JohnMajor

Model 10 is a K frame. Another leather holster option is Lobo leather http://www.lobogunleather.com/ - I have an enhanced Avenger for a 4" Model 10 that I use in IDPA. Ray does nice work and is great to work with.

Correct. I usually like to limit the number of steel targets shot from a position to 5 so the 6-shooters have 1 make up round available if they need it. Having 6 or 9 shots on paper from a position also helps keep the playing field level -- that way either no one or everyone will be making a reload. You can also design your stages so targets are engageable from more than one position (through use of free fire zone and vision barriers, or optional engagement from more than one shooting box), which provides options on how many targets are engaged and from where. The "6 round neutral" requirement isn't tightly defined in the rulebook, but the idea is to avoid designing stages where capacity above 6 provide a big advantage.

See if you can dig up some of the old Postal Matches. Those stages are easy to setup and challenging. Directions for setting up the 2010 International Postal is still available online at http://www.icore.org/pdf/2010_ICORE_International_Postal_Match.pdf (others may also be out there, this one came up quickly with a search). Paul Kennedy from Australia does a great job designing and organizing the postal matches, which typically are available to be shot from September through December. These matches are a great way to expose your buddies to ICORE and generate interest in maybe starting a club, which is very easy to do. Classifier stages are also available for download from the ICORE site (see How to Get Classified). Good luck!

This was my second year shooting this match, and will definitely put it on the calendar for next year as soon as I see the dates! The stages were a lot of fun, and it is a pleasure to shoot with so many skilled revolver shooters. I've posted a video of Batman (aka Bones) shooting Stage 1: Thanks Sam and Brad and the RO's for all your work putting this match together! John

Sam - Thanks for donating an entry to the Memphis Charity Challenge at the recent IRC. I kept my fingers crossed that package would still be available by the time my name was called, and luck was with me! Last year's match was great, looking forward to seeing you again this fall. John

Thanks to Sam and company for putting on a great all-revolver USPSA match! I can't think of any other match where everyone got to solve the problem using iron sighted 6 shooters, and it was interesting to see the variety of strategies that competitors selected on each stage. The stages were a lot of fun to shoot. I was particularly looking forward to experiencing the Polish plate rack after seeing the You Tube videos from last year, and was pleased that I didn't need too many extra rounds to complete the stage. While Craig and I were shooting the match, our wives took the rental car and sampled Beale Street before searching for Elvis in Graceland, and they also took in the Pink Palace Mansion and Museum. A great time was had by all and we look forward to a return visit next year! John

As of about a year ago, ICORE created a third division (in addition to Open and Limited) now called Classic (it was originally called "Retro") was created for 6 shot revolvers, though you must use speedloaders (moon clipped 6 shooters would compete in Limited).

My 625 .45 ACP has been my main USPSA/IPSC gun for about 15 years and I've put somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-50K rounds through it - almost all making major power factor. Lead bullets for practice and competition up until about 5 years ago, now plated bullets for competition. Nowhere near "worn out" yet - had to send the cylinder back to S&W about 5K rounds ago to replace a broken extractor locater pin. That is it for repairs. Been thinking about getting it looked at for a tune up/tightening up, but am sure I have tens of thousands of rounds left before I need to. I do know a couple revolver shooters who use Ruger DA guns, but would venture to guess that 98% of the revolvers you'll see competitors using in USPSA/ICORE/IDPA are S&W revolvers. Certainly not too fragile for competition!

You can start small and see if the interest builds, and no requirement to affiliate to have ICORE style matches. The scoring is a bit different than USPSA, more of a premium on accuracy than speed. ICORE will allow you to submit classifier scores if supervised by NROI certified R.O.'s, that's how we started for the first year - need to be individual ICORE members to earn a classification. At our club, we might get 2 or 3 revolver shooters for our monthly USPSA matches out of 20 or 25 total shooting the match, yet draw 15 or 20 for our ICORE matches. Some folks want to run USPSA with their autos, but will break out the wheelgun for a revolver only match like ICORE. The International Postal Match is currently running, see the link off the ICORE website, and setting that up might be a good way to promote ICORE in your area. Even if you only get the 4 guys you can count on, they might well get a kick out of seeing their scores among the 300 or so worldwide who will shoot the postal match. Get a box of NRA D-1 targets and see where it goes! John Major Watervliet Practical Shooters New England ICORE rep

Always good advice to start with what you've got that meets the basic rules, then buy more toys when you get a feel for the direction you want to go. At our New England ICORE Regional Revolver Championship earlier this month, the Limited Division had 30 in the 6-shot special recognition (not a division, but we did recognize the top 6-shooter same as at the IRC) versus 14 entries shooting 7 or 8 shot revolvers in the Limited Division. At the IRC, there were 22 entries in the 6 shot Limited special recognition, out of 119 Limited shooters. ICORE is relatively new in the New England area, and many of our shooters are crossing over from IDPA or USPSA, which limit revolvers to 6 shots. The rule book requires stage layout to be 6-round neutral, so the advantage of extra shots are for "insurance" or to make up misses.

Thanks for the plug Craig and to the shooters already signed up. To clarify a couple other questions raised in the thread so far, the match will be held as scheduled even if we don't fill. We're already about double the size of our normal monthly club matches and a good time will be had by all! Also, we only need 50 competitors to shoot the match (they don't all have to be ICORE members) to be able to give away a certificate for a 627 courtesy of Smith and Wesson - it will be awarded by random draw and only ICORE members (can sign up prior to the start of the match) are eligible to win. In addition, Nelson Dymond has donated a certificate to the 2010 IRC that we will award by random draw among all competitors. There won't be a prize table, but engraved plaques to class winners and other special recognition categories will be mailed out after the match. Application form and more details available on the ICORE website, navigate to the 2009 Match Schedule and scroll down to New England Regional Championship. Hope to see you in July! John.

I recently purchased the moonclip tool from Dillon for my 627. Found that it worked fine with the Ranch or S&W factory 627x8 clips, but couldn't get the Hearthco clips to fit over the arbor, which was a problem because they are the ones I wanted the tool for (can pretty easily press rounds into the other clips by hand, but not the tighter Hearthcos). Called Dillon, and they set me up with a replacement arbor with a smaller diameter, simple matter to change over. Works great now!

Hi Julie - hope the responses build interest in wheelguns! 1. What sports do you shoot your revolver in (USPSA, ICORE, IDPA, Steel, NRA, etc.)? - USPSA , ICORE, IDPA, Bullseye league (all limited/iron sights so far) 2. How often do you shoot revolver at the club level? weekly, if I have enough "domestic credits" available 3. How many majors do you shoot each year (state/regional/areas)? First IRC last year, usually a couple state or area/regional level matches each year. And with a revolver? since about 1995 have settled on revolvers as my favorites and rarely shoot an auto anymore 4. Do you shoot a national championship with your revolver and if so which one(s)? IRC 5. Would you consider crossing over to other shooting sports with your revolver? Sure! If so, which ones and why? NRA Action Pistol looks like one I'd like to try, Steel matches if available 6. Why do you like to compete in the revolver divisions? Like getting all my brass back, less of an equipment race, reliability, great S&W DA trigger pull, revolver division attracts the nicest people, same guns I hunt with 7. If you don't shoot revolver in matches, are you interested in giving it a try - why or why not? John