hopalong

Chuck D, Your Idea is Great, but you forgot 1 problem: USPSA does not want to work with anybody but USPSA as does NRA, Each one of them want to be a separate entety( or so it seems) from any one else. Hope things get better before they get worse. Hopalong

Mike, This is how I would shoot this stage: T4- 2 shots, T3- 2 shots, T2&T1 1 shot each RELOAD T5- 2shots, PP1,(make sure you hit PP1), PP2 (a miss is OK) T7- 2shots RELOAD T6 2 shots, (pp2 if needed) T1&2 one shot It seems a little busy but will actually flow pretty good. draw go from right to left, reload go left to right, reload go right to left, no mixing up of targets. The BIGGEST thing is the two STEEL PP1 can't be left up and the time it takes to shoot those two is worth taking to make sure they are knocked down in one shot. REMEMBER 1 well aimed shot is faster than 2 quick hopers. Hope it helps, GO SAM !!!!! the youngest C class Revolver shooter in USPSA HOPALONG Bill, If only we could get Flex to lay that silly FLATSIDED BOTTOM FEEDER down!!!

Hoser, How about earning them through the points series as some are talking about, and then having whats left go out to the sections as they are now. That would increase points series participation and the club that bud for and won that Nationals would know what kind of numbers to anticipate for.(and USPSA) Just and Idea.... HOP

Shred, Most likely will have the flatsiders in an "also ran catagory" and maybe give them a trophy with a big revolver on it. To be a Recognized match it must be open to all divisions (according to USPSA) but it is the Match Directors authority to emphasize one or more Divisions ect. Hop

Shred, How about OPEN and REVOLVER??????? YOU KNOW, THE MORE THE MERRIER!!! HOP And I know you have one of these things

SPD522, Have SPARE 610, will be shooting 625 If it will get another revolver shooter in the works, where do I need to send It????? HOPALONG PS it won't take much to show me how it is done Glad to see Lynn finally making the trip to the "Big Show"

Getting little more organized as we go, here are the basics 3 day match, pick your day or shoot both guns one each day.(ROs and staff to shoot on Friday ect) open gun shooters will not be classified so they will be going for High to low Std revolver shooters will be classified. It will be USPSA recognized therefore flatsides will be able to shoot but the match emphasis will be on wheel guns. AND you must be a USPSA member to shoot. (OPEN division Revolvers excluded since there is no such thing in USPSA) It looks most likely Memphis TN as the match site but have to talk to Nashville, both these clubs have excellent ranges and have room for about 12 stages (maybe more?) Thank you to Slowsure he got in touch with his club In Manchester TN where I have shot, NICE NEW range but not quite big enough for what I'm trying to do.(i hope) Need some help working up Corporate support, any suggestions/volunteers. Match Date will be 99% sure sometime in the Fall of 2005 All Suggestions, comments, HELP greatly appreciated. SAM KEEN / HOPALONG

Bubber, I had the same problem with my 625 but have the good ole 610 and it works great in the higher pressure .40 loads so that is what the N320 will be for... Have been shooting 200 gr. Precision bullets on top of 4.6 grn Hodgedon Clays makes 170,000 PF and burns REALLY CLEAN accurate too (in my gun). 1.250 oal. (book length) I know I already hear everyone yelling "Don't use Clays" but for the lower pressure .45 ACP It works great, I do not use it at all in the .40 though. Hope it helps FWIW. Hopalong

Mark, Happens at least once a match around here, there is always someone... We give 1 procedural penalty only, for not following course discription per TACTICAL SEQUENCE. ( i guess it would be the Automatic pe) Hopalong

Thanks Lynn Another Question, Has anyone tried one of these things on their Rifle, shotgun, or Pistola? Like/Dislike ect and so forth. Hopalong

I was in the local gun store today and a feller had a NIB Zeiss Z-point. Cute little optic, what can ya'll tell me about this thing? What kind of size dot is in it? ( 3 minute, 5 minute? ect) Has a built in mount, will it hold up to my M14 Scout squad shooting 168 grn at 350,000 + PF? Price on Box was 399.95 man wanted 300.00 but I think he would take less if offered pure green stuff ($$$$$) 300 bucks is a little salty for my taste just to go experimenting with. All information greatly appreciated. Hopalong

DaJerrel, Maybe we can hook up and shoot together, that would be fun(most important) I can work on you to keep shooting the wheel gun and not pick it back up after the match is over SAM

How about it? Any one know? DaJerrel, you are from the "Bear's" Land you heard anything yet? This is a great match to start the year out on, or has been in the past 3 years. Hopalong.

JFD, I am shooting Revolvers now, BUT shot Limited with a Para p-16 Limited model for the prior 3 years to that. If you go with a Para, IMHO just get the Limited Model, Change the back sight, as the Factory one is CRAP, put you a magwell on it, have a little tweeking done to the trigger and change out the factory PLASTIC mag button. I have been through 100,000+ rounds with mine and have no complaints, If I had to start over in USPSA or any other type of shooting with autos I would do it again. I see where some of the other forum members are saying they are not the same quality as their Kimbers ect. Paras are NOT Kimbers, they Don't have the same Manufacturing specs and thus should not be compared that way. This is what I have done to my P-16 LTD. 1 ED Brown magwell, (keeps it IDPA legal) 2 ISMI springs (16 recoil and 18 Main) 3 Trigger Job This is what I have had to do to it after shooting it for 3 years: 1 CLEAN IT !!!! ( I too use lead except for MAJOR MATCHES) 2 replace factory back sight (which I think you should do anyway as the Para sight is CRAP) 3 replace Ejector (sometime in the 3rd year) I use a CR speed holster and have used a friends STI EDGE in it they don't require any changing to use so the holster issue is not an Issue for me. I am in the process of building an S_I and when I (IF I) go back to shooting Autos I will be going to it but will keep the old Para as a back up gun at matches and for friends to borrow and shoot at our local matches when I need to. GOOD LUCK, I do have a glock but it stays in the house as a house gun so If I ever have to use a gun in the house and the law takes it I will not be missing much. Hopalong

Traxman Welcome to the forums !! Good Luck, Saturday but most of all...... HAVE FUN !!!!!! oh yeah, and be careful, the ROs will answer any and all questions. Hopalong

Ray, You ever decide you don't want that 625-4 I want it I have the Same set up as you (625-4) EXCEPT 1 Vic Pickett trigger Kit, and about 3 hours of smoothing inside and moving surfaces. (6 pound double action SMOOTH trigger) that is all I want. 2 Jerry Miculek grips. 3 Millett, Black medium Height Target back sight. 4 Chamfered cylinder (pretty deep but NOT radical) Now to reloads: As all were saying SMOOTH is fast, just practice smooth and the next thing you know you will have a Fast reload.... BUT a fast reload is SQUAT if you can not be consistant with it. As many times a reload is required in Revolver shooting the chances for a fumbled reload are higher than an autoloader AND costlier. I have worked and worked on my reload and on a standard reload drill of a paper target at 7 yds (about 5 meters) I can get near 1.75 but remember the consistant thing I spoke about earlier, at that speed I also have some BAD ones too. I am trying to get my average of 10 reloads down to 2 seconds flat, it is around 2.25 now and I hope to have it down to 2 by March. Moving reloads: Since you are shooting Standard revolver you do not have to find a DOT so your sight picture should be the same no matter what (as far as the sights are conscerened). When you fire the last shot and start to reload you need to be moving, get the gun empty as fast a possible, reload smoothly as fast as you can, close the gun, get a correct grip, find the next target, aquire a new sight picture and squeeze the trigger. Now on the moving part: If your static reload is say.... 3 seconds flat and you have to cover ground that takes 5 you should be finished and have the gun up and ready by the time you get there.. If you have less ground to cover than it takes time to do the reload, be in the spot and have a good stance by the time you finish the reload then all you are doing is getting a sight picture like starting from a draw (something you are comfortable at) NOTE HERE: You will with time get to where it feels like you are wasting your time (or losing time) when you have a short spot of ground to cover and it takes longer to reload, this is normal and with time the reloads are going to be quicker too. DO NOT get tense as this will only make things worse (AND is easy to do). If you do as the above says and have a good stance you are giving yourself the best chance of making good shots, not hurried or out of controlled shots. HOPE this helps, Good luck with your wheel gun... Hopalong / Sam Keen

John, How does Coyote meat taste???

COOL SPOOK!!!!!! I would not change a thing with reloads like that.... GOOD JOB, now you made me have to go back to work.... HOPALONG

Rhino, You NEVER shoot your own stage well... AND Match Directors NEVER shoot their own Match well... Hopalong

MPOLANS, From the looks of the poll results, I don't think Modified would go off to good in the US. MY guess is the folks who would shoot this division already shoot OPEN here, and don't want to or can't afford another custom built gun. Hopalong

OK USPSA keeps saying that the Nationals are killing them, first of all is USPSA not a NON Profit organization? Now to the reason for the thread. IF There were 5 different Nationals, would there be more participation in each? MORE than Likely, I know several folks who really did not like the option last year, One big match bring what you want. So how about this.... USPSA offer Bids to USPSA sanctioned Clubs for a Nationals of some type starting with OPEN, LIMITED, L-10, PRODUCTION, and REVOLVER The Club that wins the bid then is allotted 50 dollars per shooter (after the match) out of USPSA treasurey for hosting the Nationals(Production costs) and then leave the Money thing up to the HOST club and let them pay the Normal Match Fees owed USPSA thus keeping the "cost" down. This would eleminate the problem MV and USPSA say they keep having with Nationals costs and esp. travel costs for all the USPSA staff from Washington State to wherevere the Nationals is, if they want go they can, just out of their pocket like the rest of the shooters. This is a "rough drawing" but with planning and some good forward looking People I think it could work out for the better. What do ya'll think, AND KEEP it within the forum guidelines please. SAM KEEN

Had another thought about this thing, MONEY I'm just going to put out numbers here just for the sake of it. If I can remember correctly, the last ICORE Postal match had 300+ shooters with slightly more shooting standard than OPEN so we will say 125 open guys/gals IF USPSA did allow an OPEN REV. division and say out of the 300+ shooters some 50 or so already are USPSA members, then you have a potential 250 or so new members at a minimum of 25 dollars a member then that would be 6,250 bucks just in new membership fees. Classification, You will not have to have a new Data base as you could use the OPEN classifiers to date BUT USPSA would be getting an extra 5 bucks per shooter that would not have been there if not for the "new Division" I'm not going to try any guessing about converting IDPA shooters as they(IDPA) do not have an OPEN class of any type and it is against their Philosohpy to use optics of any kind. But If there were more Revolver shooters due to the "new division" maybe it would also get more Standard revolver shooters out too. Now to comment on SmittyFL and his Idea about not shoooting the revolver but just every now and then.... I DON'T mean this harshly and it may sound that way. As long as there are guys like you that enjoy shooting different guns but then go back to the Limited, or Open at a Major match only the truly dedicated "other division" shooters will shoot the other divisions and there will never be more competition (numbers wise) in the other divisions. that is exactly what Fomeister was talking about (I think). There will Never be 5 seperate National Championships due to the cost of putting on 5 seperate matches as they are ran now, maybe in the future things will change so as long as the Nationals combine divisions All divisions will be watered down some what. In final, Does USPSA need to recognize an OPEN Revolver Division? Let's see... try a few matches where it is a division, and find out. We will never know if we don't. Hopalong

Barretone, You are 100% correct in your observation, the Best "Man" did and will Not win in the Revolver Division, and that is not nessicarily what the points series is about. The points series is about consistancy through the year, for those who decide to enter the thing. Not to see who the best shooter in the divisions are... That is what the Nationals, and Area Matches are about. Regionalizing the series IMHO would help to a certain extent if and that is a BIG IF a legitimate system could be devised and reward the regional competitors with Slots to the Nationals ect. Kind of like how the Pro Bass fishermen get slots to the BassMasters Classic, Might take a look at that series and see if it could be used as a Model. The B.A.S.S. assn has a non-pro series similar to what we are trying but the reward is fishing in the Bassmasters Classic in the Non-Pro Division, it is pretty simple.... your local Club has their Monthly tournament, at the end of the Year the top 6 get to go to the State Tournament, the to 10 at the state tournament get to go to a regional tournament (8 I think) the to 10 at each region get to go to the BassMasters Classic. Each fisherman pays his own way, the state and up tournaments have a payback according to entries so it is not as Hard on the guys making the trip to the next tournament and so forth until the BassMasters Classic where there is HEAVY Coorporate Sponsorship and Prize funds. Here is an example of how we might do it.... at the Club Level at the end of the year Club Champs per Division and Class Winners Per division Qualify for the "Series" STate Match. the Division winners and Class winners There will then Qualify for a "Regional Match" the Division Winners and top 3 in each class there will Qualify for a Slot to the Nationals Along with the NORMAL Advanced slot winners then offer any "AT LARGE" Slots if there are any left (More than Likely) The folks at Club level will Qualify for the state Match of 2006 in 2005 and so everyone will have an Idea wheather they want to go try or not, If not the next guy in line can be offered the slot thus having a FULL state match to go from. As far as Mandantory, That would Make it similar to the Nextell Cup in Nascar, All races qualify for Points series and everyone knows that when they pay. BUT USPSA is grassroots Club level participation so you going to charge more for a club match so some guy on the otherside of the country who wants to participate in the series can win it? and what if You don't even want to be part of the series to boot? Maybe you could Mandate Area and Nationals as Series Matches and work with that, then shooters could choose to go or not to go. Maybe that will muddy things up here, I hope it will help. Hopalong

Change the way funds are divied out at the end of the year.... Last years revolver champ ended up with LESS than the guy who won the same class as he was classified.... And for that reason decided NOT to try and Defend his title. Him winning the overall got him the overall $$$$ BUT being he was the same class as the 2nd guy the class winner got more $$$$ due to how they devide the money. I have shot in 7 or 8 majors and have paid for all them (points series) and have traveled to some matches that I would not have gone to if I had not been in the series and that is 1 thing the series is trying to do, get more "not local" participation and it seems to be working good work guys. If things go the way they look then the same will happen again this year in the Revolver division again, Yes I know But there are not that many revolver shooters but Mathematically it could happen in the other divisions too. Go to $15 per shooter, keep the same amount going to USPSA, the club and add 1 more to the class winner and add the extra 4 to the overall that would make the chase a little more interesting. I went to 2 sectionals and 1 area match that I would not have gone to had I not been in the points series costing 3-5 hundred dollars each entry fees and all so that would make up to 15 hundred dollars I spent due to me getting in the points series, I really enjoyed the matches and am glad I went would I do it again? I think so, would I get back in the points series? NO even if I do good in it as it seems to me that if you don't shoot open, or Limited the numbers of participants are too low and thus a waste of money. And I have to dissagree on the idea of the more you can make the better you will do... Look at the Revolver Division results the guy who has lead all year and has shot 14 points series matches in not winning a guy who has shot only 8 (almost half as many) is winning. Gary, If maybe USPSA could get some coorporate sponsors Like NASCAR does with NEXTELL and get them to "liven" it up some I am sure that would help, not only with getting more participation but get USPSA in the "Market" with the gun community thus getting all of us more recoginition. Hope that helps. Hopalong I too think that participation should be left up to the competitors and not a "Blanket" mandatory entry.

GP, Southern, NOT SouthWest Yes Texas was in the Confederacy....(Barely) I have access to several ranges with differing numbers of bays/shooting areas so biggest thing would be number of stages and how much Coorporate Cooperation I could muster.... Generally MEMPHIS, NASHVILLE would be the two closest MAJOR cities with BIG airports ect. S.G. The MS Classic would not be a scheduleing conflict for sure, I would do it with plenty of time before for you and RB to get used to the Flatsides again for it. AND Can you not remember the 3 inches of SNOW we had back last APRIL (REMEMBER you were out of POWER) I saw that LYNN AND If anyone has a stage IDEA let me know.... Hopalong