Wildman

According to the print media, Sen. Jon Dolan returned to the Capital by commercial flights, at his expense. But we still need to support Anheuser Busch, since they donated half the cost of the new Natural Resources Building at UMC.

Oh, and it is reciprocal to other states.

The article in tomorrow’s Star: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascityst...tar/6748041.htm Yesterday's Star stated that the bill would be reciprocal with other states: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/n...ews/6724676.htm The bill itself: http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills03/biltx...uly/HB0349T.HTM Also passed were a preemptive bill for suing firearm manufacturers. http://www.senate.state.mo.us/03info/billt...t/tat/sb013.htm Lots of work to do now at the County level, to get the sheriff’s offices up to speed.

Need some help folks. I’ve been invited to interview, possibly as early as this week, in Fairfax County. Looks like lots of clubs and other USPSA activities, so that’s not an issue. But I’m on a short time line. Where’s a good place in the area for a middle level government management person to live? Housing looks real high compared to the Midwest. Any other thoughts on the area? How bad are local politics?

That's not a bad option. Check with who ever provides services for the local County Home Arrest Program. As I recall, local inmates had to pay $50/month to be on the program, and it involved an electronic shackle that went off if removed from the home area. Not sure who it reported to or how, but might be an option. Get several neighbors together to pay the equipment rental.

As a soon to be Senior, and wearing glasses for 33 years, I'll take a little different direction. No tint for shooting. I want as much depth of field as I can get during the COF. I use dark prescription glasses before and after shooting, but they come off when I’m “in the hole”. Put on the large framed Randolph’s from Morgan Optical (they are on the web), with the strong eye prescription focused a little closer than normal. It becomes just a part of your little “pre shooting “ ritual.

I just looked at our last match from a comparative view. We had 14 L-10, 13 L, 12 open, 7 Prod, and 3 revolver. On the classifier, cm 99-57, the top three L-10 guys had higher hit factors (4.8, 3.2, 3.1 vs 4.3, 3.2, 2.8) than the Limited shooters. It’s a good neutral stage. The same thing happened on other stages with 3 or more steps between visible arrays. L-10 was a tougher division to compete in than Limited. Generally higher hit factors, until we hit a stage with only one big step between arrays. Then the Limited shooters had an advantage. L-10 is not necessarily a big disadvantage when comparing, it just reflects more on the COF design. All stage scores are here: http://www.millcreekpsl.org/ In any event, shoot, have fun, and watch yourself improve.

Depending on the COF's, consider a comparison to the limited division. Wasn’t that long ago that all the single stack guys shot limited, and it was fun to beat hicaps with a ten round mag. A good COF takes out some of the advantage of a hicap, particularly in B, C, and D classes

Just to put things in perspective: YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN KANSAS CITY IN AUGUST WHEN..... The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground The trees are whistling for the dogs. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. Hot water now comes out of both taps. You can make sun tea instantly. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly. You discover that it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window. You actually burn your hand opening the car door. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 A.M. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?" You realize that asphalt has a liquid state. The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled egg The cows are giving evaporated milk. Ah, what a place to call home!

At least you waited for our weather to change. Daytime 70-80’s and nights in the 50’s. Beats the last month of 90-100’s.

Flex, it’s kind of like the speed shoot at Bianchi or the NATS. No matter what the clock says, if a plate or popper is still standing, its a fault, called by the RO. A slow run with all the plates down beats a faster run with one or more plates left standing. You can't go back for a pick-up shot after hitting the stop plate. As I recall, the clock stopped well before the stop plate hit the ground. Seems like I do recall a stopped clock one year (Mid 80's?) before all the plates were even shot at. Maybe splatter from the first shot. Only seen that happen once, and in succeeding years, it seems like we used a shield around the stop plate. Memory, as is everything else, is starting to go.

Keep trying PACT. When I've seen the timers used, they stop the clock on bullet impact. Usually, everyone makes an even number of runs, like 4 runs, throw out one, switching sides each time. Avoids, or helps, avoid the shooter preference issues

One of the Horton modified 686's from the 80's. Round butt. Bobbed hammer and galco thumb-break.

I agree, it would be dumb to shoot ammo off the ground. I've seen people do a lot of dumb things. I did say a public range. What happens when a 9mm luger cartridge loaded to open major is fired in a dumb person's gun?

What does a 9 mm open major cartridge do to a Production Gun? A friend and I started this discussion over a public range we both practice at. We don't shoot ammo found lying on the ground, but others do. Any thoughts?

THS, I like the way you think on some of the issues. Competitor numbers have to increase. There is no way to make a bigger "event" without participants. The slot issue is a fundraiser, not a true capacity cap. We still seem to have open slots for Bend. There is a message here somewhere. I like the idea of constant location, hopefully centrally located, with infrastructure in-place to truly support the activity. Its not all just bays and parking. A lot of other things factor in. Community support is important. Not only the local club or facility, but truly the community. Having the locals happy to see you year after year means a lot. I said it in another post, but the Rolla Chamber of Commerce hosting a cookout Saturday night for the COPS event is one of a kind, but needs to spread. Not tapping vendors or exhibitors for this event, but truly the local community is pretty clever. As a "C" shooter, prizes by lottery are fine with me. Or even no prize table at all after the top 10%. Probably 85% of the shooters at most events would feel the same. Its nice to take something home occasionally to show the spouse, but its even better to have funds invested in the facility.

As a shooting challenge, I’ve enjoyed the last couple of FG Nationals. As an event, either individual of family, they are pretty poor. For a little perspective, let me say that special events are an area of some experience for me. From Eddie Money Concerts to Unlimited Boat Races (yes, the Budweiser girls look nice up close) to smaller community festivals, I’ve had a chance to serve as host or producer many times over the last 20 years. One of the things they all have in common when successful is sponsor support. I will take my hat off to the sponsors at the last FGN, they are truly supportive of the sport. But it looks like our group treats them as second class money buckets. With 250 or so competitors, and a 100 or so support staff and spectators, several exhibitors drove from all over to sit in a tent in the Midwest over the 4th of July. There was lots of time given to competitors to visit the exhibitor’s area, but who wants to sit in a tent in 95+ degree heat, and wheel and deal? At least in 2002, there was a fan. Not this year. Makes it hard to get excited about showing a product to a limited audience. The first year I attended a National, my wife, and kids came. Watched through lunch, then found other things to do in the area. They have not been back since. National is not a family event, except for a devoted few. Social activities are nonexistent (except for the Beer on the porch at S&W hall Friday. Thanks!). Waiting a full day after the main match for the awards and prize distribution is nonsense. SASS claims over 700 shooters and 25,000 others at their End of the Trail event. These guys know how to put on a show. It’s easy to see vendors lined up for this type of event. Families attend and participate, tour and plan their summer around this type of activity. There is a lot more appeal to the family groups. There’s no doubt in my mind that USPSA can put on a first class shooting event. It’s the other side that I think leaves a lot to be desired.

Flex, I'm gonna try and be there, but there are some other conflicts right now. Have to get a little closer. There will be a pretty good contingent from the KC area there. Hope you guys give'um hell!

Guys, I've shot the COPS match a few times, and it is a hoot. Best way to handle squad requests is to mail them all in together. Send them all to one squad member, and let that person slip them into one envelope and send them. In past years, the Rolla Chamber of Commerce has hosted a cook-out with burgers, dogs and beer on Saturday night. I think the locals use it as an edge for the Sunday morning man on man steel shot.

That's a pretty thin limb. Tell you what, if you want to flip and grab, wear a little sign on the back that says "Flipper". As RO, I'll stand behind you until the gun is clear, then lean forward to check the chamber. That way, I can be behind you and shielded if the thing goes off. Otherwise, this type of action puts two people at risk.

Sorry. To big for us to finish scores at the match.

How many shooters/stages does your club accomidate? We tried it with 51 shooters and 4 stages. The stats work was to big for us.

Vince and Vluc, you have expressed the problem very well, and I had hoped that the point might be taken by others, particularly those currently running the “10 rounds in the magazine” issue in smaller and smaller circles. The fact that open promotions happen is sad, as are any issues that force a shooter out or up, but preventable in almost all cases by the competitor themselves. If some want to scream, snivel or whine, don’t expect much sympathy, particularly if it didn’t happen to them. Our sport is about more than just shooting. If the only time you are involved is match day at the range, you are living off the work of others. My apologies to Rob Boudrie, for misspelling his name.

Vince, it’s marvelous that you have kept the information flowing. It’s not a job I would envy. But my real question is, with so many strongly held opinions, why such a meager turnout when USPSA solicits the membership for input in the rule making process. Browdie went to a lot of effort to develop the web system, and I thought it worked pretty well. I would much prefer to be in on the process, than question the product after completion. There seems to be a real propensity to wait until things are finalized, then raising hell, rather than stick our necks out and try to influence the decision makers.

10-3, BDH