Blueridge
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Posts posted by Blueridge
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In my experience any targets with "mikes" have not been taped until the shooter sees that target. I personally do not generally look at the targets unless there is a "mike", and just listen for the scoring call (two alpha, alpha charlie, etc...). I don't feel like I need to see all the targets and usually I am gathering my brass (one of the advantages of shooting .45 Colt is that no one wants the brass but me. Even at lost brass matches
).While I understand that it can help a shooters confidence to see where the hits on all the targets were, I don't think that it is always necessary to see all of the targets in a stage to get a feel for how you are shooting.
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Now back to my regularly scheduled shooting sports season.
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For matches bigger than a local I often have a secondary revolver. It is not the same as my primary, but for the same division. So far I have not had to go to my secondary revolver and don't forsee it happening. Just the same I try to be prepared.
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Well I have finished the second competition that I participated in. I came into the (Vet. 40) Epee event seeded 23rd out of 52. My pool result was 1-4 and was worried that I would not make the top 80% that go into the direct eliminations. When the overall results were tabulated I made the cut just barely, coming out in the pool result standings at 41st (with the cutoff being 42nd). I went into my bracket of 64 direct elimination bout against the 24th seed and earned a win with the score if 10-8. I then went into the bracket of 32 direct elimination bout against the 9th seed and did not fare so well. In a hard fought bout I lost with a score of 3-10 (That sounds pretty bad, but the bout was better than the score shows). I finished 32nd in the event and the fencer that defeated me in direct eliminations finished tied for 3rd.
All in all it was a good day.
The next day I assisted my clubs coach with three of our younger fencers who were competing that day. It was the first Nationals for all of them, and with 112 strips in the convention center that they could have been assigned to both of us were needed to help support them.
All three fenced well, but unfortunately only two of the three made the 80% cut to get into the direct elimination rounds. The two that made it gave their opponents tough bouts. One finished with a score of 10-15, and the other finished with a score of 13-15. Both fencers were left-handed, which helped them against both their opponents. They finished 94th & 95th respectively out of 130 competitors. They were pleased with their first showing at nationals.
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Today went good and bad. I came into the Foil event seeded 16th going into pools. I went 3-2 in the pool and came out 3rd in my pool and 10th overall going into direct elimination bracket. I faced the 23rd seed in my direct elimination and unfortunately lost 5-10. When the event was over I finished 17th in the event. I had figured that I had a good shot at the top 16 going into the competition, and after coming out of the seeding pools thought that I had a chance to make the top 8. Due to the loss in my first direct elimination I dropped to 17th overall, but given the level of competition the day went well for me.
I still have one more competition to go in the nationals, so I have a chance to do better.
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Unlike those that I have seen post above (at least best I can tell), they compete with an auto and I happen to use a revolver. My perspective is a bit different than the others I think. When I approach a stage the first thing that I do is determine the rounds required. Now this sounds like what anyone would do, but there is a small difference when using a revolver in competition. Only having 6 rounds before having to reload means the arrays often determine when reloads HAVE to be made. Reloading for convienience does not often occur for me. I have 6 speedloaders at my disposal after I do my initial make ready for a stage. That means there are 42 (or 36 on unloaded starts) rounds to handle whatever the stage requires. What I am getting at is that reloading just because you can is not the best idea always if it causes you to make "additional" shots commonly during a match. I am not saying that you don't do makeup shots for poor hits, but I have seen a fair number of auto shooters that fire 3 shots at 1/4 to 1/2 of the targets in every stage of a match and have 90% be "A" hits. This tells me that they are wasting quite a bit of time taking shots that they commonly don't need. I would implore you not to fall into that trap. If you are confident in your first 2 shots, then move on to the next target. I generally take my 2 shots on paper and move on, and live with what shots that I made. I am pretty accurate with my revolver, so I don't often regret that decision.
How this has anything to do with your initial question is that making reloads because you can likely means that you are carrying many more magazines than you need. This can lead to a mindset of taking more shots than necessary, simply because you have the ammunition available. Don't fall into that trap, because always time is a factor. Making more reloads than necessary also adds to your time. If the accuracy is there don't do anything that unecessarily hurts your time.
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Getting down to the last few days preparations before my nationals events.
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I don't mind any "position" and don't care if it is loaded or unloaded but I absolutely hate , and see no use for, starts where you have to hold, carry or whatever, put your hands in ice water, etc, etc. They take away from the shooting and are certainly not practical.
It is a sport. Many things that people do are not "practical", so why should stage requirements be?
Holding/carrying a prop or having to shoot with cold hands does not seem that impractical to me. It creates a challenge when shooting and that is part of the sport IMO. I cannot say that I like all of the stage requirements that I have had to deal with, but all of them have helped me become better.
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The different scoring areas of the IDPA compared to the USPSA targets. The "A" zone on the USPSA target is considerably different from the "Down -0" zone on the IDPA target. The "head" scoring areas are a bit different also as the USPSA has a "B" and an "A" zone, while IDPA counts it as a "down -0" zone in it's entirety.
I participate in both sports and adjust my point of aim based on which target I am facing.
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Try as I might I cannot work out things to be able to participate in the MCC this year.
Work related training will prevent my attendance, but I plan on making it to the match again in 2013.
Good luck to all of those who will be participating.
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Last weekend I managed and competed in the State Games of NC Fencing Events. I helped with the administration of the Saber event, refereed some of the Foil event, and competed in the Epee event.
The events went pretty well but ran over time wise as a whole. Managing the stress of being the competition manager and competing in an event I ended up earning a silver medal in the Veterans category.
Now I am qualified to compete in the State Games of America in August 2013. I will be heading into the US Fencing Nationals next week and competing in the Veterans (40-49) Foil and Epee events.
If things go well I hope to finish in the top 16 in those events. I hope that they go really well and I end up in the top 8 or better. 
After the US Nationals it will be back to shooting competitions.
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Nothing prevents you from entering a match with a weakside holster, and practicing/evaluating that technique....
I totally agree that being near ambidextrous is very useful.....
And I am just determined/stubborn enough to do just that.
Now I need to obtain a left side holster from Blade Tech for one of my production handguns and/or one of my revolvers.
Then it will be time to go out to the range, practice drawing and shooting with a left side holster, and then make my way to a local match to put those skills to the test. -
Hmmmm.....So it can be required on a stage that a shooter has to shoot one hand unsupported, but not support hand master grip and allow primary hand to be used to assist it? I do not see how it would violate the Freestyle rule as it does not force a shooting position, location or stance. Maybe I am missing something.
P is for Practical. Shooting one handed simulates injury, or task performance with the other hand. If both hands are available, why would anyone choose to shoot weakhand supported?
I did once in a match -- but it was a special situation on a single stage......
First I'll thank Skydiver for pointing out additional rules for me to review.
Now to respond to your post. You point out that shooting one handed simulates injury, and I agree. Shooting master grip support hand with the primary hand assisting it can also simulate injury. The loss of fine motor skills (such as trigger squeese) can be lost through injury and necessitate the use of the support hand to handle master grip and trigger squeese. The primary hand might still me able to provide support through gross motor skill grip. Now you may suggest that it is far fetched, but shooting this way is taught by some instructors. It is a "just in case" scenario just like shooting one-handed. Still P for practical.
From what I have read it appears that requiring such in a USPSA match would not be allowed. That is okay with me if the rules preclude it. Still a useful skill to know though.
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I have seen where one-handed shooting can be specified in a stage, but I had a question if it could be required that a shooter use two hands but the master grip be with the support hand. For example a shooter who is right handed would have to hold the handgun in his left hand and use his right hand in the support function. While this could be awkward I don't see it as being dangerous or unreasonable. I do see it as a good challenge. If someone can shoot one-handed with their support hand then adding the primary hand to that would not cause a problem the way I see it.
In general, it's not allow under the "freestyle rule":
1.1.5 Freestyle – USPSA matches are freestyle. Competitors must be permit-ted to solve the challenge presented in a freestyle manner, and to shoot targets on an "as and when visible" basis. Courses of fire must not require mandatory reloads nor dictate a shooting position, location or stance, except as specified below. However, conditions may be created, and barriers or other physical limitations may be constructed, to compel a competitor into shooting positions, locations or stances.
But being evil, on of the "physical limitations" allowance you could require a shooter to wear an oven mitt on the strong hand otherwise a per shot procedural will be assessed.
Hmmmm.....So it can be required on a stage that a shooter has to shoot one hand unsupported, but not support hand master grip and allow primary hand to be used to assist it? I do not see how it would violate the Freestyle rule as it does not force a shooting position, location or stance. Maybe I am missing something.
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I have seen where one-handed shooting can be specified in a stage, but I had a question if it could be required that a shooter use two hands but the master grip be with the support hand. For example a shooter who is right handed would have to hold the handgun in his left hand and use his right hand in the support function. While this could be awkward I don't see it as being dangerous or unreasonable. I do see it as a good challenge. If someone can shoot one-handed with their support hand then adding the primary hand to that would not cause a problem the way I see it.
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Personally I feel that many shooting sport participants are too concerned with how they do on the classifier. You should do your best for that day on the classifier and then move on to practicing those things that you did not do so well. The point is to improve your skills for the next match you shoot. When you get a chance to shoot the classifier again, you shoot it to the best of your ability that day.
The classifier is a group of skill that are useful for all shooters to be good at, but it does not necessarily give an accurate assessment on how you will do in a match.
I am a much better shooter in a match than I am when I am shooting the classifier.
If you missed SS by one point this time, then I figure that you will make it to that level next time. Not much to worry about in my opinion, but that's me.
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I have a kydex Sidearmor holster for my 625 & Bladetech for my Ruger that I mainly use in competition. In addition I have a bladetech for my SP-101. I like all of them and would reccomend either brand.
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Do you shoot at Ant Hill or Bucanneer?
Buccaneer. Never been to Ant Hill.
We may have already shot at the same match already then.
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I am mainly interested on how I finish overall, mainly because so few revolver shooters are at the matches that I get to participate in. Also it bothers a number of the auto shooters that I finish ahead of.
The last local match that I competed in there were 50 participants and only ONE revolver shooter (ME!). I finished 26th overall and 8th in accuracy (with only 8 points down the whole match). One stage required 6 shots, another required 8 shots, and only one that required more than 16 shots to complete out of 6 stages. My point is that I could not afford to miss and had to make more reloads than pretty much all of my fellow competitors. Only a CDP shooter would have to equal my number of reloads, and even that would only be on an 18 round stage. Someone pointed out that on pure shooting I was beating 3/4 of the field, but the higher number of reloads that I had to make hurt me. Even with the challenges I was able to finish as high as I did in a field of auto shooters. -
I have shot a number of SC matches and I don't reload at all. My purpose is to make it through the courses with the 6 in my revolver. If I miss too much to complete a run I simply stop and take the 30 second run. This makes me shoot the other runs better as I know that I blew that one and it it my throw away. I don't plan to miss more than once, and like someone mentioned earlier I don't make "oh crap" reloads as efficiently as I do expected reloads like what I have in USPSA matches. Even if I did reload I figure that that run will be a throw away, so why bother with the reload at all? Maybe I'm just stingy with ammunition.....
I don't recall missing two runs badly enough to need a reload, so I guess my plan works for me.
My motto.......Make the 6 count.
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[Off topic alert]
I have never gone to Revolver Nationals and probably never will because I will never likely win a spot to Nationals.
you don't need to win a spot to go to the Nationals. Just sign up. Like any other match. This one (Nationals) has an online sign up. Plus, those that don't get a slot that way...may be able to sign up in person at the match. (so far, they have never turned anybody away. Not a certainty...but, so far.)
My understanding from reading the USPSAS Nationals page is that a slot must be earned and if you don't get a slot that way then it is possible that you can sign up and receive a slot that was not filled later. I am not one to plan a vacation where nationals is held hoping that I get to compete in it. Either I earn a slot or I don't plan on going. The only guarantee for competing in the nationals is earning a slot. It may be possible to get one in other ways, but that it simply a possibility I have no interest in pursuing.
I am a competitive fencer along with competing in shooting sports. I have qualified 12 out of the last 13 years for the US Fencing Nationals and competed in all of them I have qualified for. Maybe that has set me in my ways to wanting to earn a slot at USPSA Nationals and not just "luck" into a slot. By the way this year is my 12th time qualifying for and competing in the US Fencing Nationals.
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The classifier is a bascis skills test and for this purpose it does it's job. match stages ar another animal entirely and have other challenges within them that test other skills.
The classifier is there simply to try and put shooters with similar skill levels competing against one another. No skills test is perfect so there will be some level of inaccuracy.
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Hope to participate in a match with you sometime.
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One thing that I have not seen addressed is how far the movement is that is necessary to make the first shots. If you have to move say 15 feet to the first target it only really matters that the handgun be ready to do it's work when you get there. The draw time can be irrelavant, as having the handgun out on the first step or last step ready to go from the first shooting position is the core issue. If both shooters are confident of their grip, aim, and skill then how fast each draws can make little difference.
It all comes down to what the stage requires and if the particular shooter is proficient at the skills necessary. At least the way I see it.
Practicing a variety of skills is the key to being a well rounded shooter. The demands of the stages that you face in a match determine if you skills are up to the task on any particular day.
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Now I am qualified to compete in the State Games of America in August 2013. 
2013 USPSA Revolver Nationals
in Revolver Match Announcements and Discussions
Posted · Edited by Blueridge
I really hope that things work out for the Revolver Nationals. I don't see me being able to participate in the match due to my schedule and the distance the venue is from me. Right now I have 2 state (one in Charlotte NC the other in Raleigh NC) and 2 national (one in Memphis TN, the other in Hershey-Harrisburg PA) level fencing competitions between March 2013 and September 2013. Due to these competitions my shooting sport participation is taking a backseat unfortunately. I have pondered how I could participate in the Revolver Nationals (if I were to meet the criteria) and getting in necessary practice time for both fencing along with my revolver is rife with conflict.
I have had to miss state & regional IDPA matches along with the USPSA NC Sectionals and Memphis Charity Challenge this year due to schedule related problems. I have been able to manage both fencing and shpooting sports competitions up until this year, but the addition of multiple work related training demands shooting has suffered a bit. I'll be in Franklin TN the weekend of the Memphis Charity Challenge, and not able to make the match due to work related training that starts that Monday. As if fate is playing with me I am able to participate in a fencing tournament being held at Vanderbuilt University the weekend AFTER my training.
Sorry about the divergence from the thread topic.
Given that it is currently unknown how many "dedicated" revolver shooters will attend, I don't see any problem with the "dedicated" single-stack shooters participating. I want the numbers to be high enough that the match is held again as it's own match in the future. The details can be "ironed out" later, but the first hurdle of getting a stand alone nationals has come to fruition.
My current hope is that I will get the opportunity to participate in the 2014 Revolver Nationals. To that end I want the 2013 Revolver Nationals to be a great success.