squad has no choice but to step up or get their DNF. I've seen it so bad, I've even considered giving up my RO certification because of this kind of crap. RO's also got no support from certain MD's on the matter...and YES!! It plays havoc with your shooting performance throughout the course of the match when conditions are like this. Being hot, tired and pissed off beyond belief is never conducive to your shooting. In these cases, I don't even want to be there. Luckily, my regular crew I shoot with for the past couple of years makes things great! Things run smoothly, and just about everyone is up and doing something to help unless they just got finished firing because they're reloading. If your on deck, or in the hole in this squad, it's kind of unsaid that you're not expected to paste and reset. And someone's always there to take over the timer and scoring pad if you need a break or are coming up to shoot. It's a much more enjoyable experience and makes you want to help when everyone is on the same page.

Thanks..fixed it!

I don't see too many plugs for this holster dealer, so I thought I'd throw it out there just because of the exceptional customer service that was provided to me. I spoke with Mr. Lytton today on the telephone at Lytton Custom Holsters looking for an exceptional production rig for my Tangfo Stock II. I explained to him that I had recently had the opportunity to utilize on of his custom built holsters a few weeks back at a local match and how seamless and easy it was to adjust and draw from that holster (I was very impressed!). Mr. Lytton took the time to explain to me in fine detail how the holster was made and all of the available options for my BOSS hangar, along with his modified version of the BOSS hangar and how it was made to be a better functioning system. He also gave me a pretty specific build time for the holster with shipping information and answered all my questions with enthusiasm and patience. It was just a refreshing experience to talk with a business owner who cares about his customer's specific requests for their holster customization and he want's your feedback on the pro's and con's of the holster so he can make improvements if needed. Mr. Lytton posts his cell number on his website, so you can contact him if by chance there are any issues with the holster or the accessories. He also asked if I would send video of the holster in action once I got it hooked up and running in which I answered, "absolutely". I have no doubt that my holster build will be spot-on after this conversation and had to go ahead and place my order. If you guys get a chance, check out his website or give him a call. I think you will be thoroughly impressed. www.lyttoncustomholsters.com

You are correct when you come to the firing line after your walk thru to make ready and your mind goes blank. But first, make sure your plan is solid, you have your foot positions and stance down, and your round count and target positions before this happens. Your feet and body should follow what your rehearsed time and time again. There may be targets missed the first time or two, but this falls back on stage walk-thru and preparation. It will start to become natural the more you do it. Also, read the stage description and round count before the walk-thru. Where your mistake occurs is when you watch other shooters just before you and think, "Man, I think I'll do that too!" Then you may end up chasing that shooter's time/ movements and you've just aborted all the preparation you have done by changing your plan up. Most likely, you will totally screw up the stage. Stick to YOUR plan once it's locked in, visualize each shooting position and the targets on each before you get to the firing line and everything should go pretty well. As far as being DQ'ed, chalk it up as a learning lesson for things to practice and not do in the next match. Be cognizant of your muzzle at all times and practice movement with a clear weapon before you get to the range with movement in all directions, to include the draw facing uprange.

You should be fine running the 14# at 130 PF. Spend the $ for the spring and give it the recoil test. Make sure it's not slamming into the locking lug and see where your sights are settling after recoil. If they are riding up and not coming back to your natural point of aim, then you'll probably need to go with the 16#.

+1 here...the striker channel needs to be clean and dry. If you can get your hands on some, Hornady One Shot does a great job at cleaning firearms. It leaves a very thin dry film behind after cleaning that protects and lubes. It works great at cleaning the striker channel. Probably wouldn't hurt to replace the striker spring also for just a few dollars...it's good insurance.

Pedro Ortiz at Ortiz Custom Guns in Savannah, GA is the man for the job. He is one of the top gunsmith's in A6..

18 lb. is the stock spring weight. If you are running the 147's on a soft load, it's ok to run the 14 lb. spring. If you move down in bullet weight to 124 or 125 gr. to minor power factor, go ahead and move your spring weight up to the 16 lb.