Zak Smith

[ link to LARGER image ] Woohoo!

I didn't say any of that. All I'm saying is that it is frustrating that one must apparently scan BE for SMM3G related threads througout the fall and then hit a 2-day window which starts 11 days after the registration date was posted. If you want a (another) constructive suggestion, post the registration date a couple MONTHS before it opens, not 11 days. Today was the first time I saw this thread, and the announcement. After hearing 2005 was a big improvement over 2004, I was planning to attend in '06. That is all.

YGBFKM

Winchester 124 "NATO", in the plain white boxes? I've shot a lot of it through CZ's and a Glock 19. Works great.

USO and S&B have offered most of those features for a while now. Leupold is starting to come out with FFP scopes..

I believe they are now called "Accura" or something like that.

For a 16", it should be around 11-12,500 psi for M193 or Mk262.

QuickLoad can predict muzzle pressure.

Clarification of some Trooper rules... http://www.cavalryarms.com/3gun/vids/trooperrules.wmv

In my SV, the slide lock works properly and I fit 20 in 140mm mags (19 on reloads). Given that it works properly, I see no reason to disable it. This also maintains gun-handling continuity with non raceguns. FWIW, I can easily perceive that the slide has locked back, just like I can tell when my AR15 hasn't cycled closed.

I'd love to make more, and more different, matches. Spreading out matches away from August is a good idea, and organizating them the best possible to minimize time req'd off of work helps too.

So what's wrong with the TA01 again? Or the TA11?

Have read it. I agree. An example of mindset in a match would be improvising and finishing the stage when your gun takes a dump (single shot AR15 perhaps), or when props don't go "your way." I have seen people do this, and I have seen them have a fit and throw their gear.

They call me Mad Dog Smitty

People shoot the practical sports for many different reasons. It sounds like you don't "call" it training. That's fine, and it's inarguable anyway. The classical "Combat Triad" is gun-handling, marksmanship, and tactics. I've heard it recently restated as: Mindset, Tactics, Skill, Gear. Practical shooting competitions provide probably the best forum for civilians to regularly practice the skills (gun-handling and marksmanship), and test their gear to make sure it runs. It also provides the opportunity to practice "mindset" to some extent.

FWIW, I believe the high round count shotgun stages at RM3G are the most complex and challenging stages, and I do enjoy them for that reason.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Like USPSA & IDPA, 3Gun is a "practical" shooting sport, still married to the martial use of weapons, not basically divorced like High Power, Bullseye, etc. The influence of "practical" is clearly manifest in the ongoing debate of He-Man division, Trooper class, etc.

Hi Mike, IMO, there is a difference between the questions, "What do I need to come out and shoot my first few matches?" vs. "Now I want to 'get serious' about 3Gun-- what do I buy?" The answer to the first IS that it essentially doesn't matter. Here's that segment of the reply I send back to CO guys asking for 3Gun info-- Once a guy has shot 3-4 matches, he will be acquianted with some of the shooters, and can kind of see what people are using. He will discover BE.com. He can get clarification, reasons, and good advice. The reason we always tell people to "not buy stuff" right away is so they don't end up with that "wrong stuff", you talked about. The most important thing is to get out there, not focus on gear.

My point is that the "niche" of a shotgun is limited and I don't think it has much unique value over what a rifle provides, in a "practical" TOE. I said as much in my first post. Why would I grab a shotgun instead of a rifle of sufficient power? -z

The 3.5x TA11 ACOG is sufficient to hit LaRue targets @ 400 yards.

The SN3 is very heavy. The SN4 is still heavier than its competitors.

No, not exactly. I wrote what I meant:

re: the mousegun Right, so why are you going on about it??

I've seen good arguments on both sides of "shotgun is obsolete". Also note that a lot of people, organizations, and departments make "bad" weapons choices.