ErichF

Had a meeting with John Scoutten today, producer of ShootingUSA. During the Saturday afternoon match, I will be flying my little hexcopter again shooting aerial video for their show on the Nationals. Do not be alarmed when you see a UFO-looking thing flying up and down the range (up high so as not to be a distraction), and no it's not the Feds spying on any of you ...or is it? If you see it, wave - you could be on national TV!

I can vouch for Trails, too. I had their Brisket, which had perfect cook and smoke, and just the right amount of fat. Fun little place that doesn't look like much on the way in, but you will be happy on the way out.

Video from Stages 1 thru 6 is posted up: https://vimeo.com/77259367

OK, I can't remember if I was C class this time last year or not...maybe. We'll see.

We've been A class for over six months. What am I missing here? Is it a Nationals thing that classifications start off different? This is my first one, so I'm dumb...

Huh, they have my classification wrong in the scores, as well as at least one other guy I know that is also A class. We are both entered as C class. Has anyone else been entered in the wrong class? They had it right at registration yesterday...

Video posted of Stages 13 thru 18...well except 17 where I goofed up my camera https://vimeo.com/77166416

Stages 13-18 done for me today. Headed to the hotel and will post FPV videos of those stages (except for one of them, camera goof) These are most of the long courses, but they are fairly straight forward. A couple have nine different ways to shoot them. Lots of swingers, and some are fast. The GMs and Ms are shooting in the low 20s to Teens. I'm hanging in around 21-25s. One mike so far.

Aerial Video from today. See you morning shooters bright n early! https://vimeo.com/77093566

Thanks, it's what I do for a living as well as another hobby. I'm shooting am-pm-am starting 0745 tomorrow.

Here are some aerial pics I took today:

Yeah I can see that, but I was just curious that no time in the schedule was alloyed for it. I guess that they hope stage 9 is quick.

Question for those that have been through this before - what "stage" is the chrono being done in? The squad schedule matrix doesn't account for time at Chrono anywhere. I've been to some sectional and Area matches where the chrono took every bit as long as a short course stage.

No problems, Matt. I'm going to take my little RC helicopter up and get some aerial shots of the range sometime this week. Should be cool. I'll also try to get head-cam video of every stage (may have a couple I don't want to release .

Just got settled into the Candlewood Suites for the week. Matt, this is my first Nationals, and I am surprised a bit how the Production Nats is being treated like a red-headed step child, compared to the Open/Lim Nats. I know that the range was busy a week ago with the IDPA Nats, but as far as USPSA admin goes, it's been disappointing. If I wasn't a regular traveler and didn't make preparations in advance like I did (despite lack of info from USPSA), I think this would have been a difficult thing to navigate. No one from my local area is here, so I'm pretty much on my own for this one. Anyways, I'm here now, and I'm looking to have some good fun and fast shooting. See you all on the range!

Wow, been awhile since I posted any new videos...here's a short one from last weekend: https://vimeo.com/76925411

Frag, that's cool if you can do that. My problem is that, if that happens, my focus has now shifted to the RO giving the right commands, rather than me shooting the stage. It makes it about the RO, not the stage. My pea brain needs all available bandwidth focused on the stage, not how dumb I can make the RO look. So, while some think the proper range commands are no big deal, it IS a big deal to those of us OCD about shooting the stage.

BTW, don't know where in the FEC your are, but there's a great match in St Augustine on Saturday. If you are within 1.5 hrs, be there.

Yeah, what's great about this sport, is you can choose how competitive you want to be. Lots of folks shoot at matches just for some exercise, variety, and personal challenge. Others are vying for the national title. There lies a spot in there for anyone. This is because you shoot individually, not head to head or team on team like other sports, even golf. When you are up to shoot, within the rules, you OWN the stage. Be safe, shoot the way you want (USPSA exclusive attribute), and have fun.

My tactic is more passive. I will grab the timer and run a stage or two for the squad. When doing so, I emphasize the range commands more so than the RO not using proper commands. I also apply the commands more strictly, such as no conversation at "make ready". I don't issue Make Ready until they are in the correct location. Generally, the new RO or "Timer Operator" gets a clue and starts using more proper commands. I also am one of those shooters that loses focus when I have to be interactive with the RO, such as "Nod wen yer reddy." Sometimes with a field course with lots of reloads, movement, etc where I have to do a good mind rehearsal, the whole Nod thing throws me off. An RO that commands the nod thing suddenly makes the commands about his requirements, not the shooter's. To help out ROs to know when I am actually ready, I will leave my hand on the grip of my gun (if a standard start pos). When I slowly drop my hand to relaxed position, they should know I am ready. What's scary is how many times I've been asked if I'm ready, while my hand is still on the gun!

Between six and seven pounds.

IDPA relies too much on which S.O. is your buddy. For as many rules as they have, it has a surprisingly subjective scoring and penalty system.

The problem in the OP is not limited to electronic scoring. I've been on plenty of squads where folks use the wrong score sheet for a stage. This is a failure of attention to detail, nothing to do with the fact it was electronic scoring.

My family has had a Kubota compact for over 25 years, a B7200HST. We got it back in the 80's to do commercial lawn mowing, then it went into service on my parent's property down in Belleview. It still runs perfectly, even though the belly mower finally fell apart. Now we run a hitch mounted finish mower on it. You can not find a better compact than a Kubota. My dad had no idea at the time he bought it, that he would have to Will it to me. BTW, it may only have 18hp, but the torque those little Kubota engines put out feels never-ending. BTW, I'm super jealous of the FEL! I've been wanting to put one on ours for years...

I am interested in hearing the science that determines a JHP bullet more dangerous at a range than FMJ or other ball ammo that bounces all over the place? Sounds like range operators that should know better are buying into Hollywood BS. I would bet that they are also using the term, "cop killer" too...