Tim/GA

This past weekend I had 2 times when the round did not fully seat in the chamber and locked up the slide. The 2nd time it was particularly hard to clear the gun. (I had not chamber checked as it was a local match and even with the Barsto barrel in my Limited Glock I had not had problems in the past with cases just resized in the Dillong. I usually shoot a 35 with a stock barrel in production and when shooting a 3gun or steel match the the limited gun had used roll sized cases) I pulled myself after the 2nd one since it was a hold up for the squad and had happened 2 times. I am the MD/RM for that match, not sure that I would have forced someone to withdraw that ammo but felt it was right for me. On the other hand, about a year ago I had some issues with my Dillon SDB loading a batch of ammo before going out of town and attending a local match while there. I let 2 bad rounds get through with the problems and had squib early in the match. Knocked it out of the barrel and 0ed the stage. ON the last stage I had a squib 1 target from the end. Would have expected to be asked to withdraw the ammo had it not been my last stage- would have done it without being asked anyway. Ended up just those 2 in that batch of ammo but taught me to dump and restart when problems with the press come up. Don't think there is any hard and fast rule in the book though.

After playing around with some different powders, bullets, loads, etc. (and now having a number of partial 1 pound cans in the powder closet) I decided to just go simple. I shoot 40 minor and major and use 165 and 180grn Precision Delta FMJs and WSF for powder. I have it set up on a Dillon SDB and only have to change the powder charge. Same bullet seating depth, etc. Nice and simple! I have liked WSF for a long time, good case capacity, I don't like charges that are really small volume in the case, and makes both minor and major easily. I had pretty much gone to 180s, but was having troubles getting a load below 145-150PF that felt good. Kept same powder charge (4.9grn WSF) and went to the 165grn and the feel was better and the PF about 135. Good load for Production and 3 gun. Been shooting it in Limited a bit but giving away a lot of points with the minor load- wanted to get ready for the 3 gun matches though.

This match is a bit different than normal ones all held in shooting bays. While some of the stages were in a regular bay, the majority were spread out on natural terrain. Then it becomes not only the job of designing the stages, but scouting locations and then designing around the terrain. Also a bunch of other matches held on the property throughout the year. Last year I found the stages that were posted good to help know what gear you need on each one, but it really took looking at them on the ground to get a feel for the stages at all. Hard to visualize all of the trees, hills, etc from a stage diagram

They are using another service. Check for the link at the Cherokee page and you squad after going through that link. From what I see the only option was paying with PayPal but I may be wrong, it was late at night.

Ok, found it. The gastatechampionship webpage is not updated, you have to go to the Cherokee Gun Club page http://www.cherokeeipsc.org/ Next question, I have registered and paid, you have to use PayPal from the looks of it, but when I went to join a squad I have no idea when they shoot. I need to shoot afternoon of Sat. due to driving in after work Fri. night. How do I know which squad is which other than guessing the last ones are Sat. afternoon?

Did I miss the reg. coming out? Had not seen anything listed here in a long time.

Like was said above, last year at ProAm a flip to side was fine in Tac Optics and constitutes one optic. It must remain on the gun the whole match though. For instance, I was running a red dot with that I had a doubler that would screw onto it. I decided to use it for the match due to the longer shots, but that meant I had to leave it screwed into the red dot the whole match. Cost me a bit of time around the barrels and where they had targets stacked and in the shade on one stage. The 2x made it hard for me to know for sure which of the stacked targets I was engaging and I had to pop my head up to check. Will be using a 1-4x MTAC this time, at least as of now.

Spend a number of years getting in and out of Bradleys, HMMWVs and pickups, etc and a few inches of length starts to mean something! Granted, most of the time it is no big deal with what we do in 3-gun, but watch for those times that someone's weapon tip catches a wall, barrel etc. Was brought home to me at the Rockcastle/AR15 last year when on the first staqe I had to use my rifle from in the car, then get out of the little car sitting flat on the ground with the rifle for some more targets. Not to mention, like was said above- when don't we stick some things on the front of our long guns?

On the 34, is the slide release spring seating in the groove on the pin? If that pin is put in 2nd or if you don't pull down on the leg of the spring it can bet bent and not sit in the groove. Hate to bring this one up, but I tried it once You sure you did not put the smooth pin from the grip in place of the 2nd pin for the locking block?

I have thought about this for a Glock mag 40 S&W carbine. How long is a 33 round glock 9mm mag? Wolf has extra power mags for those for about $7. Seems that they should be long enough. Will be interested to know. The 22 round glock mags seem to work fine, at least the 2 I have.

Payback match with plaques and checks going to the once who placed. There was also a prize table with items from sponsors, etc. It was random draw.

I am guessing you will have some fun with a dot and all of that steel! Good match to break her in.

You sure that it put you over? My production gun is a Glock 35 with Warren Sevigny sights, 3.5 Ghost connector, titanium striker and firing pin safety along with lighter springs and a extended tungsten guide rod from Speed Shooter Specialties. Gun has been weight at 2 matches this year, South Carolina sectional and Area 6, with no problems. When we weighed it at SSS with the stock striker and plunger I had a bout 1/4 ounce under. At SC they said it was 29.1 ounces (a 35 can go up to 29.6) but I think it was low. Area 6 I almost missed the weight but think it was 29.3, 3/10 under. For those looking, the tungsten is much heavier than the steel guide rod, but is also is about the spring. Anything over 13lb recoil spring makes the muzzle dip for me. As it is, there is so small a muzzle rise when shooting 135-140PF 40 caliber ammo. Granted I have big hands, but the picture that Stefan Wendland (great picture- even with me in it!) took at the Area 6 match shows the gun in full recoil and 3 pieces of brass in the air. I think I am getting it dialed in, just as I am thinking of changing to Limited for awhile

Shooting that shiny new Open gun? Grab that "old" plastic gun and play with us in limited as well! I am shooting Open Sat PM and Limited Sun AM- both with limited gun.

That is the truth. I am about 2 years into this and can remember when I was not able to visualize the course and how that felt. Shooting more major matches really changed that- especially if you get onto squads without your normal group. Now it is par for the course to be able to close my eyes and run through the stage before stepping up for my last walk through. Funny thing is that I can pretty much remember the courses from the last few big matches (FL Open, SC sectional and Area 6) due to this. One sticks out as not being able to remember and I still don't know how I shot it without missing any targets, much less no Mikes. It was at the FL Open, 30 or 32 rounds and gun starts on hood of truck. We had 13 in the squad, 3 minute walk through and I missed half getting my glasses to de-fog so I could at least see the fog that was on the stage. I still have no idea how I shot that stage and that was the worst feeling at Make Ready that I have felt. For a new shooter, being able to consistently visualize the stage has got to rank up there with actually seeing the sights as a milestone in this sport!

I normally shoot production with a Glock 35, but with the major matches over in the SE for the year (until the end of the year for the GA and FL state matches) and the 3-gun matches coming up I am going to shoot my newly finished 35 limited gun in Limited for awhile. Since the 3-gun matches (and the pistol ProAm) do not have power factors I normally shoot my 140PF 40 ammo and am going to run it for the local matches in Limited as practice. Good thing to, have some work to do on the load as the new gun and Bar-Sto barrel don't like it as is. Anyway, yesterday's local match just showed me the difference between shooting minor and major in Limited. I just pulled up my stats and another shooter who shot major. I shot a few more A's and few less D's that the major shooter did but scored over 50 points less. Out of almost 700 points available, that is a large percentage of the match points. Going to have to concentrate on the As as much or more than in production!

First thing- STOP!! and don't wait for someone else to stop you. Granted if there is no squib and you stop yourself your stage is done, if an RO stops you and there is nothing in the barrel you get a reshoot (at least in USPSA). If there is a squib your stage is done either way. Depends on the squib. The Arredondo one is a polymer that will not take a good hit with a hammer (at least for me- had to buy a friend a new one). Squibs come in different flavors, there is the primer pop that sets the bullet about an inch or less into barrel and can be tapped out easily enough with any rod. This one can even be done on the stage quite often. Usually comes from no powder in the case but not always. Had one at the 2011 SC sectional that popped and when racked the slide ended up with powder all over my hands and arms. Primer fired, plenty of powder but the two did not get together. Then there is the under power POP. Usually an partial charge for some reason. These vary as to how hard to remove but most likely going to need more than a polymer rod. Last one was one I had awhile back- pop, sizzle. No idea what happened here but it stuck the bullet about 4" up the barrel of my Glock 35. That one was the one I had to buy a new squib rod when it snapped. Ended up needing some good penetrating oil and a steel rod from the hardware store, wrapped in duct tape, a hammer and a wood block with a hole drilled in it. That is what is in my range bag now.

Are you talking about AIM in Blakely? If so they have one in June, here is the link to the thread Task Force Dagger match. Looking forward to the match! Would love to see something else down here late in the year though. That is when it finally cools off again

Last 2 years the match has been the 3rd full weekend of April. Hope it stays the same

One of mine PEExxx s.

You can upload a match without uploading a classifier, they are two separate reports that we have to upload or send in. I always do both at the same time and then pay with credit card but know some other clubs that do it at different times and even some are still out there mailing in their results. Sounds like contacting the SC is in order (and I am saying that as an MD) since you have given the MD a chance to fix the problem. Your match fee should cover the classifier ($1.50 for each shooter in the match and $1.50 for each shooter if a classifier is used).

For this match it more depends on the shooter. If you know where to hold for your combo out to 300 you were pretty well set. Only problem with no magnification most likely would be the dark steel on the stage with the run up the hill. They could be tough to see in the shadows. I shot the match in Am last year with a Vortex Strikefire reddot on a pretty much stock DPMS carbine, it was what I had. I decided to put the doubler (2X screw in) on for the match since the dot was small and I was used to it. Since it was a screw in, I had to shoot the whole match with it installed, with a flip to side magnif. you would not need to do that. I was actually slowed down a bit due to the doubler. When engaging short range targets the magnification made it harder, in particular in and around the barrels on one stage and the close in targets on the hill stage. Those were in the shade and also stacked and put in tight to each other. With the 2x I had to bring my head up to see if I was engaging the some of the stacked targets. The ability to go with straight 1X is important IMHO, either on a reddot and magnif. or with the 1-4x scope.

2012 Area 6 last weekend: 349 total shooters, 82 Limited, 86 Open, 119 Production 2011 Area 6: 349 total, 103 Limited, 104 Open, 81 Production Just 2 matches, not near enough to set a trend but quite a swing anyway. I have put together a Limited Glock for 3 gun and thinking of shooting it for awhile in USPSA. Love how it fits my hand with the undercuts done and magwell, but I am torn- don't really want to leave Production. What are you supposed to do while moving on a stage since you don't always have to be reloading? Not to mention how boring it must be to just worry about breaking down the stage according to the movement and targets and not the reloads

A hat! When it is raining a good brimmed hat is all that stands between you and looking through water- unless your glasses have windshield wipers. Anyone who has shot with me knows I am partial to my Tilley fishing hat. I like the full brim all the way around and having the brim in the back keeps the water from running down your head, neck and then down your back. I was with Reid and even with the wind and rain, I hardly had to wipe off my glasses. Great for sun as well. At the very least a baseball hat, but not nearly as good. Also take extra bandanas or rags. You will get them wet over time and having a dry one to wipe off glasses, grips and hands is worth it. Also, after the last two matches, SC and Area 6, both having some rain- I have taken to keeping the little softside cooler that Universal Shooting Academy gave us at the FL Open. I keep my score sheets, rule book and other things that need extra protection in it when rain is likely. Depending on what the range is like, a chair can be good. I never use a chair to sit, between shooting, pasting, etc. there is no time. But when rain is likely it is nice to be able to put your bag in the chair rather than in the puddle, mud, sand, etc. if there is nowhere else to put it.

Hey Rick, glad it worked out and enjoyed meeting and shooting with you. With the wind knocking down the poppers faster than we were I was beginning to wonder if you would get that last one in! Rain stopped long enough for us to finish out with Stage 8 for the night without dodging the rain drops as well. Also wanted to thank everyone for a putting on a great match again this year, thanks match staff, ROs, stats and all! Looking for info for next year already Great time shooting with everyone on squad 26, great group to meet and shoot with. See you all again at future matches. Oh, and Reid- did you notice that I can count about as well as shoot? I was 4th, not 3rd! That is two matches in a row at 4th.