Chuck Anderson

The awards are the same ones they've used for as long as I've been shooting Nationals. They're made by Pro-Tech (Manny Bragg). They're also the same awards used at many Area and Sectional matches. The National match runs at a deficit. USPSA does not make money on it. So for the folks that go, do you want a $350.00 match and nicer trophies or the current price and the same trophies we've used for years. There are a couple reasons I see for Australia having higher category entries than the US. One is the timing with the school year. It's difficult to schedule a National event. The host club schedule has to have the time slot available for one. But more important is weather. July and August suck in Vegas. And most kids are still in school through at least half of June. For most folks Nationals is the capper to the season. Doing it in June just seems weird. I'm guessing the biggest difference between the Nationals here and in other country is the number of other large matches we have here. While the Darwin match was likely their biggest, we have lots of big, fun, awesome matches around the country. So many that many end up on the same weekend because there just aren't enough weeks in the year. How many Area matches, Sectional matches, or other matches like the double tap had more than 200 people this year. With that much to choose from it makes it hard for Nationals to stand out.

Mike Voigt talked about the range at the Membership for the 14 or so folks that showed up. When USPSA goes to a new location for Nationals it takes a bit of time to get the props up to speed. They built about 100 walls for this match that will hopefully still be there if USPSA does go back. Desert Sportsman apparently made quite a few changes to the range to suit USPSA. The bays on 12-15 are all new, Amidon said they finished grading the bays and the parking area on Thursday before the match. This was the reason for a lot of the dust in that area. I've shot several matches on this range and this was the worst for dust by far. Hopefully the little bit of rain they get will filter down the dust by next year. Most ranges get better the more National events are held at them. That is one of the reasons PASA had so many props. If we're back again next year I'm sure it will seem a bit more Nationals like. As far as the experience I'm a big believer in going to big matches. I shoot with a lot of folks in my Section that never go to a Section or Area match. They only shoot club matches. I think shooting the big matches does a great job of improving your scores wherever you shoot. It's a lot easier to stay calm and relaxed at your club level when you've already shot with the best in the world. It's also a good way to gauge your improvement. The top dogs at a club match will change of have a bad day. When you go to Nationals, it may not always be the same person at the top, but someone there (several someones likely) shot to the absolute peak of their performance and won. If you go to two Nationals and improve 5% at the second one, that is real improvement. If you can swing the trip, it's worth it.

You haven't seen where Scott lives. High desert. It only rains in his neck of the woods when there is a major match. Or like the A1 there in 2003 in May when we were snowed on.

If the stage was set with forward falling poppers the likely best plan would have been to engage the outside front poppers, move to the center window and engage 4 paper targets, then back to the outside for the back steel. There was about one step of movement between each of the three positions needed to shoot from.

No argument here. Yes they looked like they were heading into a safe area. Although, I'm not gonna be the one to go check it. The stage would have dramatically changed, and probably been much safer (and slower) with forward falling steel.

My first thought is we should revoke the RO certification for any RO that decides that the he doesn't need to follow the rules because he doesn't think they are fair. Second thought is, if the rule was meant to include poppers, it wouldn't specifically list them else where, and have a whole procedure for calibration. Warping the rules to fit because you want them to fit doesn't help the shooter, either at a local match or at a Nationals. If you want to change the rules, I have zero problem with that and would love to hear a way to fix all the perceived evils of falling metal targets. But willfully choosing to ignore them makes for bad RO's. To your next quote from Jay Worden that RO's aren't there to "get" shooters. That is absolutely right. I think Jay is one of the best RO's in the business and a great instructor. But ignoring rules at the local level, that will be enforced at the National level, or Area level or even a Sectional level is doing a huge disservice to the shooters. When they shoot locally they expect the rules to be the same as all matches. When something they do at the local level, like leaving a popper up after 3 shots and expecting a reshoot, doesn't happen at the National match they just paid $2000.00 to go to doesn't happen, that is a "gotcha" moment for those shooters. I don't ignore rules Chuck... if you have read any of my contributions to rules discussion it's plain to see I have taken some unpopular stances on rules and they were always my best interpretation of the book. I'm saying I think there is a case here for a REF and until I hear different I shall use it if needed. IMO the "disservice" is having a COF or prop that does not present equality to all shooters and barring that, making them as equal as we can. I feel 4.6.1 gives me room to make that under the rules. You may not agree, but that's hardly a reason to saying I should have my RO card revoked. If you look at the rule book as a whole. Including all sections. I don't think giving a reshoot under 4.6.1 is in any way justified. There are clearly written guidelines dealing with calibration of poppers, and what to do if they don't go down when shot. 4.6.1 clearly lists poppers falling early as a REF, and doesn't list them under as mechanical props. If they counted as mechanical props, we wouldn't need the section on calibration and USPSA could save money printing the massive rule book. The could just look at the steel and say it didn't go down, Re-Shoot. There are remedies listed in the book for when a popper doesn't fall. A range official trying to shoe horn that belief into the REF section is not one of them. What happens with traveling RO's? One squad has an RO that believes a popper that doesn't fall should be REF instead of subject to calibration as the rules state. The next squad has an RO that doesn't believe it's REF and should be subject to calibration. How does that present the same problem to the shooters? I'm not saying you should have your card revoked. I didn't even know if you were an RO. You asked for my thoughts and that was what came to mind. I've heard several other RO's make statements along the same lines. I've always believed that part of getting that RO cert is agreeing to follow the rules, even the ones you don't agree with. If you don't like them, by all means, try to get them changed. But selective enforcement does nothing to help the sport.

My first thought is we should revoke the RO certification for any RO that decides that the he doesn't need to follow the rules because he doesn't think they are fair. Second thought is, if the rule was meant to include poppers, it wouldn't specifically list them else where, and have a whole procedure for calibration. Warping the rules to fit because you want them to fit doesn't help the shooter, either at a local match or at a Nationals. If you want to change the rules, I have zero problem with that and would love to hear a way to fix all the perceived evils of falling metal targets. But willfully choosing to ignore them makes for bad RO's. To your next quote from Jay Worden that RO's aren't there to "get" shooters. That is absolutely right. I think Jay is one of the best RO's in the business and a great instructor. But ignoring rules at the local level, that will be enforced at the National level, or Area level or even a Sectional level is doing a huge disservice to the shooters. When they shoot locally they expect the rules to be the same as all matches. When something they do at the local level, like leaving a popper up after 3 shots and expecting a reshoot, doesn't happen at the National match they just paid $2000.00 to go to doesn't happen, that is a "gotcha" moment for those shooters.

I'm guessing that most people posting on this thread that the RO should stop the shooter after the first hit are not at this match and have zero personal knowledge of the stage in question. I'm guessing that because everbody I saw shoot the stage or talked to took multiple shots on the steel. Not because it didn't work but because it worked exactly as it was supposed to. It concealed another target and forced the shooter to either drive it down quickly with multiple shots or to hit it and wait. This is freestyle. Every shooter on my squad ( except the guy who had a jam after the first shot) drove the popper down with 2-3 shots. There was time to get number 4 on but it probably wouldn't have helped that much. With a setup of 2-3 shots on the front target and one more on the back the RO prabably wouldn't have realized something was up till rounds 5-6. Randi's a pretty darn good shooter and those rounds likely took well under a second before the popper was going down (6-8, not all of them). The RO's at National matches are some of the best in the country, but there is no way to CONSITENTLY officiate the more than one round proposal on a stage like that. As for the RO on the scoresheet. I'm guessing he was watching her feet for foot faults like he should have been, not the targets. As for Jake's proposal. While that might work at Nationals or some Area matches. What about the thousands of local matches each year, where the overwhelming majority shoot this sport? I've never seen a chrono at a club match. How else do we ensure compliance? Having a separate rule for matches with chrono and without not likely. The biggest problem I've seen with poppers at this match is caused by the wind. Unfortunately I can't think of a good solution for that one. There are some darn string winds out here. When one comes up behind the popper and holds it up it is unfair. The odds of the same wind being present during a calibration are almost zero.

Thanks to Ben's work the list has been updated with the new Steyr pistols. You're now good to go.

My ankle seems to be holding up okay. I'm trying not do do anything stupid on it. I've just been shuffling around on the stages and trying for good hits. Which is really different for me. Must be working though. Somehow I'm ahead of Garland. Must be that "special" ammo I slipped into his bag when he wasn't looking.

Vogel picked up a bit of ground on Mink today. Matt said he thinks he still has the lead but it's very close

Yes to both. Lots of dust and wind yesterday afternoon. The stage we finished on 6, had a wall blow down on a competitor during his walkthrough. About knocked him out. There was also torrential Vegas downpour. I got hit with two maybe three raindrops. I was flashing back to last year.

Description is in the match booklet. They are doing two events in that bay. One is like Tulsa. You shoot the Steel Challenge stage Smoke & Hope. Best run gets a gun. Two by random and the fourth gun goes on the prize table with the holster etc. used for the stage. They are also running a First Shots program on two mornings. This is for brand new shooters to get some trigger time. It's a very good program. I'm not sure if they have any openings but it would be a great experience for anyone traveling with non-shooters.

John won't approve it without the certification form coming back from Steyr. Steyr hasn't got back to him in regards to doing anything with the form so USPSA hasn't sent them the form. You're hosed for now.

Yes for IPSC as well.

Can you shoot multiple entries at AP matches, regional or the Bianchi Cup? For example Metallic and Production?

The manufacturer is supposed to submit each model they want approved. John has take notice and approved guns without manufacturer submission though. Especially if it's an identical model, just in a different caliber. I just emailed John so we'll see what he has to say.

It could be an oversight on John's part. I would send him a quick email with the gun info. There are lots of guns out there that would probably fall into the Production rules but may get missed unless someone asks.

another good reason for those "flash targets". when those strobes go off, everyone knows it is a hit. 1chota Except when they don't work. I've never been to a match where there wasn't an issue with them. If electronics are present they will fail at some point.

I'll grant you there is a way, but I have a hard time seeing the why. If you have to buy extra parts to change your stock gun to make it Production, something seems a bit off. How many revolvers or DA/SA guns come with SA triggers under over 3.5? Most guns I've worked with they've been either right at or just a hair over 3.5. Certainly not enough for me to be comfortable taking it to a National Championhip. Either you're stuck with striker fired guns or DAO guns with consistent pulls. IPSC has a trigger pull rule that requires a 5lb pull for the first shot. This makes it very friendly to DA/SA guns but sucks for striker fired guns. If you have to have a trigger pull rule, please use two standards, 5 lbs for DA guns first shot. 3.5 lbs for Striker/DAO guns for every shot. If you have a rule for "Production" guns that excludes most box stock guns, you need to reevaluate that rule.

Is there an extra step to processing this brass? Or does it reload the same as regular ammo. As long as you keep them separate.

Hate to play devils advocate, but what exactly did this guy do to get his DQ? I'm seeing AD on the draw, but that is not necesarrily a DQ. Bill talks about launching one over the berm, the OP says he's got it on video and is pretty sure it hit the berm. With this info I'm guessing he didn't put it into the ground near his feet on the draw, which would be a DQ. Just because a shooter trips a round off unintentionally doesn't mean it's an automatic DQ. I've seen several shooters trip off the shot a bit early. You can always tell because they stand there and wait for the RO to stop them. They know they didn't mean to fire the shot, but it's still not a violation of the rules unless something else happens, i.e. round strikes to close, over the berm, hits the RO etc. I'm not saying I think this was safe, I'm not even saying I want to squad with the guy. But before we get the pitchforks and start lighting torches there probably needs to be a bit more info. The OP's question was answered (kind of, results out, but the name stays in so we have the record of the DQ). The information provided regarding dry fire etc. is good, I'm just curious about how bad this guys draw is that there was ever a question of it going over the berm on the draw. Unless he's doing the Charlie's Angel or going Bass Fishing the muzzle should not have been pointing over the berm.

I don't know about that. You kicked my butt pretty soundly at the NW Regional Steel Championship last year. Probably would have again this year if you'd come.

If you tell them it was factory ammo, they will likely want a sample of the remaining ammo for testing. If it wasn't the lab can tell pretty easy and you'll get nothing.

We had our hands full running the TPC on Saturday the next week and GSSF in Bremerton on Sunday.