Bill

Flex, Something about a couple of missed head shots with the Glock. The IDPA classifier is sort of revolver neutral. Everybody shoots the same stages. Autos have 2 slide lock reloads to revolvers 2 speed loads on stages 1 & 2. Autos have 2 tac/retention loads to revolvers 2 speedloads on stage 3. It sort of evens out. Bill Nesbitt

I have used the IDPA classifier as a practice tool since I started IDPA. I shoot one string (not stage) then I record the time, score & paste. Then shoot the rest of the match the same way. I shoot the entire 90 round match straight through with no breaks. I also kept a record, by stages, of what I did at matches when the classifier is shot. I have kept a record of this over the years. I can measure my improvement this way. I don't do it a lot but may shoot the classifier in practice 10 to 20 times a year. Because I have this record I can "guess" what better shooters than I might do. I used the SWAG method. Stage One Strings 1, 2 & 3: 1.8 seconds each String 4: 3.5 sec String 5: 2.5 sec String 6: 5.0?? String 7: 3.5 sec TOTAL: 18.9 Stage 2 String 1: 3.0 String 2: 2.6 String 3: 7.0 String 4: 4.0 TOTAL: 16.6 Stage 3 String 1: 9.0 String 2: 12.0 String 3: 5.0 TOTAL: 26 GRAND TOTAL: 62.50 This is with no points down, but none of these times are out of line for the very best shooters. I think the best can do this very few points down, so yes, scores below 70 are possible in my opinion. The classifier takes a lot of concentration for a long period of time. If you shoot the entire 90 rounds match straight through it will take 10 or 15 minutes to complete. That is a long time for shooters who are used to shooting a 5 to 25 second stage then taking a several minute break until called to shoot the next stage. It is not an easy test. What do the rest of you think? Bill Nesbitt

That's "former" National senior champ. We'll see what I can do this year with a revolver. My best times so far are: SSP; 95.xx, SSR; 94.xx, ESP; 84.xx and worst CDP 94.xx. This is on race day at a match. I have beat some of these times in practice but I don't count that. What can you do on demand at a match where people are watching. Those are all master scores except for CDP. After shooting a revolver and Glock for a while I can't master that 1911 trigger. An interesting note. I recently started shooting USPSA again after having only IDPA clubs nearby. I was A in Open and Limited when I quit shooting USPSA. At one time I was very close to making Master in USPSA. I recently shot a USPSA special classifier where you shoot 4 stages on the same day, and made B class in Production (very close to A-Class) and B in revolver. I have no idea what this means. Just thought it was interesting. The secret to the IDPA classifier is dropping no or very few points on the first 2 stages and then doing the same on stage 3. Many people can shoot fast at close targets but when the shots are past 10 yards or so then accuracy is very important. Bill Nesbitt

One more thing; Read the rule book front to back. Learn everything in there. Then make sure ALL the stages follow the rules. Take an RO class as soon as you can. Maybe schedule one for your club to get new people involved. If you build "Good" stages they will come. Shooters don't come back for crappy stages that don't follow the rules. Bill Nesbitt

CGR, That is cool. We want to try your trigger. Sue is shooting a Glock 17. I shoot a Glock sometimes too. This year I'm shooting revolver. Bill Nesbitt

Jake, Sue & I are in squad 19, Fri & Sat. Bill Nesbitt

As stated by others, the Blade-Tech offset drop loop is for ladies only. I don't know if you can wear a dress and get away with it or not. The Roto-Fobus isn't listed in the Little Green Book (LGB) so you would have to e-mail IDPA to get an answer. It is a new holster since the LGB was printed. The Hellwig Tactical C holsters are not allowed. All holsters must be approved by The holster committee which consists of Ken Hackathorn I think. There is a fine line between what is considered a concealable holster and a range holster. The front of holsters for autos may be cut no lower than 1/4" below the ejection port. Flex, I use Blade-Tech holsters with a Wilderness Instructors belt and love them. They are so much faster than any leather I have tried that I am suprised they are allowed. Many Kydex holsters will be about the same. Have you looked at the Ky-Tac Sooper Hooper? I think it was designed by a Master IDPA shooter to be as fast as possible and still be approved. I have a friend that uses a leather De Santis Speed Scabbard Pro-Fed (I think) which is a paddle holster. Look over the kydex holsters that are approved and pick the one you like best. The next time we are together at a match you can try my holsters. Bill Nesbitt

Navy Shooter, You should NOT have received ANY penalty. The FTDR is ONLY for people who are cheating. I have loaded 11 rounds in my mags many times including at the IDPA Nationals. The idea is to have no more than 10 rounds in your mag with one extra in the chamber when the start signal sounds. This is one of the rules that needs to be clarified. Also your SO needs to lighten up. Bill Nesbitt

tightloop, Do we have to try and look alike or dress alike? I am short & overweight with grey hair. Bill Nesbitt

For me CDP is the hardest. It is easiest with whatever trigger action you are used to shooting. I can switch back and forth between my S&W model 10 and my Glock 17 but then I can't shoot a 1911. A 1911 points low for me after shooting the others. I made Master SSP with a Glock, ESP with a HiPower and SSR with a Model 10 S&W. The best I have done on race day with a CDP 1911 is 94.xx. I guess I need a sloppy trigger to shoot well. Bill Nesbitt

smoney, Quit dropping your guns. Do you think I am going to let you shoot my gun now??? You might drop it. BILL

DD, 1) I'm a master class revolver shooter that prefers speedloaders. The main reason is that all the revolvers that take moon clips are big. I shoot a model 10 S&W in 38 special. The smaller gun fits my small hand better. I have more control. I don't think I give up much time using speedloaders over moon clips. I believe that I can draw and move from target to target enough faster to more than make up the reloading speed. Of course I am in the minority. Most revolver shooters use moon clips. 2) Probably the most popular revolver for SSR is the S&W model 625 in 45ACP with moon clips. They have been made in 3 and 4 inch barrels in the past and the Mountain Gun has a 4 inch barrel. 3) I don't know. Any S&W and some others will do fine. Bill Nesbitt

Are you shooting a moon clip gun or speedloaders? That might have a little to do with your reload speed. The main thing for reloads is smooth. Are you shooting USPSA or IDPA? Your draw and split times aren't too bad. I'll bet you are losing time elsewhere. Remember you can be pulling the trigger while you are moving from target to target with a revolver. Bill Nesbitt

It was a side shoot that you could shoot as many times as you want. He was trying to beat Ernie, Scott & Ken. Bill

smoney, We have a couple of the Reed Reactive targets at home. You have to be fast because as soon as you hit the first minus zero the target starts to fall back. Sue was around 2.2 and I had some 1.8s. That's with minus zero for the 3 shots. You realize we didn't do this every time. Our arch nemisis RH did a 1.33 I think at a side shoot at the Oh State shoot last year. Bill Nesbitt (Edited by BILL at 2:46 pm on June 21, 2002)

I have a Radio Flyer #29 wagon. I just went to the gun shop and bought gun racks for pickups and mounted them on the sides of the wagon. The guns are horizontal. Last weekend 3-gun was it's first outing and everything worked ok. Nobody said anything about the guns muzzle not being pointed up. I kept the guns actions open. That is as safe or safer than somebody carrying guns in a closed case where you don't know if they are loaded or not. Time will tell how it will work out. I had 3 long guns, 2 gun bags, a cooler and plenty of ammo. Next time I will take chairs and a bigger cooler. Bill Nesbitt

smoney, Watch and learn Grasshopper. Bill Nesbitt

I don't want to be a wet blanket but your kids could get exposed to lead doing this. Get them to wash their hands after helping and don't eat while helping. It is good to get young people involved in shooting. Don't scare them, just get them to wash the "dirt" off after helping. Bill Nesbitt

Phil, Looks like we will have to induct you into the "Gamers Hall of Fame" I checked the rule book and it looks like you are OK as long as the match description said "reload with retention" or "any IDPA reload". Was your muzzle direction OK close to your body like that? I find that I can do a "reload with retention" faster by just putting the ejected mag in the left front pocket of my jeans as I reach for the full mag. As for why we do Tac Loads? We never know how long the "lull in the action" will be. That is why a Tac Load should be in everyones bag of tricks. I prefer to make most of the stages I design "any IDPA reload is allowed". Bill Nesbitt

Hardball, I know what you are talking about. I have been shooting a Model 10 S&W revolver in IDPA matches instead of autoloaders. A few months ago I WON a local IDPA match using this revolver. It was quite a rush I can tell you. Those of you old enough can remember the "Sleeper" in drag racing. This was an old junky looking car that had a big motor hiding under the hood. That's what it's like shooting a gun that shouldn't be able to compete with the big dogs but does. Bill Nesbitt

If you have those fancy dishes that you would normally show off in a glass fronted cabinet, do you need to have a glass front in your dishwashers? Bill Nesbitt

Sue says no. Just as long as she doesn't say that I am the dishwasher. Bill Nesbitt

90% yes. Bill Nesbitt

Chris, Best of luck to you. A good attitude is important to recovery from any injury or illness. You will be back shooting soon. I was about to complain about getting stitches in my trigger finger. Bill Nesbitt

I'll be there. You might also want to consider the West Virginia State IDPA match in July. It is near Weirton WV not far from Youngstown. Bill Nesbitt