Rockcastle Run N Gun 5k: Park City, KY, March 18, 2017

[Matt in TN]

This is not your typical 3-Gun match, but a little different take on a rifle/pistol match. I figured some folks here might be interested:

The Rockcastle Run-N-Gun is a centerfire biathlon competitors will complete a 5K run combined with a shooting competition. The event is a test of man and equipment alike. It is intended to give participants an idea of how being hot, cold, exhausted, and challenged by the environment affects their shooting, and to test the effectiveness of their gear under field conditions. This event is not intended for inexperienced shooters all participants are expected to be familiar with the operation of their firearms, and to observe basic principles of firearm safety at all times. With the exception of emergencies, Range Officers (ROs) are not allowed to help participants in any way. Good attitudes are a must. If you are the type of person who gets upset when minor changes are made to a plan or when you dont always get your way, this is not the event for you.

More details here:

https://m.facebook.com/events/1776892339261414?notif_t=admin_plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1469670594048227&ref=m_notif

Edited July 29, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Blue Jacket]

Matt looks fun. When does rigistration open? I saw you're using Practiscore but no date was listed. Thanks

Edited July 29, 2016 by Blue Jacket

[Matt in TN]

Thanks for the interest! Registration will open a little closer to the match date. I just wanted to get this out there and on people's calendars so they could start training early if they wanted. Some people could gear up and do this tomorrow, and others (who I'd really like to see come do this) have much further to go - but hopefully this will be the push they need to get started.

If you click "going" or "interested" on the FB page you'll be notified anytime a new post is added there, and you'll know the minute registration opens.

[mattmann]

Will you "run" the whole thing with your guns?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[louu]

Sounds fun, can you post the details here? I HATE facebook with a passion, don't have an account and never will.

[Matt in TN]

Here are the basics:

Intro:

The Rockcastle Run-N-Gun is a centerfire biathlon competitors will complete a 5K run combined with a shooting competition. The event is a test of man and equipment alike. It is intended to give participants an idea of how being hot, cold, exhausted, and challenged by the environment affects their shooting, and to test the effectiveness of their gear under field conditions. This event is not intended for inexperienced shooters all participants are expected to be familiar with the operation of their firearms, and to observe basic principles of firearm safety at all times. With the exception of emergencies, Range Officers (ROs) are not allowed to help participants in any way. Good attitudes are a must. If you are the type of person who gets upset when minor changes are made to a plan or when you dont always get your way, this is not the event for you.

Basics:

Participants will receive both a score for their run based on how long it took them to complete the course, and a score for their shooting based on how long it took them to clear each course of fire. The run score and shooting score will be equally weighted in determining the participants final score. This is true run-what-you-brung field-style shooting, with no equipment classes. For the most part, if you want to carry it for 5 clicks, be our guest. Shooters are expected to have all their firearms sighted in and all their gear ready to go on the morning of the shoot. There will be no zeroing at the event. Think of this as a test of how you and your equipment would perform in a Second Amendment situation if you had to go take care of business at your current state of readiness, whatever that is. Run order will be more or less random. We will try to be accommodating to participants who wish to share firearms or equipment (we can have one person run in the morning and the other in the afternoon), or to those who wish to run together.

Equipment:

The only equipment that is strictly required to participate is a safe center fire rifle, a safe center fire pistol, enough ammo to clear the course (at least twice the minimum round count from the Course of Fire is recommended), eye protection, ear protection, a flashlight, and some form of stopwatch. Everything else is up to the participant, but water and a pen and notepad are highly recommended. Shooters may use any type of gear they want to carry their equipment with, the only requirement being that pistols must be carried in a secure holster that covers the trigger if they are to be carried loaded. Rifles may be carried any way you like, as long as they remain pointed in a safe direction. You may not use tracers or armor piercing bullets that have a hardened penetrator core (mild steel core bullets like M855 and 7N6 are OK). Your pistol must fire a pistol cartridge.

Rules:

First and foremost, all participants will be expected to comply with basic firearms safety at all times. If you demonstrate inability or unwillingness to follow basic firearm safety, you will be asked to leave, with no refund and no apology. Muzzles must be pointed in a safe direction at all times, and fingers must be off the trigger unless the firearm is pointed at a target. Rifles shall only be loaded when a shooter is at a rifle stage, after the RO has given the fire command. Shooters may leave their handguns loaded at all times. However, loaded handguns must remain securely in a holster unless the shooter has been given the fire command on a shooting stage. Some stages will be active, involving moving and shooting. Firearms may remain loaded during movement, but strict muzzle discipline must be maintained.

Procedures:

Every shooter will be given a score card that he will be required to carry through the course. The card is how we record your score. Do not lose it or we will not be able to give you a score for the event. When a shooter approaches a station, he will be required to show a RO an empty mag well and empty chamber on his rifle. If another shooter is currently on the stage when he arrives, the one who just arrived will be instructed by a RO to start his stopwatch to keep track of his wait time (this will be subtracted off the participants run time when his run score is calculated). It is purely the shooters responsibility to keep track of his wait time. The ROs have no responsibility whatsoever to help you do this. Even if a RO offers to help you keep track of your time, you have no one but yourself to blame if this is not done. When the shooter is ready to shoot the stage, he will hand the RO his score card, and the RO will record his wait time if any. The shooter will be given a quick summary of the course of fire. The RO will ask if the shooter understands the course of fire. If the answer is yes, the shooter will be given the fire command, at which time he may load his rifle and/or draw his pistol and begin shooting the stage. All stages will have a zone where the shooter must fire from -- either a particular hole in a barricade that you must shoot through, or a marked zone on the ground, in which every part of your body or equipment which touches the ground must remain inside of when you fire. Hits made from outside the designated area will not count toward completion of the course of fire. Every shooting stage will have a 3 minute time limit. This is to keep the runners moving and to prevent large backups of shooters waiting to shoot a stage. If a shooter does not complete the stage under the time limit, he will receive a score of 0 for that stage. If for any reason the cease fire command is given, you will immediately cease fire, holster your handgun, and unload your rifle. You will do likewise when you complete a stage, or time out. The RO should tell you your time for the stage. The RO will record your time on your score card. You may want to carry a pen and notepad to keep track of your score in case you lose your card, or if there is a mix-up with the scoring. Every shooter must show a RO an empty mag well and chamber on his rifle before leaving each stage. A RO will give directions on where to go to continue down the trail. Shooters are NOT required to leave their rifles bolt open during the run this is actually discouraged, as it will allow lots of that beautiful Kentucky red clay to accumulate inside the action. There will be ample opportunity for this to happen on the course.

The Run:

The total course length is 3.4 miles. The path for participants to follow will be marked with brightly colored flags and/or tape. Shooters must stay close to the marked path. Do not cut corners. Failure to follow the marked trail may take you into the impact area of a hot range!!! If the trail takes you through some difficult terrain, this is on purpose! Parts of the trail will be down a county road. Keep to the left edge of the road and watch for traffic. Certain obstacles and other challenges may be encountered along the way. These must be completed, or you will receive a run score of 0.

Your Fitness:

This event is in a remote area, and you need to be aware of over-exertion. We should have some folks with medical skills on hand, but your health is your responsibility. If you start having problems, slow down... drink some water... listen to your body! There is no shame in walking the course... know yourself and your limitations.

Accommodations:

Attendees are highly recommended to stay at the onsite lodge for the full experience. There will be people on site all day Friday, as the ROs will be running the course. Porta-potties will be on site at most shooting locations. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 7:30 a.m. The safety briefing begins at 7:30 a.m. Anyone who does not get registered by 7:30 will not be allowed to participate, so be on time. The first runner will be sent out at 8:00 a.m., and another runner will be sent out in a uniform interval thereafter. The ROs will have run the course the day before. They will be scored along with all the other contestants. After the last runner has crossed the finish line, we will calculate the results. The winners will be announced, trophies will be given out, and a drawing will be conducted for all the prizes contributed by the sponsors.

How to Sign Up:

The registration fee for the Rockcastle Run-N-Gun is $50. Registration will be limited to 50 competitors. Registration will be handled through Practiscore, and Rockcastle will collect the match fee and have you sign waivers the morning of the match. Make sure you are familiar with all of our rules and procedures before signing up. All participants must register under their true names. Tickets are non-transferable. Pre-registration is mandatory, and no walk-ons will be allowed on match day as space and time is limited.

Directions:

The start and finish line are both located at the Park Mammoth Resort Lodge at Rockcastle Shooting Center. The address is 22850 Louisville Rd, Park City, KY 42160. This is almost exactly halfway in between the Nashville International Airport (BNA) and the Louisville International Airport (SDF) about an easy hour and a half drive from either.

[Matt in TN]

Will you "run" the whole thing with your guns?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes - guns, gear, ammo, and anything else you might need over the entire course. There is no going back to the car for more ammo or dragging a 3-gun cart behind you in this event. My typical load out for these matches is a total of 40lbs. But I shoot .308 and .45 and am a glutton for punishment - .223 and 9mm guys can get by with less.

[louu]

This sounds amazing. Any idea of round count and number of stages?

[ClangClang]

This sounds like a prefect way to spend the day. I'm going to mark it on my calendar and wait for registration to open.

[Matt in TN]

This sounds amazing. Any idea of round count and number of stages?

There will be five shooting stages in total. I'll release the full course description closer to match date, but the round count will be high enough to make it interesting, and low enough that we don't kill anyone trying to hump 100 lbs of ammo for 3.5 miles. It's a fine line to try and balance... ;-)

[Matt in TN]

This sounds like a prefect way to spend the day. I'm going to mark it on my calendar and wait for registration to open.

Great! We'd love to have you -

[Matt in TN]

And since I can hear the next question coming already:

The shooting is relatively simple and straight forward - if you were to try it fresh and well rested. You'll need to be able to walk, crawl, or run (or some combination of the three) for 3.5 miles over semi-rough terrain, while carrying your rifle, pistol, all your ammo, and anything else you might need along the course. There will be some obstacles along the way, so your gear needs to be very secure. Walking the entire route is perfectly acceptable if that is your current level of fitness - you will not be alone walking. You will not get a chance to rest before shooting, get a "walk through", or have any time to "game" the stage - you'll have to run right up to a course of fire and pretty much start shooting right away. The RO will read a brief stage description to you, point out the targets, and say "any questions?". You can ask questions until you're blue in the face, but your run time will be ticking away the entire time you're doing so. If you have no questions, the next command will be "Fire". There is no "Load and make ready". You'll have to retrieve your rifle/pistol from however you had it stowed for running, load, and start firing ALL ON THE SHOOTING CLOCK.

You'll need to be able to shoot a rifle from both shoulders from both standing and kneeling. You'll need to engage multiple targets from multiple positions with both a rifle and a pistol. You'll need to know how to operate an AK-pattern rifle (provided for you, along with ammo). You'll need to be able to shoot a rifle from standing, sitting, kneeling, and prone, and know your drops from 0-300 yards. You'll need to be able to use a pistol and a flashlight at the same time, and find and engage targets in an unfamiliar place in total darkness. You'll need to be able to make a fairly easy pistol shot under tremendous pressure. It would probably be a good idea to practice shooting a rifle from awkward positions (like a VTAC board).

And of course you'll need to be able to reload and clear malfunctions on both rifle and pistol.

The equipment rules are simple: if you want to carry it 3.5 miles, you can use it.

Edited August 1, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Mike41]

Does pistol have to be in holster! Could it be carried unloaded in backpack?

[Matt in TN]

Does pistol have to be in holster! Could it be carried unloaded in backpack?

I don't think I've ever seen anyone NOT carry it in a holster. In theory if you carry it unloaded you can carry it however you want to carry it (and a backpack would be OK). But that would add a complication in that the RO's would have to verify your pistol clear after and before every stage of fire - just like the rifle. That could add a lot of room for confusion if you're the only guy doing it. Let me think on it some.

Why do you want to carry it in your backpack instead of in a holster? Is this a "train like you fight" thing? (for the record - I applaud you for this if that's the case!)

[Mike41]

No, I am not that good...Not sure if I want to trust my holster for running, crawling with a slung rifle for 3+ miles was the reason for asking. It would be more secure in a backpack. But again I don't know what obstacles this course has.

Mike

[Mike41]

No, I am not that good...Not sure if I want to trust my holster for running, crawling with a slung rifle for 3+ miles was the reason for asking. It would be more secure in a backpack. But again I don't know what obstacles this course has.

Mike

[Matt in TN]

Sorry - I talked to one of the Oklahoma match directors, and he said they had somebody carry an unloaded pistol in a backpack once. They had issues with it pointing in completely unpredictable directions when it was removed - so between that and the increased confusion it could cause for RO's I'm going to say pistols must be carried in a holster (I've edited to rules on the FB page to clarify that). Most folks use a retention type holster because of what you describe, or you can certainly carry your pistol unloaded in the holster if you'd like. If you drop a loaded pistol anywhere on the course it will be an immediate DQ and your race will be over - but if you drop an unloaded pistol we'll just verify it is clear, put it back where we found it, and then tell you to pick it up and keep going!

I'll post some pics of my gear later - you don't need an expensive fancy retention holster to do this. Having a "quick draw" ability won't help you much in this kind match, but having gear that holds your pistol and magazines securely (and even covered somewhat) sure does help.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

Here's just one example - this is how I ran the first 10k in Oklahoma. My gear is a little bit different now, but I'm still using the cheap Condor pistol holster I bought at the local army surplus store. That has worked just fine for me over multiple runs.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

pistols must be carried in a holster (I've edited to rules on the FB page to clarify that).

Hmm - I've edited the FB page, but the Enos forum doesn't want to let me edit my long post above. I can edit more recent posts, but I guess there's a cut-off for editing?

[Matt in TN]

Here's a short highlight video from my first 10k in Oklahoma to give everyone a better idea what to expect. The Rockcastle match won't be EXACTLY like this, but the idea is the same.

[Matt in TN]

And we got our first match sponsor today: 300 Below (http://www.300below.com/) is donating several certificates for a free cryo treatment for your rifle, along with some other stuff.

They did a FAL for me a couple years ago, and I was so happy with it that I'm sending them another one. If you have a wandering zero issue and you've tried everything else you should give them a call. Be sure to thank them for their support and generosity!

If anyone else wants to get involved as a sponsor, please contact me at mstennett@twlakes.net for details. We have several levels of sponsorship available that can fit every budget.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Hi-Power Jack]

Remind me to stay out of TN.

That looks grueling

[Hoosiershooter]

Hope I can get in at registration. Sounds like a blast.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Matt in TN]

That looks grueling

Sounds like a blast.

You're both right - I love it!

[jclaypool]

Man I really hope I'll be around for this. I have been eyeing some of the ones posted on other forums for a while now. Good for you, putting this one on Matt. Fingers crossed, I'll see you guys there.