Matt in TN

I am pleased to announce that Glock will be sponsoring the obstacle at Stage 3: "Glock's Slide To The Pit Of Despair", and will be providing a pistol certificate for the prize table. https://us.glock.com/

Speaking of training, and seeing as how we have people from 21 different states registered already - I'll let everyone in on a little secret: Kentucky has hills!!! Here's an elevation map of the 5k Course: And here is the 10k Course elevation map:

This is the million dollar question: finding the balance between lightweight, easy to make hits, and RELIABLE. It depends a whole lot on weather, but this kind of match can be a SUPER tough test of equipment. I've never seen so many Glocks go down as I did last March - all from the mud. Scope caps were worth $1 million dollars to those who had them (and probably more to those who didn't!) last year too. I use an 18" AR10 with a 1-6 scope because I'm a die-hard .308 guy. I've seen people do it with everything from a suppressed SBR to a bolt action iron sighted WWII rifle. The most difficult rifle target is a 10" round plate at 300yds, but there are also several close and moving targets. Find a balance, make your best guess at gear, and come on out and try it. Then (if you're like everyone esle!) make some changes based on what you learned and try it again next time. And again. And again... ;-)

Sure - just stick together during registration on the morning of the match and let the lovely ladies know you are running together when you randomly draw your start time.

Wow - the 5k sold out in 11 minutes. I am humbled, and excited, and will do my best to meet and exceed your expectations! Be sure to get on the waitlist if you didn't get in. We normally have several cancellations as we get closer to match day for various reasons. We still have 39 10k slots left. Who's up for a bigger challenge?!?! https://practiscore.com/10k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2018/register

Just a reminder - registration opens tomorrow morning at 10:00am central time. This match sold out in 20 minutes last year, so make plans to be there if you want to get in! Also - please note this is being run as TWO SEPARATE MATCHES: the 5k on Saturday and the 10k on Sunday. You can sign up to run in either, or both. But be sure you sign up for the correct match! Here is the link for the 5k registration: https://practiscore.com/5k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2018/register Here is the link for the 10k registration: https://practiscore.com/10k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2018/register

I can't believe nobody else has jumped on this. Forget the ducks. Show up and start shooting matches with what you have now. You'll figure out what you really want instead of what you THINK you want (which will be different), and you'll have tons of friendly people shoving gear into your hands to try out along the way for free. Just do it. That being said - your rifle choice depends on your goals. I shot a FAL in 3-gun for a decade or more because I like the FAL and wanted to get better with it. If you like an RFB, then get that and go for it. I've shot one a bit and I hate it, but I'm not you. The M14-style can't be beat if you're going to shoot iron sights. But very few people shoot iron sights anymore, and the new M1As are not as good as the old ones. But everybody winning Heavy Metal is shooting an AR10 of some kind. Even I (Mr. FAL) have jumped on the bandwagon and am learning to love my Armalite. It doesn't look as sexy or have the soul that my FAL has, but I'm making hits more easily and scoring better than ever with it. It's a lot like a Glock - it's ugly, it has no emotional value, but it just works and works well.

Well, there is that too -

At this point, I don't think it even matters how Bryan feels about it anymore. I don't think his son would let him skip this match even if he wanted to! :-)

I wasn't going to share this until later, but with all the discussion it's had on Facebook I figure I need to repost it everywhere so it's fair for those anti-FBers. You might want to practice this before March if you're going to do the 10k:

Total required hit count: 68 rifle and 45 pistol (10k) 51 rifle and 31 pistol (5k) Now you know everything you need to know to decide whether you're going to register December 16th at 10:00am. I'll also post the obstacle details as we get closer, but there will be one obstacle for every shooting stage. Who is ready???

Stage 7 (10k), which also happens to be Stage 5 (5k): Magpul’s Fight To Your Rifle Pistol Bays Begin sitting in a chair with your pistol holstered and your rifle unloaded on a table. On the buzzer, hit 5 steel pistol targets while seated. The 5th target will activate a moving paper target, which takes 3 hits to neutralize. Move to next shooting position and hit 5 more steel pistol targets, and once again the 5th target activates a moving paper target which takes 3 hits to neutralize. Reholster hot pistol safely. Retrieve your rifle from the table, load, and hit all six plates on the 50yd rifle plate rack to finish. 10 second FTN penalty for any steel not knocked down or paper with less than 3 hits.

Got it fixed. It will open at 10am central on Saturday December 16th. Let me know if you guys see anything else that doesn't look right. I am only human, afterall!

Sorry - I'll fix that today. The 17th is technically 90 days before the match (my goal), but I think more people will be available Saturday morning. So I'll break my own rule and let people register 91 days prior this time. Glad you guys are clicking the links!

Two week warning: Registration will open at 10:00am Central Time on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Below are the links to the TWO match registrations. Note that this will be run as TWO SEPARATE MATCHES on consecutive days. Be sure you register for the right match - or register for both if you want to do the unofficial "15k Challenge"! https://practiscore.com/5k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2018/register https://practiscore.com/10k-rockcastle-run-n-gun-2018/register We've had some issues with people who register and don't show up at past matches, which really sucks for everyone on the waitlist who can't get in. So I'm requiring full payment at the time of registration now. Be prepared to pay your match fee online when you register. The cancellation policy is firm and no exceptions will be made. It will also likely take several days and multiple communications to get a refund issued, so please be patient if you end up having to go this route. Full refunds will be given if you withdraw more than 30 days before the match. Half your fee will be refunded if you withdraw between 14-29 days before the match. NO REFUND will be given if you withdraw less than 14 days before the match. Lastly - I'm trying to simplify match day a little, so I'm collecting all the data I can during registration instead of on match day on your scorecard. This is purely voluntary - but I'd appreciate very much if everyone filled out the registration form completely.

Stage 6 (10k), which also happens to be Stage 4 (5k): Sierra Bullets' The Rifleman Powerline Cut On the buzzer, make two rifle hits from standing on 10” 120 yd targets, two rifle hits from sitting or kneeling on 10” 200 yd targets, and two rifle hits from prone on 10” 300 yd targets. Targets will have a high contrast backer to be more easily visible this year, and if nothing goes wrong we'll have two targets at each position so the ROs won't have to try to call hits on an already swinging target. This is essentially identical to last year's stage at this location. This is such a great test of the fundamentals of positional rifle shooting I plan to have it as a "standard" stage until everyone is complaining that it's just too easy. :-) And please take a moment to thank Sierra Bullets (https://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm) for sponsoring this stage and providing $1,150 in bullet certificates for the prize table!

Oops. Should have said Saturday December 16th at 10am central time. I forgot about having two match days - sorry! Running as a group is fine as long as you realize you'll end up waiting for your partners while your run clock is ticking away, which will add time to all of your run scores. For most people who do this it's about the experience and the comradery and they don't care about the score much at all. This is great and exactly what I hoped would happen, but I just don't want there to be any surprises when the scores come in. When you guys random draw your start time the morning of the match just stick together and draw one time for all of you. Be sure you tell the nice ladies at registration what you are doing as things get prety hectic and confusing on match day!

Central time. Where are you?

I haven't announced it yet, but what the hell: December 17th at 10:00am. :-) I'll post links well before then.

Again - I'm sorry I'm so far away. Sounds like a fun December day!

Nice! You are way too nice to give them a rope. :-)

Wish I was closer! Good luck - and I'm looking forward to lots of pics!

I found a small error in the 10k map - and once again the forum won't let me edit an old post. Here is the corrected 10k course map:

Stage 5 (10k): Shooter's Choice Cedar Point On the buzzer, hit 4 steel pistol targets from first position/barricade strong hand only. Move to second position/barricade and hit 4 more steel pistol targets weak hand only. Move to third position (VTAC wall) and hit 4 final steel pistol targets. The first 12 pistol targets will range from 10 to 25 yds. Make two hits on a B/C zone steel torso at 50 yds to finish. Shooter can either make those 50 yd hits with his pistol, or safely holster his hot pistol, unsling and load his rifle, and make those hits with his rifle. Training tip: If you can reliably make 50yd hits with your pistol you'll have a HUGE time advantage over those who have to transition to rifle to make the last two hits. Put in some practice time making longer pistol hits and it will pay off well! Oh yeah - practice shooting a pistol strong hand only, weak hand only, and from awkward positions too. :-)

Hmmm - it won't let me edit the first post for some reason, but there's been a change to the "How to sign up" portion. We're going to collect payment at the time of registration to try and get past people who register and don't show up on match day. There are always MANY people on the waitlist that would love to have these open slots, but if people simply don't show up we can't work our way down the waitlist. This is the new "How to sign up": The registration fee for the Rockcastle Run N Gun is $70 for the 5k and $100 for the 10k. Registration will be limited in number so all runners can finish the course before dark. Registration and payment will be handled through Practiscore, and Rockcastle will have you sign waivers the morning of the match. Make sure you are familiar with all of our rules and procedures before signing up. All participants must register under their true names. Tickets are non-transferable. Pre-registration and pre-payment is mandatory, and no walk-ons will be allowed on match day as space and time is limited. Cancellation Policy: Full refunds will be given if you withdraw more than 30 days before the match. Half your fee will be refunded if you withdraw between 14-29 days before the match. NO REFUND will be given if you withdraw less than 14 days before the match.