GOF

I wasn't aware that I made any videos for Ruger. In fact, I'm certain I didn't. The "he" you refer to certainly isn't me. But, the gun is ideal for IDPA. It's a shame they didn't bring it out in a 5.5-inch barrel for ICORE Classic division.

I'm glad you brought that up. I actually had a hand in the design of the Match Champion. It was geared for IDPA to recreate the basic "feel" of the S&W M-66. BTW... it's a shame to see that Matt has cancelled the monthly Steel Challenge matches at GTR. They were fun. Edited to ask....Where the heck did those line through the copy come from?

I'm looking through the new Rule Book, and under "Scoring" I do not see the 5 second penalty for Failure To Neutralize (FTN). Is this now gone and you just score the target?

Never mind. I just talked to Robert Ray at IDPA HQ. He says it means exactly what it says. Reload anytime, and anywhere, as long as you are not exposed to unengaged targets. You can leave a shooting position with an empty gun, reload as you move to the next one, as long as you are not exposed to unengaged targets during the process. That's a significant change.

If this has been covered in previous posts I apologize, but I could not find it. It used to be that a PE was earned if a shooter left a shooting position to advance to another shooting position, with an empty gun -- regardless of whether they were exposed to unengaged targets or not. NOW.. I see a new a reloading rule for 2017 that says you can reload standing, or moving, as long as you are not exposed to unengaged targets while you do it. That would seem to make leaving a shooting position with an empty gun, and reloading as you moved to the next one, perfectly legal if you are not exposed to unengaged targets while you do it. Right? Wrong? Brain Trust?

I have a ROMEO1. In terms of administrative/operating procedures it is, IMHO, superior to anything I've seen so far... and I've seen a lot of them. The dot is only 3 MOA, but it is very bright. I wish they would come out with a 6 to 8 MOA dot. It has sometimes been difficult for me to quickly acquire when shooting into a low sun. Beyond that I's a great sight..,.. but, SIGs Picatinny rail mount will not fit some Weaver base mounts that other Picatinny mounts will fit. I had to file open a slot on the tip-off Weaver rail on my elderly MKII to get the SIG to fit.

Ken, and that will be what IDPA... a privately held company who is not required to reveal private data... wants you to know. I remember seeing (actually, on the IDPA Forum, where you, Ken, touted that as progress after Joyce took over) where they were stating 18,000 or so classifications recorded within their membership and equated that to total membership. I think they failed to note that many IDPA shooters who had been in the game for awhile were classified in more than one division. I'm currently classified in six divisions. I know a half-dozen shooters who had 4 to 5 classifications that have since 'gone on' and not renewed their memberships, or shoot IDPA matches... they prefer USPSA, or ICORE. Do those 'claimed' classifications accurately reflect current 'paid' IDPA members? Or, does what I am seeing in NE FL (where I have been active, SO, for over a decade) reflect a decline in IDPA participation... and the resulting loss of 'paid' memberships to the organization? We can't get a good look at 'paid' IDPA membership, so we truly don't know. But when I see IDPA matches that used to run 90+ shooters (at the bigger clubs... and 40+ at the smaller clubs) now running 70 and 25 shooters, I have to say that IDPA is not growing... at least in my little NE FL area. I do note that one large gun club in Gainesville started running IDPA matches last year years but dropped them. Not enough turnout... although their USPSA and 2&3 Gun matches are doing just fine. Another, smaller, club (where I have shot for a decade and am still a CSO) used to run 35-45 shooters, now has about 20-25 turn out. I can't speak for the rest of the country. But I do know what is happening in my backyard.

I'm seeing a significant decrease in IDPA participation in NE/Central FL. Considering that this area is a hot bed of competitive shooting (more USPSA/Steel Challenge/ICORE/IDPA matches within a two hour drive than there are weekend days in the month to be able to shoot them all) I would opine that the IDPA exodus... at least in this area... is real.

I put a KKM barrel in my S&W CORE to replace the factory ported barrel and make the gun legal for USPSA CO. The KKM has a 1-16 twist. A 1-10 twist is pretty much standard for 9mm. The KKM barrel would not shoot my normal 147 grain/880 fps loads. The 1-16 twist is too slow unless I run them faster than I want. I did find that Bayou 124 TCG bullets shot very well from the KKM, so I use those now. But I have to drive them to 1050 fps (more powder) and the recoil increased. Find out what twist rate KKM has for the barrel you want. Bianchi has ( I think) a 120 PF. You can make that sub-sonic with a 147 and a soft-shooting load, but a 1-16 twist won't stabilize them at 880 fps. The twist rate can make a difference.

I agree with this. No one should take ammo that they know is questionable to any match. The shooter is not the 'only one' on the line. A shooter has no right to subject the RO, or others nearby, to their faulty loading procedures. "Have Fun" is the initial objective. But, "Be Safe" is the mandatory goal!

Has anyone seen decent aftermarket target style grips for the S&W Victory or the Ruger MKIV? All I've seen are "pretty grips" that mimic the deplorable factory grips... but in nice wood. I've checked with Hogue and they are "working on it"... but I haven't seen anything else at a reasonable price.

I shoot Carry Optics with a S&W CORE in Steel Challenge and USPSA. I have found that a consistent hand start position... that can then be practiced in dry/draw is an asset. I bring my hands up to my muffs, open the hands, and touch the muffs with the thumbs of both hands. Once you have a specific hand position you can play with holster position to get the most consistent draw stroke. It does little good if you whip out a 1 second draw on one string, and then fumble a 5 second draw on the next. A consistent hand position at the start helps keep me from 'screwing the pooch'.

Improved Cylinder should not be damaged by slugs and will give you a decent pattern with shot.

+1. Shooting IDPA won't make you a better USPSA shooter. The mindset is different for both games. I know. I'm a IDPA Master in SSP and BUG and an Expert in all other divisions. But I'm only C class in USPSA (I can't run well as a Super Senior). The games don't meld.

This is probably the first time in the last decade that I have agreed with Freeidaho. As a IDPA Master and a trophy-winning competitor from their first World Championship, down though several Nationals, Regionals, and State Championships, (as well as a former certified SO from 2007 until Joyce took over with her computer re-cert that my dial-up computer could not handle, so I said the heck with it)... I have seen far to many SOs who "joined last week" and now want to run squads. That seldom works. There should be some level of experience and time in the sport before one starts running squads. Just MHO.

Them cowboys ain't all dumb

I have been there. A key for me was in getting the 'grip' in the holster and the proper grip angle to bring the dot center screen when drawing and presenting the gun to a target. Dry Draw practice can do this. I also found that I was sometimes still 'back focusing' on where the iron sights where, instead of using a total target focus and allowing the dot to super impose itself on the target. Steel Challenge was an excellent practice to overcome that. For long time iron sight shooters transitioning to a dot can take a bit of time... but it will happen.

Did you use the sealing plate that Trijicon provides? It helps with that problem. Also a piece of electrical tape over the battery helps. I had that same problem... until I discovered the sealing plate/tape. No more problems!

Does anyone have any experience running a silicon carbide hone, or other tool, to polish the chambers on titanium revolver cylinder chambers?

Be very careful with that cylinder hone. If you cut too far forward and alter the throat you will ruin the accuracy from that chamber. Don't ask me how I know. You really only need to polish the rear 2/3s of the cylinder. Mark the hone at the proper point and don't shove it in beyond that. If you're careful, that hone works great. If you get a bit to aggressive... you'll need a new cylinder.

I'd be careful about going too light. I loaded up some .38 Spl Xtreme 147/.357 bullets with a light charge of N320. They had .22LR recoil and shot 2 inch 25 yard groups. Then I shot a steel match with my 6 inch GP-100 ICORE gun. It was hilarious! Pop... pause... Ting! Shooters behind me told me I was transitioning to the next target before the bullet hit the last target. I have no idea how fast they were going, but I probably could have thrown them at about the same speed. Didn't chrono them. But, they screwed up my normal rhythm. I think with any bullet weight used you would want to make no less than 850 fps. Pop... pause... Ting! may be fun to watch... but it's not so much fun to be the shooter.

Treat BUG like you're shooting a Revolver.... think in terms of 6 rounds downrange and slide lock reloads... you'll be just fine. At least, that's MHO as a IDPA BUG MA and Rev EX.

I can't find any rule that covers dropping a magazine DURING the ULSC. It did not become dislodged from a magazine/speedloader carrier... the shooter did not fire any rounds while the magazine was on the ground...he did not make a slide forward speed reload. He just followed the SOs commands to ULSC. I see no issue.

I'm using a stock Victory right now, with a Burris FFIII 8 MOA. The grips suck (for my hands) and I have to remember to take a 'death grip' with my shooting hand thumb in 'just the right position'. If I don't do that the rounds start to wander. Grip tape on the front strap helped some, but it's not perfect. Would be very interested in oversize grips when someone starts to make them. I like the trigger rhythm better than my MKII. It's more similar to my CORE that I shoot in CO. And the Victory eats everything with no malfs. Boringly reliable. Groups under an inch at 25 yards with standard velocity loads.