Todd's Steel Challenge

[ToddKS]

Thanks. I did not expect to move into Master at this match but I am definitely happy with the results.

You are correct about the trouble. I came into this match wanting to get under 60 seconds. Now I have a year to figure out how to get into the 40's if I want to get paid again. Looking at the results Heavy Metal seems to be my best bet. I may need to consider getting a different G21 though. I am having to load heavy to work around the BTF issue which is not ideal. I am hoping that the gun will break in but I am also going to buy some jacketed 230 grain bullets to try.

[Pasley]

I've probably already said this earlier but my 45 load is a Nosler or Zero 185 grain JHP with 4.5 grains of N310. They don't eject nearly hard enough to get back to my face. : ) I keep it very clean and lube more than recommended by Glock, with Mobil 1.

[ToddKS]

I've probably already said this earlier but my 45 load is a Nosler or Zero 185 grain JHP with 4.5 grains of N310. They don't eject nearly hard enough to get back to my face. : ) I keep it very clean and lube more than recommended by Glock, with Mobil 1.

That's a powder that I haven't tried yet. I need more primers anyway so I may order a pound. Is your gun a Gen 4 or Gen 3?

[ToddKS]

I had some decent practice on Round About and Pendulum last weekend with my rimfire rifle.

I was faster shooting 1,2,5,4,S than my usual 2,1,5,4,S on Round About. The tradeoff there is first shot speed (Starting target 1 vs 2) vs. transition time from 1,5 vs from 2,5. Will have to see if this holds up or if I was just slower on big transitions that day.

On Pendulum I was running 2.4 to 2.6 once I got warmed up. I need to focus on getting the first shot off promptly (sometimes my reaction to the beep is less aggressive on this stage). The other thing I found is that I am giving up time on the 4,5,S transition. I need to push harder on the 5 shot and the transition to the stop plate. This is the difference between 2.4 and 2.6 for me.

Also need to remember to clean my barrel more often. There were accuracy issues at the end of my practice that were directly related to a fouled bore.

[ToddKS]

After reading Nimitz recent post I should add that I am having conflicted thoughts about what divisions I should continue to shoot. I have seriously considered not shooting pistol any more and focusing on the RFRO and possibly PCCO. It is pretty clear to me based on the classification criteria released that I am a much better rifle shooter than a pistol shooter. I also spend more of my practice time on pistol than rifle.

I am considering taking my pistol focus back to just GSSF and just shooting rifle for Steel Challenge. I would miss shooting the pistol however.

[ZackJones]

I know the feeling regarding divisions. After shooting a Pro-Am match last weekend I've decide to give up on iron sights. I shoot with a dot so much better that it's just a waste of ammo for me to shoot with irons. I plan two sell two of my Glocks (Production and CO gun) and just stick with my open Glock for when I shoot a pistol. I really like shooting RFPO and RFRO and PCCO. If I were smart I would just concentrate on RFRO and PCCO but I really enjoy RFPO so I'm going to keep shooting that at least through the SC State Championship in October.

2.4 - 2.6 on The Pendulum is quick! I'm hoping my times will drop after going to the range and making adjustments to my C-more on my RFPO/RFRO and PCCO guns. All of them were off which I think has been contributing to my sucky times. Clearly it has to be an equipment issue, right? .

[ToddKS]

The only thing keeping me shooting iron sights is GSSF. Were it not for that I would be shooting optics only.

Don't totally discount equipment issues. When I say I was having accuacy issues I mean the rifle would not hold a 12" plate at 18 yards. I thought it was me until I finally just put some rounds into the dirt and realized how far apart they were landing.

[ToddKS]

The shoulder issue that I have been dealing with since July has all but stopped my rifle shooting.  The issue is with my left shoulder and the move from the cone to the first target is really uncomfortable.  It also affects my draw with my pistol.  I does not bother me nearly as much shooting from the GSSF ready position so my focus has been on that. 

I finally saw a shoulder specialist this week.  I will likely be having surgery on my shoulder in January.  They gave me a cortisone injection to hopefully help until the surgery can be done.

I shot a "GSSF Style" match last weekend.  Same stages but open to any brand of pistol etc.  Good chance to practice.  I shot both divisions with my G17 (tried to start one with my G21 but it is having issues).  Times were 54.x and 67.x.  The 67 should have been a 57 but I left a plate standing.  That should never happen but it did.  Lesson learned.  Miss twice = stop and gather.  Instead I chose to blaze away and put 5 rounds over the top of the target at a sub .2 split.  Poor choice.

The 54 was generally solid all around with nothing spectacular.  I had a really good run on 5 to Glock on the 67 (16.x with only +1 penalty).  Best run I have ever had on that.

Things to work on/pay attention to:

Glock M:  Maintain hard grip through the entire run.  I had some charlies on the final paper target because I was just putting 2 in the direction.

5 to Glock:  Grip and sight picture.  Make sure you are on the 15 yard target before you fire.  I had some charlies on my 54 run because I did not fully establish my sight picture before I started shooting.

Hopefully the shot in my shoulder helps.  It is still sore from the injection.  The doctor said I should have a general idea of the level of relief I will get by early next week. 

[ToddKS]

Had surgery on my left shoulder today to remove bone spurs and perform a subacromial decompression (not totally sure what that is, but apparently it will fix my problem).  No rotator cuff issues so I am hoping that I am back in business in a couple months. 

[Pasley]

Good luck with the recovery.

 

[ToddKS]

Recovery is progressing.  The pain is not yet getting much better but my range of motion has improved.  They told me that I effectively had the equivalent of a broken bone healing where they ground the problem bone spur away and that it would likely be another month before that really started to heal.  I have done a little bit of light dry fire just to hold the gun but it is very uncomfortable.  I am hoping to be able to shoot in some form by the end of Feb.

[ToddKS]

Shoulder is continuing to improve.  Mobility is getting better but still a good deal of pain when holding a pistol or rifle (I check this regularly )  Given the progress I am still hopeful that I will be able to start shooting again in March.

[ToddKS]

Should is still not where I had hoped it would be but I am back to shooting and something that somewhat resembles working out.  Most of my practice has been at the indoor range until a week ago.

 

I shot a GSSF indoor match on 4/8 and shot 477 in Unlimited and 485 in stock.  Problem was the 25 yard target on both.  Unlimited was all over the map, my stock 25 yard target was just left of center.

 

I shot an outdoor GSSF practice match this morning.  I shot 56.03 with my unlimited gun and 65.97 with my stock gun.  Very pleased with the Unlimited times.  My only real issues were 3 charlies on Glock M and some struggles on the plate rack.  I had 2 deltas on Glock M on the right hand long target due to firing before I was all the way on the target.  I had 2 deltas on 5 to Glock, one due to improper sight alignment and the other I pulled.  5 to Glock with the unlimited gun was excellent.  Only 1 Charlie on the far target.  Plate rack was rough with the stock gun.  Need to work the plate rack.

 

I shot an indoor GSSF match later in the day.  Shot 493 Unlimited and 485 Stock.  Unlimited I had 1 Charlie at 15 and one Delta at 25.  My only concern here is that I did not call the delta.  That string felt good and it was except for that one shot.  Stock was clean except for the 25 yard target.  Once again I was left in general.  I need to figure out why I am pushing left with my stock gun but not my unlimited gun.  The guns are identical except for the sight.

 

I would say I am hopeful that my shoulder will be better soon but based on what I am hearing from the doctors this may be a long road.  The injury is healed.  What I have is some nerve/tissue issues related to the port that the scope went in through.  The injury is basically healed, but I still have pain, just in different places and it is a sharper pain.  Exercise and KT tape seem to provide some relief so I am going to just plow through it and do the best I can.