lmccrock

I use a garden cart but it does double duty hauling gear out to my "backyard" range. So it has room for the guns, ammo, chair, a cooler...and an umbrella mount. Oh, it can carry gear for 2 (1000 lb capacity) so it is not unusual to have help pulling it around at matches. But it is heavy to load and unload and requires a truck or SUV to haul it around. Seems if you have some gun racks around then converting a jogger would be ok, but new holding 2 long guns is about $50 and the used joggers are about $50 around here, and that gets closer to the $185 MSRP from Rugged Gear, who has a new model shipping. So I am thinking about a change. Lee

Me, too, for like a couple months. Lee

Pretty sure RM3G will never be a USPSA match. Lee

Just thinking out loud ... Why have classifiers? The USPSA Handgun rulebook refers to "Classifier Stages which are used to measure practical shooting skill." At the match level, it means more ribbons and the possibility of getting a blue ribbon for being, for instance, 1st C in L10 (BTDT). Supposedly, this encourages and acknowledges progress among new members, also bragging rights for overall match prowess. Our local matches usually do not have enough in each of GM-M-A-B-C-D in each division to reward each class. So on match day it is hard to compare myself against enough C shooters to see how I am doing, so I compare against the match as a whole. 3gun would be the same. USPSA would have to add shotgun and rifle classifiers, then some kind of "transition" classifier where more than one gun is used on a stage since transitions in 3gun are as important as reloads in handgun. I wonder how many shooters' 3gun classifications would be very different than handgun-only? Probably not enough to matter, so why bother adding the complexity to club operations? Lee

Or, refer to random drawing as "Encouraging new shooters to come out again". Lee

With Clays and 230gr FMJ, it seems a lot of people have to go all the way to max load or beyond (my Speer manual says 4gr is max) to reliably make major PF. If you're one of these people, I suggest you give WST a try. Less smoky, and easily makes major without exceeding max recommended load. twodownzero was replying to me. To clarify - the extra 0.2gr came from the powder measure adding extra that was not anticipated, due to some gunk on/in/around the measure and press. I was hitting 170pf with 230gr Zero FMJ when the errant powder throws occurred and goosed it to 185 or so (IIRC, have to check my notes). So about +0.2gr went from 740 to 800fps. So the press, etc., are now kept spotless and lubed and running smooth, and there have been no more issues. My point being that running 230gr major loads with Clays is at the top of the range and there is no room for error. Anyway...Nah. I switched to lead bullets. Less powder to get there and I like the way Clays feels and I do not care if it is smoky. Regardless, remember to work up to whatever load you pick. Lee

I have not used Montana bullets, but the posted numbers look good for 230gr lead and FMJ. However, note well with Clays: the range from "easily major" to "uh-oh-flattened primers" is kindof narrow. In my case 0.2gr mattered. It just feels so good I use extra caution and keep the press and powder measure (Dillon 550) extra clean and smooth to be sure it meters right. Lee

I voted D, but my % was something like 39.95 so I was promoted to C pretty quick. Lee

Steve, your 3-gun matches are IDPA-ish, to me, a USPSA and IMG 3-gun shooter. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I guess your correction is good with IDPA having announced some 3-gun rules and your 3-gun falling well outside those rules. Now I just hope the OP gets to one of the matches. I just looked at Mike's schedule (Texas Tactical) - between both ranges, there is a carbine match on 7/31 and 4 carbine matches in August. Toss in the Copperas matches and ALSPPC, there should be a long-gun match somewhere. Lee

Better URL for Texas Tactical's schedule: Texas Tactical This Sunday at ARC is an ALSPPC USPSA Steel match, can usually be shot with shotgun (no rifle). Some shoot it twice, handgun and shotgun. Schedule says Steel Challenge, but it is USPSA (falling) steel. Copperas Cove Pistol Club, 3-gun, this Saturday. IDPA-ish but they have a high cap "Limited" division. And there is Steve J's map of matches: Texas Ranges with Practical Pistol Matches Lee

Just wondering - can you put a cardboard target at 300 yds, like an IPSC target? That is more measurable than watching dirt fly behind a plate. Also you can be sure the bullet holes are round. With your twist and guessed velocity they should be stable, but you never know. Lee

I have run thousands of the Rem heavy dove through a Mossberg 590 and a Rem 1100 without incident. I guess those guns are just better than a Benelli. Lee

Winchester and Estate both have a load like the Rem Heavy Dove, at a similar price...at least, they used to, when there was a Sportsman's Warehouse around. As for choke - full is probably too much, but if you have a place to pattern the gun first, go for it. Usually IC or mod or imp mod. Most matches allow choke changes between stages, although not DURING a stage and sometimes there are mixed targets, so having a default choke is good. Plus, with my gun, there is a risk of moving the slug zero when the choke is changed. YMMV. ETA: Since the match passed, how did it work out? Lee

Had a household emergency last night at about T-15 minutes. That kind of crashing noise MUST be checked out when someone is doing loader work outside. Got back to keyboard at T+45 secs, and ended up #161 on wait list. Must be lots of duplicate entries, because the code is like 1091. Thanks to Linda for getting that far down the list before 1:00am. A finely crafted polite way of saying "sorry, try again next year". Lee

Remington Shurshot Heavy Dove, 1 1/8 oz #6 at 1255 fps. Usually $6/box, these days; was $3.29 at beginning of dove season about 2 years ago. I get it at Academy, but you probably do not have those. Lee

Yep - at least for one day wearing my club's new t-shirt - ALSPPC Lee

Oh, and I live about 100 miles SW of the range. The mosquitoes here are buzzing something fierce so be sure repellent is not just something on the list: BRING IT! Lee

Maybe someplace 300+ yards? Lee

Clays and 230gr bullets would be good for barely-major loads or lower, not for GI ball replacement. I do not have data handy, but I have used/would use Win 231. Lee

I tried Slide Glide on the buffer spring. Gave the gun fits and it never ran right - feeding problems. Granted, something else may have been marginal, but cleaned the grease out and problem solved; reliable gun with a variety of ammo for 5 years since then. I will note that the noise has been reduced substantially with use. Smoothed itself out, I guess. Lee

For the record: I own both STG58 and DPMS LR308. The AR magazine release is faster/easier for me, the AR safety does not require me to release my grip and rotate my hand to disengage it. Good, cheap FAL magazines are not around anymore (I mean, buy a bunch at <$5 and throw away the ones which do not run). With brand new $20 Magpul magazines shipping for the DPMS-ish platform, the AR wins this one. The FAL 21" barrel is a bit long but not horribly so, especially because the barrel is pretty light. Of course, if you just want more toys, .... Lee

With my ACE cases, I never had a problem storing guns hot enough to sear flesh. Do not ask how I know that. As for transport, it depends on how far it is back to the vehicle. At club matches, I can park at the bays. So if I need a tool or extra hydration or ammo, it is close. Big matches may have parking far enough from the bays that some transport is helpful. I may be switching to the baby stroller (jogging stroller with big wheels) because loading the heavy 4-wheel cart into the truck is a pain (although it can carry gear for 2-3 shooters). Lee

Remington Reduced Recoil slugs do not shoot straight from my 1100. Federal Truball Low Recoil (LEB127LRS) are not as low recoil as Remington, but at least they shoot straight. Also, the hulls are blue so it is easier not to confuse them in mixed stages. My birdshot hulls are green, slugs are blue, and buck are red. Oh, the spreaders are purple but those are rarely used. Lee

Figure a way to attach my VTAC sling to smooth-sided Clark tube: Check. (Actually, already know how to do this ). Getting INTO position, not a problem. The problem is getting OUT of prone with the clock running and various joints in disarray. You betcha - otherwise would not be paying the money for the likely humiliation. Lee

Yeah, but the SEVERE weather with lightning was over by match time and then it was just downpours and gale force wind and we would have had fun!!! I only say this because I cannot make it next weekend due to heavy equipment and willing helpers showing up to help out with some chores on the homestead. And as I said in the Arfcom thread, I will miss the FredQ stage. I hope another match will be held there before the LaRue match. If possible, take pictures and report. Where in Texas? ALSPPC and TexasTactical have mid-month long-gun matches in Austin. Lee