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Craig- When we talked in Oct at the Maine State IDPA Match it looked like the Indoor National Championship was going to to collide with the FL State IDPA match our club is running: apparently not. What better way for you and your crew to recover from running a major match in the frozen north than to come down to Tampa the following weekend and shoot our FL state match? We'll even let you guys work as SO's if you want to. Seriously, I thought what you did to help the guys running the Maine State Championship was highly commendable, and am sorry I can't come to the IDPA Indoor Championship (same weekend as the FL ((USPSA)) Open) but hope you can make it down to our state IDPA match, (Note: rental cars down here DO NOT come with ice scrapers). http://www.fwcdpc.com/statechamp09home.htm

Smoked for 15 years, quit for 10, started again, smoked for 3 years, and quit for good (I strongly believe) 3 years ago. For me, the key was (is) recognizing nicotine as an addiction, not a habit or something we do "because we like it." Even though, in my mind, I am done with cigarettes for good, there are times when I am tempted (bored, hanging with smokers, stressed, whatever). That's when I have to tell myself that nicotine is a drug, I am a recovering addict to that drug, and I can't slip and "have just one." The desire passes, and does not occur as frequently, but I can never completely forget that it once had me. Although not directly a friend of Bill's I am close to some that are, and think lot of that applies here. Good luck, and for what it's worth, remember that the desire will pass, but the regret for slipping may not. You are doing the right thing, for you.

Not knowing your location, it could be that you are closer to a club that shoots USPSA than IDPA (or the other way around). I shoot both, many folks choose to do only one. You may want to go to both and then decide for yourself. Rulebooks and club locations for each/both games can be found at their websites: www.idpa.com www.uspsa.com There are definite eqyuipment differences between the two (worth looking at equipment rules for both before spending money on gear), but the advice you've gotten so far is good (4 mags, CR Speed, etc). Prior to your 1st match, it's worth the time to make sure you know the safety rules, can manipulate your handgun (draws, reloads, stoppages) and know where the bullet is 'gonna go when you pull the trigger. Welcome to the shooting game(s), this forum is a geat place to start, but best prepare yourself: this is addictive! dan

It's tough, and I feel bad for you, but maybe you can turn a kick in the junk into an opportunity: Would you have left that last job for something better? (like most of us, probably yes) Were you actively looking for something better while working that last job? (like most of us, probably no). Most of us fear change, and avoid it. In your case, change was thrust upon you. Often, with change comes something better, hopefully that's what happens to you. Good luck to you.

If you recently made a pre-emptive AR purchase and want a good companion guide, are looking for a gift for a shooting buddy, or if you have been shooting for a while and want a reference, this seems like a good choice. For me, someone who carried an AR around for a long time, (a long time ago), it has the right amount of background, threory, practical applications, and details on "new" developments (optics, slings, rails etc). I read a good review of it a while back (in Dillon Blue Press, I think?) and decided to gift myself it and the companion/pocket guide "M16/M4 Handbook" for Christmas. Purchase through www.vikingtactics.com

Joel- Than you for posting this, and thanks to Linda Chico, Mike Nyland, AustinMike and others for adding to it. A good friend of mine from work is dying of cancer (the doc's have given him one-two months), and will leave behind a wife and two very young children. When I last visited him I told him that I and the rest of his friends would be there to help his soon-to-be widow (who I have only met once), but I really didn't have a good sense of what we could/should do. Your post, and the string that followed seem like a good place to start (someone mentioned printing it and putting it with their important/emergency papers). When I talked to my friend he asked me about things at work, to which I replied "Are you still able to do some of the things you enjoy, like working on your hobby (cars), playing with your kids, being with your wife?" and when he said yes I told him "Then that is what you should be doing with your time; not worrying about work when you're not there, or doing things that your don't enjoy" and he said "That sounds like good advice for anyone, even you." Thanks again for the post.

My wife just shot her first club match this weekend, and had a great time! After a particularly scary gun experience when she was a child, she hadn’t touched a gun since. I keep guns in the house (I’ve been shooting for about 18 months) and several months ago she showed an interest in “becoming familiar” with firearms (no pressure from me, but she saw that I was having fun). A good friend/shooting buddy offered to teach her the basics, and she was hooked. After a few structured sessions with him, and some practices with me, she finally felt she was ready for a match (about three months after she fired her first shot). Although she was as nervous as I’ve ever seen her, she shot the first stage smoothly and safely, but when the crowd gave her cheers and applause at UASC, she almost broke the 180 turning to see what everyone was clapping about (the RO saved her). So now I’m loading bullets for two, she is enviously comparing other folk’s hardware to the used whooptee 1st generation Glock 17 I started her on, and apparently (according to one of our club’s other Lady Shooters) there are some “Shooting Fashion” issues that she needs to look into. I couldn’t be happier: big thanks to Pat and my other friends at the Wyoming Antelope Club for helping to get my favorite person involved in my favorite hobby. (BTW: I don’t recommend becoming your spouse’s primary instructor, even if you think you know what you are doing it’s better for them to learn from someone else, or as I heard once “If I start listening to him about shooting, he might think I will listen to him about other things” ). Dan TY 60299

I was hoping it would be in Trona, but Ridgecrest will be good too. Dan TY60299

This may sound like an unsolicited advertisement, but I just got back from the two-day level 1 NROI Range Officer Class. I've been on the planet a while and been through a lot of training/education (military/civillian) and feel qualified to say that this was an excellent class, taught by an outstanding instructor (George Jones). Although I have been running shooters for a little while and thought I had a solid understanding of the USPSA rulebook, I learned a lot and feel I will be a much better RO (and shooter) for the experience. Big thanks to George Jones at NROI/USPSA, and the people that set this up: our Central Florida Area Coordinator (Tony Hyatt) and the guys at our sister club (notice that I didn't say "weak sister": that would be wrong) "Wildwood" Jesse, Woody and Rich. I strongly recommend this training (and instructor) to anyone or any club running shooters (even if only at the local/club level). They're at www.nroi.org Dan

Like Merlin says: it's about where you plant your feet. Although with IDPA you can't rehearse the stage, the advice I got as a new shooter was to be looking/planning where you plan to plant your outside foot to ensure that 100% of your lower body is behind cover but you still have room to lean your upper body outside of the cover to engage the targets (as they become visible). This is a great forum, and IDPA is a great sport- Welcome Dan

I use 2 single Blackhawk mag pouches for IDPA and 3 of same for USPSA, and use the same holster and gun for both games (shoot Limited in USPSA and ESP for IDPA). For me it's cheaper, and easier to keep range bag packed. Good on you for looking at "the other" game (it's all about shooting), and keeping an open mind, but echo the earlier comment about getting smart about rule differences. Don't let the differences frustrate you; enjoy.

Boris- I'm fairly new to this game, but try to help out as much as I can. Because of this, I am often I am in the role of "Paper RO": keeping score, tracking/announcing who is up next, looking for foot faults, etc. Mostly, however, as scorekeeper, I am in the role of supporting the RO- the person with the timer, the person that is not just looking at the gun, but controlling the shooter. I have had the the opportunity to stand behind a lot of different RO's, and believe that the best of them are not just watching the gun, but are seeing the shooter. I fully agree with you that the RO can, and probably should, be seeing more than just the gun, and also observe the shooter (we all focus on front sights, but still need to see the target, right?). dan