SmittyFL

Simple.........MIKE!!! 4.5.1.1 If RO observes that the position of a paper target has changed, presenting a "DIFFERENT CHALLENGE" than the previous competitors, he gets a reshoot. The above picture does not present a different challenge, therefore.......MIKE!! Maybe give the shooter an "A" for effort if they complained though. Smitty

Nik, I'm not sure of the Orlando schedule but we have a match in Tampa/Ruskin. It is a regular club match, probably without a classifier this month but usually a fun match. It's about 2-2.5 hours depending on where in Orlando you are going to be. Let me know (email) if you want any further information. Or check out the club calander at TBPC.org. smittyfl@tampabay.rr.com

Tom, I used a 200 gr. RN with 3.8 of clays loaded to 1.265 OAL. That gave me about 650 fps for a 130PF out of a S&W 625. It was definitely a soft load but I felt there was to much of a lob effect on far targets so I upped it to 4.1 with an OAL of 1.255 That gave me a PF of about 150-155, still soft shooting yet more responsive. Hope this helps.

Thanks, Did you shoot a similar run or can you figure out the percentage someway?

54 pts. @ 5.24 Secs. for 10.3053 HF Open A

SG, I didn't realize that. Now I just lost my two week excuse for not shooting them. Heck, I might have to go now.

The problem with having only one championship is you can only shoot one division. I think they have a pretty good system with the back to back race nationals. Although I'm not sure how many people can afford the time and money to shoot two weeks in a row out of town. But at least it gives you the opportunity to shoot both.

Erik, Using common sense I would agree with you. Why would there be a fixed number of shots? But according to US 9.2.2.4 and US 9.4.4 a fixed time stage has a fixed number of shots with penalties for extra shots and extra hits but no penalty for a miss or FTE. I don't see anything about steel, I was just assuming because you can't use it in Virginia which has a fixed number of rounds, you can't use it in fixed time stages. (Edited by SmittyFL at 6:38 pm on Feb. 26, 2003)

Dogma, I agree with everything you said. I still don't know why steel can't or is discuraged in use with virginia count. I know there is another post about that topic. But to me a miss is a miss. Folks don't seem to mind a head shot only w/ virginia but they don't like steel. I guess with the head shot the whole gallery doesn't immediately see your miss, thats the only thing I can think of. Nor do I understand why fixed time has to have a set number of shots. I'm just trying to come up with something different. Without breaking rules or upsetting to many shooters. (Edited by SmittyFL at 9:56 am on Feb. 26, 2003)

I was thinking of setting up a fixed time stage at a local match. I looked at the rules and still have a couple of questions. The classifer fixed time courses all have more than one string and no steel. My questions are: Do you have to have seperate strings? Are you allowed to have steel? I was just trying to come up with something different. When you set up stages all the time it gets tough to continue to be creative without Pi$$ing everybody off. I have to tough crowd to please. Thanks in advance for the respones.

The only one I know that is routinely scheduled is American Shooter on OLN (outdoor life network)

Something you might want to try. We have a Fri. night shoot just for fun. No classifiers, and just a couple of stages then we go have a beer. But you could do it at a monthly match also on a stage or two. Everyone here I believe given all the time needed could shoot all A's on pretty much any given stage. (if time were not a factor) Since this match doesn't really count for anything sometimes I'll shoot the stage ensuring I hit all A's. I'm not talking about just concentrating on being more accurate, I mean ensuring all A's. I really have to slow down to do that. So much so that my HF suffers considerably. That's why I don't do it during a monthly match. But being that this game is "push pull" with reguard to speed and accuracy I think this training technique will help. The theory being that eventully I will speed up and keep the A count. Make a bet with your shooting buddy on who can have the highest A count on a given stage. It is really tough to make yourself hit all A's (for me anyway) Because when that buzzer goes off it is all I can do to keep my gun from going like a bat out of hell. Sometimes if you have a conversation with your gun before doing this and explain you have a beer, buck, first born or whatever riding on the A count it will slow down for you. Just something you guys n gals might want to try.

Thanks Mickster. You guys have been talking about Eric. I had the misfortune/fortune of shooting with Eric, Matt, Max, Chris, Saul, and the boys. It was great to watch them and shoot with them. I haven't compared all the times, Eric is obviously fast but on many stages Chris or Saul seemed faster. The thing that amazed me the most was Eric's accuracy. He would flat out fly through a stage and be down 3 or 4 points. The other thing all these guys do well and I realized I need to work on is shooting on the move. This match happened to be pretty wide open and the ability to shoot acurately while moving fast was the difference. They left me with plenty to think about and work on.

Did ya'll see that Jack A$$ reload to an empty mag during the open shoot off? What a loser!! I sure wouldn't want to be that guy! Oh yeah, it was me. Lesson #1: Don't put empty mags in your #1 pouch, or any pouch for that matter. It was a great match, if you didn't make it this year it is a must schedule for next year. Come to sunny Florida and shoot in Feb. Although it wasn't very sunny this year it's still nice to shoot in shorts in the winter.

I don't know what the standard is but I have always put mine 5-8 ft. away. And if I remember correctly that seems about right the last major match I was chronoed at.

DogmaDog, I shot steel matches a long time before I started IPSC. I shot .45 in a 1911 and S&W 625. I used to use a 200 gr. lead over 4.2 grns. of WST. That gave me about 700fps. (140PF) But because of that round being so dirty, (lead and slow) I switched to a rainer 200gr over 3.8 of Clays. That gave me less than 700fps. I still use that load on the rare occasion I shoot a steel match. If you don't want to set up a steel specific gun I think that works fine. I even shot the steel challenge with it in the 625. The only draw back is the 40 yd. shot, it is a little bit of delay, you just have to call your shot better:) But I really like that load. PS. OAL 1.255 Hope this helps.

53 pts. @ 8.00 secs. for 6.6250 HF Open A class

Hey Steve, I don't use a big stick that often. If it is 20-25 rds. and the course is tight, meaning there isn't a good place to reload, then I'll use the "biggie". But if you have to take 4 or more steps then I'll use regular mags and reload. I don't think it takes any longer and usually if you're moving more than once it's going to be to many rds for a big stick to handle anyway. I usually figure three rounds for swingers or moving targets and two for each steel, doing that it really shoots up "your" round count for the stage. As far as downloading mags, I do do that for some classifers and the like. However I also agree with Jeff. One of the first matches I ever shot I started a stage with 8 rounds in my high cap mag. So I have my own rule, never put mags on your belt that aren't ready for a stage. Ex. when picking up mags after a stage or the one you took out of your gun at the "unload and show clear" put those in your pockets or hold them in your hand, I don't put them back on my belt. But when starting a stage ex. 6, load, 6 load, 6. I will download the two mags I'll be reloading to to about 10 or 12 round. I think the lighter weight helps the reload and the unfull mag ensures a positive lock in the gun avoiding the "one round mag fall out thing". My 2 cents.

I've had just about every holster out there, CR Speed, Hogue, blade tech, etc. I finally setteled on the 011 because I had spent so much on holsters then sold them half price on USPSA and told myself it really didn't matter that much, the draw is a small part of the game. Then I knocked my loaded gun out of the 011 on a stage where you had to hold a tire iron bent over near a car, while droping the tire iron and going for the gun my forearm hit the mag well and when my hand got to where the gun should have been there was nothing there. I then looked down and saw (in slow motion) my gun hitting the dirt. Now I'm using the ghost, I think it is the way to go. You can leave it locked on stages like that and it unlocks with your normal draw. Plus it is the most adjustable holster out there, and it is lightening fast. Yeah, you have to drill your trigger guard, but so what. I haven't tried the Garcia one, I understand it is comparable. So in case you didn't figure it out I now have a 011 for sale. Good luck.

58pts @ 5.01 for 11.5768 HF Open A class 2.69 string one (surrender, up range) 2.32 string two (at sides, down range) It hasn't been sent in yet so I don't know national %

Tony & Phil, Thanks for your response. I can call my shots on target fairly well, I don't think however I can call an A vs C at game speed. I typically shoot as fast as possible ensuring I get all my hits. Do you actually think to yourself "well this is a 10 factor so I'm going to push it a little and if I throw one, oh well" or "this is a 4 factor so I'm going to back off and ensure an A" I guess what I'm asking is; is your thought process that specific. Maybe I'm not good enough to worry about it. I don't think I could /guarantee/ all A's unless I backed way off. Thanks PS- Phil, I have not read Plaxco's stuff, it is in his book or online somewhere? (Edited by SmittyFL at 7:05 am on Jan. 9, 2003)

58 pts. @ 8.22 secs for 7.05HF Open A class

101 @ 14.24 7.0927 (HF) Limited (p-16)

Hey Gang, I'm fairly new to the forum and did a search, but I didn't find anything on comstock factoring. If it is discussed on here please ignor this and refer me to the thread. It has taken me a while to finally understand it and now I was wondering if anyone actually changes or alters they way they approach a stage because of it. If a definition is needed let me know, it's a little long but if anyone doesn't understand it I'll post it. Thanks

Hey guys n gals, great forum I just found out about it so I'm the new guy here. Just use both. Have some classifiers with the classic and continue using the metric. The metric offers much more flexibility in setting different and challenging stages. While the classic is just something different to look at. At action rifle matches and the like we use everything from cowboy steel to paper plates to IPSC targets and bowling pins. It's always enjoyable to shoot at something different. I just don't want to totally get rid of metric targets. I agree its not going to help the sport politically, and I think the old adage applies.....give an inch and they will take a mile. Just my two sense........... cents.