Chris Christian

If you drop it in the process of reloading and pick it up before your next shot no harm no foul. That, however, is during the reloading process. Penalties: Page 16 n. "Any time a loaded ammunition feeding device (magazine or speedloader)is dropped from the carrier during a course of fire".... A partial magazine from a RWR is a loaded ammunition feeding device, and where ever it is carried becomes "the carrier". Make the reload, secure the loading device, and drop it later during the COF and this SO awards you 3 seconds. I've seen them fall from waistbands, but never from a front pants pocket. Chris Christian

Being right handed I use the left front pants pocket. My match pants are Relaxed Fit jeans, and the pocket is generous. Once the mag is in the pocket, my left hand is perfectly positioned to come up and strip a new mag from the pouch. I find this the quickest and most positive way. It is two simple non-complex movements. Another factor I like is that the partial mag isn't likely to fall out of the pocket. I have seen them fall out when stuffed into the waistband... and that comes under the rule about dropping a magazine from an ammo carrier during a COF - 3 secs. Chris Christian

I agree that this is a very poorly desaigned stage. From what I gather, you had to engage targets with 12 rounds while retreating to cover. Does that mean (and I don't have that COF description available to me) that EVERY SHOT must be made while retreating... if that's the case it can't be accomplished under IDPA rules because no gun gets to hold 12 rounds. And IF THAT WAS the COF then cover would not be available and shooters IMHO could reload in the open... in the absence of cover available... to complete the requirement that ALL ROUNDS BE FIRED WHILE RETREATING towards cover. Did the COF say that targets not engaged while moving can be re-engaged once cover is reached? If that is the case then the shooter can reach cover, reload, and engage using cover and not have to shoot the remaining targets on the move. As far as being revolver neutral... few COFs are, and as a revolver shooter I don't worry about it. But, the COF you describe is a very poorly designed one, unless it gives the shooter the option of emptying the gun, reaching cover, reloading, and engaging the remaining targets from cover. If that is the case, it's not overly bad.... but still not well done. Chris Christian

Speer makes a 180 grain TMJ Silhouette bullet (#4402) that I have been very happy with. They're not cheap and I only use them for sanctioned match loads, but full cylinder 25 yard groups from my GP-100 run 2 inches at 25 yards and the pointed profile reloads very quickly. For a 125 PF you need 695 fps, and I load to about 740 with HP-38. Recoil is about the same as the 158 grain loads I used to run at 820 fps. Hornady makes a 180 XTP that is also very accurate, but the metplat is flatter and it doesn't reload as quickly. Chris Christian

I have a bag I use when I'm shooting revolver because it has the right mix of compartments for full, or empty speedloaders, extra ammo in baggies, and the reloading board for my Safariland speedloaders, and holds whatever else I need for revolver. I have a second bag for semi-autos because the accessories are different and this one has magazine holders built in (it was a gimme at a IDPA Nat Champ match) I have a third bag set up to haul to my backyard practice range, and holds stuff I wouldn't haul to a match. I'd rather not carry more weight than I need at a match, or practice, and each bag is tailored for what I want to do at that time. It works for me, as long as I don't have a Senior Moment and grab the wrong bag for the gun I'm shooting. If I can handle that, I've got a compact, lightweight bag that doesn't wear me out during a full match. I see no reason to carry every piece of gear you have when the gun/Division you are shooting doesn't require it. There's nothing wrong with being selective. Chris Christian

If a laser is not turned on and the red /green dot is not applied to the target, then I don't see how a laser sight could be considered as "being used" in IDPA competition; regardless of whether it's CTC grips or some other version. As for the legality of even having them on the gun (or in the pocket, vehicle, shooting bag, etc) I don't know. I did what I thought was a pretty careful line-by-line search of the current Rule Book (the brown 2005 version)and could not find the word "laser" mentioned in there anywhere. If anyone can point me to the page where lasers are discussed in the Rule Book I would much appreciate it, especially since I'm a SO that has to enforce the Rule Book. If the laser rule has been clarified on an official IDPA rules web site (not just unofficial internet chatter) I would appreciate that link as well. The Rules have to be enforced... we just need to know what they are. Chris Christian

I use RCBS,Hornady (or Lee for .38 Long Colt)crimping/seating dies. You do have a trial & error adjustment period and may trash a few cartridges in the process. Once you get the setting locked, you seat and crimp with one stroke. I use dummy rounds(no primer or powder, just case & bullet) to set the dies. And, I keep the final set dummy round in the die box to quickly reset the die in the future, if I have to make die changes for different bullets that I may load after that one. It's pretty simple if you do it right. Chris Christian

We're always glad to see Jane. Although the thread drift continues. Chris Christian

Bullets "prairie dogging"... jumping the crimp and moving forward, and outside the forward edge of the cylinder,to tie up the cylinder... isn't a major problem with a normal weight competition revolver and 120-125 PF loads. It is a SIGNIFICANT problem with .357 mag loads (and some +P 38 loads) in extremely lightweight (11-14 ounce) snubbies. Since those aren't used for competition it's probably a non-factor here. With that said, I have found that a taper crimp will reduce velocity over a roll crimp (taper crimp requires more powder & recoil needed to make PF). Plated bullets without a crimp groove do need a taper crimp IMHO, but if your bullet has a crimp groove, a roll crimp is the way to go in a revolver. Chris Christian

Jane, A valid point... although I seem to remember every bay being hot... while the rest of the range was cold. A matter of interpretation, I guess. Chris Christian

+1 Dragoon. It's "common knowledge" that laser sights are not allowed to BE USED in IDPA competition. But, the Rule Book is silent on anything else involving lasers. In fact, the current Rule Book does not include the word "laser" anywhere I can find. The OP mentioned a post & notch sight... specifically allowed under the rules... and if the laser feature is not used (or batteries removed to totally deactivate the laser) you are then left with Rule Book allowed sights. Any other interpratation is just that... an interpretation that is not codified in the current Rule Book. At the two clubs I regularly SO at in NE Florida we have no problem with lasers unless they are turned on during a COF. Others may interpret that differently, which is just another problem with the current Rule Book. It is not always followed, even at the National Championship. The two (2007 & 2008) I shot in Allentown PA, where Ted Murphy was MD, used "hot ranges" even though the Rule book clearly states (page 8) "matches sanctioned by IDPA are required to have cold ranges". I guess you can "interpret" the Rule Book any way ya want. Chris Christian

Sorry. My Bad. Just trying to help. Chris Christian

If the laser function is turned off it is perfectly legal. It's a "post & notch" replacement sight. if you screw up and turn the laser on during a COF the best you can hope for is a 3 sec PE. Chris Christian

You didn't mention any specifics on the type of hunt. Big Cats? I assume that means mountian lion. Are they running/treeing them with dogs? That's the normal method. If so the shots will be within 15 yards...likely less... with a pack of dogs boiling around under the tree the cat is in. If the cat gets knocked out of the tree alive and with some degree of function, the guide is going to be a bit ticked off when that buzz saw lands in the middle of his dogs, because they will jump it... you won't get a follow up shot... chaos will insue. You want a load that will break both front shoulders and limit the cat's ability to fight when it comes down. There are handgun loads that do that well, and are easy to tote while you chase the dogs over whatever miles are required to tree the cat. 10mm, .41 or .44 Mag... good choices..JHP bullets, quick opening, but with penetration. Cats are light skinned, soft bone critters. You might ask the guide what his opinion is. More info would help with an answer. I have done that in years past and always aimed for a point shoulder/spine shot. Chris Christian

I shoot 3.4 grains of Clays with a 230 gr. Speer swaged 230 LRN, and have no smoke issues on an outdoor range. I haven't shot it indoors. I have shot the Speer 158 grain swaged .38 LRN indoors with Clays and had no smoke issues. I have read over the Internet that Clays + lead = smoke. My experience has been different. The Speer swaged bullets use a hard lube... not the melted waxy stuff found on most cast bullets... I don't have smoke issues with that Speer bullet... even with Clays. I think a lot of the smoke problems with lead (cast) bullets comes from the lube used on the bullet. Some lubes make more smoke that others, but the hard lube on Speer (or Hornady) swaged bullets doesn't seem to. IMHO, FWIW. Chris Christian

I hadn't considered having one lense ground for distance and one for front sight distance. I might try that for my 60 year old eyes. In the meantime, I shoot with a pair of shooting glasses ground to a "computer/reading glasses" distance, with a green FO front sight and a white bar rear sight. It's the old SIG bar/dot system that I have always found to be quick to acquire. The sights are in perfect focus, the target slightly blurred. With 9mm/.38 Spl I can't clearly see bullet hits beyond 10 yards, but I know where the sights were when the shot broke, and run off that. With the 45 I can see hits further. It has worked well for me (IDPA MA/EX, depending on the gun division) and I am normally among the most accurate at any given IDPA or USPSA match. It might work for others. Chris Christian

Taper crimping a .38 Spl will results in a less velocity than a solid roll crimp. The roll crimp provides more bullet pull resistance and provides a better powder burn with all but the very fastest powders (Bullseye, AA2, Clays, etc.). You didn't mention whether you're making a 120 or a 125 PF. With a 125 (+P velocity) a roll crimp is definitely the way to go IMHO. The proper degree of roll crimp is one that doesn't distort the case and create feeding problems. Chris Christian

I'm somewhat surpised to see this thread ending so quickly. There were a great many "opinions" expressed... even from some veteran shooters/SOs... but once the pertinent section from the Rule Book was posted, the "opinions" seem to stop. Does this mean that many IDPA SOs don't read the Rule Book... understand the Rule Book... and keep a copy in their range bag for reference when they are officiating? I am a certified SO and do keep a copy in my shooting bag. I can refer to it. But, after five years of Sanctioned & club matches I've seen a number of SOs that may not. Maybe some of them are running on "muscle memory". I do note that in USPSA (I'm a crossover shooter and play both games although I'm not a USPSA RO) the ROs seem to know the rules. Maybe this is worth a new thread... "Do IDPA SOs Actually Know The Rules?" Or, as my last Sanctioned Match (Feb 2010 IDPA FL State) might indicate, are there many that don't? Chris Christian

That depends upon what your maximum ability is... and who else showed up for the match. I've shot what I thought were flawless matches and lost. Other times I've been sluggish and off tempo and won. It just depends who else is shooting and what kind of a day they're having. Chris Christian

Congrats on 1st Unclassified. Your experiences are normal. It takes a couple of matches to get used to the procedures, and then you can really start shooting. I think you will be surprised at the progress you make after you have a couple of matches under your belt. Welcome to IDPA. It is a lot of fun. Chris Christian

The rule on FTDR is a subjective one. Several SOs watching the same chain of events might come to different conclusions as to whether or not to issue a FTDR. But, there is precedent (codified in the Rule Book) for issuing a FTDR to a shooter who has ammo remaining and chooses not to reload and engage the target because his/her score will be better if not done. Current Rule Book, Page 15.. "Examples (Non-inclusive List) #3 "Not reloading to fire one more round because your score will be better even with the miss". In the example given in previous posts.. distant steel target that has been engaged but not hit, with the shooter choosing not to reload and continue to engage it... I think you could make a case for issuing a FTDR based upon the above quoted #3 from page 15. Chris Christian

If each target is engaged there is no FTDR, nor a PE for failing to fire the minimum number of rounds, or engage all the targets in the COF description. But, if the shooter stopped shooting ... in this example, on a distance steel target... with ammo left on their person from their basic starting load out... and stopped shooting/reloading because their time would be better than they could achieve by reloading and attempting to knock down the target... I might call a FTDR. IDPA Rules are different than USPSA... not necessarily better or worse... just different. With remaining ammo I might figure the shooter was attempting to "game" (this is one case where I think I can actually define that term) the COF. That's my thought FWIW. Chris Christian

Are those lead bullets hard cast or swaged? If swaged, I wouldn't run them faster than 1000 fps or you can wind up with a lot of leading. Hard cast are good to go to at least 1400 fps. WSF powder is a good choice for lead 9mm for 900/1000 fps. Chris Christian

This has been a great thread! A +1 to Bones on his throught that you don't see revolver shooters whining about the rules on round dumping (and it was nice to see you again, Bones, at FL IDPA State.. Congratulations on SSR Champ!). Wheelgunners can't afford throwawy shots, anyway, so we don't sweat it much. With that said... any rule that is so subjective in in its interpretation & enforcement that four different SOs can look at the same chain of events and come to different conclusions is a rule that might need some rewriting & more thorough clarification. Especially since a Vickers Count COF says you can "shoot all ya want". My last .02 cents on this. Chris Christian (Thoroughly Thumped in SSR by Bones at FL State)

Win 231 (HP38?) is definitely faster in hot weather... slows badly in the cold. Chris Christian