kimmie

The chute looks too high. I don't have a strong mount but the press and the chute are both attached to the same table.

I have struggled with my grip. First, finding grips that fit my hand, small palm, long fingers. I finally found grips that worked. Then I struggled to remember to grip tightly. Even with hours and hours of dry fire, part way through a cof, I would realize that the gun was flopping in my hands. As soon as I tightened my grip, my accuracy improved, but of course. Over the past couple of months I've developed a new issue. I noticed that my shots were going low. Very low. And I wondered if I had developed a flinch. I did the dry fire with the muzzle close to a wall so I could focus on my sights and while concentrating, the sights stayed true. Then one day, just sitting at the table, on the spur of the moment, I held an imaginary gun in my hands and pretended to pull the trigger. And watched in amazement as my wrists bent down every time I moved my trigger finger. Not much, but enough to cause some serious problems on partial targets and far away plates. I'm glad I finally figured out what was going on because it was driving me crazy and since I'm older and don't/can't run, accuracy and efficiency is key to me. I'm going to work on this in dry fire but now my mantra at make ready will be, tight grip, lock wrists and remember where all the target are! And I need to do even more dry fire to make this instinctive. I should add that I'm shooting a revolver with an 8lb trigger so that makes it even more important to remember those things. Any other suggestions on how to overcome this would be appreciated!

I wish I could have met you when you came to Area 7. My club designed stage 11, which affectionately became known as the 'bouncey bounce' stage. That bouncing no shoot really seemed to mess with peoples heads. Yes, it was a very long day!

And another. The thing is that you can make them as long as you want and they're flexible.

Don't know how clear this picture is but we use a flexible tubing and fasten it with fasteners to the wood base of targets and barricades.

Yup, and I have the video of you shooting it too......... Evil devil woman. Yes I had a Mike on that stage too. I'd rather shoot the difficult classifiers you pick! LOL

Yup, and I have the video of you shooting it too.........

Hmmmm. So THIS is what goes on when I'm not watching............. And, the goal on stage 2 was for folks to get confused and lose track. Glad it worked LOL.

Welcome Darren. This is a great place. You'll learn a lot here also with us at Mystic Valley!

Awww Rick, I am sooo sorry. I have known that pain and will know it again. It never gets any easier. I read this somewhere and it is so true! Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.” Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued, ”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.” Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy. Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

3 of the stages taken by a friend on my iPhone. Sorry Kimmie(1911) I didn't really meet anyone not on our squad. I was shooting with Hirshberg and Jay Buckley from Harvard so we stuck together most of the day. Match was run really well though and the ROs were excellent. Nice video. You looked good! Lot's of rounds! Jay and Jay! Woohoo!

I'm so bummed I can't be there :-( Make sure you represent and introduce yourself to all my FGW team mates! They will treat you right!

Well, this actually turned into a non-issue. But I did learn alot by asking my question and thanks for all the great replies. The levers to open the panel were 8" long. One on each side for right handed or left handed folks. Rather than say that a hand had to be kept on the lever at all times, which I felt really only gave the option of shooting with one hand, I said in my stage brief that no part of the body could touch the panel. It didn't take long for someone to figure out that they could hold the panel open with their elbows on the lever. I think one or two folks did shoot one hand but the majority did the elbow prop thing. All in all, folks enjoyed it. Here are a few videos,

Thank you all!

That's ok Steve - your examples helped me. Thanks!

Here, Troy says that things like this can be required in the WSB. I'm reading it's o.k. You are making me work LOL.

Very similar, I think to the elevator door. But how did you get folks to not block the door open with their foot? Maybe I could say that no body part can touch the panel?

Not necessarily. It seems in the situation she is describing the port could be opened and then supported with elbows/arms so looking for a way to specify while staying safe. Yes. They could lean on it with elbows/arms holding it open and shoot with both hands. It is hinged on the bottom so opens top down. Pushing up on the knob, which is at the bottom on either side, pushes it open. I want to specify keeping a hand on the knob (more of a lever), which will force strong hand shooting.

The more I read and look through the rule book and listen to what you guys are saying, I'm not seeing anything that says it's not legal. I don't think that 1.1.5.4 applies because I'm not 'stipulating' strong hand/weak hand. And actually, I'm thinking 1.1.5 says that it's alright, "conditions may be created, and barriers or other physical limitations may be constructed, to compel a competitor into shooting positions, locations and stances" I think I just need to make sure it's not creating a dq fest. More thoughts????

Sperman, I'm not finding my answer in that thread, am I just not seeing it?

Sarge - yes, now that you say that, I can see it.. Although, the knob isn't inside the port but more to the edge and bottom and there are actually 2 knobs, one on the far right and one on the far left so folks should automatically (I would hope) use their weak hand. I could put that in the stage briefing I suppose.

O.k. But 1.1.5.4 says I can not stipulate the use of strong/weak hand and I'm not doing that. I'm stipulating holding onto something. 1.1.5.5 says that through the use of props requiring a competitor to shoot both stong/weak, must not be made to transition directly from one to the other. I am using props (knob) to force them to shoot strong hand only.

At our local indoor match, we want to use a barricade that has a panel set into it which when open, will be a port with targets. The panel has springs on it and has to be held open. There is a large knob to open the panel with. Once the panel is opened, you can lean through and rest your arms on the panel to hold it open and shoot the targets. We'd like to have the targets taken strong hand only. Can we require that your hand remain in contact with the knob to engage that entire array so that folks don't just lean in and prop it open with their arms? Another thought would be to require that your hand be on the knob prior to the last shot but I'd worry about folks leaning on the panel for all but the last shot and when they let up to grab the knob, the panel springs back and hits them, although it doesn't come back that quickly or strongly.

P30_WalkThePlanksMate1.ppt Actually, I lied. We used that stage 2 years ago, this is he one we used last year, also well received. Designed by a Benos member, Mark R. People shot this stage multiple ways. Here's a video of JJ shooting Spanky's stage 2 years ago....

I'm no good at stage design either so I steal from Spanky! I used a stage of his last year at the Area 7 championship and it got a mention in Front Sight as one of the best stages. I'm using another one of his again this year for Area 7. I have no shame lol. This is the one we used last year - this year, I ain't tellin'