GOF

+1 to Gregg K. I too would figure out a way to get 6 rounds out of the gun rather than do a RWR. But... irrespective of what the Rule Book says I have seen RWRs required in a Limited Standards stage, and there is no way around a RWR there. So... vest pocket open, speedloader sitting inside, dump everything in there and come out with 6 fresh. It's a PITA... but it beats a PE. I can't force a MD to adhere to the Rule Book at a club match.

I do a strong hand reload. RWRs are simple from that. You wear a vest... the pocket flap is tucked inside and open. You are allowed to carry your third speedloader in a pocket. That's the pocket it goes into. Break cylinder, dump everything into right hand, dump in pocket, come out with speedloader and load. It can be very fast.

That's the kind of wording that lets "Tribal Rules" pop into play. Does it mean that the shooter must be empty (as the wording might imply given the "not reloading to fire the last one or more rounds on the stage") or does it give increased disgression to the crop of new SOs to automatically give a FTDR to anyone who fails to fire the required number of rounds specified in the COF description.

Is that an official clarification from IDPA HQ?

Not a bad choice at all. My normal CCW is a 9c and I've won HOA at some BUG matches with it.

Given the rather casual, and somewhat imprecise, use of the English language that has appeared in previous Rule Books this could definitely use an official clarification. Did they actually mean "each hit"? Not that this "each hit" ruling would a bad thing .... I just have to wonder if that is what they actually intended.

If you have 231/HP38 you really don't need the Titegroup. They do the same thing, and better IMHO. I say sell the TG.

With 231/HP38, start with 3.2 grains and then chrono & accuracy check. Somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.6 range should get you a 130 PF load in your gun. Load, check, chrono.

OMG!! that was so sexist. Did you not realize that a female is now running IDPA? Shame on you!

Win 231/HP38 will get you where you need to go. Start at 3.2 grains... check function/accuracy... chrono... and go from there. It's an excellent powder for what your OP says you want to do. Another option, if you can find it, is Ramshot True Blue... that's an AWESOME powder for 9mm/147.

231/HP38 is an accurate powder. The powder itself should not open groups. Check your crimp, check your OAL. check your bench rest technique. I can't imagine the powder being an issue here. The is something else going on.

It would be nice if IDPA HQ could find someone who has experience in writing clear & concise Rules that require no guesswork or 'interpretation'. One would think that would be possible..... ...... Maybe someone in Berryville needs to take a 'ego time out' and admit they are in over their heads when it comes to writing clear & concise Rules. A properly written Rule should require no interpretation -- it should be understood by all.

This new division should be popular. I wish they had pegged the barrel length at less than 4 inches... but given all the stupid stuff IDPA has done in the last year, this isn't quite so bad.

Rumor is that ESR will be folded into SSR for IDPA with a 155 PF for moonclip guns. If that is true, the 625 still has some life. At that PF it can be competitive with a speedloader/105 PF revolver.

There are few written rules for ICORE. If the MD puts it out in the stage description, then go by that. I've shot a number of stages where X-ring hits deducted a second from your time. I have come to the conclusion (at least for me) that trying for Xs, as opposed to shooting As, at targets beyond 10 or 12 yards is not worth the effort on your score. You take too much time to hit the X, and miss some anyway. Inside 10-12 yards it's worth shooting for Xs. The time to shoot the X at that distance is worth it.

And you'll be shooting it in which match?

The 125 PF requirement for the new CCP Division would seem to mean that the ammo has to clock 125 PF from the longest barrel allowed in the CCP Division - 4.1. inch. Ya might want to bump your reload powder charge a touch. 8+1 capacity? I'm thinking that a lot of guns can play. I think I'll start with my M&P 9c, and see how things go.

They have that already. They call it ICORE. I doubt if USPSA or IDPA will emulated it.

It was, and still is, great on pins. But, a 8 shot .38 running a 158 or 160 grain SWC or wide mouthed hollowpoint, bullet at 1000 fps is just as good, with similar recoil. And, you have a few extra shots if you Screw The Pooch. Live by the Rules -- die by the Rules. The 625 lived by the Rules. They have now changed. Can anyone think of a reason to buy a 625 other than competition? And, now it's no longer competitive. Hello Boneyard.

It may not be dead just yet.... but it's dying. The only reason it ever achieved any prominence was because 'completion rules' favored it. Now they don't. Live by the rules... die by the rules.

A lot depends on the gun. With a Speer 230 LRN (swaged bullet) I was getting 760 fps from a 4.5 inch M&P with 3.8 grains. 3.6 grains got me about 725 fps. My suggestion would be to start at 3.6 -- chrono-- and go from there. Clays is sweet with lead in a .45 ACP!

Training on the range with a timer is an excellent idea. That timer & the targets are the 'coach' that can't be with you that day. When you have established some smooth timer/target scores and on one day you cannot meet them... it's time to ask yourself "What am I doing wrong?"... Is it my grip, stance? Am I pushing too fast? Am I seeing the sight picture on the target I need to see? Stop and think! You know what you can do.... on those days when you can't do it, figure out what part of your technique is going to hell..... and then fix it. Many years ago a member of the US Shooting Team (shotgun) told me that when her practice day went to hell she "Went back to my ABCs". The fundamentals. That's often where the problem lies..... they are called the "fundamentals" for a reason..... stop and think about what in your technique has changed... and then fix it. Sometimes just going back and doing things a bit slower can get you back into form. If you can do it frequently, you should be able to do it often. If not, look at your ABCs.

Rob, there will still be a few purists that get 'bent outa shape' regardless of what division you put the NFC shooters in. But, if you do have a separate division, they can't bitch too much.... just ell 'em ..."It's the Rules. I didn't write 'em. I just have to follow 'em!" Maybe you could even grow this to " NFC Racegun" and "NFC BUG" divisions. (Or use a BUG program... or maybe 'Industry'... or some such other scoring thingy to separate the various NFCs into somewhat competitive classes). You might start making your club some serious money! AND... operating under IDPA Rules -- at least as they are stated this week. WHAT A COUNTRY!!!

Every club needs enough shooters to show up on match day to make it worth denying non-competing members the use of those facilities during that time. If NFC brings shooters in, it's a good thing. Expect some "grumbling" from the purists... but the books have to balance or the club will stop hosting those matches -- I've seen it happen more than once.

WSF has not worked for me in 120 PF and down loads. Too much case volume and an incomplete burn. For IDPA you'll want something around 110-115 PF. WSF won't load down that far. HP38/231 will, so will Clays and Clay Dot (my first choice) Red Dot also works well and a friend reports good results with 700X. I have started playing with some BE-86 and it has promise, although I haven't finalized anything in .38 with it yet.