p2000lefty

I am left handed and right eye dominant when I shoot pistol. However, I shoot long guns right handed and am still right eye dominant. I write left handed and throw left handed, but, golf, play guitar, and bat right handed. I try not to think about it too much and try to get into the flow of what ever I am doing. Over analyzing just makes me slow and anxious. I suggest you don't fight nature and practice because that is what will make you better. Oh yeah, and have fun.

Excellent advice all! Speak softly and carry a big solution. Please don't discourage stage designers. I often have designs that I bring to the match only to find out that in real life they are illegal and sometimes dangerous. Fortunately, I have many experienced RO's and a CRO to help me make the necessary changes. I also learn from it and try not to make the same mistake twice. Because I give the set up crews artistic freedom to interpret my intentions when they build the stage, I walk all stages as they are completed, as a shooter, RO, and from downrange to look for potential problems. If you are just going to bark, sulk and complain, don't shoot level one matches. If you have never designed a stage... put up or shut up, try a 32 round field course. It is a lot harder than it seems, unless you want to shoot variations of el Presidente all day. Nurture and encourage and an average match can evolve into an awesome match. Remember it is a place that you go to relax and enjoy your sport.

Don't panic! Think people, greed will poison your own well. Panic buying or selling at inflated prices will only drive prices up in the long run. If you are sitting on thousands of primers sell them to fellow shooters at replacement cost so everyone benefits. Of course you keep what you need to get through this year, but don't poison your own well. I hear people brag about how much they sold a sleeve of primers for at local matches. WTF is all I think. PM me with your thoughts as I will not respond here. My two cents, p2000lefty

Naffiner, I would love to see what you come up with. You could probably sell ad space to fund and maintain your work. Let us know when you are ready. -p2000lefty

gino_aki, This looks like a fun and challenging match to shoot. Though it is a long way from Wisconsin and I may not be able to make it. You have the combination of a gift for stage design and the props to put it together. I hope that the winds calm down there so you can shoot. I would be curious to see the results for these stages. Thank you for sharing. DVC, p2000lefty

Flexmoney, The reply from my friend was for the large scale. I like fourtrax's idea. With links from this forum for critiques and comments it could be helpful. So many stage designs get buried in a different thread and are never seen again. What do you think Flex? I know that it takes server space. If it is successful and utilized it could expand to some categories Like classifier, short medium and field courses. But I digress, start small and see if it is truly utilized and valued by the community. -p2000lefty

Hello BE community, I had a friend with computer knowledge far beyond my understanding look into the database idea. I would like to thank him for taking the time and seriously thinking about this idea. Here is his reply. Kirk, I actually looked into this a little and have some knowledge of databases and the such. There are several gigantic challenges to creating a database such as is being suggested. First challenge is the structure. The structure of the database needs to be determined based on what you want to get out of it. In this instance, you want round count, classic vs metric target count, designer name, props, etc. This all needs to be determined before you build the database. Then, after you have it built, prepare to create more and more fields, as somebody will inevitably need several added. Second challenge is the administration of this database. I touched on it a moment ago. Adding fields to the already created database structure. Also, the database would need to be semi optimized for efficient data extraction. I know a couple database administrators that are currently pulling in 100+g salaries. This is a skilled requirement, and not cheap. Maybe somebody in the shooting community would step up and maintain and optimize the database. I am sure that somebody out there is doing this as a occupation. Third challenge is the front end query/search and data input component. This is by far the larger of the three challenges that I am presenting. This will require somebody with a rather large programing knowledge when it comes to writing database front end query / search, and data input applications. This is another one of those skilled requirements. They also commend great salaries. I am sure once again that this skill is in the skill set of the shooting community. So, can this be done? Absolutely. Will it be easy to do? Absolutely not. Will the shooting community benefit? No doubt about it. I even think that there could be some money made off of it. But, I think it would take a fair amount of effort, expense, and time to bring this idea to the community. I want to be clear. I think it is a great idea and you should be proud of yourself for putting it out there. But in my opinion, it is a gigantic undertaking that may or may not pan out. Thank you again Mike. -p2000lefty

FourTrax, I've asked some computer tech friends of mine to look into this thread and see what they think. I know that it is possible. I have no idea how difficult it would be. After we get some more feedback maybe I'll try to get it into Mr. Enos's hands. -p2000lefty

gino_aki, With the chance of sounding redundant... I am inspired by your stages! Thank you for sharing them. I feel bad that they are so deep in this thread that people may miss them. You have a definite talent that should be shared. Consider posting them in a new thread? DonT you should also consider posting your stages in a new thread. I'm sure that many people missed them here. Thanks, -p2000lefty

Ben, Yes, I have the new M&P. Just completed my set up and the mag. pouches are facing the correct way with this setup. I like it and shoot it pretty well. I'm also shooting the blackbulletsinternational. I'm using the 147 grain. Thought about the 130 grain. What do you think? -p2000lefty

fourtrax, Wouldn't it be nice! A organized and searchable database. Search by props, course of fire, name, author/designer, type of range facilities, round count, etc... First you could look at the comments and results from others who have used it or any other search you wanted. I have a computer friend who is looking into it and he thinks that it could be done quite easily. Thank you for supporting this idea and keeping this thread alive. -p2000lefty

Ben, My goal is to shoot 60-70 percent of you at all Holmen matches. I wish you lived closer I would like to train with you. As you know Glen does not practice. I get bored and distracted practicing by my self. Plus there is no one to push me to get better. Good luck with your new training agenda, I'll see you at Holmen, -p2000lefty Kirk

There are so many good ideas out there to share. People do download them. They must be interested. -p2000lefty

Wow DonT, Those are excellent designs! This is why I wish we had a stage design database that we could share these. May I use your designs? You have also inspired me to try some different things. -p2000lefty

Ben, You did an awesome job designing for Holmen last year. DonT, I would like to see you post your designs and let the forum help you. There is more experience here than any other place I have found. If you need tools for stage design PM me and I can send some to you. -p2000lefty

Zerwas, I think that you are right about people not caring until they have to do it for a match. It is a lot tougher than it looks. I would encourage every shooter with a years experience to try to design a stage and let this forum dissect and critique it. Then present it to your next match director and see if you have the area and materials to create it for a match. Though, I have not heard anything from the forum administrators, I still think this is a good idea. See you at the Minnesota sectional and at Holmen if you venture over to Wisconsin. -p2000lefty

Thank you for your replies. Is StageExchange the way to go? Why reinvent the wheel theory. I think that I have some new ideas in my first posting here that may make this a better site for stage creation and sharing. I have nothing against StageExchange. I was mostly unaware of them. This is the site that I visit most often and the community that I support most. They do not have a forum and I thought that that connection was the most powerful tool this community could offer. We could also search by designer or some other key word. Thank you again and keep the debate alive, share your opinion. -p2000lefty

Hello B.E. community, I pose the question, why doesn't this site have a data base for stage designs? Free to use by all or just members? I don't know all the technical details that would in tail, I am just curious. It would be a powerful resource for local match directors and a creative outlet for stage designers. I know that they exist on the internet other places. Just wondering. My thought was to give short, medium, and field courses of fire. Also different types of range like indoor, berm only, small bay, large bay, possibly 360 shoot house, or all that apply. Classifiers, drills, or league shooting. Beginning to experienced or D to grand master challenge levels. ways for people to search and find what they are looking for considering their match, facilities, and shooters. Possibly a way to search by props used so you could look to use the underutilized drop turner, table, or Texas star. A link to this form to read critiques and suggestions, if offered, before downloading would also be helpful. A tools section for people with props and outlines to share and others to download and use would also be useful. -p2000lefty

nbright, My pleasure! Thank you for posting the results. DVC, p2000lefty

nbright, It looks like a good match. You get a great turn out there. I hope that everyone enjoyed the stages. I thought that people would post more stages for comments and to share. Thank you for posting the results. Looks like it was challenging for all divisions and classes. DVC, p2000lefty

I've seen the ladies recognized in level III but that is it. I would like to see senior and super senior over all winners at least recognized. LAO and Mil seem silly to me especially if they are not recognized. I'm sure there was a reason maybe we need to re think these categories. p2000lefty

Welcome, Our paths are similar into this sport. My 550 press is in the mail somewhere. I also won a S&W MP pro in the Wisconsin point series. Our equipment sounds near identical. I was lucky and found some good friends in the sport. I'm sure you will have the same luck as I've met only a hand full of people that I did not like in my rookie year. Keep in touch and we can share reloading info. It is a great sport full of awesome people. Hope to see you at Area 5 this year, -p2000lefty

Thank you fellas! VegasOPM- Don't you just love this sport? I'm still one who shoots at steel until it falls down or I run out of #*&$ing bullets. The more I read and study B.E., you have to have positive attitude, relax, stay in the moment, and you will succeed. -p2000lefty

Thanks wooddog and boz 1911, Enjoy! Unloaded gun does change the way I would attack this course. I'll put that in my back pocket for another stage. DVC, p2000lefty

LPatterson, Thank you again for your time and consideration. I hope that you find some things that you can use and like in my designs. Yes, the barrels do present a situation when the shot goes through and hits the target. The RO has to look for a grease ring and consider the shot. The target you mention would be a tight shot if at all possible from the left fault lines and not be a shoot through to the plates. I think that it would be a better shot from the right shooting area. As for the too many shots situation, these are not 3 foot square boxes, you can engage targets from multiple locations. You could move targets if you are concerned about this, but I don't see the problem as is. It may also change when the interpretation is on the builders. -p2000lefty