45 Raven

IMHO, it doesn't matter whether this match was sanctioned or not, or by whom. An A/D earns a disqualification. Any club that doesn't enforce that rule is really exposing themselves to a metric buttload of trouble!

Thanks for that advice. I have 5.11 Taclite pants as well and usually shoot matches in them. It never occurred to me to use the back pocket for a RWR.. I'll practice it a little this week.

I recently received an email from Brownell's customer service department. I ordered Titegroup powder from them in April 2013 and it is still on backorder. The email I received notified me that my credit card had expired and that I had seven days to contact them and make alternative payment arrangements or my order would be canceled. I contacted them and advised them that my credit card HAD NOT expired. (It expires at the end of May, which is about seven weeks away - I haven't received my new one yet, but imagine I will soon). I advised the service representative that I expected my order to remain open and asked why they believed my credit card had expired. He assured me the order would remain open, but had no explanation for why the email had been sent to me advising me that the credit card had been expired. I made sure he repeated back to me that there was no problem with my order, and that my powder was still on backorder. I ten send an email to Brownell's customer service and used the representative's name and related th entire story to them in writing. I still don't have a real warm and fuzzy feeling about my order and will follow up and check the status in a week or so. It is almost as though they were looking for an opportunity to cancel the backorder!

Try a couple of methods and see what works best for you. I do a RWR exactly as described by rowdyb, but I stick the removed magazine inside my pants waistline just on the left side of my belt buckle. It took me a while of experimenting, but that approach was the fastest and easiest to perform consistently for ME. That approach might not work for others because of individual physical and gear differences. I know other shooters who place the removed mag in their rear pants pocket, and others who always do a tac load. See what works best for YOU1

Make everyone on the squad participate in taping and policing brass. When they don't, put their score card at the bottom of the pile. If they still don't help, invite them to leave for the day and return when they feel like helping out and doing their fair share of work. Make certain the R/O confirms the range is clear before making it hot. Always. Every time. I am in no way attempting to be sarcastic, but just doing those things is not rocket science. Just do them. Then you don't have to make up a bunch of new rules to try to accommodate for two simple ones that aren't being enforced. And those who constantly pick up brass and tape targets and set up steel targets for the great majority of the time will appreciate the break they will get when everyone returns to helping out. As R/O, you can enforce these rules. If you can't, you should not be accepting the position, If your club won't support you doing these things, you need to find a new club. Life is hard enough. Let's keep it simple when and where we can.

I completely agree with your opinion of cover being the worst rule in IDPA. It is a good idea. But it is virtually impossible to get a consistent call across several stages run by several RO's. Not because the RO's are incompetent or unfair, but because the call is subjective and depending on how fast the shooter is moving and the nature of the course of fire, it is often difficult for the person responsible for cover calls to be in the same position for every shooter. I don't have a suggestion on how to improve or correct it other than just replace "cover" with shooting boxes that force the shooter to remain in some semblance of cover while shooting. At least that would remove the subjectivity from the rule.

Here's the problem, in my opinion. You enforce the rules at club level matches and ensure all the competitors follow them. Or you decide to bend the rules a bit on one issue - let's say it is holsters. Next month it becomes not using concealment. Then it becomes non-regulation stages of fire. Then it becomes firearm modifications. You get the picture. I'm not saying it isn't okay to bend the rules or make them up as you go in the name of fun, as long as all the shooters are safe. But if you are going to do that, then don't call the sport IDPA. Or USPSA. Or IPSC. Call it "Combat Shooting". Or "Fun Shooting" There's an old cowboy saying that applies here: "You can put your boots in the oven, but it don't make 'em biscuits"..

Welcome aboard. My TNS load for Rio Salado is a Montana Gold JHP bullet over 4.0 grains of Titegroup and a COAL of 1.140" Works well in all my Glock 9mm pistols.

Didn't mean to attack anyone by objecting to the term "bullet heads". As for the company so named, I will share an old cowboy saying that applies: "You can put your boots in the oven, but it don't make 'em biscuits!"

Bullet HEADS? Where did this term start? I see it more and more frequently these days. They are BULLETS!

Brian: My condolences to you, your family, and all of Bill's family and loved ones. What a great tribute you have paid to him in your post! He'll be waiting for you on the other side of the river,

Not what you asked help for, but I would reconsider changing your load so you can "hear" the steel. If you do that, you will never get to the point that you can call the shot. Shoot with your eyes - not your ears.

Dozens and dozens, with an occasional refreshing with an additive designed specifically for cleaning brass such as Dillon Rapid Polish 290 or as provided by several other manufacturers. Typically, I replace the media when it begins to darken/discolor significantly or if I observe the grain size beginning to break down.

Either powder will serve you well, and both meter well. Try a couple of loads with each powder and see which one provides you with the best results.

Revolvers: Sometimes it is the frame forward of the trigger guard and sometimes my wrists, depending on which approach provides me with with the most repeatable positioning. Autos: Almost always my wrists, as that provides me with more consistent groups. YMMV.

The goal for shooting groups off a rest FOR ME is 1 1/2" for a hunting revolver (S&W and a couple of Rugers). For a 9mm Glock (I don't currently own or shoot any other striker fired pistols) it's 3" at 25 yards. For my 1911's (Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Dan Wesson, Springfield Armory, STI, and two gunsmith "built" Colts), its 2" at 25 yards. Remember, this is off a bench from a braced position. Nothing getting checked here except the gun and ammo. I cannot shoot those kinds of groups regularly from any other position or under other than almost ideal conditions.

Ultimo-Hombre said: "I hear ya amigo, but locally here some of the hardest working guys are also the top shooters who also do the Most work to make our matches happen!" "There is the occasional " royalty " guy but most all support our sport in their own way. It comes down to expectations. Most guys want to do the right thing, they often just don't know what that is." Well put. And I hope nobody thinks my post was pointed at the top shooters. I can recite numerous matches in our area when it is the top shooters doing the large majority of the work all the time. It's just important to remember that if you took the "top" 100 shooters, it's quite likely that the statistics apply to them equally. 10 or 15 of those top 100 are doing 85% to 90% of the WORK BEING DONE BY THE TOP 100 SHOOTERS. As you said, most guys want to do the right thing. They just need to know what the right thing is. It's up to the folks doing the work and running the matches to share that information, so the work gets spread around. It's called accountability!

This certainly isn't specific to USPSA/IPSC, but it is pretty easy for the enthusiasm to wear thin when a successful match depends on the work of 10% or less of the membership. It's bad enough that there are very few who will volunteer to design, set-up, and officiate at matches. But when that mind-set begins to migrate into the actual match itself and a small hand full of the shooters are doing ALL the brass pick-up, resetting ALL the steel targets, taping ALL the paper targets, resetting ALL the movers and miscellaneous props ALL the time while the remaining 90% watch, it shouldn't be hard to figure out why participation begins to wane. I know there are exceptions, and I know that "one size doesn't fit all". But this IS what happens at some matches and in some clubs. It never seems to happen overnight. It is a gradual process. Like cancer. Next time you go to a match, take a few minutes and observe. There may likely be a group of "royalty" who are the best shooters around. Somehow some, (certainly not all) of them seem to think they are exempt from menial tasks like setting up pepper poppers or taping targets. There are others who from the time they joined the club and began shooting have never so much as lifted a finger to help with ANYTHING. They just shoot - that's all. Others are social animals and don't pay any attention at all to when it might be their turn to do a little work. The only way to correct it is to call them on it. If it is their turn to tape, set targets, pick up brass, etc, they need to do it. And if they don't do it, their scorecard should be put to the bottom of the pile. Regardless of WHO they are, And that policy should be consistently enforced ALL the time. It won't take long before they either get it and start helping out, or move on to another club or a different shooting discipline. And if they would rather do that than HELP? Good riddance. Just my opinion. I am certain others feel differently.

G26. Really comfortable IWB for daily carry. Easy to conceal. Lightweight to carry. Dependable and accurate to shoot. Same platform (Glock 9mm) as used in IDPA and steel shoots.

Diclofenac - prescription anti-inflammatory medication.

I would work more on stage rehearsal before shooting. You are a very good shooter and don't look like you are struggling with many skill sets. Just mentally rehearse when/where you are going to reload, and don't over complicate it. You know how to make a magazine change. Just imprint the details as part of your stage planning process. Nice shooting!

IDPA matches are held at the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club in South Phoenix (about 40-45 minutes from you). They are worth the trip and a great bunch of people. Check out their website. Rio Salado doesn't conduct IDPA matches, but they are chock full of USPSA and steel matches. They have a website as well. To my knowledge, you need to attend a short safety class before shooting a match at Rio Salado. Not sure of the details, as the process is dynamic and changes over time. A great place to start shooting again would be the Tuesday Night Steel matches at Rio. Not far from where you live, tons of fun, and a great chance to get in the social circle of shooting in this great area. Do it!

I agree that there are a lot of choices, and the more pistols from different manufacturers you are able to shoot before you make the purchase, the more likely you will be able to make an informed choice. Very hard to argue with a Glock G34 as a starting point, though. Nothing wrong wit the G17, either, although you are more likely going to want different than OEM sights on that pistol.

You will probably gets lots of advice on 1911 magazines. Wilson Combat and CMC Power Mags have always been outstanding, in my experience. Don't buy a whole bunch of one brand until you are certain the work in YOUR new 1911.

Set up a reasonably difficult target at about 20 yards. Shoot about 10 shots at it at a moderate pace. Now set up an identical target at an identical ranges and repeat the drill. But this time let an experienced and skilled shooter press the trigger for you while you do everything else. (Hold the pistol, align the sights, manage the recoil, etc.) Have him shoot at the same pace you did. Now compare group sizes. Unless you are a very skilled shooter who has already mastered trigger control, I can almost guarantee you that the second group will be smaller and better centered on the target. This should show you that you can hold the pistol well, align the sights well, and manage recoil well. But that you have opportunities to improve your trigger management skills.