kimmie

He has them! But he won't leave them on - he's good with the muffs though....

And our youngest shooter!!!!

JJ running Spanky's stage

Just had the Area 7 Championship this past weekend. I spent a lot of time re-reading the rule book and reading all of the 'rules' posts here because I was r.o.'ing. I always learn something new on here. I had just read this thread prior to the match. John Amidon was at the match and at the shooters meeting, he specifically referenced this rule. And spent a fair amount of time discussing it. And how it applied. As written. I'm not making any comments one way or the other concerning whether I like the rule or not. I thought it was interesting how this was a rule he chose to stress that shooters should be aware of and that would be enforced.

Had to share - Mojo is famous! http://practicalshooting.posterous.com/every-match-needs-a-mascot

Just finished the Area 7 Championship. We did a stage so I've been going since Wednesday setting up, shooting and running our stage Saturday and today. I am absolutely whipped but it was a great match that everyone seemed to enjoy. I'll post more pics and videos once I get a good nites sleep. But, this picture was cool and I wanted to share. Mojo was the official "Mojo the wonder bulldog R.O." and JJ thought he was way cool. (Which he is) Link to pictures from day 1 https://picasaweb.google.com/114646213181987585913/Area7ChampionshipDay1

Thanks Jeremy - you are an official Bah-stonian now! Repeat after me - Pahhhhk the bullets in the tahhhhgets. I'll post vids of folks running it next week! http://www.harvardactionshooters.com/downloads/A72011-Stages/A7Stages2011.pdf

I have 'over 40' eyes. Only need glasses for reading and get drug store specials, 2.75+. After spending a LOT of money having a pair of shooting glasses made, which never really worked, another eye doc suggested plain reading glasses in a weaker prescription. Tried on a pair of 1.0+ readers and wow - can see the front sight AND distance fairly well. And I don't feel off balance either. Had them made into an insert for my Rudy's and never looked back. In a couple of years I'll probably need 1.5+. Or, maybe I'll be past the point of wanting to look cool and just buy a pair cheap over the counter readers and stick a pair of industrial safety glasses over them.

Thanks for all the great responses. I don't always think 'outside' of the box Since I know my physical limitations and running(bouncing) holding onto my gun would slow me even more, and I want to keep all my attention on the shooter, I'll always have my bag near by and bag my gun in the future. Yes, ARO should pick up my gun. If I'm r.o'ing, my gun would be empty. Just was curious as to how this plays out.

I did a search and could only find this topic mentioned in passing in a post about something different. At local matches, people swap off on r.o'ing to give each other a break. I think it would be nice to be able to bag your gun before you start running around the range but it's not always possible - 'hey Donna - can you r.o. this next shooter - safe table is waayyy over there - at least dump my mags - and then take over. At larger matches, you usually don't have a gun on, because r.o'ing is all you're doing. At some point, while trying to keep up with a particularly speedy competitor at an outdoor match, I became concerned about my gun flopping around on my side and realized that you normally have your gun in your hand while running, as the shooter. Most of my r.o'ing is done at an indoor range where you're not chasing after someone doing a 30+ yard dash. I shoot Limited and recently changed back to a Blade-tech DOH after using a CR speed for many years. I was never concerned about my gun falling out of the CR, although, I suppose in the beginning I was. I changed back to the Blade Tech for other reasons. I've tightened the tension on it so that when I hold it upside down, my gun doesn't fall out but for some reason, I still feel a little insecure with it and find myself holding my gun in place when I bend over or sit down. I'm sure that I'll feel more secure with it after a couple more times using it, as I used it years ago when I shot limited 10 and was fine with it. Just a readjustment to something sort of new. I've been an r.o. for several years now but don't r.o. all that often because for one, I'm not that athletic and can't keep up with some of those supersonic youngsters. I don't really run - I kinda 'bounce' along , and while 'bouncing along' after this speedy shooter, I started worrying about my gun 'bouncing' out of my holster. My solution to this is that since I can't be distracted while running a shooter, in the future, I will find a way to bag my gun if I'm going to r.o. But, my question is, how is it handled if an r.o's gun falls out during the course of fire? I've never seen it happen, although I'm sure it has. I yell 'stop'. Who picks up my gun? Me? I'm the r.o. It's empty and I'm not the shooter so I'm not d.q'd, yes? Shooter gets a reshoot due to r.o. interference? (screw up). Thanks

Going to try to make it again this year(I guess I mean next year!) since the last match was incredible and the Southern hospitality was so awesome!

Never mind!!!!!! Classifier got thrown out (squads shot it differently) . But it was a fun discussion! Hopefully it will be more clear cut next month since I plan on nailing the next classifier. Limited!

You, Mr. de03x7, are a very smart man

Lugnut - I know what you're talking about. But actually, the last few matches I've shot have been almost stress free. And my best. And even the classifiers were pretty stress free. It was only when I started adding up my scores and realized that I was possibly 'there', that I started getting stressed! And then worrying about losing it with a bad classifier. New Bedford was a great match. I shot it clean. I felt more aggressive and more focused but I had a lot of fun. The classifier wasn't stressful either. I really focused on getting my hits and did. I wasn't thinking it could move me up. When I started adding up the numbers, I was surprised. I wanna keep it if it's real

I know Mike. And I agree. Sort of. I usually welcome a challenge. I did that with my fear of steel. And overcame it. Shot every steel match I could find until I actually started enjoying seeing steel at a match. But..... if my calculations are right - I'm there. And I don't want to take the chance of losing it again, because if my hard work has payed off, (along with some great coaching from 'my friends'(sm) I want to see the proof for myself. Then again -if my calculations are wrong - back to the fight!

It's easy to tell yourself that a classifier is just another stage. And in reality, most of them aren't that difficult. Up until I got soooo close, I could look at it that way. But now that I'm 'almost there' it's next to impossible to put it out of my head. I wouldn't feel like I'm cheating to zero a classifier to not get bumped back down. Because if I did poorly, I would know it was because of stress, or equipment failure or just a bad day and that I was really shooting below my abilities. I guess I'm even more stressed because I was 'this close' a while back, went to a six stage classifier match (that I helped organize and set up, so I was tired and not focused) and brought myself down so much that it's taken over a year for me to recover. On top of that, it's also taken me this long to change my mindset and not 'freeze' the minute I hear the word classifier. I didn't equate zeroing a stage to keep from getting bumped down, with sandbagging - I think of sandbagging as folks trying to down play their abilities for greater gain at a later date/match. That, I don't agree with. But for me, I don't think I would be able to think fast enough to remember to zero the stage So I'll go with the Option B - different division. I like the idea of shooting a different division until the new update next month. It solves all of my problems. Relieves the stress. And - yes, if I nail the classifier - I will definitely kick myself but then again, be one step closer to moving up in limited 10 too! Thanks de03x7, I will have fun! And Lugnut - what's this thing called a wheelgun???? Is it plastic?????

Thanks for all the good advice. Dry fire - yes - that's what's helped me improve thus far. I don't do as much as I should but I do more that I did before. It really works. I'm proof. Hero or Zero - yup - know all about that and while it's crossed my mind, I'd really just rather do the best I can. My mind set has changed too, concerning classifiers. Yes, just another stage. That and reading Lanny's book and positive thinking. Visualize me doing it in my head, then do it. Good stuff. But.....I haven't been this close before so that's going to be hard to overcome. I don't want to not shoot a match because of this. I don't know why I didn't think of de03x7's suggestion - just shoot another division! Same gun, same everything, just load 10 rounds and shoot limited 10 instead of limited. I shot limited 10 for years and still sometimes reload more than I have to forgetting I have a bunch more rounds to go The stress will be gone, I'll get practice on another classifier and I'll shoot to my ability. With some luck - I'll start my move up in another division. Cool!

I've been working hard to move up in class. Most of my classifier scores are showing the improvement. But of course, you always have that 'bad day' so I have some low ones with the 2 lowest not being counted. My match yesterday should move me up (by a hair!) if the scores get in in time for August's update along with 2 good ones that aren't on there yet either. (Fingers crossed!) But....if I shoot a match August 8th and have a 'bad day' and do poorly on the classifier, I'll lose one of my higher ones and I could wind up not getting a high enough percentage to move up. Am I reading the way the system works correctly? It's going to put a lot of pressure on me at the next match, to say the least. Any insight? I thought I had the way the system works figured out but sometimes it still confuses me

Searching for Jim Zubiena found this - wonder if any of them ever did competitions? Hope this is o.k. to put on here????

I wear Levi's and light weight cargo pants. And I use a CR speed. The belt fits fine through the belt loops, snug, but it fits. But then again, I'm a plus sized girl so maybe I have plus sized belt loops? Seriously though, she may want to take the belt with her shopping and try it through the loops on several different style jeans. The lower cut 'skinny' jeans probably have smaller loops. Cargo jeans also seem to have larger belt loops. Then buy a pair or 2 to be her dedicated shooting pants. The other option is to make her own belt loops. Years ago, the only jeans for women were waaaayyyy high cut and that put your gun up under your armpit Myself and several other women I shot with, sewed belt loops lower on our jeans that put the holster in a lower (and legal) more comfortable position.

Just took the test. Had the same question. It's in the book but not spelled out. You have to kinda put 2 & 2 together. But you will get 4!!!!

I've been remiss about sending 'thank you's' to sponsors in the past. In order to make it easier for me to do - I had these postcards made up. Made them myself on one of the on-line sites - cost was very reasonable - and they look great I now have NO excuse not to say thanks.

de nada

In the end - we all speak the language 'guns'

Edgardo - no problemo y gracias por sus comentarios. http://translate.google.com/#auto|es| - I love this thing - use it at work all the time. Even talks to you!