GOF

I also shoot an occasional IDPA match with my carry gun & carry mode. I find it very helpful... both for practice with my carry guns (Glock 29 and M&P 9mm compact) and for practice with my normal carry mode -- which in FL is gun & spare mag under a loose fitting tee shirt. It's simple & effective CC practice.

There is no PF is SCSA, so just to play I brought out my .38 Spl six-shot ICORE Classic gun and gave it a go. I did find that 115-125 grain coated lead bullet wimp loads were effective, but I also found that I needed a minimum of 720 fps to get a bang/ting instead of a bang/pause/ting. Getting 720 fps still made a light recoiling load, softer than the 160 125 PF loads I used in ICORE. A six-shot gun isn't competitive in Steel Challenge, but I did manage to work my way into B class ISR with it. The right velocity is important for a smooth rhythm. It also helps to have a sense of humor if you're shooting a six-shot gun.

There was a time, back when Bill Wilson ran things, where each state had an SO trainer. They would travel from club to club and hold training classes for those shooters the MD recommended become SOs. I was certified via that route in 2007. It was an eight-hour class, including range time. The trainers were all paid a monthly stipend to cover their time and travel. Joyce Fowler stopped that when she took over; too expensive. No money for the trainers, and thus not too many trainers. Not surprising that local clubs have 'not so well-trained' SOs.

That was the 'sequence shooting' rule. I'm not certain that is still in effect. The best thing to do it listen to the stage briefing and ask any questions you may have.

There are hard plastic, reusable freezer packs available. Putting one of those in a plastic box, or small cooler, with the pad when it's not being used seems to work well in Flagler County, FL. At the end of the day, just put them back into a freezer, and they'll be good to go next match. I use those in my soft cooler to carry water, and they are great.

That still doesn't explain why some clubs are not re-affiliating with IDPA, even though they may still be hosting IDPA-like matches.

I'm not knocking IDPA as a competitive shooting sport. When Bill Wilson ran things I was a certified SO and accumulated a pile of trophies and plaques from International Postal Matches, 2011 World Championship, National and numerous Regional & State championships from a half-dozen states. I'm no longer a paying member, but I do like shooting a match every few months with my carry gun&gear to keep in practice. I do hear that there was a noticeable loss of members when Joyce Fowler took over, but now I'm seeing established, long-time affiliated clubs saying "Bye bye, no thanks". One match director told me this was because they didn't... and couldn't... meet IDPA's new requirements. Any info?

It seems like a pretty good idea to me. Rimfire, in many different games, is very popular.

I have two Ruger GP100s (six shots), one a 4.2-inch for IDPA and a 6-inch for ICORE Classic. Within those two organizations they have put a lot of trophies in my "I Love Me" wall. Both have trigger jobs with Wilson or Wolfe spring kits that produce a 7.50 DA trigger pull. Rugers are built like tanks and keep going like the Energizer Bunny. I did have to send one (the 4.2) back to Ruger after 35,000 rounds of 125 PF (+P) required by IDPA until just a few years ago, and they got it fixed quickly. Ruger's customer service is second to none. I even managed to make B Class in Steel Challenge with the six-inch, even though 6 rounds isn't a competitive gun in ISR. I have played with the 8 shot Super, and it would be a much better choice in Steel, although I'm not so certain whether going Limited in ICORE is a better bet than six-shot Classic. They way most of the matches I've shot are set up, and 8-shot will leave a fair number of live rounds on the ground. That's my 2c and worth every penny you paid for it.

You might also consider loading .44 Special instead of .44 Magnum. A 200 grain bullet at 750 fps will work well. Beyond that, yes, plan for 30 round stages.

+1!

I beg to differ. I have seen it happen.

To get the round high enough to enable the 'catch' the slide must be very forcefully racked to the rear. As well, the gun must be held with the ejection port facing up in order to put the round into 'catchable' territory. That's a departure from the normal position upon firing. This can create the potential hazard of the primer striking the ejector at high speed - which can certainly set it off. And, with the ejection port facing up so that all concerned get the chance to experience powder, brass, and lead in their face.

I tend to use techniques that don't present the potential for a round going off. That seems like a good idea to me. YMMV

No. I'm capable of more than one deliberate and practiced action. I just use the technique that is most appropriate to the current situation.

I'm a Super Senior and I have no problem doing this. You just roll your right wrist to the right. It's pretty easy.

Don't overlook the ammo coming out of the new Remington plant in Arkansas. Their Thunderbolt load used to be a joke, but I recently had some of the new manufacture printing 1.2-inch 100-yard groups from a Thompson Center .22 semi-auto rifle. It's also been perfect from my 10/22. It is high-speed, but there's not recoil difference in a rifle for Steel Challenge (it also makes certain the timer picks up the shot). it's also less expensive and starting to become available. I'm very happy with it.

Think about what the ROs are going through as they stand there watching the procedure. It's as hazardous to them as it is to the shooter. If the gun is canted to the ground and the round goes Boom! at least the gun provides some shield for both participants.

+1

That's a civil way to deal with this. If that doesn't work, speak with the RO or MD. That shooter's behavior is unsportsmanlike conduct.

Executing the flip&catch correctly requires the proper wardrobe. If you don't have one of those real fancy multi-colored shirts with everybody else's name on them, you'll look like an idiot. If you sweep yourself, or the RO, you'll confirm that initial impression.

I've shot both the target and the SCR. I was very surprised by the TandemKross comp on the SCR. It cut muzzle rise with high-speed rounds to the same level as standard velocity without the comp. I would not have thought there would be enough gas pressure in a .22LR to make a comp work. But I was wrong here. I put a lot of rounds through both and the only malfs were a few tip-up jams with the same mag in the SCR. I'd blame the mag. The SCR is a pretty solid gun and a good, and inexpensive, way to get into rimfire pistol in Steel Challenge.

The majority of the SSP guns being used are duty-type semi-autos that have 15 to 17 round mags from the factory (except in the Commie states). Why not recognize reality?

Good plan. But, leave the 140mm mags at home for IDPA. They load mags to 10 rds, making a 140 unneeded and the 140s won't fit the IDPA CO box.

S&W CORE 9mm... standard 17 round mags with TTI extensions gets me 22 in two of them and 23 in the other.