ErichF

I recently found out I have to take a weekend trip to Kommifornia on the 5th and 6th for work...the same Sunday that my local club is holding their inaugural USPSA-Sanctioned match.

Simpler web sites are usually better, IMO...but only as long as the critical info is kept up to date (POCs, etc). The more complex a site is made, the more work it is to keep updated. I think that is what the main problem is for most clubs who don't have professional IT guys hosting their sites, so it becomes the old story about Anybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Everybody.

I have found that, present company excluded, the shooting community is not into the 20th century yet in regards to computer literacy and social media use. Typical clunky club websites are months or years out of date, contact email addresses on said websites bounce back, and calendars are never updated or even used. It's the total opposite of the relatively geeky hobby I have been involved with for the past 22 years...RC airplanes and helicopters. I have to say that the USPSA national website is actually one of the better shooting sport-based websites out there, especially considering the member scores database. However, as a new shooter in this sport, I do agree that information on the site catering to new folks is lacking.

Well, if you missed it, you missed a good one. Thanks to Sean and Dave and all the VCHGC crew for setting up a helluva match. See ya'll next month! Erich

I would allow up to 2.5 hours for a Level I. I just attended a Match in New Smyrna, FL this past weekend and it was well worth the 2 hour 15 min drive from Gainesville. I basically set a limit of Tampa to Daytona to Jacksonville to Tallahassee. Otherwise, I will have to get a hotel the night before and that will add to the cost exponentially. Erich

Well, unless you got an acoustic chamber and all the related testing equipment, NRR is all that we consumer-level folks have to judge the protection factor of a given hearing protection product. Personally, I don't care if one were to stuff foamies and a pair of socks, put on muffs, and wrap their head in a bedsheet...I know what works for me. Also, if you read the source sites I posted earlier, there's a reason why OSHA automatically deducts 7 dB from any NRR to come to a "corrected" NRR. This is because most folks usually don't properly install foamies and molded plugs. It's also amazing how much noise can enter through the mouth/nasal cavity, bypassing anything you put on/over your ears.

That is hardly the case, and it's also why Dustin missed most of the back half of targets. As the body is moved around in relation to gravity, weight shifts and different muscles come into play. The targets are moving in relation to the shooter, yes, but the shooter is going through a lot of physical changes as well. Changes that are not occurring when standing still on the line.

If YOU stop voluntarily, I would. If you kept on, I wouldn't penalize nor stop you for continuing, since you met the minimum requirement. BTW, NRR is not cumulative. Installing 32 NRR plugs and putting 21 NRR muffs on doesn't equate to 54dB NRR. The Decibel scale is not linear, but exponential. http://www.coopersafety.com/NoiseReduction.aspx http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezf305.htm http://www2.cdc.gov/hp-devices/pdfs/calculation.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earplug

I'm new at this, so maybe it's "just the way it's always been". I don't understand why there is such a precedent to get a local match done by lunchtime, at least here in FL. I know that it gets hot here during the summer (I work out in the field enough to know), but this is an outdoors sport for Pete's Sake. Having to drive 2 hours to a "local" match and be there in time to help setup by 0700 is a bit ridiculous. I'm tempted to just make sure I get there in time for the 0800 brief and let the "locals" do the setup. I have no issues staying later to help tear down. Also, if I make the commitment to drive a couple hours to a match, I would like to spend the better part of the day at the match talking to other shooters and learning. Marathon matches where the main goal is to finish by lunch just isn't very fun IMO.

I won't speak for Tim, but I agree he is right. I spent 11 years working on the flight line in the Air Force as an F-15 and F-16 crew chief. I spent 1000's of hours next to running jet engines, and my hearing after separating from the AF was nearly the same as when I went in. Probably 75% of the time I was on the line around engines running, I only wore foamies. Only time we HAD to double protect was when in the immediate area around an operating jet...although admittedly we often just had the muffs on to keep QA guys from writing us up.

I think if this is such an issue, a minimum NRR could be specified in the rules. These are published on every hearing protection device packaging sold in the US. For example, I use "foamies" that have an NRR of 32-33dB. This is more than enough for any shooting event, indoors or out. Typical over-ear muffs and molded plugs have an NRR of 22-23dB. Electronic ones may get upwards of 28dB. Enforcement of the NRR can be problematic, though. It would basically be on the honor system. One problem with foamies is that a lot of folks fail to install them correctly. Another one is that they are a pain to remove and replace on a regular basis unlike over-ear muffs. Also, muffs are easier to enforce on a range. Foamie wearers often get asked repeatedly if they are protected since they aren't obvious (if installed correctly). Issues with muffs are the extra weight, uncomfortable over most types of ball caps, can cause headaches, and can "leak" if wearing glasses with fat arms...plus the fact they fall off easily. For my next match this weekend, I'm sticking to the foamies. Folks will just have to yell at me and tolerate me yelling back at them In the case of the OP, if the shooter has foamies or plugs in, he's good. Over-ear muffs are nothing more than an accessory in this case, like his hat. If his hat fell off, would you stop his stage? Of course not.

Bumped up....only a couple more days!

Yep, understand perfectly. There's a lot left to "the law of averages" there. Interesting story about the DQ from the "cleared" weapon that went bang...did the RO actually look in the action? My understanding is that the RO looks in the action to verify chamber is empty, and that the action is clear (no cartridge, no mag). Purely the responsibility of the shooter, but what really is the accountability of the RO in a "hammer down" discharge? As a pilot, I tend to look at the environmental circumstances that lead to mishaps in just about everything. I have been a study of aviation accidents over the years in an effort to avoid the same fate of my departed peers. I expect to have the same attitude in my journey into shooting sports and competition. I want to learn from the mistakes of others, because I won't live long enough to make them all myself.

Depends on how nice the gun is. For the match I'm referring to, I'm going to put in at least $100 into the pot for tickets.

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I completely agree. I shoot a lot of big matches all over the country, and I can tell you there was nothing crazy about this year's Area 3, and that includes stage design and the officiating of the match. It was a good match. As long as you maintained proper control and followed the rules, there was absolutely no problem. The DQs were not all centered around one stage or even one safety issue--they were literally across the board. Hey, flame me all you want - I qualified my comments with the fact I am new at this...so don't take my comments as if I was stating anything WAS unsafe. From my un-educated eye, there is an APPEARANCE of a safety issue. The reason I ask is for someone experienced to convince me that everything was indeed safe. That, in fact, it's just part of the game. I can understand that. You will find that I often play devil's advocate in an attempt to gain knowledge. It doesn't mean I'm arguing.

We spend 8 hours at a USPSA match to shoot for 60 seconds kinda the same thing. Heh, I WISH I could do a match in 60 seconds

Club here in FL is raffling off a new XDM 5.25 at their next match on the 22nd. I'm going to be present to win The only issue I would see is if you tried to extend the raffle online. That would fall under Federal online gambling regs and is illegal.

I'm new at this, but what does it say about the stage design if 10% of the shooters, very experienced included, are DQ'd for safety issues? Sounds like an unsafe or at the very least, a borderline unsafe stage design. Or, do matches of this level just breed a higher sense of competitiveness that makes otherwise very safe folks do unsafe things?

I just made reservations at the La Quinta up on Ulmerton Rd. for Friday night. Good to go

Anyone else going??

OK, I just signed up and paid my fee. Looking forward to my first Major. I squadded up with my old friend Dan Bernard, but nobody tell him that

Hey that's great to hear. I'll watch my work schedule and hope it works out. What is the deal if someone registers (pays fee online) for a match and in the end is unable to attend? Is there a refund, or is one just out of luck?

That's fun, eh? My first match a couple weeks ago, I had a fellow shooter, a LEO shooting Glock, told me not to ever get a Glock. Reason: he didn't want to shoot against me in a Glock Federation match True or not, it's great as a newbie to get some positive re-enforcement after shelling out a couple grand to start in this sport. I would love to run into JJ, Maggie, Athena, or any of the major shooters in the sport! Great job on the fast shooting! Erich

I'm considering this match. Before I drop the $90 fee, is this a fairly NewB-friendly match? By the time of this match, I will have competed in about 3 or 4 other local club matches. Wish I would have known about all the active shooting sports in the Tampa area while I still lived there a year ago Erich