Ahab

You saw me shoot that stage at Area 5? Six "BANG" then two clicks followed by me saying a naughty word while reaching for moonclips...

EmanP, I actually quoted that segment of the rulebook in my original post on this. The issue is that "cover" isn't clearly defined. Per the rulebook, I can reload while more than 50% exposed to a target I've just shot at if my slidelock reload happens in the middle of an array (which happens a lot on 12 and 18 round COFs). So part of the rulebook would indicate that you do not need to seek cover from an engaged target, but other parts of the rulebook would. Hence the discussion on what truly defines "cover".

Again, I'm not questioning the procedurals; it's more that this creates a good discussion of IDPA's rules. Parts of the rulebook indicate that it's not necessary to seek cover from engaged targets, and other parts of the rulebook indicate that it is. Similarly, being "in the open" isn't defined at all; neither is cover. Honestly, a fix would be as simple as stating in the rulebook that "a shooter is considered behind cover when he/she is less than 50% exposed to any un-engaged threat targets". That would solve the problem. Or to make the cover definition a little more "real world" you could have be say "a shooter is considered behind cover when they are less than 50% exposed to any threat target unless engage targets in tactical priority while slicing the pie from cover".

Which sort of perfectly illustrates the discussion in the other thread and why I think IDPA needs to clarify whether or not you need to seek cover from engaged targets.

I was only assessed one PE, the second for not completing the reload before crossing an opening. This has led to the discussion in this post on Gun Nuts about the definition of cover and whether or not we should seek cover from engaged targets or not. The first PE for initiating a reload before cover wasn't assessed, because the two revo guys specifically asked the MD if we could initiate our reload while retreating since our guns were empty.

This came up recently on another forum, so I wanted to talk it out with the guys here at Enos regarding IDPA's rules on cover. My thoughts on the topic are clearly outlined at Gun Nuts, as well as what I think are the relevant rulebook cites to back me up. That being said, I've seen this interpreted differently at almost every IDPA club I've shot at, which is a lot. The most common two interpretations are either "once a target is engaged you don't need to seek cover from it" and the opposite being "you can't reload etc while exposed to an array regardless". It's my opinion that the rulebook supports the first cover rule - you don't need to seek cover from engaged targets, as it clearly states that you're allowed to reload while engaging an array provided you don't over-expose yourself to the NEXT threat target. But that's my reading of the rulebook, and someone else's might be different. So what are you thoughts?

According to the MD, you're not allowed to reload as you cross the gap past the already engaged targets, because you're not "behind cover" even though you've already engaged those targets. That leads me to the discussion on "what is cover", because my understanding of the rulebook would indicate that you don't need to seek cover from engaged targets. But that's a topic for another thread...

Glad to see you guys enjoyed that. I figure that this forum will take it in the humorous light in which I originally wrote it, because I am guilty of many of the sins on that list. And for the record, I'm one of the "I have trouble counting past six" guys.

It's Taran Butler-ese for "I shot really poorly" or "that stage kicked my fanny". I actually have video from the Postal Match, it was my first match going back to ESR after spending all year trying to make 5-gun master. I also decided to completely re-work my reload for my first match, so as you can see it's a little rough in places.

ESR-MA: 62 and change. I had a procedural and got bodybagged on the square drill. I'm going to shoot it again in SSR and I'm willing to be I'll shave 10 seconds.

Looks like I'll be needing that 686+ after all...

I am really, really glad that they made this rule change for revolver shooters. I had my 686 converted to DAO with the hammer spur kept intact this year just to get around the 3.5lb rule, but it's nice to see that other shooters won't have to go to that extreme to shoot.

Plus, at major matches it's a lock that there will be several shots out past 15 yards, which if all a person practices is the 7 and 10 yard stuff, they're not going to be able to do too well. That and it's useful for that "other" shooting game, with the raceguns and whatnot.

I used to shoot the whole mess, all three stages at 20 yards at least once a month. I figured if I can get good hits at 20 yards I can get good hits at 7 easily. I had mixed results doing this, but what it did definitely make me do is actually look forward to Stage 3. It's my favorite stage of the classifier.

Any thoughts on using one of those ultrasonic cleaners on your competition revos? A local range has one that I can use, but I'm not 100% comfortable with it. My main concern is making sure the gun is properly lubricated after its trip through the ultrasonic. Thoughts?

I'll try this drill today; I estimate I'll be around 3.5 seconds as well based off a first shot time of 1.4. Only one way to find out, though!

Thanks!

That's assuming that someone is an experienced USPSA shooter before they come over and try IDPA. I've almost never seen that, what I've seen is usually someone starts in IDPA and then starts shooting other stuff as well. But that's not the point. Back to the original discussion, it took me a little over 2 years from my first classification to make 5-gun master.

Right, I'm running only the weakhand reload right now. My biggest problem with the "swap" reload is I really struggle with regripping the gun after the loading action.

I shot my first IDPA classifier in 2008 and made ESP Sharpshooter. I sort of dinked around for a while, shooting ESP, CDP, SSP, until mid '09 when I got serious and started working on ESR. I made Expert in ESR in Sep of 2009, and then made Master in ESR in June of 2010. That was right about when I started working on The Quest for Master Class for DRTV and started shooting at least one classifier a week. I ended up taking Sep-Nov off from shooting almost entirely, and then I took a couple of really good handgun classes to knock the rust off. I shot CDP Master on 11/27/10, ESP Master on 12/4/10, SSP Master on 12/8/10, and SSR Master yesterday on 12/14/10. The big breakthrough in my shooting was that I've been working obsessively on my press-out; driving the gun to the target and working the trigger simultaneously to get the break timed to when I hit full extension. Especially on the classifier, this makes a huge difference since there are a silly-assed number of presentations. What's really interesting (to me) anyway is that all my times are relatively close to one another. CDP: 89.15 ESP: 86.08 SSP: 91.86 ESR: 97.61 SSR: 96.47 I shot ESP and SSP with the same gun, an M&P Pro Series in .40 S&W shooting USPSA Major loads.

I'm going to start running all three on the weak hand side just to see how it works. I did that last night on the classifier and had reloads in the 3.5 second range with Comp IIIs on my 686. I did smoke the classifier though, 96.47 total time. Apparently, when you "practice" shooting you get better! Madness!

I'm screwing around with my revolver reload lately. I'd been using the Miculek style reload where you take your strong hand off the gun to grab the moonclip/speedloader then have to regrip the gun as you get ready to shoot. I've been messing around with the "weak hand load" where the speedloader/moonclip is grabbed with the weakhand and dropped in to the gun without ever having to reposition my strong hand. Obviously for SSR this only works with Comp II or Comp III loaders. My thought is whether or not it's IDPA legal for me to have all three speedloader/moonclip holders on my weak side belt just like I'd put magazines. The rulebook says "Two full speedloaders/moon clips may be worn directly in front of the holster" which implies to me that it's perfectly legal for me to have my gear arranged like I would mags for a semi-auto. Does anyone know if this is something that IDPA HQ has addressed?

So, despite my relatively young age, I have a terrific knee injury from my misspent youth that makes "getting down" for the practical a difficult and kind of painful process. In 2009, at my very first Cup every I shot the Practical standing the whole way, and IIRC had some mikes at 50 yards. I can however get down in to a seated position, which is a bit more stable than standing pretty quickly; so I'm wondering 2 things. 1. Any advice on shooting standing at 50 yards and not sucking? 2. Would dropping down to a seated position be legal. I'm shooting production and metallic, which further complicates the issue since I don't have the luxury of riding the dot.

I would absolutely do that; except for me it'd be going backwards and shooting SS first. I've already got enough .45 ACP for Revo, and back-to-backing a dedicated Revo Nats on top of Single Stack would finally give me the excuse to go to IL for the match.

I can't figure out why you'd want to shoot three head shots on those strings anyway. It's definitely faster to draw to an open hammer to the center of the target than it is to draw to a head shot; and you can't shoot fast enough splits on a triple tap to the head to make it worth it. My times on the stage where you have to double tap the heads of each target are always slower on the first shot since I'm drawing to a smaller target than the open body.