MBneACP

Thank you all SO much! I feel like if I completely lay off preseason shooting (and physical) training, it's gonna come back to haunt me, but it hurts bad enough to wake me up in the middle of the night. Will jack up glucosamine and Vitamin-A For Advil and seriously warm it up. I tried the Flex 454, which worked, but within 3 or 4 minutes my girlfriend eyes were swelling, tears running down her face, etc. Serious allergic reaction to it. Again, thanks, and I think this does need an FAQ. When I did the thing down at the Olympic Center, of the 10 top action shooters down there, 8 had had major elbow problems... Mb

I think Todd Jarrett, as well as Don Golembieski, Bruce Piatt and Bruce Gray are pretty serious about an Olympic future. Last year, when Todd won Production and Open championsips and finished 2nd in the world, he also just missed the U.S. rapid fire team (he was in the running and had a gun malfunction...those rapid fire guns are junk in a box). I think that probably qualifies as one of the most spectacular feats of sport shooting ever accomplished, considering that it involved training with three very different guns (his Open Para, a stock Para .40 and the rapid fire gun) over the same period of time. The U.S. Olympic pistol coach told me Todd's performance was nothing short of amazing, and that he'd'a made the team if the gun hadn't crapped out. John Bickar has emerged as one of the finest American Olympic pistol shooters in recent memory (partially thanks to Todd J.'s "little feetsteps behind you" pushing). Last year he simply dominated men's pistol shooting, with a whole bunch of new records. You'll get to see him at Bianchi this year, thanks to that deal we worked with Kimber. I'm really honored that Project Rapid-Action did so much to revitalize Olympic pistol competition...god, you gotta love it when an off-the-wall plan comes together! I still believe that the Olympics is the centerpiece of pistol competition, and our guys WILL represent the United States and stand on a podium! mb

Any new thoughts on getting rid of it? Any secret remedies? Physical therapy you've tried that works? Weird Chinese smelly stuff to spread on said elbow? The dry firing was no big deal, but hanging sheet rock in the [very cold] basement AND dry firing lit up my right elbow, which has always been a weak spot when I'm shooting a lot. Five or ten draws, and it feels like someone is pounding the damn thing with big sticks. That cortizone shot is starting to look mighty good, despite my philosophical objection to stuff like that. Am open to suggestions, group! mb

I'm thinking that maybe this whole hat thing comes from that movie, FEAR OF A BLACK HAT. That is, of course, assuming I'm thinking at all! mb

If you don't have big hands (I don't), the CZ-Standard is like holding a brick bat. The impressed frontstap checkering is pretty worthless (isn't it always?), and the mag well is way too deep for the standard 10-round mags unless you jury-rig (or can find from Europe) some humongous base pads. The trigger is great out of the box, but TEST IT for sear engagement during rough treatment! Yours Truly got sent home from the Nationals a couple of years ago for a downrange AD (it hit the target, I think). I assumed I'd bumped the light trigger and touched it off, but whe I got home, I found I could get the gun to fire by bouncing it around. Tony Kidd down in Texas can pretty much fix/fabricate anything for a CZ. I went back to a 1911, BTW. mb

I'm not sure what number we're on, but... 105. Never forget what is important in your life, because that is what defines your work and your play. I got back from the SHOT Show with all this gun stuff swirling around my head, trying to ramp up for the new competition season, hammering a gunsmith to get my new blaster to me in time, blah blah. I walked right into a cancer scare with my girlfriend. Everything worked out great, but it has been a long week. I was reminded that our lives hang by a thread, outside of our longest reach. I hope that when I step to the line again, regardless of the outcome, I will remember that this is a game I play, and the greatest gift I can give my fellow competitors is to play it with humility and some semblence of grace. mb

Ikytx; Yeah, yeah, but I'm already a Past Master Vermillion. When I take the next test, I'll be a Blue Master Baiter...no wait...wrong list! mb

DogmaDog; To quote from the great gurus of the Matrix "THERE IS NO SPLEEN." mb

Patrick; I think I still have bruises from my "Old School" Korean teacher. I know I saw Jesus at least twice while on the way to the floor. Didn't Southwest Pistol League have some sort of byzantine system for determining "Combat Master" back in the dawn of time? Brian E., I think it's appropriate for you to add the initials O.G. after your name; Original Gangsta, of course. You be made. mb

Jim...I was using the "Old World" spelling of your name...sorry. I wish I knew the whole story behind Russ Stott's leaving the NRA. He was at SHOT and, I'm told, looked pretty good, in addition to coming away with some good contracts. I do know that NSSF made an informal inquiry about taking over administration of the match, but NRA competiions wasn't interested. mb

Eric; True words, which is what we'll be doing. As a journalist, however, I do not demand exclusives. I just do a better job than anyone else! BTW, Bianchi/NRA signed the contract with Scoutin. Bianchi is in desperate straits, with Russ Stott gone from the NRA. MB

All true, and sorry to be venting (but, hey, isn't that what HATE is all about?). In any case, no USPSA decision one way or the other has anything to do with the television show, which is *still* going to be rock and roll! We're looking at good coverage of the Challenge, the IDPA Nationals, GSSF, ICORE, some cowboy, some the bigger practical matches (like the Infinity) and, of course, AMERICAN HANDGUNNER's match. All the various aspects of competition! Also expect to see some serious tech stuff (maybe following a block of steel through the process of becoming a gun), our weird *swap* with one of the top paintball magazines (three of their champions for three of our champions...and a chance to get us in front of the huge paintball demographic), some handgun hunting, some celebrities, the occasional humor...lots of ideas. But everything is going to be by enthusiasts for enthusiasts--names you know. Our goal is a nationally televised practical pistol championship in 2005. We've already talked to a major facility about building a television-friendly range exclusively for the match, which would be designed by Dave Arnold, Chris Edwards and myself, with input from a bunch of other people. All reactive targets and simple scoring, etc. *Real* prizes. Again, my apologies for venting. And, as always, I'm open to suggestions. What would *you* like to see??? MB

Okey-dokey... So I spend all this time working with USPSA, both formally (for money) and informally (for, lacking a better word) love. You all know what I do (and what I've done). Then I get this incredible opportunity to create a television show for handgunners on The Outdoor Channel. I hook up AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, and me and Roy Huntington are set to do something no one else has ever done before. I mean, we are going to rock! I insist that the centerpiece of this plan is USPSA, because I actually *believe* in the sport. Blah blah blah. So USPSA gets a contract from Jim Scoutin for his new show that *GUARANTEES EXCLUSIVITY* on the Nationals coverage. Gosh, I have listened to endless bitching about AMERICAN SHOOTER...but here's this contract. And USPSA has to decide in *24 HOURS* whether to sign or not. Gee, 24 hours a week before SHOT...I wonder why anyone would do that? So we chitty-chat. I say pretty honestly that I have a horse in this race, so I have a certain bias. However, I also note that it is a horserace, and, in general, it's a bad idea to bet the farm on a nag before you even get a chance to see 'em trot out onto the field. I also give them my word that they will be heavily involved in the AH show. So my *friends* meet and decide, in short, that my word is no good; that USPSA will sign an exclusive coverage contract with Jim Scoutin, but that I can cover the Factory Nationals if I'm a good little puppy and don't piss all over the rug. Maybe they'll give me a f*%&*$%g biscuit, too! Boy, do I ever feel like *A COMPLETE JACKASS!* Didn't even see that one coming! To quote one of the greatest songs of the 1970s: "Your enemies won't do you no harm Cause you know where they're coming from Don't let the handshake and the smile fool you Take my advice, I'm only tryin' to school ya..." Sadly, words to live by. IDPA, the Steel Challenge, GSSF and USA Shooting passed on the *exclusive* deal, BTW. Michael B

SKIERS = MOBILE PYLONS IN TYROLEAN HATS shred to live; live to shred... mb PS: JUST JOKING! JUST JOKING!

There's a company out of Seattle that sells "tactical kilts." Honest to god. Lots of pockets. No plaid. Sort of like Royal Robbins on bad acid. I seriously considered buying one to wear to an IDPA match, but my pal Dave Arnold wouldn't let me. Said I'd only humiliate myself even more than usual. mb

Brian; When I was a baby journalist, I was assigned to interview Ayn Rand, whose work had had a profound effect on my thinking. After a lot of fits and starts ("You can do better than that question, young man!"), I got a pretty good interview. At the very end, when I was packing up the tape recorder, she said, "Young man, look at me!" Then she shook her finger in my face. "Your goal," the old philosopher said, "your *only* goal, is to *see clearly!* See clearly, young man! That is my advice to you." Best--and hardest to follow--advice I ever got. We--the generic we, as in the sport--can depend on you to *see clearly,* and I think that's what you've done with your thoughts on this thread. The changes you suggest would have a profound, and profoundly positive, effect on the sport. Whiners and cheaters will be with us always, but they're never worth listening to. You always are, even though you're one of them old-timers (and we met...hummmm...when was that?...). If your ideas manage to go beyond these forums, I wouold unconditionally support them. mb

I've never been a huge fan of the Para (don't know why; just never seemed to work for me). However, I shot an LDA 9mm in California at the end of last year and was very surprised at how well I did with it. Enough so that I'm trying to whine and bitch one out of Para to use in Production and IDPA. It shot awfully light, and the LDA trigger is a cinch to master. MB

I got a Novak BHP in .40 that I've shot a bunch in IDPA. I've had a batch of 'em, and the only time I ever had a slide crack was during one of my strange 9mm Major experiments. God knows what kind of pressures we were shooting at! MB

Tightloop...a minor correction...the Devels would *hold* eight rounds, just not feed 'em! Michael B

Well, it's creeping up on 5AM Christmas Eve. Still can't sleep, but the wind stopped blowing. All my accounts receivables finally trickled in. The parrots have been acting civil (they get surly when they can't go outside). Heck, I don't actually hate *anything* right now. Don't worry; it'll clear up! Sleep in heavenly peace, dudes and dudettes! MB

AH! The weather sucks everywhere! Here in Rocky Mountain High Colorado, it's 15 degrees with about a 300 mile per hour wind that has been blowing steadily for three days. It is driving me crazy. I can't sleep. I'm hung over from the drugs I take to make me sleep that don't work. My beagle is whining. My macaw bit me on the thumb. I have to go to a mall tonight because I promised. My accounts receivables are stalled somewhere and I have about $37 in my checking account. I hate the end of the year, because it reminds me that I am OLD OLD OLD. An 18 year-old told me she liked my earring, then called me "Sir." I'm cooking Christmas dinner for the MONGOLIAN HORDES. I think I was meant to hibernate. MB PS: HO HO...BANG!

Bill Rogers shot in my club in Florida back in the Dawn of Time. He won the FL state championship when I was Match Director. He is the real deal and ran with Billy Wilson, TGO and the like. His love was always real guns and concealable holsters, snd when the sport started drifiting away from that, he lost interest. I see he and Christy every year at SHOT. He did the first 6-second El Prez most of us ever saw. MB

I posted this on one of the other forums, but I want to get us all thinking in this direction... In the wake of Tuesday's elections, I think there's a better than even chance that the 1994 Ban will *not* be renewed (Dave Kopel, writing in the National Review Online, agrees). As I mentioned before, both Dave Thomas and I have spoken with NSSF (and the NSSF Washington guys) about USPSA's position that the Ban has harmed us directly, and in the absence of any proof whatsoever that the ban has had an effect on crime, magazine capacity should be a dead issue. I haven't yet talked to the Powers That Be at the gun companies, who have spent a fortune complying with the Ban. I am, however, meeting with the USPSA BofD in Dallas in a couple of weeks, and one of the issues I want to bring up is the creation of a rational strategy to push for letting the Ban sunset. I haven't given this enough thought yet, and I don't really have a suggestion for a strategy that might work. I do know that USPSA has to have a closer relationship with our various Washington lobbies. MB

In the wake of Tuesday's elections, I think there's a better than even chance that the 1994 Ban will *not* be renewed (Dave Kopel, writing in the National Review Online, agrees). As I mentioned before, both Dave Thomas and I have spoken with NSSF (and the NSSF Washington guys) about USPSA's position that the Ban has harmed us directly, and in the absence of any proof whatsoever that the ban has had an effect on crime, magazine capacity should be a dead issue. I haven't yet talked to the Powers That Be at the gun companies, who have spent a fortune complying with the Ban. I am, however, meeting with the USPSA BofD in Dallas in a couple of weeks, and one of the issues I want to bring up is the creation of a rational strategy to push for letting the Ban sunset. I haven't given this enough thought yet, and I don't really have a suggestion for a strategy that might work. I do know that USPSA has to have a closer relationship with our various Washington lobbies. MB

Interesting thread... I just finished the Washington D.C. NSSF Media Seminar, my 8th or 9th this year, and the last one until January. Was a major success (finally cracked NPR...we've got some input now...not much, but, hey, more than we had last week!). Am pretty burned out; got drawn into strategy/planning/handling on the sniper stuff, too. We succeeded in turning back or blunting all the antigun initiatives, but I think it's taken a toll on all of us. I can't seem to focus on what needs to get done around here. Still, I can't shut up, either... Media bias fascinates me. I believe it's unconscious, existing in a really interesting blind spot in the media's own eyes. The best explanation I can give, after three years of being on the front lines, comes from Malcolm Gladwell's TIPPING POINT theories...we are far more keyed to cues within our environment than we ever believed. Monkey see; monkey honest to god do. Journalists' environment is a pressure-cooker filled with very similar people in terms of background, education, interests, etc. "Guns" per se never even have to be mentioned...the cues are there and are enormoulsy powerful. I had lunch with the novelist Steve Hunter Tuesday, and we were talking about how he was the only "gun guy" at the Washington POST (he's the movie critic). Even he had a period when he was sorta antigun, but he had your basic epiphany, decided to "come out" and take the hit. It's hard. I basically killed my career as a freelancer with the top magazines by dong the gun stuff I do. In the Media Seminars, what we try and do is present a different set of cues. Not that we override the bias, but we do provide a "reasonable doubt" that makes it harder to "tune out" pro-gun info. I suspect the cues are more important than the informational aspects of the Seminars. As a person who teaches interviewing techniques, I think the most powerful tool out there is the "like me/not like me" dicotomy. We tend to not only divulge information to people who are "like us," but we are more willing to listen to the "like us" opinions. It's why the NRA--the most amazingly powerful political group in the country--is unable to make even the tinest inroads in a "hearts and minds" campaign. Or, maybe I'll go get lunch!