Chuck Merriam

I am not the fastest nor the best but I can hold my own. +1 on Auto-pilot....you will experience the fastest runs on the stages you are most (prepaired, comfortable, calm, relaxed) these are all the same thing. When you get done you will remember all the moves like a movie (The Zone) I have vastly improved my overall shooting by rehearsing the stage in my head with eyes closed just before I go on stage. This gives my mind a preview of what is about to happen, and lets me relax to auto pilot. No negative thoughts allowed. I also evaluate the key point of the stage, be it speed or other stuff. This however doesn't mean I don't make mistakes, have a bad plan, or change in mid stream but it cuts the screw-ups way down. On a similar note...people often comment on how children learn complicated (to adults) things easily. I think this is because their brains are involved just enough to let it happen. So my advise is to shoot more matches and think less on mechanics. Also don't add to many adjustments at once or you will be the guy standing on the tee over his ball for ten minutes trying to settle the growing demons in his mind.

Just practice and soon you will shoot fast enough to beat the gamers at their own game. I have a local indoor match where the guys start to bicker after awhile...about poofer loads and such. I don't get involved and when asked what I think I just say, "let them cheat, I will beat them 90% of the time". I have the opportunity about once a month to shoot with two GM's and I have improved by leaps and bounds just from following their leads and mental preparations. Good luck and quietly subdue your competition.

Shot the light recoilmaster this weekend in a small USPSA match and won by a mile. This thing was shooting scary flat! No one could even get close on the hose stages... It was like I had a comp on the thing...the front sight just bobbed a little. The RO asked what kind of .22 I was shooting. I know everyone seems to hate these things, but what do you do when they make the gun shoot so perfect? (buy a backup one!?!) I will carry backup tungsten and steel guide rods. The Barsto barrel has the relief cut on the bottom like it is supposed to for the things.

I just got a Light Recoilmaster from another shooter on the USPA site...so that will be next. I have an Aluma Buff from dawson to try. But if Bob sends them without the buff that will be on my list. I wasn't much of a recoil master kind of guy, then when I was building this new gun, I took the good parts off my Edge and made it back to the way it was when I got it. The next match I shot while the new one was at Robar...I almost won...Only 8% back from a GM production guy. Not bad for a B!

+1 on the shoot to to YOUR best. I look at the scores if they are posting during the day if we have a break. You can usually tell if you tank one when you finish it. However if you did good on a stage you can gain some confidence about your perception of your ability. I use them as a tool to see my weakness. At the Area 6 I noticed that I was not doing too well on the fast close shooting....so I needed to speed up and worry less on the points and more on the time. On the technical longer shooting stages I was just fine as is. Just my .02

I have used glock brass in a STI, Bar-Sto STI, Glock 24 and a S&W 610. I have dillon dies with a competition seating die to make quick length changes. I have never run into a problem. I do have my preferences for brass but none in .40 have ever been a problem. In .45 the Amerc is alway sorted for the practice pile.

You'll love it..I've loved mine. Just tweak the sear spring for a good 2.5 lb trigger. A fiber optic is all I needed to be good with it.

I've been thinking of trying an IDPA match for fun at a great local range and wondered if the Kahr P45 is a CDP class gun? I like it alot and it is my carry weapon of choice for size and simplicity. I could shoot my less baer...but what class for it?

What springs do you guys run in a lightened slide brazos gun? I have a tungsten RR and an EGW shok buff with a 12lb wolff variable. I wasn't very impressed with the cycle of the gun....but it is new and just completed. I was running the same parts in an Edge to my liking. I want to waste as little money trying to figure this out. So 10lbs? Aluma buff? Recoilmaster? (I kind of like it in my Edge) or what? My load is a 185gn Zero with 5.0gn 320 @ 1.220" Any opinions are welcome...short of laughing at me too hard

Yes it's a SJC. I shot it today and it did great..just need to lower the ejection port or try tuning the ejector and springs. 4 port Storm Lake barrel makes some noise with Win White Box! My light loads (147gn) are very quiet....I am going to try some 125gn bullets next.

Just finished...going to sight in tomorrow.

Stage 7 at the Area 6 champ. Two stars with two poppers and one plate, all behind a baracade (13 steel total). All shot from one side, except one popper to be taken on other side. B class limited 19th out of 128 shooters 12.8 sec. I usually shoot stars fine, but had to visualize doing it well and did. I was one sec slower than Chris Tilley GM and watched my squad mate Shannon Smith GM cut'm down in 9.9 sec....WOW.

Stage 7 at the Area 6 champ. Two stars with two poppers and one plate, all behind a baracade (13 steel total). All shot from one side, except one popper to be taken on other side. B class limited 19th out of 128 shooters 12.8 sec. I usually shoot stars fine, but had to visualize doing it well and did. I was one sec slower than Chris Tilley GM and watched my squad mate Shannon Smith GM cut'm down in 9.9 sec....WOW.

This topic reminds me of running my own company. It's hard to step back and watch your own money being waisted. Letting go to see the big picture is what makes good leaders great! But thanks to you, some new shooter is now hooked on this sport. So relax, pat yourself on the back, you will get better at it.

your mag spring is not keeping up....thus the nose dive.....faster cycle will do this....extra power springs should fix it.

If you have just a little creep after final installment you can boost the trigger, but be carefull not to go overboard. It will take that very small hangup out and smooth/mate any small burrs. Just push on the hammer lightly as you pull the trigger (do two times and the creep will be gone) It just speeds up the mating process. I have done this to several triggers that needed that mirco adjust.

Need a new coating for the blaster I'm building and I like a dark gun. Seems my eyes don't need any more competition while shooting. Blueing is fine, but just too wimpy when is comes to the hot August weather hear by the coast. This ceraguard stuff looks interesting, from what I can tell they originally used this stuff on industrial pipe to keep the elbows and fittings from wearing through. Give me some opinions....I want to get it right the first time ($$$)!

I tested a load with 180 Zero and WRP loaded 4.6 n320 OAL 1.150 and it made around a 172 PF with ease. Just for those of you wondering. I think I could go 0.1 grain less, but this is a match safe speed.

For single stack you are allowed only a steel full length guide rod...tungsten is gaming and not allowed. They are trying to keep this class pure like production...so you can't bankroll a good game. I would get the steel tool less FL guide rod from Dawson Precision. I have the tungsten version in my Limited gun and it will make you want to clean your gun more, because it will be easier.

Don't get too caught up on the close targets. This game is an amazing bled of speed and accuracy.......my first few matches went like this: Good points....too slow good points...faster bad points...too fast ok points......medium speed get the picture...I am still learning when to step on it and when to slow down a little. You will to

I would say single stack. If you go Limited 10 you mine as well use a high cap loaded down to 10 rounds and be able to go up to Limited with many more bullets. You will get fast with time and then you will want to go faster:P On the caliber choice...9mm is a great cheap shooter but it puts you at minor scoring or into production (with an approved gun). 40 S&W would be my choice...almost as cheap. BUT you will buy a reloader sooner or later.....your about to get hooked. You will see why after your first match. Shoot what you have and get ready....and what ever you do resist the urge to buy too much too fast. Always come to the forum to ask your questions...we can save you time, money and sanity.

A little tape on the raw spot and keep at it. A death grip is good...you'll love it later. I have a Shanahan grip on my STI and it chews my hand on the first stage and then I forget about it.

Just a tad better with the STI, but you do have a point! The G24 has a Vanek, but we won't tell the RO...Shhhhh :0

The gun in your avitar is the one I am building to replace the Edge I have now......Bob's doing a Lightened slide frame and barrel fit. I kind of figured they would allow and maybe get a chuckle out of it...I would really just want to finish the match for the fun factor. I will be at the SC State match and the Area 3 this year...so I need to have a backup.

Would it be ok to use a G24 as a backup for an STi Edge if it goes down? Up to the RO? I don't think I would have an advantage....match would probably be over for me anyway. Would I have to use the same ammo as the primary (OAL 1.200) or could I carry separate ammo for the backup (OAL 1.140)? Seems to be a lot of ..."you'd just have to ask???I'm not sure?" Yes I know I would have to run the chrono stage again....just seems a shame to have to have another $2k gun in the bag. I am building a nice new limited gun, but would like to sell the one I have now to ease the pain when I am done....my g24 would be a good backup. What about holster issues? I have a limited type holster but not speedy mag holders. I think they would see, I would be truely be backing up