Matt in TN

Reminder: you will need a light of some kind to navigate and shoot in the cave (Stage 3). If you show up without a light you will not be allowed to shoot and will be given a zero for the stage. Weaponlights are fine to shoot with, but you'll also need a separate light to navigate parts of the cave before the shooting starts. I don't care if you carry a giant spotlight with a 12V truck battery, but you must carry it for the entire course!If you've never been to the cave before, here's a preview video from 2017 (the names are different, but the basics are the same this year) that will give you a better idea what to expect:https://youtu.be/hq52C43sXD4

Tactical Tailor committed to send $500 worth of gear to be an obstacle sponsor - but then actually sent me almost $1,300 worth of gear. So I'm bumping them up to a full Stage Sponsor, of course! They sent 3 each of their covert rifle cases, shooters mats, and gym bags - and they look to be super high quality! Be sure to thank them and don't forget to look to them if you need any great RNG gear. https://www.tacticaltailor.com/

Some of you planning ahead and paying attention noticed a small blurb in the Course of Fire (downloadable on the Practiscore match page): "Get yourself and all your gear over a 6’ high wall" and had some questions and concerns. I'm posting here to make it fair for everyone. Yes, there will be a 6' high wall. Getting over a wall is a very real-world applicable skill and is something I definitely want to test. It will be vertical - no angles. It will have NO ropes, steps, handholds, etc. - it's just a wall. It will be 8' wide to allow more than one competitor to go over it at a time. But still - if you're struggling with the wall and another competitor comes up behind you, give them some room and learn from how they get over - then copy them! There is no "bypass" or "take the penalty and go on" provision for this or any other obstacle. You must complete it in order to continue. My ROs on-site have the authority to modify the challenge on a case by case basis as necessary - but only in very extreme situations (such as if a competitor has no arms). Make plans to figure out a way to do this, using only the gear you carry and your body itself. You are more than welcome to use a ladder - but you have to carry that ladder throughout the entire course! My hope is that everyone easily flies over the 6' wall this year, and we raise it to an 8' wall next year. Here are some good examples for techniques you might want to try:

I am pleased to announce Resiliency Outreach, Inc. will have three shooters running with the Staff on Friday, and CEO and former 5th Special Forces Group Sergeant Pat Russell will be on hand to talk about his various projects helping veterans on Saturday and Sunday. Money is always appreciated, but there are many other ways you can help if you want to get involved. Check out https://resiliencyoutreach.org/ for more information.

So you want to know who you're up against? We have 157 total competitors (81 5k and 76 10k), including staff. 23 of these nuts are going to run both races for the "15k Challenge". We have people coming from TWENTY different states to our little piece of Kentucky at what I like to call "Disneyland for Grownups" - better known as Rockcastle Shooting Center. Below are some basics on the competitors. If you haven't already, please visit your match management link on Practiscore and be sure your information is complete and correct. It will help me do more things like this going forward!

Curious - why do you prefer the JP over the Armalite? What's different?

Being a small part of someone else's "life changing event" has been the biggest surprise and is now my favorite part of hosting these matches. FB settings made sharing this difficult, so I faked it with a screenshot and permission from Jackson. This dude poured every ounce of energy and willpower he had into the course last year - and now he's down 70 lbs and crushing triathlons! Who will be next???

I have the 308 version of this and it's awesome. I say "Merry Christmas!"

Outstanding - thanks everyone!

Just a reminder - registration opens at 10:00am central time tomorrow morning. The 5k sold out in 17 minutes last year. Get in while you can! 5k link: https://www.practiscore.com/5k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2019/register?fbclid=IwAR0uc0KuRLvd_dYoJGpAKgvGgQgEj0O0tLtFacROgY_Z2sKKz36Q1vXdj4M 10k link: https://www.practiscore.com/10k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2019-clone-1/register?fbclid=IwAR34-UcIOSizv5IxPAuQ0bU1WypupMl4CGL2uBXFyxjT6CVtSUmtDRXIMIc

I am thrilled to announce Magpul Industries Corp. is back this year as a Stage Sponsor. They will bring you Rusty Trumble's evil Stage 2: Magpul's Improvised Support. https://www.magpul.com/

Registration will open two weeks from today at 10:00am Central Time on Saturday, December 15th. Full payment is due when you register. Last year the 5k sold out in 17 minutes and the 10k took a few days to sell out - so make plans to be near a computer with a credit card when it opens if you want to get in! Here's the 5k registration link. Total required hit count for the 5k is 38 rifle and 30 pistol (24 if you listen well). Yes - the round count is low. This is a simple skills test, not a hose-fest. You will be well tested. https://www.practiscore.com/5k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2019/register Here's the 10k registration link. Total required hit count for the 10k is 44 rifle and 42 pistol (36 if you listen well). https://www.practiscore.com/10k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2019-clone-1/register A full Course of Fire, Map, and rules are available as downloads at the registration link on Practiscore. You will need a Practiscore login to register - don't wait until the 15th to get one.

Everyone simulates shooting from a boat with a wobbly platform - we're really going to do it! Stage 5 (10k Only): Maritime Operations The Pond On the buzzer, climb into the jon boat and pull yourself forward in the pond using the supplied rope until you can see the six rifle targets in the distance: two skinny sammies and four 10" flashers placed from 50 to 200 yds. Make one hit on each target. Pull yourself back on your run time. It being March, I will not require you to get wet. If you fall out of the boat it's on you. And no, you cannot just plunge into the pond and shoot the targets while standing in the water.

I am thrilled to welcome Samson Manufacturing back for their third year as an obstacle sponsor. Samson does so much to support the shooting sports, and makes some really good gear too - check them out and see if you can return the favor. Big thanks to Bryan Ray and Brian Vaught for being excellent ambassadors for them and always being up for a new challenge! https://www.samson-mfg.com/ This week's stage comes from the evil mind of Rusty Trumble: Stage 2: Improvised Support Cowboy Town Begin in the barn, with three targets at 40-50 yds – stage is all rifle. On the buzzer, drop to prone on a wobbly platform. Make one hit from the right shoulder around the right side of two cones. Make one hit from the left shoulder around the left side of the cones, and one hit in the center between the cones. Put the rifle on safe and set it down facing downrange, then sprint 40 yards (out and back). Retrieve your rifle and move to the car door, where you will repeat the right, left, center pattern using the car window as a support from approximately kneeling height. Safely ground the rifle and sprint another 40 yards. Make one hit from the right shoulder using the right side of the barn opening as a brace. Make one hit from the left shoulder using the left side of the opening as a brace. Make one hit using a strap strung across the opening as a brace – all at approximately standing height. "Sprint" may have different meanings for you depending on your fitness level. You'll know you're pushing hard enough if you really NEED the improvised support to make the hits. Photo, of course, by Lisa Stennett

I'm happy to announce Dillon Precision Products, Inc is back for their second year as a sponsor, and has stepped up their level of support to be an Obstacle Sponsor! This week's stage is the "old standard". I've promised to keep doing this one until everyone complains it's too easy: Stage 4 (5k) or 6 (10k): The Rifleman Powerline Cut Hit two 10" targets at 100 yds from Standing, two 10" targets at 200 yds from sitting/kneeling, and two 10" targets at 300 yds from prone. Photo by Lisa Stennett

I haven't announced the official time yet. It's coming -

90 days before match day. Won't be long now -

Here's a great video from the guys at Spikes Tactical from their time at the match -

I'm pleased to announce Hornady has signed on as a stage sponsor, and will sponsor Stage 7 (10k) or 5 (5k): Hornady's Key To Jimmy's Heart. Begin with your rifle locked in a box. Choose a key off the table (based off a hint you’re given by the RO - which will test how well you think when exhausted). Hit 3 pistol steel on the way to the box, then safely reholster your pistol and unlock the box. If the key you chose does NOT work, return it to the table and choose another key. Re-engage the three pistol targets each time you return to the box with a new key. Unlock the box, retrieve your rifle, and kick down the door to enter the rifle shooting area. Make 3 hits each on 3 paper targets (one of which is a swinger), then hit all 6 plates on a rifle plate rack to finish the stage. https://www.hornady.com/

I'm going to jump around a little as some stages are still in development. This one is the epitome of a "simple skills test": Stage 4 (10k Only): Dueling Tree Make 6 hits on a deuling tree with your strong hand only, then make 6 hits with your weak hand only. If a target is hit and flips back that counts as a hit. If a target gets stuck halfway (and is unavailable to shoot again) that counts as a hit - just shoot another plate so there are 6 hits total with each single hand. Dueling tree will be placed from 7-10yds away as the terrain allows.

It's time to start trickling out the details - The obstacle at Stage 1 will be the same as last March: Barbed wire crawl, then mud pits, then climb up one of two tubes. There will be knotted ropes in each tube. And then... Stage 1: Strong or Accurate? Begin with a single steel B/C zone torso target 50 yds away. On the buzzer, draw your pistol and make two hits on the target from 50 yds. Pick up a kettlebell and throw it toward the target. You can either safely holster your pistol and throw it two-handed, or keep your pistol pointed in a safe direction while throwing it one-handed. Wherever the kettlebell lands is your next firing position – move forward and make two hits on the target from there. Repeat this exercise once more for a total of three firing positions and 6 pistol hits on the steel. Safely holster your pistol and carry the kettlebell back to the 50 yd line, then perform the “X-Drill” with your rifle: From behind the barricade, make two hits from the standing position around the right side of the barricade (right shoulder), two hits from kneeling around the left side of the barricade (left shoulder), two hits from kneeling around the right side of the barricade (right shoulder) and two hits from standing around the left side of the barricade (left shoulder).

I am pleased to announce Tactical Tailor has just signed on as an obstacle sponsor. They make some top-notch Made in the USA gear that I think will do VERY well for Run N Gun folks! Take a look at what they have to offer, and if you place an order be sure to thank them for sponsoring the match while you're there. https://www.tacticaltailor.com/

Good to hear - thanks!

I think this is a stupid question - but better to ask it and be stupid here than make a major faux-pas to a major sponsor: Let's say you have a title sponsor of a match that is an optic company. Would you then not allow other optic companies to be stage/lessor sponsors out of respect to your title sponsor? Or is this more like running a store in which you have all the various optic companies represented, and they all understand they are competing with each other? Does anyone make any special arrangements for multiple sponsors who are competitors with each other? Or if a company made that a condition of the sponsorship would you be so offended you'd boot them from the match? For the record - this has never come up. I just think and worry too much.

For those who have attended the Legion 9/11 Memorial Run N Gun - I think of the March match as the "opposite" of that match. Legion is "real world" and is a benefit for a very deserving group of people. March is a fun and simple (not "easy"!) skills test in which you can test yourself and your gear. Everything about it will be published well in advance so you can train up to meet the challenge. The prize table will be completely random draw - because you really are just competing against your Self at this match. And other than a small portion to cover my costs, the only benefactor is a very deserving Rockcastle Shooting Center. So who's in?