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Whew! I was afraid my post would be seen as hateful, and I'm grateful that it wasn't. Thanks for all the gracious posts and PMs, y'all. And Kelly, I appreciate your moderation. To be clear, I was inviting slings, arrows, and grenades upon myself, not Blane. Oh, Mr. Twisted--Foster's ALWAYS goes down smooth...often a little TOO smooth... Joe

OK, now for controversy- I know for a fact that everyone who had a part in making this match happen absolutely CRINGES when he/she sees credit given to Blane West. I arrived on the previous Sunday, as I always do, to build the stages. We made this match happen in SPITE of Blane. Our determination to succeed overcame the obstacle that he was, every day (when he was there, that is.) We worked our asses off, and Blane was always either AWOL or we wished he was. 'Nuff said about that. I am one of many ROs who said point-blank that we will only be back next year if there is a new Match Director. JJ did a GREAT job this year, and was the true MD, minus the credit. Hulett is absolutely reliable, as a CPA must be. Denise did a great job getting stage boxes and such together, and making sure we were adequately fed and watered, if not to the standards to which the Wongs had made us accustomed. (Sigh...) In my opinion, this is a match that is worth saving. If we are going to save it, however, let us proceed in truth, rather than perpetuating the lies of the last two years. Field made the match work last year, and JJ did this year. Blane was an impediment both years, and we covered for him. It is painful (believe it or not) for me to say this, as Blane West has been a friend to me for 10-15 years, and was my early guru in 3gun. I could have, perhaps should have, said this after last year's match, but I held off, first deciding not to come, and then realizing I loved the match too much not to come. I take no pleasure in making this post. In fact, I feel like a rat. But this needs to be said. It is the truth. Slings, arrows, and grenades are now indicated, and invited. Joe

I almost didn't come this year. A week and a half before the match I called Blane to see if he still needed me (I had told him a few months ago I wasn't coming), and he did. Except for repeated problems with Mr Twisted , it was a great time as usual. Samson thought so too. I even fell in love...with Sue, the girl with Team Prozac. I'm convinced the RO has the best time at the match. We get to meet everybody. With 15 knockdown steel targets on my stage (#5--Rifle/Shottygun) I needed a lot of help, and EVERY squad worked hard this year. I never heard one bitch or whine the whole match! That's a first...and a bummer, in a way--I really enjoy verbally jungle-slapping bitchers and whiners. Seriously, ROing at RM3G is one of the highlights of my year (yes, I have no life), and it is the shooters who make it so. One bitch from me: Tommy and Joe Wong, where were you? No crawfish etoufee, no filet mignon, no wonderful salads. Please come back. We really missed your chow--er, I mean you. And Vancouver Jack. Take care, all. See you next year. Joe

If you're willing to spend a little coin, JP is doing beautiful conversions on the DPMS uppers. John told me they usually need a little tweaking to function reliably, and he'll sell you one from full-house-custom at over a grand to just reliability tuned for around half that. Joe

Hopalong- If I understand your premise correctly, you are saying that a 3 MOA dot, which will cover 9" at 300, can therefore yield no better accuracy than that. That's not true at all. Even in the worst possible case you'd be likely to see in a match, an 8" plate at 300, and your dot covers it up, you'll be very close to center (with that theoretical perfect rifle, perfectly aimed), as long as you keep the whole target covered up. In fact, you'll be within an inch of center. I can, on a good day, shoot between 1 and 2 MOA with irons on a full white IPSC target at 400 with irons (M1A). Obviously my front sight covers a lot more than 2 MOA. I just center that black front on the white target, and hold a thin white stripe below the neckline. I can't shoot better groups than that with that rifle on any target at any range. Actually, with my M2 Aimpoint on an AR15, I shoot my best groups (again, 1-2 MOA) on a 20" black plate at 2-300. That red circle in the center of a big black circle is VERY precise (with the brightness turned down). Then again, shooting 3 MOA under time pressure from field positions is nothing to sneeze at. Take care. Joe

Sorry for the late reply, but I hung out at Whittington for several days after the smoke cleared, and made some of my own, followed by the best week of dove hunting of my life in the Texas Panhandle. Man, they were flying! The shooters, organizers, and sponsors, and ESPECIALLY the Wong Brothers and crew keeping us well-fed, make ROing the RM3G so much fun I'd almost pay to do it. (Relax, Blane, Eric, Jimmy, Michael, Kurt--I said ALMOST) Michael, a slight correction: I did give one procedural for not having the pistol muzzle in the slot. Also a couple for safety not engaged, and maybe a half-dozen for not closing the lid. Fact is, I think every procedural on the stage related to the box of shame. And I couldn't fail to mention Barry and Mike. You blokes absolutely renewed my respect for British manhood (at least I know there are two of you) . See y'all next year, weiner-dog in tow (by the way, he was an absolute STUD finding down doves this year. Made 3 water retrieves--the last one BLIND!) Take care. Joe

I had 4 Wilsons. They worked flawlessly, but I broke the little overinsertion foot off of two of them, and decided not to fool with them anymore. True to form, Wilson's offered to replace all 4 with their new design, which uses an extended floorplate instead of the welded-on foot to prevent overinsertion, but didn't argue with me when I said I'd just as soon have 4 of my usual 7-rounders. 4 days later, they were here. Great folks. And I don't need 10 round magazines anyway. Joe

I would like to hear more about the steel Brit mags which have hit the market.

Never mind.

I really love the 27" sight radius of the M14/M1A. It MATTERS. I'm considering setting up a limited upper using a standard A3 carry handle, but getting that front sight out there where it belongs. Why NOT take full advantage of the rifle's geometric potential? But, as I said in the subtitle, I don't want some cheesy, don't breathe on it too hard, matchy setup. Does anyone make a solid, stout, (sans height adjustment, maybe?), front to stick out yonder at the muzzle? I don't need globes and such. I just want maximum sight radius. Thanks. Joe

I've seen a lot more Rems choke in 3 gun than Benellis. Then again, I shoot a Rem much better than I do a Benelli, and have about half as much money in my 1100 as I did in my Benelli. 'Course, if I buy all the spare parts Kurt recommends, that gap will close up considerably Joe

No question that digitals are fast and convenient. I once tested a Dillon digital with IMR 4064, though. As I recall, it took 13 pieces of powder to make the scale read another tenth (not sure of that number). So a given charge could vary by as much as 12 pieces, and read the same. With my old Bonanza beamer, I can easily tell the difference between one piece light or heavy, and right on. Anal? Sure. But I like to make my hunting ammo as perfect as I can make it, and for volume loading, as with pistol, I only use the scale a few times anyway, to set the measure. My Bonanza will still be working perfectly 50 years from now, too. Not likely with a digital. Retro Joe

Kurt- I see what you mean about what I said. Oops! What I meant was that the head position required for nose to charging handle on an AR is a good head position for other rifles as well. But I didn't say that. BTW, that's the main reason I don't like variables on my bolt rifles--I can't get them far enough forward because of the long ocular bell/power ring, and so have to hold my head back. Joe

In my experience, long gun classes always include transitions to the sidearm, in case of MFs or simply running dry. You can draw your own conclusions about carrying two. Joe

I have two favorite drills. The first requires two targets. Standard setup is one yard apart, side by side, but I vary that. On start signal, draw and hit T1 once, T2 twice, T1 once (boardinghouse rules: no one gets seconds till everyone is served). Then hit T2 in the head. A simple 5 shot drill, but a good drill nonetheless. A one-shot draw, a transition, a controlled pair, a transition, and a gear shift to a careful headshot. A lot of good work for 5 shots. I do it in just over 3 seconds from concealed carry (at 3 yards). My favorite drill is even simpler. 15 yard 1 shot draws. I happen to be naturally good at the close, fast and furious stuff. Don't need to practice it much. When I do 100 1 shot draws, as I did today, I learn a lot. It is critical to get a second sight picture on every shot, otherwise one wastes half of the available instruction. I find 15 yard draws to be an ideal balance between speed and precision. I practice on a steel C-zone, by the way. I realize that my drills aren't very sophisticated. I have learned, and continue to learn, a great deal here on Benos.com. Joe

Kurt, Kurt, Kurt, I might have hoped for better, from an old friend. Any man who puts his nose to the charging handle (operating rod handle) of a John Garand rifle is looking for a brand new, radically expansive (and messy) definition of the word "nostril". Besides, only we lefthanders can so egrege. The non-reciprocating charging handle of the poodle shooter provides a good index for the schnozz of the neophyte, I say, however. Perhaps this is your way of saying that I should leave the big dog discussions to the big dogs. If that is the case, I will do so. Take care. Joe

I recognize that I am but a shrub among the tall trees here. Still, my opinions yearn for voice. What the Hell.... Kurt, I am 100% with you regarding batteries. I tried an Aimpoint on my home defense upper, and just couldn't get used to it. Some say that if it's good enough for SF, it oughta be good enough for wanks like me. I say we have radically different requirements. They go into a mission with new batteries, backup batteries, and a reasonably clear idea of the mission's duration. My mission duration is not so well defined. I'm one of those wierdoes who takes this shit seriously. I could do this, and I could do that, but the fact is that I'm not going to leave a sight turned on sitting in my safe. Maybe I should, but I'm just not going to. Murphy says that if I ever turn it off, it will be off when I need it. So I tried an ACOG. Mine's a 3x Compact, with a red crosshair, but that's not the point. The point is that it sits in the safe, or beside the couch, or behind the seat of the pickup, and it's always good to go. On another thread, Kelly opined that one should shoot a rifle with his head canted forward. I could not agree more wholeheartedly. Nose to charging handle is not a new way of shooting; it is a way of determining that one's head position is correct, whether with M16, 14, or 1. I ain't a big dog, but I'm a rifleman. Joe

I once took a shotgun class from my friend Randy Cain in which one student claimed that he carried G21s on each hip every day. He sure had 'em at class. I was impressed until the third day, when we went to transitions from MFed shotgun to pistol. Seems our fat stalwart had neglected to strap on his "always carried" pistols that morning. Reckon we can all make a mistake now and then , but some mistakes just blow all credibility. Joe

EricW- Actually, my backup mag is a hicap G17, carried in another pocket of the bag. So I can fire 28 rounds without going to the belt, and by that time I'm no longer concerned about realism. I'll put my Fobus dual carrier (left from the P14 days) on my belt if 28 won't do. Your point leads to my real concern, though: My concern is with rule Nazis who take pleasure in disallowing things, rather than looking at whether the competitor is safe. At local matches, I can choose my RO, but if I'm clearly outside the rules, trouble might still ensue. Maybe I'll try to shoot the next match with the little gun, just for my own edification. Should be fun, and timely. The 5" 1911 remains on my hip just now, but those sweltering days beckon. Thanks for the idea. Joe

EricW- I would love to do just that. In the warm months, I often go about armed with just a G26, carried in a belly bag (butt pack up front). Would I be allowed to compete in USPSA/IDPA so armed? Joe

The only compromise I make is switching to kydex gear from my inside-the-pants Sparks carry gear. Oh, and as other have said, I shoot 200 H&G 68s @850 instead of the 230 junglesmacker du jour. The main reason I compete is that I have to in order to keep my training fresh, relevant and focused. This is just as it was in mountain bike racing and Tae Kwon Do fighting for me. Training is what I love. Competition is necessary to focus my training. Joe

Duane- If he is, GREAT! If not, please ask him if he could be convinced to do so if he had an order for a number of them in hand, and what that number might be. Or just ask him if he'd mind your passing his contact info on to me. Thanks. Joe

Yowser! I think blood flowing from the ears is one of the early signs of hearing loss....or concussive death, or something. I think I'll just solder that brake on to keep the ATF happy, and wear earplugs and just crank the stereo a little more when I'm riding around in the country. Sure don't want no blood runnin' out my ears... Kurt- Thanks for the info. I don't have your email address. I'll see if I can figure out the message system on the forum--if not I'll call you. You going to still be there for the RM3G match in a couple of weeks? I may come up for that. Joe

Flexmoney-Theoretically, you might have something there, especially with a manually operated rifle. Fast powders can be hard on the operating systems of self-loaders, though. Anyway, I don't load for the 223. I can buy good ammo so cheap it's not worth the trouble to me. (Unlike pistol and bigger rifles.) 2Alpha-I'm not saying you're wrong, 'cause I don't know, but I don't see how cutting off a chamber or two could make the rifle louder. As you say, the ports direct the noise toward the shooter. It seems to me that the first port would still re-direct the same amount, but the missing ports wouldn't re-direct any, so there would be less noise. Am I missing something? Your sleeve idea sounds workable, and post-ban legal, although I'd still likely run into the two-zeroes problem. Anyway, I don't want to mess with going back and forth, but that's creative thinking. Thanks. I suppose for $30 I can buy another comp, cut off a chamber and compare, cut another chamber and compare, and find out for myownself. I just thought someone might have either done it, or in designing a comp someone might have experimented with different numbers of chambers and learned something which might be relevant. Joe

OK, call it the Airsoft safety and don't give me two. I'll buy 'em. As I said on another thread, after 20 years of fighting with ambi safeties (I'm a lefty, too), about a year ago I finally gave up and took a GI safety, cut the thumb pad way down, deepened the "fire" detent so it's very hard to put on "safe", and trained myself to run in Condition 0. I have a functional grip safety, and a 3 lb. trigger, and I take Rule 3 very seriously, so it's not a safety problem as I see it. The way most people use a 1911 safety, it is primary an aid to safety during the draw and reholstering, being off the rest of the time. I'm very careful, and practice dry draws every day. As Colonel Cooper said, "Gun safety lies mostly between the ears, not between the hands." Joe