Blueridge

I realized that I shoot better when I take things in stride. It is not that I don't care, but that when something goes wrong it does not stress me or weigh on my mind. I am able to enjoy the match and do my best that day.

Well the blade tech speedloader pouches worked great for me at the Toys for Tots match. I did have one "operator error" where I turned the knob on my HKS speedloader as I was drawing it from the pouch.

......When your primary choice of vacation spots is based around where shooting matches are being held. Which leads your spouse to ask what shooting match is being held at/near the vacation destination. ......When your spouse starts planning around your monthly shooting matches without asking if you are going.

I am guessing that the trigger pull on the revolver is a bit (maybe double or more) than the trigger pull on your autos. When I started shooting a revolver in competition, I went from a 6lb trigget pull on my Beretta (DAO) to a 16lb pull on my Ruger. It caused me trouble keeping the revolver on target through the trigger pull, but once I got used to the heavier pull things improved drastically. I hope that information helps. Due to being used to the heavier pull of my revolver I shoot autos better, but I have to be mindful of the lighter trigger pull.

Wow!!!! Looks like I need to start planning some vacation time for 2010. Time to join ICORE and shoot the IDPA classifier again. Looks like I will be reloading more ammunition this next year, so it is time to gather more components.

That fixed it! The strange thing was all the stage results were 2009, but the final results were 2008 until I went to that page and used F5 a couple of times.

Linda, The Final Results appear to be from the 2008 T4T match. I look forward to next years match, and hopefully those revolver shooters that were scheduled to attend and did not will find the courage to do so next year. You guys gotta take your lumps like the rest of us.

I look forward to next year's T4T match. Thanks to all that made the match so enjoyable. It is a great cause, and a fun way to support it.

I had a great time at the match also. I hope to get to more USPSA and IDPA matches in 2010, and look forward to trying my hand at ICORE. Retro division looks to be my calling.

Oooooo.....I just looked at the forecast for the match. I'll have a reason to break out my Under Armour Coldgear! Yea!!!! I would wear gloves, but I figure the heat coming off of my revolver will keep them warm. Time to bring out the heavy loads!!!!

Is the round count still about 180? I plan on bringing about 400 rounds, but I was curious to know how many to expect to use (minimum).

I'll be there toys in hand. This is going to be fun, and I have been awaiting this match for a while.

I think that some stage designers think in terms of "personal defense" when they design stages. Shots at a range of 30-35yds puts them out of "common" self-defense ranges. This would be based off of the idea that if a threat is that far away, then how imminent is the threat and is egress possible instead of use a firearm. If IDPA stages are meant to resemble self-defense ranges, then it should be rare that participants face such stages. That said, it would be wise to practice at ranges out to 30-35 yards. For if no other reason but to gain more confidence shooting longer distances under pressure.

I think I'm understanding "retention" better. Even though with the holster above and its friction bar behind the body of the speedloader, the body of the speedloader itself must be inside the holder like in the PVC crafted holsters in the link. I was misreading "retention" to mean any design that "restrained" the speedloader from falling out. Am I on the right track thinking that way? I believe that you have the right idea now. Use this knowledge only for good.

I went through that myself, and it took me having multiple rounds fail to fire in a match to get me out of it (mostly ). During the walk through I now figure out where I will have to reload, and everything else is secondary. I focus on engaging the targets with the appropriate number of rounds, which for me has worked better than my old way of planning.

I like the idea, but I could see a calibration nightmare possibly arising. I understand that the difference between the Steel Challenge and this match would be the falling targets. This would lead to the shooters having to use stronger loads to cause the consistent knockdown of steel. This is not a factor in steel challenge.

I have wondered about that myself. I have watched a number of the high finish shooters that fire "makeup" shots on targets that they apparently don't feel that they hit well. The curious thing is that the delay between their original shots and the "makeup" suggests to me that they are checking the target. This would be counter to the "eyes calling the shot" that I have heard many speak of. Another situation that I see are some of these same shooters going back to targets that they have engaged earlier for "makeup" shots. At some point it seems that many shooters scan the targets for hits during the engagement of the stage. The idea of trusting the initial engagement of the targets seems reasonable, but happens less that many suggest from my observation. The goal is to be able to trust the initial shots, but if you don't make up bad shots you are doing yourself a disservice also. I think everyone checks the targets, but don't admit or realize that they are. The idea is not to "stare" at the targets, but to "passively" realize the effects of your engagement. I am sure better shooters than I have different opinions on this, but I can only provide mine.

Blade-Tech makes some kydex speedloader pouches. I picked up 2 doubles and a single for use in IDPA and USPSA. They have worked well for me so far, and will be put to the test in competition at the Toys for Tots match in SC on the 12th.

It would be sweet to see a revolver donated to the match for the prize table. I would likely never win it, but it would be cool to see.

S&W 460. The ability to use .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W ammunition would make it a very useful handgun to me. I would have the incentive to try handgun hunting also.

We're talking about revolver reloading, right? If we're going to extend the conversation to drawing or reholstering, then 10.5.6 provides a limited exception for breaking the 180 (or the 90 for Joe ). Yep, you're right --- it takes experience to let revolver shooters unload without calling an early 180 violation. I have seen autoloader shooters break the 180 up, down and sideways --- hence my comment.... I disagreed because it appeared to be a blanket 180 statement initially, and I knew that there were exceptions (drawing and holstering). Yes we are discussing reloading revolvers, but it seemed that clarification was needed on a general statement. Hence my original post.

Counting down to the match. My goal is to be safe, have fun, and finish higher than as may other shooters there as possible.

Leroy, there's no exception for for breaking the 180 vertically in 10.5.2 --- local club or range rules don't matter. Break the 180 up, down, or sideways and it's a match DQ.... Where the question about the 180 come in for reloading a revolver "switch hand" is that the handgun is in front of the shooter, and the determination of breaking the 180 comes from the RO seeing the barrels muzzle(from my experience, and discussion with RO's). Now even if the revolver is held straight vertical the muzzle can often be seen, and the 180 is not broken. If I hold my revolver about chest high the muzzle can possibly be seen WITHOUT the 180 being broken. The rule covers everyone, but the application is the challenging part at times. I have heard RO's say that if they can see the muzzle, then the 180 has been broken. I am careful about my reloads for safety reasons (of course), but also as not to give the RO any indication that I have broken the 180. On another point in your response, I have to disagree. You state, "Break the 180 up, down, or sideways and it's a match DQ". How many times have you seen shooters break the 180 rehostering? I have even seen it from shooters even using those forward cant holsters. That would definitely be a break in the 180 pointing down. My point being that it is not only the rule that matters, but the application. All that said, it is hard to judge the 180 being broken easily without being there. Unless it is a major violation. Even when I took the RO certification class this was an issue that was admiltted to be tough.

I was trying to put my memory of the Polish Plate Rack at the Memphis Charity Challenge behind me. .........But thanks for dredging up that painful moment in my personal history.

Well I guess that it was destined that I run into a Polish Plate Rack again after the encounter at tha Memphis Charity Challenge. I'll tame that contraption yet! I suggest that you keep those texas stars, as the Polish Plate rack is a bit more time consuming to reset by comparison. The stage has to be pretty quick to allow for it to be shot by squads with decent efficientcy.