Neil Beverley

I've had a couple of email/messages since I posted yesterday. I must reiterate that applications must be submitted through your Region Director, and, of course, it goes without saying that your Region must be in good standing. The procedure to register really isn't too much of a problem and it will prove to be a great experience. For those of you outside of Europe you should find the currency exchange rate working in your favour!

Open Division isn't much different to USPSA Open other than limits to capacity. Standard and Standard-Manual Divisions are close to USPSA Standard Division. Modified is unique to IPSC. In reality it's not much of a problem in adapting. The match will be great and your welcome assured. If you can make it it will be well worth the trip.

There are still a few slots available for this match (match capacity 600 main match + 200 in pre-match) and the organizers have advised that they can extend the deadline into June. It promises to be a great match - Around 400 rounds 30 stages (20 birdshot, 5 slug, 5 buckshot) You will need to apply through your RD but there are now no limits on number of entries per Region. This is the inaugural world championship for IPSC Shotgun and should prove to be something quite special. Match Website - Click Here

Not easily, IMO. There was a video and a PowerPoint presentation. All 4 spoke but Frank Garcia and at least one of the others spokes 2 or perhaps 3 times. The presentation lasted over 15 minutes and covered accommodation, visas, permits, hospitality, the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, the IPSC Assembly, tourism, families. The State of Florida was significantly involved and the team had the backing of great many people, including (as I saw it) local government (and the Governor to some extent at least). At this match level presentations are generally good, and getting better as time goes by, but like I said, this was an excellent presentation by any standard.

September and October were the months mentioned in the presentation. Final dates to be confirmed after further discussion. Thailand's presentation was good but the presentation of behalf of the US was superb, very slick, very professional. If I'm honest I'm surprised the vote was as close as it was - I would have expected a few more votes for the US on the presentation alone. The US team (4) deserve your congratulations - they put in a huge amount of work in their presentation. Judging by what I saw it promises to be an excellent event. Hell, the shooting will be pretty good as well!

What is the current capacity restriction, if any, for USPSA SG Open Division?

Not only does 8.1.1.2 stipulate that the action will be closed but the divisional tables also restrict Option 2 starts to 8 rounds. See below: 9. Capacity restrictions for initial load prior to the start signal Max. of 9 rounds loaded Max. of 8 in the case of Rule 8.1.1.2

Shotgun varies from HG and rifle in that in Rule 3.2.1, the rule that discusses minimum information in a written briefing, it states: "Minimum number ofrounds (stated for guidance only):" This acknowledges that on occasions competitors could complete the C of F without firing the supposed minimum rounds based on the number of targets/hits required. Hence "for guidance only". The rules are recognizing that you can score 2 targets with one shot. If this situation presents itself due to an oversight in the stage build then, IMO, it's poor design. However, some stage designers might choose to tempt people with the double but if clever should not make it too easy.

No penalty. It's legitimate to score hits on 2 separate targets from a single shot. The relevant IPSC rules are posted below (9.5.1.1 and 9.5.6.1. Rule 9.5.6 will not apply in this case and is only included for completeness). Please note that you actually have to hit both targets to avoid the FTE penalty. If you try for it and miss one of the targets then you get both the misses and the FTE penalty. The proof of the pudding (engaging both with one shot) is in the hits. 9.5.1.1 If two or more targets receive scoring hits as a result of a single shot they will both, or all, be scored normally. See Rule 9.5.6. 9.5.6 A competitor who fails to engage the front of each scoring target in a course of fire with at least one round will incur one procedural penalty per target for failure to engage the target, as well as appropriate penalties for misses (see Rule 10.2.7). 9.5.6.1 A competitor will not incur failure to engage penalties where two or more targets receive scoring hits as a result of a single shot. See Rule 9.5.1. If a competitor fires less shots at a target array than the number of targets in that array, and one or more target(s) does/do not receive scoring hits then failure to engage penalties and misses will apply as appropriate.

The match is scheduled for mid September at the moment but this is subject to some fine tuning. 8 days in country would do but a couple of extra days would make it a bit easier. You will shoot for 4 days out of the 6 match days giving 2 days off for rest and/or sightseeing. Shoot-offs and closing ceremony will be on Day 7. At the start you will have registration and the Opening ceremony., hence why I suggested adding an extra couple of days. The match organizer will be very obliging in trying to cater for anyone working to a tight time frame, including some who might request shooting on days 3-6 because they can't get there early. That said it would be a great shame to miss being part of the whole thing.

That's odd. My Rem slugs are dead on out to 50+ yards. What lot # are yours? I'm using Remington Slugger Managed Recoil Slugs. I know a couple of the other Brits are experiencing similar performance issues. Guns = Remy 1187 (me) and Remy 1100 the other guys. Bead sights only. We usually shoot S & B slugs back home. Sorry! Don't have any near me right now so can't quote the batch #.

Hi I brought about 10 or so shirts with me (XL) that I'm happy to give away to anyone who wants some. These go back to include World Shoot 10 and more recently Indonesia 2004, ESC06 and ESC09 plus a couple of UKPSA shirts. I've worn a couple this week to cut down on my luggage so they'll need a wash but otherwise all in good condition and a couple of them are unworn. I'm with squad 9 if any of you want to make yourselves known.

Early feedback suggests competitors are really enjoying the match so far. For many, shooting stages like these and in this environment is a new experience. Some stages are biting competitors. Some easy looking stages haven't proved so simple in the shooting. It's difficult to call the first day, especially because people are shooting different blocks of stages, but Kurt Miller (US), Roberto Vezzoli (IT), Robert Romero (US) and Mike Darby (UK) jump out from the stage results as being right up there. Still a long way to go. I'm shooting like a moron. A pathetic and disappointing performance. 10 down 20 to go. Big slug day tomorrow. Remington slugs seems to be dropping 15-18 inches and perhaps 6 inches right at 90 yards. Far from ideal. Very humid. Hot. Heavy rain shower today.

Noted. Thanks.

Arrived yesterday - no dramas (other than losing a tooth and now need a dentist). No bugs in sight but then still at the Best Western rather than on the range. Having a day with Sue then on the range tomorrow to help. Hotel is fine - good choice, Linda. Denny's next door is good too!

30 yards, at no-shoots, with birdshot? Well not actually at the no-shoots - better to miss them!

Just to follow up on what Mike wrote ......... Please note that for shotgun, unlike handgun, calibration, including calibration challenges, is/are always conducted from the best/easiest (usually the closest) position available to the competitor.

I've got some spares going back over a few years, size XL. I've been nagged that I've got too many so it's as good a reason as any to move some on. Better than them going in the bin. Nothing fancy and not hi-tech, but you, or any other, will be welcome to them. I just hope by luggage allowance will accomodate them but probably OK. Looking forward to the match!

Keep stirring the pot Trapr, your making new friends with each post!!! I'm a concerned shooter before I'm an IPSC Official. I was a concerned shotgun shooter way back into the 80s and have fought ever since, kicking and screaming, for the discipline, long before most dedicated shotgunners even contemplated getting involved. Please don't anyone ever doubt my passion and sincerity in doing what I think is best for the sport. We may not always agree on things but my motives are pure. If we don't agree it doesn't necessarily make me wrong, and I might not be right either. One of the great misconceptions in IPSC is about "benefit of the doubt". Try a search of the handgun section of the Global Village and you will see this myth destroyed time and time again. There is specific reference to to myth of the perfect double. Without there being actual physical evidence of 2 hits it will be assumed that there is just one. The competitor should never get the benefit of the doubt. I found one of many threads on the subject: CLICK HERE Rule 9.5.9 was written with conventional wads in mind but is a rule nevertheless. It needs to be considered very carefully so that the correct decisions are taken, and not taken lightly. Don't pre-judge what the decision will be. I've simply flagged it up as something that needs to be evaluated. This is going to be a long match. Sigh! Bring more beer.

Hmmm! Food for thought. 9.5.9 If a wad from a buckshot cartridge has caused a hole in a paper target there must be no assumption that any missing hit has passed through the hole unless there is visible evidence around the edge of the hole of a hit (e.g. a grease mark, striations or a "crown" etc.).

To answer a couple of outstanding queries: Trapr: I fly in on the 23rd. I plan to spend the 24th with Sue and then be at the range on the 25th to assist/advise as/if required. Trapr: The poppers in Greece look like they were new for the match. The significant point is that they looked as if they had been shot with slugs rather than with buckshot. The dents were similar in shape and size to metal targets shot by slugs at shorter distances. All: For safety reasons we don't allow slugs to be shot at metal targets at less than 40 metres. What we are discussing is a cartridge that delivers a hit that appears to perform similar to the impact of a slug at shorter distances. On metal targets that handle repeated hits from regular buckshot without damage we are witnessing significant damage from cartridges that hold the pellets together. Now let's set the safety issues aside for awhile. We have course designers setting challenges to test slug, buck and bird shooting. For buckshot and birdshot part of the challenge is to solve the problem of the pattern spread. This tests technical knowledge and ability. We then have competitors who want the solve the problem by shooting cartridges that deliver a single projectile. It's virtually a slug. So instead of a true buckshot stage it becomes a buckshot stage in name only. Why not just shoot it with slug instead. The technical challenge of solving buckshot stages ceases to exist for the sake of a competitive advantage. Why not simply change all matches to slug only matches? It seems that this is what some folk want to shoot. Or should we allow a new cartridge type: "Single projectile plastic cylinders that may contain pellets or may contain a lump of lead". Or maybe we should simply take up rifle shooting?

00 buckshot can't be specified, only the max number of pellets. If you could get No 4 buck with just 9 pellets and if it could make factor then you're good to go. If the stage only uses metal targets then there can be no restriction on the number of pellets. So, all metal targets + buckshot? Use No. 4 buck - be my guest. The only reason we allow the number of pellets to be restricted is for practical match expediency reasons (patching). If targets are disposable (so no patching) then there is no reason to restrict the number of pellets. It's all in the rules. Simples. I'll try to remember to dig out a Flossie for you and you most definitely owe me at least one beer. Do you have an umbrella?

Who so personal, guys? A few facts. Firstly, Linda makes a slight error in that there is a maximum PF of 750. Rule 5.5.6.3. I note Linda's comment about trying to change the ammunition requirements for Stage 4 but the problem isn't whether it is buckshot or birdshot the problem lies with the delivery system. The subject rule is 5.5.6.2. Further history on the rule. During the Europeans in 2006 it was noted that a certain type of cartridge (birdshot) was causing significant damage to metal targets. Investigations tracked it down to an Italian brand. It had been thought it might have been an "exotic" custom design for the match but it turned out to be a special cartridge for long distance hunting shots. The concept being to hold the shot in the cup for a significantly greater distance. The result being that for a great many targets it was a consolidated mass of shot hitting the targets. Please see the attached images to view the damage to the targets. Bent Pepper Popper Images.pdf On the image on page 2 you can just make out the round bumps (2) on the back of the target cause by the subject cartridges. These in addition to the general buckling of the steel. That type of cartridge was immediately banned (from further use) at the match under Rule 5.5.6. At the next regular meeting of the Rules Committee (Feb 2007) the subject cartridges and the general design and concept of this type of cartridge was discussed. Myro Lopez was also present and he had been the RM at ESC06. The evidence was reviewed and after due discussion it was decided that this type of cartridge wasn't suitable for IPSC stages when metal targets were being used. The reasons being a potential safety problem. Mike Voigt, who chaired the meeting, then drafted a new interpretation for adoption. This was presented to the IPSC President's Council and in turn to the IPSC Exec who approved the immediate adoption of the interpretation in accordance with the rules. The interpretation was further approved by the IPSC Regions at the 2007 IPSC Assembly. The interpretation was then converted to a full rule for inclusion in the 2009 rulebook and approved at the IPSC Assembly in 2008. The IPSC rulebook does not (can not) single out any manufacturer or brand of cartridge. Rule 5.5.6 was scripted to have a wide coverage of specialised cartridges (and/or specialised wads) that may pose a safety problem in conjunction with metal targets. On the Global Village I didn't make a ruling on these cartridges for the PanAm, I simply gave some well intended advice AFTER a member had identified the cartridges as a potential problem. I wrote: So please don't try to present this as me being on some sort of crusade. Either in Europe or elsewhere. And if it rains tomorrow it isn't my fault either. And let's be honest, it's not as though there aren't other cartridge choices that could be used instead. The world hasn't ended.

If you cover the ports to render them ineffective you can change to Standard Division. This may help as this match is struggling for numbers in Modified Division and gives you the option to transfer. A metal wrap or strong tape may be accepted. It's effectively been done before. It will be best to check with the RM, Myro Lopez, just to confirm any special requirements from him.