rlv65

Thanks for the reply. I have been shooting for a while & have done intermittent dry fire, but previously focused on getting my kids to their practices - now ready to focus on my own sport. As I plan to increase my level of participation, I am interested in any various long term training plans others may have assembled in order to model & prepare one for myself based on my identified weaknesses, match performances, etc. Good advice in your edit regarding actual practice time vs set-up & tear down. Thanks again.

Shooting USPSA Production.

I am looking for examples of training plans. I would anticipate that there are many different levels of plans that can be established - seasonal, monthly, weekly, daily, training session, etc. that would include match dates, training days, drills, dry fire schedule, etc. I understand that I need a plan, but am interested in what others are using in order to develop one to suit my available time & needs. Anyone have any good examples?

As a father of two very active boys (school & travel teams in multiple sports), it sometimes felt that I was missing out on "my stuff". However, throughout their growing up, the boys' activities almost always took priority over anything that I had going on. In looking back, I am glad that I went that route. With them getting older, it is getting easier to fit matches in since they don't need Dad around as much. Also, you never know when that "last game" you're going to see them play in is going to be, but you don't want to miss it. One exception that I made was going to the 2008 Nationals when my oldest was an 8th grader. While I was gone, one of his good friends died in an accident. My son was asked to do one of the readings at the funeral. I was told by many that he was a "rock" - wish I would have been there to see it.

My "near Open" experience came this year between Stages 10 & 11 at Area 5. Each stage was a 10 round course. You ran Stage 10, holstered, stayed hot and moved forward to Stage 11 start position and would go again. I threw a make-up shot so I used all 11 rounds that I had in the gun for Stage 10 (slidelock). As making ready for Stage 11, I pulled one of my 10 rounds mags, chambered a barney, dropped that mag into a cargo pocket (9 rounds in it) and topped off with a 10 rounder (now 11 in the gun). Still had 30 rounds on my belt. Politely, the RO pointed at the mag in the cargo pocket and asked something along the line of "was I already in Open or just planning to go there...". Not interested in a rules discussion at the time, I pulled the mag out and dropped it into the "beach sand" that I was hoping to keep it out of..... A couple of thoughts that I had afterwards were - thanks to the RO for being sensible, is my cargo pocket behind my hipbone?, should the rule be revised to not allow loading from ahead of the hipbone? and I hate cleaning mags. Thinking back over the years, I wonder how many multiple string classifiers (reload and make ready for the next string) I and others have shot as an "Open" shooter by putting those used mags into a cargo or front pocket????

Britin, Thanks for the photos, videos & write ups - it is appreciated.

"QuickClot Dressing: There's still some debate about this stuff, you'll have to make your own decision, but look into it." What is the latest word on QuickClot - with the understanding that my club range has little to no cell phone coverage, is served by a volunteer fire department (longer response time) and it is 20 miles to emergency room?

Cool.

I paint only the surface that you will see with the correct sight alignment, then if you are seeing any black, something is not lined up correctly. Good suggestion by Toolguy on the use of a clearcoat. I use yellow - provides good contrast and shows up well indoors. Usually don't wait as long to apply multiple coats - when dry to touch, I add another.

My experimentation in one versus two eye shooting this year went as follows: 45 yr old, mid C class, production, eyes starting to weaken after having Lasik type surgery 5 yrs ago. I ended last year and started this year with the intent of shooting with both eyes open (I read that is how all the fast guys do it...) working on it during live fire and matches (busy at work and 2 kids in sports - I trade dry fire practice for sleep). Match results using two eyes open - was only getting 70% of the available match points, 59% of my shots were A hits, 24% were C hits and 4% were Mikes. Found that I was waiting on my eyes to focus (convert multiple blurry targets & sight picture into a single clear sight picture) which was killing my already sub-standard speed. Match results using one eye open - getting 86% of available match points, 75% A hits, 19% C hits, 1% Mikes with speed and overall match results greatly improved (i.e. - I'm not a GM but having more fun). Found that with up close & open mid-range targets on movement stages, I was still using both eyes with one eye being used for tight and / or distant targets. My $0.02 - give every option some consideration and use what works best for you and the eyeballs you have available.

Problem solved. What I did not mention in my original post was that I noticed some "roughness" in the barrel chamber. When pointed out to Sig, they called it a "gas cut" (I assume hot gases bleeding by acting like a cutting torch). Replaced the barrel and breech block - no more issues. Back to being a mediocre shooter with no equipment excuses.

Steve, Sad to hear about the cancellation. I appreciate the effort & idea that you have put forth - hope that you can keep it viable. I was planning to make this match my "nationals replacement". Hopefully you can find a timeframe that won't conflict with Nationals, etc. For USPSA, here's an idea - set the Major event schedule far enough in advance that someone who is willing to put forward this type of effort & risk doesn't "take it in the shorts" for our lack of not having a longer term plan in place.

Top Gun Supply carries a pretty good assortment of Sig parts. http://www.topgunsupply.com/

Running out of my P226 (around 25,000 rounds), I get about PF = 123 out of WWB 9mm 115gr. Gun just came back from tune-up at Sig factory - no barrel issues that they noted (I asked). Haven't found a good explanation yet for the low velocities. I highly recommend that you find a chrono before taking any long trips for a match. Same day, same ammo, same chrono - I get PF = 139 out of my XD Tactical.

Painted over my front sight dot with Testors yellow model paint - provides a good contrast against white steel, cardboard and in low light (indoor range). If it fades or scratches, remove with an exacto knife and re-apply. No dots on the rear sight.

My 226 is the folded slide with the internal extractor - no spring that I know of. Using (& have been previously) the factory recoil spring. The factory spring has worked well for the factory loads in the past. However, I think I may try a new one next time out so I can eliminate it as a cause since I have been running some higher PF loads. Thanks for the response.

I have a 9mm P226 with around 30K rounds through it that is used primarily for USPSA. Started having some extraction issues using UMC 115 factory ammo (which had previously been completely issue free). Replaced extractor myself following along with the armorer DVD. Ran about 360 rounds (factory & reloads) with no further problems (leading me to believe problem was fixed and extractor installed correctly). Cleaned, lubed and attended a small local match (85 rounds) with no problems. Went to USPSA Area 5 match and had problems from the start of the day using reloads (which are quite a bit hotter than factory). Since trying to compete, didn't take time during the match to troubleshoot - just tried to get through. The night before the Area 5 match, I chamber checked ammo and loaded magazines (usually don't do). After Area 5, went to range and cycled through the 11 mags again with factory ammo. Had various failures throughout (14 failures in 300 rounds) including failure to feed, failure to extract, failure to eject and failure to lock the slide back. Also ran some rounds through new mags and got a couple of failure to lock slide back. Cleaned gun and used new mags at match today with one failure to extract in 140 rounds (much better but still too many compared to past). Extractor looks OK - no breaks, chips, etc. Recoil spring has 2500 rounds on it. Would suspect mag springs, but new mags had a couple of issues also, though less frequent. Any suggestions? Is there any one problem that could cause all the issues or do I have multiple problems? Can the extractor go "out of place"? Any help is appreciated.

I agree with your comments on the need for the split and transition times. I don't have access to the Nationals data other than what is posted on the USPSA website under Match Results (left side) / Major Match Results / 2009 / 2009 S W USPSA Ltd Ltd10 Rev Nationals & 2009 S W USPSA Open Prod Nationals. If you choose final results and click on a shooter number, it will give a breakdown by stage. I don't know if USPSA would retain the data that generated these results or what their policy for getting it may be.

Would the data from a "Nationals" level match be a starting point? From your list of Things to measure: match level - high, most performing near their peak shooter level - (or class - GM, M, A, etc.?) all levels including world's best to beginners class - (assuming division - Open, Production, Limited, etc.) due to current USPSA format, only 2 classes shoot at a time. If comparing only within a division (i.e - analyzing production vs production only), this may not be a problem. major/minor - both score on each target - may not get the exact score for T1, etc., but can get #A's, #B's, etc. per stage. splits between shots - this is problematic. Transitions (which wasn't in your list) also presents the same problem. May have to use some type of average (total time / total shots). penalties - available. total time - available stage layout - available. Sounds like an interesting project. Even though I suck at golf, I found the link and discussion of the golf statistics interesting.

Pat Harrison posted a discussion in Shooting Forums > Training Techniques (6/13/09) regarding "what to work on" (can't figure out how to link). This is a great discussion that might tie into what you are thinking about.

Oh I have, its awesome. People get really flustered for some reason. After our club match yesterday, I may have to retract my above support for a "different" number of hits per target Due to range flooding, we had a three stage match with one stage requiring 3 hits per target (21 rounds total). For extra entertainment, it was a "gun unloaded placed on table" start - and - all mags must be on the table at the start also. Just for fun, Mother Nature also threw in ankle deep mud which made backing up to shoot the third shot (after leaving too quick) a little more interesting. However, from this stage, I do continue to learn from myself and others that: Visualization is good if you remember to visualize the right number of rounds per target. It is faster to shoot three per target than to shoot two per target and then go back through again shooting one per target. Don't start your reload until you have taken all three shots from that position. When you go back to make up the third shot, don't step on your prematurely released mag driving it into the mud. People get really flustered for some reason! At the end of the day, it was this stage that we were still talking about. Good time was had by all.

I have a generic P226 with over 26,000 rounds and it has never been the reason for my less than average match skills. I have a Gray Guns trigger job. I resorted to getting a trigger job rather than practicing to learn the double action. However, I would suggest it after you have a little time with the gun. I am using the factory sights with the front painted yellow (Testors model paint) - doesn't fall apart like some of the fiber optic sights I have been around and shows up well in any lighting. Did I mention cheap? Buy Mec-Gar (sp) magazines - they are cheaper than factory and same quality.

Why? To get the round count up at a range / stage that has limited available space - more rounds = more fun!! And, as practical shooters, we typically enjoy a challenge, whether it comes from moving targets, partially obscured targets, unique courses, etc. I shot a Missouri COPS stage a few years back that only required 1 shot per target. After I burned through three mags (by shooting two per target) and wasn't half done yet, I realized what the problem was. The problem was not the course design, it was my lack of focus and not doing what the COF required. Since then, I pay more attention (and carry a spare mag in my pocket). I wouldn't want it done on every stage, but a mind challenging stage every once in a while won't degrade the skills that we pursue.

Now that it is winter and everyone is stuck inside, I thought I would bump this back up for a little more feedback. I'm particularly interested in suggestions that I have heard about Sig barrels being "slow".