tbarker13

I don't disagree. But I do think we are seeing a large amount of complaining right now because of the recent rule changes. It's just natural. We paid for one thing, but now are getting something a little different. I'm sure it will fade back to lower level of complaining once everyone adapts or leaves the game. I do have to challenge you a little bit, however, on this argument about not turning IDPA into an equipment race. If you leave out the OPEN division of USPSA, the price to compete in these two games is pretty much the same. Sure, you have to buy a few more mags and mag pouches for USPSA - but that's partially offset by the need to buy a cover garment for IDPA. This is particularly true for CDP/Single Stack, SSP/Production and the revolver divisions. With a few exceptions, the gear is interchangeable. It does get a little more expensive to shoot in Limited (compared with ESP). But it doesn't cost a lot more to buy an STI Edge than it does to buy an STI Eagle. I've been shooting in both games for a couple years. And until this year, when I bought a dedicated Limited gun (made IDPA illegal by its bull barrel), I've always used the same gun in both games.

Just to be clear. I wasn't whining because a favorite piece of equipment is against the rules. I'm annoyed because I went out and bought equipment specifically because it was legal. And then two months later, they changed the rules and made my IDPA purchase illegal. Nobody likes to waste money. And frankly, I believe any existing member of an organization has the absolute right to comment on the rules of that organization - particularly when they change those rules midstream. I get that IDPA will do what it wants. And the more comments I read from IDPA's leadership, I see they are determined to travel this current path. And I wish them all the best. But as long as I'm paying dues, designing stages, working as an SO, running classifers and helping to run matches (both club and sanctioned), I'm going to feel quite comfortable commenting on the rules of the game. Of course, no one has to listen.

I find it really tough to switch between gun platforms. But as I spend less time worrying about IDPA, I do feel a bit more freedom. My plan for the coming year is to shoot limited with my .40 2011 in USPSA. But for IDPA, I'll try a few 1911-type guns - a 5" 1911 in CDP, a 2011 in ESP, and a Springfield armory EMP just for fun in ESP. As others have said, if you want to focus on being a stronger competitor, pick one gun and worry more about the other aspects of competition. If not, pick whatever you want to shoot, and just have fun.

So far so good with the aftec extractor. 300 rounds since the install and no more of the extractor problem. I did have a couple misfeeds, which I'm going to attribute, for now, to the general tightness of the gun and the 14lb recoil springs. (along with the 20 degree weather I was shooting in). The gun is slowly loosening up, but if the misfeeds continue, I'll switch to a 15lb spring for a few thousand rounds to see if that helps.

Elegant solution. And here, I just went out and bought a new set of mag pouches.

I believe this hits the nail dead center. I am not the most experienced of shooters so take this with all the salt required, I believe they are attempting to keep IDPA from turning into an equipment race. SS This is defintely one of IDPA's stated goals. And I think many IDPA shooters appreciate that. But it's hard to make that argument in this case. The plastic double alpha racers are in the same ballpark (cheaper than some, more expensive than others) as other similarly-built pouches that are legal. Clearly there's no logical reason for the change. But then, in IDPA's defense, it doesn't need a reason to make any change to its rules. We can either accept them or move on to other games. I'm sure my local club is no different than any others - we are all trying our best to incorporate the new rules - and now the newer rules that just came out this week.

This may be true. But the only way that we, as competitors, shooters, customers, etc., can influence the games we play is by making our voices heard. There was a chorus of whining in the last year or so that accompanied a proposed change to USPSA's production trigger pull requirements. And USPSA listened. We've seen a similar response to some of IDPA's rule changes. But they don't seem to care. Obviously, these are two different organizations, run in very different ways. That aside, one of the purposes of my original post - along with a little whining - was to pass along information. This will matter to some people. One of our local shooters who attended Nationals specifically asked Robert Ray if these pouches were legal. He was told yes. Now a few months later, they are illegal. Nobody wants to get DQed at a match because of illegal equipment.

In basketball, can move one foot freely, as long as the pivot foot stays put. So if I have my left foot forward, I can move my right foot - essentially taking a full step, before my left foot (the pivot) comes off the ground But in basketball you aren't concerned about a 180 rule. I don't see someone taking a full step pivoting off of their foot while reloading and not being unsafe. Not sure I follow you. In basketball, the pivot foot has nothing to do with direction. It just means you are free to move one foot, as long as you keep the other foot on the ground. So, while completing your reload, you can take your first step forward. It's not a violation until your second foot leaves the ground. So this so-called "flat-footed" reload means that just one of your feet has to maintain contact with the ground.

Yeah, I'm sure there are things that can be done to make the mag pouches legal. I'm just frustrated with yet another rule change that doesn't appear to serve any purpose - other than to fulfill someone's whim.

Ordered an aftec extractor this week. I was going to do that anyway at some point. Going to see what happens when I put that in. I'm assuming it will need some tuning - polishing, etc.

Exactly. It' s just not realistic to ask the SOs to do this. There are some blatant cases where it will be obvious - the shooter takes several steps along a wall while reloading, for example. But asking an SO - who is supposed to keep his eyes on the gun -- to judge whether someone has shuffled their feet a few inches before seating a mag is a bad practice. It's going to lead to a lot of inconsistent calls. You also have to wonder how often this basketball pivot-foot thing is going to be misunderstood. In basketball, can move one foot freely, as long as the pivot foot stays put. So if I have my left foot forward, I can move my right foot - essentially taking a full step, before my left foot (the pivot) comes off the ground. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I bet that will be considered a violation by many SOs.

I know at least two people who carry 34's all the time. But I bet you know dozens more who would never think of using a gun that large for every day carry. I know a guy who carries a colt .45 SAA as a carry gun. But that doesn't mean it's a common carry option. I don't mean to be argumentative or offensive. I just think this is part of IDPA's problem. It has an identity crisis of sorts. It wants to be a game that uses common carry equipment. But it's own rules make that impossible. I can't think of anyone who wears a bladetech black ice holster for conceal carry. Yet that is one of the most common holsters found at an IDPA match. I've been an SO for several years. I've worked some fairly large matches, along with a ton of monthly matches. Outside of BUG matches, I've seen shooters with IWB holsters maybe a dozen times. The "it's not for everyday carry" argument could be made for 90-95 percent of the mag pouches found at an IDPA match. So I just cannot figure out why this particular brand of pouches has just been ruled illegal. Because the tension can be adjusted by a handy wheel, rather than an allen wrench of screw driver? It's hard to see the competitive advantage someone gains from this. There aren't any stages where you have to adjust the tension on your mag pouches while the timer is running.

They are, unless you change out the belt attachment. I mounted a pair on tek loks. Just as close to my body as safarilands.

It's funny you would say that. Maybe the same people who would carry Glock 34s, STI Eagles and full-size 1911s. It's rare that you see people shooting true carry guns in IDPA. Certainly not the serious competitors. In fact, it's so rare that IDPA actually has a sub-category of BUG guns (and occasional matches for them) just to get people to use real carry stuff. Nah. The idea of IDPA using real world carry equipment is just that. An idea. But it's not reality.

From yesterday's rule clarification: "Additionally, all tension screws anywhere on a magazine carrier must require a tool for tension adjustment." Unless, I'm missing something, that just made my Double Alpha racer and race master mag pouches illegal - since they have that nice little wheel that regulates tension. I am just lost as to why the rules committee cares how the tension is adjusted on a mag pouch. Consultation with Navy Seals again?

I do both, though I spend much more time with USPSA these days, particularly after the latest set of IDPA rules went into effect. I started in IDPA - and think it's probably easier to do it that way. I shoot IDPA, understanding that I have to follow certain rules. Then when I shoot a USPSA match, I know that I have the freedom to just ignore most of those rules. But now that I've stopped practicing IDPA, I do find myself picking up what I call USPSA procedurals. Mistakes I make because I've let my USPSA shooting bleed over into IDPA. Not shooting targets in tactical sequence, for example. You have to pick the one you like best and focus on that. Then accept that your peformance in the other will suffer as a result.

Ok, I'll try some round nose loads first. But I doubt it is related to the mags. It's happened with a Les Baer, McCormick and Wilson mag.

I think I'm going to start with the extractor. I just don't think it's ammo-related. The exact rounds fed perfectly for the first 500 rounds. Then the problem started with the switch of springs. These Les Baers do start incredibly tight. So I may end up having to go with a heavier recoil spring for a while.

Hoping someone might have some thoughts on this. I've started having a problem with a new Les Baer. (still under 1,000 rounds) It worked flawlessly with the factory recoil and main springs. But they are way heavier than I want for competition. So I changed to a 14lb recoil spring and 17lb main spring. Since then, I've started having failures to go into battery every 100 rounds or so. Basically, the slide moves forward, strips a round off the mag, but then stops before going into battery. The problem is that the extractor claw isn't closing around the rim of the round. When I pull the slide back, the round stays in the chamber. I'm shooting a 200 gr LSWC, around 170pf. Rounds have all been chamber checked in the barrel of the gun. And if I take a misfed round out and put it back in the magazine, it feeds with no problem. So I don't think this is ammo related. My guess is that the reduction in recoil spring weight is causing the problem. Maybe the slide isn't moving forward with enough force to reliably chamber the rounds? Do I need to adjust the extractor tension? Move to an Aftec extractor? Or is there something else wrong that I'm not thinking of?

I've used both, but settled on the short dust cover with a bull barrel and tungsten guide rod when I had mine built by Matt Cheely. Also put a brass magwell on it to put a little more weight below the grip. I never really liked the balance of the Edge. BUt, I'm sure if I shot with one regularly, I'd be fine with it. I'm sure you will be happy whichever way you go.

Disagree. I have seen stages that require some targets to be shot once some twice others three times all virgina count all on the same stage. That is a memory stage and I don't care for them. Pat I disagree. ALL stages have a best/most efficient way to shoot them. It's up to you to find it. That's half the game dude. When the buzzer goes off, I don't remember shit. Just my plan. Interesting thought. I'm not sure I totally agree with it though. At least not completely. I'd argue that the breakdown of some stages can be influenced by the shooter's own particular skills. Shooting on the move. Distance shooting. Reload speed, etc.

Running round 171-173 or so for major. I get nervous if it's below 169.

For matches Spare gun More ammo than I really need (I hope) ears eyes squib rod fiber optic repair stuff Multi-tool mag brush spare recoil spring Copy of USPSA rule book Grip powder Mag loader Sunscreen, bandaids, advil Rain jacket (if called for) Snacks/drinks For staplers, targets, etc. - I have a box in my truck.

I've tried both options. And one is definitely louder than the other. But still just not quite as loud as what I'm used to. Still love the timer, though.

I put a Cylinder & Slide kit in my Colt Commander. It really was drop-in. Awesome trigger.