Bigbadaboom

It all goes back to your training. Top shooters don't get where they are by taking shortcuts. I have never trained to not watch my sights. I train to call every shot so I practice my Bill Drills and other shot calling exercises from 2 yards to 25 yards while always watching my sights. I train to gain the proper index and grip from my draw so that when my sights come up in front of my eyes they are perfectly aligned. This training has ingrained this technique into my instinctive memory (some call it muscle memory). For me, to not watch my sights because the targets are closer would take conscious thought and conscious thought always takes longer than instinctive reaction. A great GM production shooter and close friend said it the best way I've ever heard it said; "smooth and natural is always faster than fast and radical". Also, I don't always remember "seeing" my front sight after a stage but my hits show the evidence that I was. When you are running on instinct your conscious mind doesn't always recall every action.

1) Call every shot. 2) Perform a good stage breakdown and walk through. (Prep) 3) Stay smooth with every movement. (Economy of motion) 4) Help a new shooter.

You can carry a tape measure and verify the box. I keep one in my range bag. Sent from 867-5309

You have to see fast to shoot fast accurately, no matter the distance. People are different so someone may get all the way to the top shooting close targets without seeing their FS but I can guarantee you that if you put me up against another high A class production shooter on a stage with some 3 yard targets and he "point shoots" really fast and I watch my sights really fast his time with a few C's will not beat my time with all A's. If you properly train then it shouldn't take you any longer to see than to not see. I'll continue to trust my sights.

That was Ruger, not S&W.

I'm not saying "throw the baby out with the bath water" and I don't dislike CZ. I'm saying that we need to retain relations and support these manufacturers because CZ isn't going to be able to support at the same levels as all those others combined.

And cost? I'm finishing up a limited gun for Jeff right now (waiting for the 5.5 inch KKM barrel) based off of a PC C.O.R.E. that he'll be in for under $1500.00, go buy a Accu Shadow or a custom shop CTS limited gun for less. So, what you are saying is that CZ will fill the prize tables and throw $$$$ in for a gold sponsorship at all the larger matches and fill the spots and make up the funding lost by 3 or 4 other, large sponsors, pulling out? There tends to be a lot of CZ tunnel vision going on. I'm not "a little high and mighty", I'm a realist and I'm concerned about what is best for the sport and it's members and 3 or 4 trumps 1 every day of the week. IMG_20150825_225315488.jpg ACCU Shadow is a luxury item choice, certainly not a necessity, so a very poor example. A $880 Shadow with a few springs and some "sand paper" is all you need, but go ahead an exaggerate. And I have $570.00 in my M&P pro. I took my trigger down to 3.5 lbs. with the stock sear and parts and I beat the socks off of several CZ's the past couple of matches I've shot. But we digress because we're discussing sponsorship and utilizing CO in order to help maintain relations so I'll ask the question again; Do you believe we should allow 3-4 major sponsors to pull support without making every effort possible including letting their product stand ahead in 1 out of 7 divisions?

And cost? I'm finishing up a limited gun for Jeff right now (waiting for the 5.5 inch KKM barrel) based off of a PC C.O.R.E. that he'll be in for under $1500.00, go buy a Accu Shadow or a custom shop CTS limited gun for less. So, what you are saying is that CZ will fill the prize tables and throw $$$$ in for a gold sponsorship at all the larger matches and fill the spots and make up the funding lost by 3 or 4 other, large sponsors, pulling out? There tends to be a lot of CZ tunnel vision going on. I'm not "a little high and mighty", I'm a realist and I'm concerned about what is best for the sport and it's members and 3 or 4 trumps 1 every day of the week.

People wanted to shoot guns that were already on the Production list, whether imported or not. Maybe you missed all the advertising: CZ-USA PRODUCTION NATIONALS August 4-9, 2015 / PASA Park, Barry, Illinois According to Phil, the plastic gun makers threatened to withdraw support from USPSA because they said their products would not be competitive. The manufacturers think it's the arrow, not the Indian - Phil sold out to strengthen his own ties. From Phil's FB post of July 27 I didn't miss anything, the manufacturers stated that they have a concern about a "perception" that their guns weren't being competitive (Same word Phil used) . I guess y'all missed that one word, huh? The manufacturers stated that there is a "perception", they didn't say they believed their guns couldn't compete. A perception would be brought about by the shooters and waaaayyyy too many shooters believe it's the bow & arrow. I did read the FB posts. I also know about the "CZ Production Nationals". My question is, where have they been? Answer; in the background while the American based manufacturers where supporting us for many years. I'm stating that CZ alone isn't going to take up the slack left by all those manufacturers pulling out. Also, the statement is subterfuge. I read this entire thread prior to posting and I didn't read where a single person was upset about not being able to shoot their Beretta or their Taurus or their Ruger etc. etc.. Everyone complaining about weight limits that I see on here, FB and other forums are CZ shooters. I'm saying "Let our Pres. try to reestablish relations with these important supporters" and I'm say that anyone who would want to vote the Pres. out because his efforts to salvage those relations don't line up with them being able to shoot their favorite gun in one out of seven divisions or because they believe he "sold out the members in order to strengthen his own ties" doesn't understand how diplomacy works and should rethink things from outside their own bubble. Those "ties" are what he is using to help the members keep important sponsorship's.

I like the idea of CO. I don't care that there is a weight limit. I don't care if there's a capacity limit. I shoot this sport by the rules established and enjoy it. I'm sticking with Production because I like open sights and I'm good at it. The issue I have here is the that there are people on this forum, which I enjoyed for years because of the civility, that suggest USPSA should not support American firearms manufacturers and the USPSA President should be voted out because they want to shoot a gun that is imported. I started shooting USPSA/IPSC in 1999 and shot every match I could get to until the Florida State Championship in 2008 when I made a change in occupations and had to stop competing. When I was shooting, the big sponsors and the ones that provided the big prizes for the tables where S&W, Glock, STI and Springfield. I don't remember seeing CZ provide anything. S&W, Glock, STI and Springfield Armory have gone above and beyond to support the sport and, yes, I understand they did it for marketing and it helped sell their products but they where there. They had our backs supporting the 2004 Sunset of the 1994 ASW ban. They've lobbied and paid attorneys to fight the anti-gun lobby in order to preserve our 2A rights. We have a relationship with American based manufacturers and that relationship is separating. I applaud Phil for working to reestablish it. We're losing sponsorship and CZ sure as hell isn't stepping in and taking up the slack. In 2014 the top gold firearm sponsors where Sig, Glock and Springfield. CZ was bronze and didn't even sponsor a stage. Go back and look at the companies that have supported us throughout the years and see who's been there and see who hasn't. I don't care what kind of gun you shoot or in what direction you feel CO should go but you really shouldn't crap where you eat, and by slamming Phil for trying to strengthen USPSA's relationship with those who have supported us for so long you're doing just that. I, personally, believe that utilizing one division out of seven to help strengthen a strained bind is good politics and that's the presidents job. BTW, It's the Indian, not the bow & arrow. Also, I'm back along with Jeff Degracia. My first classifier after 7 years away from the sport came in at 89.8260% so I'm back with a vengeance and I plan on winning out over many CZ's with my Made in America S&W M&P Pro (28.8 oz's).

This type of target is all I use anymore. 6" X 11" "A Zone" size steel plate. I have a bunch of them and I set them up as stages or as drill targets or for what ever training purpose I require. When I'm performing shot calling drills I place an IPSC target behind them so that I can see my "outside of A zone" hits but other than that all I want is A's.

Best advice. I second the therapist/chiropractor and stretching is the #1 injury prevention used by athletes.

When people mention "Dry fire" it brings up images of standing in your living room aiming at light switches. Most of my dry fire practice is performed at the range. Every movement, draw, positioning, engagement, etc. drill that I train is done through dry fire exercises. This is because 90% of my live fire practice is done to maintain my "Shot calling" (Bill drills etc.). The other 10% is done to verify that my dry fire training is working. Shot calling is one of, if not THE most important things to learn as soon into your competitive shooting life as possible. If I can call my shots then I don't need to use live ammo to practice box entries or transitions because I know if my sight is there the hit is there. In an average 3 hour practice session I'll shoot about 50-75 rounds. Example; I have my shooting partner set up an 18 round course with some movement and box positions and I run it dry over and over. At the end I'll run it live fire. Just like stage prepping at USPSA/IPSC match. There's a term in the sports world that also rings very true in competitive shooting, "Practice like you play". But, in the end this is what works for me. Everyone is different so take something from all the replies here and other advise you get and figure out what works best for you. Good luck and have fun.

YouTube is free. A lot of high end shooters post videos there and give great, FREE, advise. Here's an example.

The Orlando Florida area ain't too shabby. We are the homes of Para, Knights, Spikes and several others besides the fact that there's a match every weekend within an hour and a half drive. Phoenix is really nice though.

I was raised there. Graduated from Central High. My mom, brother, sister and my moms family all live in St. Joe. There's a BIG reason I live in Florida. St. Joe sucks. The K.C. area may have some stuff going on and there's a lot of hunting oriented outdoor ranges around St. Joe but you're likely to run into Billy Bob with his case of beer and hunting rifle. [EDIT] I would watch that introduction video on STR's site before I did anything with them. The main instructor sweeps the whole class as he unholsters his gun.

Everything else stated here aside, that is a D.Q. due to the finger inside the trigger guard while loading, reloading, unloading or whatever you where doing. The gun went bang and you didn't intend for it to. I recognize it very well. Besides the umteen times I've seen it happen while R.O.ing others I've D.Q.ed myself for it 3 times. Time to get back to practicing the USPSA safety basics 101 during you regular practice regimen. Some of us need a refresher once in a while.

That's one of the funniest things I've seen in a while.

I think a Mod should nail him with that one!!! Flex???? Geez! Thanks for the help guys! That's what we're here for That's what Z's here for. I'm just here to hit 1,111 posts. [Edit] Sorry Flex. I thought this was in the humor forum where the posts don't count. That's what I get for using "View new posts".

AGAIN!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOO many places could be gone too with that. Especially with the tag line saying "One Shot...more than a case lube!"

What a double entendre!! I could go sooooo many places with that one.

Indian, not bow or arrow. What Flex said "Pick one and practice". I personally like my STI for Limited and my M&P for production but that doesn't make one better than the other for Limited application.

Great post. The one thing that's missing is the most important advice (In my opinion) when it comes to this game. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!! And always remember that the fun is why you are doing it.

Cool idea. I just have to express an observation. I've had the screws come out of my Blade-Tech DOH and eventually used thread tape to stop it from happening (Loctite takes away adjust ability). The last thing on Earth that I would do is put a pin inside the trigger guard in front of the trigger. If the upper screw falls out it can allow the gun to fall 'down' inside the holster and that pin will work exactly like a finger. I realize that we carry cold at matches and that it is not likely to ever be an issue if you only use that device at matches and with a cold gun but it would probably secure the gun just as good if placed where it ran through the holster behind the trigger.

If your barrel is chrome lined then the chrome is harder than any steel casing or bullet that you are going to put through it. As stated by others, the steel used in ammo is a very soft steel in comparison to barrel steel and chrome.