lumpygravy

This is what I was thinking: to have a skill in the "toolbag" as it were that could be deployed if the situation was suitable. Many times I fall into practicing SHO/WHO because that is usually what's stipulated in many classifiers or standards. But in many field courses, WH is an option and because it is a field course, sometimes shifting to WH freestyle may provide a more stable platform for shots that must reach around a barricade. Something to add to the practice drills list...

+1 To add to the thread: Make it a general rule to call your mom. Don't wait for Mother's Day.

Similarly, make it a general rule to know if another driver is camped out in your blind spot.

Are you shooting a dot or iron sights? Ports and small openings require a minor adjustment for dots because of the height of the dot above the bore. This I recall from when I last shot an open gun. Iron sights less so to not at all. I shoot limited exclusive now. Shooting through a barrel is similar to ports except that you're really shooting through a tunnel. The challenge is to be able to position yourself so that you can see and engage all of the required targets without having to get so close that your gun is inside the barrel. Doing so would then require you to retract the gun as you move to the next array of targets. As for practicing? These stage props are used to increase the difficulty of an engagement by forcing a less than perfect standing position. So as the prior reply suggested, practice putting youself into odd, less than balanced positions. You might try without the ports and barrels first and then introduce them when you feel comfortable shooting from off and balanced stance. Also, dry fire under tables through chair slats, etc.... Almost anything at home can be used as a "prop" and simulate something you might reasonably expect at a match.

wrangler michael keaton or val kilmer (batman 1 vs. batman 2)

Wool. Toe-MAY-Toe or Toe-MAH-Toe?

On the walkthrough, I definitely tried to maintain free style on the rack. I'm also pretty low to the ground with a low(er) center of gravity than most. But deep knee bend or not, the rack was placed so far around the barricade, I couldn't see a way to maintain my balance and a freestyle grip. There was also a brace on the back side of the barricade that prevented a very low stance. One of the other guys pinched the barricade under his right arm. I think someone else braced with their right hand and engaged the rack weak hand only. Now I know how lefties feel shooting around the right side

I just shot a club match where, on one stage, there was a plate rack with a lefty "orientation" - you know only visible from around the left side of a barricade/vision barrier in combination with a fault line that made it difficult for right handed shooters. There happened to be a lefty in the squad and she took the plate rack very naturally in comparison to the preceding righties whose contortions, times and extra shots spoke volumes of the awkwardness they experienced with this part of the stage. Though I have never practiced it, when it was my turn (I'm a righty), I decided that I would transfer to weakhand freestyle to engage the rack like the natural lefty then switch back to stronghand freestyle for the remainder of the stage. It was certainly more comfortable and stable and I think I took one extra shot to clear the rack. I know this is not any sort of technique break through, but until then, I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. It seems like it might be a handy skill to have in the bag if the situation is presented. Anyone else come across this? Do you practice it? Edit: Hmm... maybe this should be under Techniques instead of Tips. Mods please move if miscategorised. lg.

There's something to be said about California living. We may have hoops to jump through for the sport, but when it all comes together, it doesn't get any better. The weather got to the mid-high 70's, not a cloud in the sky, no wind. There were great people runing a great match that ran on time with everything wrapping up in time to get home for the big game. Though my goal was to shoot clean, I collected three edit: four Mikes and one N/S but I managed to shoot 3/5 stages clean. I wasn't (consciously) shooting for time and I could have been smoother in more than a few places, but I didn't DQ or commit any unsafe acts or otherwise spoil a beautiful day. I had one curious malfunction which I'll have to analyse (forunately it was captured on video) but beyond that the gun/ammo functioned perfectly. Now I need to work on my mental preparation and functioning Note to self: remember to bring sunscreen next time

OK - got my CMC 10rd magazines and after looking at what didn'tfit and how, I decided to trim the pads instead of the DP magwell insert. I used a 6" benchtop disc sander and took off the tab and then applied the same ~45 degree chamfer to the front of the pad to match the sides. The front now fits and clears the insert however, the rear corners of the pads are now the interference point. This way, the no-gap insert maintains the no-gap fit. Because I'm having this magwell gunsmith opened and blended, I held off final triming until I get the gun back. If the blend opens up enough of the rear of the magwell insert closest to the MSH, I may not need to trim anymore of the pads.

... and I thought I took a long leave of absence (15 years) Shooting my come back match tomorrow! Booyah!!

Are you going to use a handle or serrations only for operating the slide? I've been looking at the work by Matt Cheely and Gary Natale for a future build and I like the "incline" that Gary does for the front end of the slide. My $.02

After the 15 year layoff, I'm one of those fat guys now

If presented with the same "sell old vs buy new" choice in the future consider keeping the old but getting it done up a bit That's what I'm doing to a very servicable franken gun for far less the cost of a new one setup the same. It's going to be a sexy beast

I think this is related to the press check thread but I did not want to risk hijacking that thread. < Mods please merge if you think appropriate. > How about thumb in the TG after shooting and receiving UL & SC? (to clear a fully chambered but stuck round for example) At UL & SC, I've seen shooters with a stuck round in the chamber, stuck enough that they (for a righty) placed their left thumb in the TG and left hand fingers on top of the slide forward of the ejection port but aft of the front sight. Then, with their right thumb in the grip safety area and the right hand fingers over the rear sight, they used both hands to squeeze the slide open. Obviously the LH thumb is hooked into the TG for additional leverage. But is it a safety violation at the point of UL & SC? Before learning/seeing the "two hand squeeze", when I've had to clear sticky rounds, I used to pinch the front serrations and whack the gun from the back and once had a round slip off the extractor and detonate . That one left a small piece of brass in my chest. I now use the "two hand squeeze" instead of the "pinch/whack" if I have a stuck round at UL &SC. Reading 10.5.9: "Failure to keep the finger outside the trigger guard during loading, reloading, or unloading. Exception: while complying with the “Make Ready” command to lower the hammer of a gun without a decocking lever, or while initially loading a revolver with a spurless hammer." It would seem to me that I've answered my own question and the "two hand squeeze" constitutes unsafe gun handling. Would it be better to ask the RO if I could fire the last round safely into the berm? After the time was recorded of course

Perhaps I mis-understood the OP. It sounded like he went a little too far hogging out the insert to fit his mags and didn't like the "big hole" that he ended up with. OP: if you can, a pic might be nice if you have the time. I have the magwell, but I'm waiting on the mags. I'll try to post pics when I get my stuff together. On the no-gap insert, I'd try to preserve the no-gap "feature" and alter the mags though I can see the advantage to altering the insert instead.

Just to clarify: it was the "crowd" that wanted him to stay and shoot. He is an accomplished shooter and I and others could learn much from watching him practice and I'm sure we will in the future. Though he didn't plan on it, he just had a lesson of a different subject for that day.

Yeah but that one was almost three years ago. But that brings to mind followup questions: Has anyone changed their preference over time? If so have you gone lighter/heavier and why?

Sorry for your loss. Losing a family member (parent, in-law, brother/sister, child) is always painful. It's the club no one wants to join but everyone does sooner or later. You may be saddened by their passing, but rejoice in their life. I lost my dad a few years back and even though we didn't have the closest relationship, it hurt for a long time. It's going to hurt bad when my mom goes because we are very close.

I'm going to be in this exact situation in the near future (1911 style L10 gun, DP no gap magwell and CMC 10rd mags). It seems like you chose to trim the insert instead of the magazine basepads/shrouds. Without trying to sound like a wiseacre , can you explain your choice to alter the magwell insert? My mags are on order so I can't tell if you see something about them that made you decide to trim the insert. Is there something about the magazine basepads/shrouds that made you think you think trimming the magwell insert was the better choice?

Just an informal poll for 1911/2011 triggers. My guns are setup for 28oz. or 1.75lbs. I know there are some folks run them super light as well as folks who prefer a trigger with some weight. What's your preference and why? Also, did you do your own trigger or have it done by a 'smith? My limited gun was done, but I did the L10 gun. thanks!

This video was before my time, but I recognise this range as the Richmond Rod & Gun Club, home of the Richmond Hotshots, in Richmond CA. Though the Golden Gate Championship is no more, the Richmond Hotshots is a thriving action pistol club in the San Francisco Bay Area.

So it's a practice day at the range and folks are having fun taking their turns, throwing bullets downrange on a practice field course. One gent, not a noob, steps into the box for his first run and before receiving the "Make Ready" command, unholsters his gun. Instantly realising his mistake, he DQs himself. This gent is well known at this range and amidst crys of "It's only practice!!" and "I didn't see anything!!" from the peanut gallery, said gent retires himself for the day. He later explained to another shooter the importance and the reasoning of his self DQ and this provided an important lesson to all within earshot. I'm paraphrasing: "There can be no exceptions to saftey. If I was allowed to shoot, what about the next guy who gets DQ'd and says well "so-and-so" didn't get DQ'd for the same offense?" In the years that I've been in this sport, I've seen many try to rationalise or somehow justify their way out of a DQ. This is the first I've seen someone self DQ and turn the unfortunate incident into a learning experience for other, less experienced shooters. Sir: you frequent this forum from time to time and you know who you are. All I can say is "Cheers" for doing what you did. I hope to conduct myself with half the integrity you displayed.

So after a near 15 year LOA from the sport, I've returned with a lot of renewed enthusiasm and I'm having some work done on a franken gun .45 to clean up my dremel hacking, etc... and make it a nice looking L10 gun. Anyway I only have two really old CMC Shooting Star 10rd mags that I stripped of the factory base pads/shrouds. 15 years later, those shrouds would look nice with the new DP Ice magwell so I call CMC Tech Support. Unfortunately they've discontinued the Shooting Star design in favor of their current offerings and do not have nor sell the old base pads/shrouds. Can't fault them for that at all. However, Tech Support went he extra mile for my out-of-the-blue email and found some used base pads/shrouds in storage that they would willing ship to me for free (for the cost of shipping). Words cannot convey my astonishment at such a high level of great customer service. Thanks CMC for supporting not only the shooting sports, but the little guy like me who may not have a lot, but just want to make what I have nice.