pointofimpact

Hey everybody, Jake Pugh, here. I was the photographer for the match. You may have grabbed one of my Horsepower Graphics cards. If not, I just wanted to drop in and let everybody know the pictures are up on Smug Mug (horsepowergraphics.smugmug.com) and also to say it was a pleasure meeting everybody. Thanks to Andy and Mike for a great match! Thanks to all the ROs for working their butts off and for letting me impose on them to take a few pictures along the way. Gun people are good people I say, but this group of ROs was especially impressive. Enjoyed getting to know some of you guys. Last but not least, it was an honor to get to meet and photograph the Task Force Dagger guys. You guys are my heroes. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. It's a debt we cannot repay. I tried my best to get pictures of every shooter, but that is extremely tough! I got most though, and there are a handful of good ones of each shooter I got to. Also got shots of a few of the Father/son duos and families we had shooting with us and a few group photos of some of the teams that were there. Go check out the pictures and let me know what ya think! SmugMug is really easy to order from if you want copies of your pictures. You can download a digital version or you can order prints straight from SmugMug pretty affordably. Looks like I just sold enough to cover my SmugMug Subscription for this month, so any additional sales profits will go to Task Force Dagger.

This same problem has come up with my M&P but after way less than 10k rounds. I'm replacing the striker spring first with an extra power spring, then I will replace the whole striker assly if needed. I would have just done that to begin with if I had realized there was a difference in the "old" black strikers and these silver ones as CHA-LEE says. But I already ordered the springs so I'll try that first and see what happens before I spend $35 more. buddy_fuentes, did the new striker assly solve your problems?

I know this is old, but thank you 00bullit. You just solved a problem for me in a very inexpensive way.

I'm just a noob, so this is more of a question for you and the other posters than it is a suggestion to you, JaeOne. In dry fire practice, can bad habits be created by not finishing the draw with a controlled trigger press on target? I have been "racing the clock" with my dry fire at the end, not sights on target. In my mind, that seems like a better way to skin the cat. Any motion you repeat enough times will be resorted back to under stress (buzzer). I am in the process of reading Dave Grossman's book "On Combat". In there, he tells of an old police training tactic that got a couple of guys hurt. At the qualification/practice range, they were having the trainees draw, fire two rounds, and reholster. In the heat of a deadly force encounter, a few of those officers drew their weapon, fired two rounds at the suspect then holstered their weapon while the assailants were still firing back! lol.. Now I don't really think you, JaeOne, are going to forget to shoot the target after your draw in a big match. But the habit of not prepping and pressing the trigger with the front sight on target could cost you a split second hesitation that could add up. Or maybe in your practice you inadvertently just start concentrating on your draw mechanics so closely that you get lazy with finding the front sight at the end without even realizing you're doing it? For me, I need all the help I can get. I don't want to do anything that will cost me any more time than I'll cost myself! So from you more experienced guys, am I thinking about it a little too hard or is this valid reasoning?

Silver4.6, if you don't mind my asking, what type of CCW holster were you using with the 40? The reason I ask is because I have an M&P .40 FS that I carry. I am 6'2" 165 lbs (stop laughing) and couldn't carry that gun without a large jacket until I got a good IWB holster (Crossbreed QuickClip for me). Now it only prints if I'm wearing just a tshirt AND I bend over or squat down. I wear business casual every day with my button down tucked in over the gun. There is no way you would know I'm carrying. So in keeping with the thread, I shoot my M&P 40 full size in IDPA SSP and USPSA Production, 3G very soon, and I carry it everywhere I go. I am married to the idea - especially for a fairly new shooter like myself - of absolutely immersing oneself in learning to run/maintain/load for one gun or at the very least one platform. It has helped me improve a lot faster than I ever expected. Muscle memory is a huge help (as long as you're doing the right things) or can be a huge downfall for a new shooter/ccw-er. I didn't want to install that speed bump, so I'm a one-gun-man for now. I'll probably be buying the M&P 9L or Pro soon (if I can find mags for it) for use in competition and having the 40 as my EDC gun. Great thread. I've enjoyed reading everybody's opinions on this one.

+1

I, too, would like to know what you mean by "training for your first match". Jump in there! I shot the ProAm match unclassified (I don't recommend that part, get classified if possible) after owning my first ever handgun for about 4 months and after just one club level IDPA match under my belt. I improved more as a shooter (and learned more by asking questions and watching the big dogs) in that day than the previous four months of forum stalking, youtubing, dryfire, and range practice combined. And I didn't totally suck! I'm still a noob and I can tell you the guys at the match will be nothing but helpful and supportive. Don't worry about going out and performing. That's not important. As long as you're safe, everybody will be glad you're there and help you in any way they can. Ask questions and have fun. BEST OF LUCK IN BOTH ENDEAVORS!!

My buddy has a new M&P (Vtac model) and is having a lot of trouble getting his mags (also brand new barely used) to fall free. Even when the gun and mags are squeaky clean. I told him to just insert and remove the mags over and over and see if it would just wear down a little bit naturally. Break it all in, if you will. But still no improvement to speak of. These things are a little more than snug. He has to actually use his support hand to pull them out as he reaches for a reload. It's almost as thought something is a little out of spec. I have a basic full size m&p and have never had ANY similar problem, even when my gun was straight out of the box new. Nor have I heard of such from anybody else until now. I suggested to him what 9x23guy offered up. The mag well of the M&P has some ribs in there that run vertically and seem to create the tension. I think these could be filed/sanded down a little to alleviate the problem. I will report back with what we figure out with his over the weekend.

I'm coming down your way in July to shoot the ProAM. Well it's in Frostproof, which I guess is Central Florida. If you decide to shoot Alabama, try to be in town early Friday night before the match. In years past, they have had a party the night before the match for all the shooters and families and cooked a whole hog with all the trimmings. Supposed to be a good time.

Link doesnt work. If you google "cagc idpa state 2013" it is the second result.

Congrats Bro Jon. Fireman, where do you shoot out of? FYI cagc in montgomery is my home range. We host the AL match. Registration is now open!! http://centralalabamagunclub.com/main/idpa/idpa-state-match/ This will be my first time shooting it. They say it is one of the best around though. Have you shot it before?

Upon seeing this thread I was reminded that I placed well at my last major match (Georgia) but didn't hear anything at the match about getting bumped. I went and logged in on the website and sure enough, I got bumped from (don't laugh) MM to SS. I had only shot a few matches (3-4) when I classified the first time and was only MM for two months before I got bumped at the Match. In this particular case, it was really rewarding to know that I went to a major match as such a n00b and performed well enough all day to best 30 other shooters and get bumped. I haven't actually moved up on a classifier (obviously), but I can't imagine that being as rewarding as doing it in competition. Man I love this game.

We will keep the waiting list open until the middle of the week before the match, at least. At some point, you have to print lables, etc. Mark 10-4. Thanks for the info brother. Hopefully I'll squeak in. I've watched/photographed this match two years in a row. I want to SHOOT it! haha

My app should be in today. Maybe tomorrow. When will we know if we made it in via waiting list or not? Shooting Friday isn't really an option for me, gotta be at work. I'll have to stand down and get my money back if I can't shoot Saturday. Thanks. - Jake *Edit- I guess that wasn't very clear. My question was supposed to be - Are you going to keep the waiting list live all the way up to the week of the match or do you have a cut off date where you'll let us know Friday is our only option? Thanks again.

Dangit.

Not at all with Rainiers. Easy very easy to make major. I switched from MG to Rainiers after I had to borrow some Rainiers. Made power easier, lees powder. And are very accurate! Great to hear! I've been shooting 165 gr Rainiers for a while now in IDPA and USPSA Production and have been very happy with them in a 135 pf .40 load but was wondering if I would have a hard time making power if I wanted to start shooting Limited Major. Might have to bump up to the 180 gr and work up a load, but I can handle that. Thanks for the info guys

Wait, I thought those things were just for looks.. Am I supposed to be using them for something?...

White Male seeking roommate. Interests include big dogs, long walks on the known distance range, and the smell of burnt gunpowder. No contract necessary. No fat chicks. But seriously, I'm shooting with the ROs on the 12th and 13th and working the match on the weekend. If anybody is interested in splitting a hotel bill for that period of time, I'm your man. They also have on site lodging I'm looking into for pricing. That would be my preference if available and affordable. PM me if you're interested.

I'm running the stock rear and a Dawson .180T x .115W Front. Can't say enough about the DP sight. They have great customer service too.

Whats up Butch It's me, Jake from MMI. I'm planning on shooting as of right now. The range looks awesome. Looks like CAGC is having a club 3-gun match in/around late January/early February. I'll at least be able to get my feet wet prior to jumping in with the big boys at TFD. That one might be a good chance for you to get some on the clock practice for your big match too as long as it doesn't interfere. Can't remember when you said it was. I'll keep you updated on that club match. If anybody else here is in the Central Alabama area and interested in a club level 3 gun match, just holler and I'll post the info here when available.

I'm wanting to get started soon but the biggest hurdle for me right now is the shotgun. I'm in the middle of building my rifle right now and am about to spend a good deal of disposable income on the final parts and optics. I can't foresee being able to drop $1500 on a benelli m2 anytime soon. Do any of you guys have any strong feeling against getting my feet wet with my 870 8+1 to begin with? Obviously it would slow me down a quite a bit, but it would by no means cost me a match or anything early on. haha. I've heard two theories on getting started. 1) 2) Use what you have as long as it's reliable, allowed, and appropriate BECAUSE it will be a while before your skill surpasses the limitations created by your equipment. This would quite certainly apply to my.

I've been using Rainier RNFP for about the last 3K rounds and really like them. Feed great, accurate. No complaints. The noob's 2 cents.

I've been using CCI since day one. Thousands of them. Never had a reason to switch to anything else. I can recall one light primer strike with the CCI's that was the primers fault. A couple of others where I brainfarted and didn't seat the primer all the way. Other than that, aces. Couldn't get a hold of them once and tried some Winchester SP. Those were just fine too. I'm hearing you guys saying you can use SR primers in .40 reloads... first I've heard of this. I am definitely still a noob compared to many of you guys though. Question number 1: Are there any noticeable differences in pressure, velocity, etc? Question number 2: Is this reciprocal? Could I use SP in .223 loads? If so, this could change my primer ordering habits significantly.

I've heard it's hard to get plated bullets to the speeds needed for making major. Pressure issues and loss of accuracy namely the issues. Anyone have experience with this?