Rhodie

Practice up on feeding that shotgun. Ted is talking about making a nature trail shotgun stage. He did an all shotgun stage 2 years ago that was around 36 shells. It was fun. But, I was still attempting to load out of standard carriers then. It was fun but the results for me were quite terrible. I'm really excited about the trail this year's since I'm doing deuces and quads.

If you haven't picked the one you want before the next Old School 3 Gun match, ask to look at everyone's glass. We all like to show off our gear. Ask around for Jake. I should be there. If Jerry is there you'll be able to look at his too.

These are a good option for the $$. I was shooting with mine @ 475 yards the other evening at dusk (7:45ish) and was still able to shoot a sub MOA group with it. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=201243#entry2236830

I have a target that I drew up in Autocad that I used for determining the subtensions on my Bushnell in MOA. If you have access to a wide plotter, or if you're willing to go to Office Depot and pay for them to plot it, PM me your email address and I'll send you a PDF. That will not verify the accuracy of the ballistics calculator. But, you'll know what your brackets are. How fast are you pushing your 75 grainers?

Has there been any ruling yet on half day vs whole day format?

I think on the hearing part that the responsibility falls 100% on the shooter. If you lose you hearing protection for one reason or another, you should either replace them or stop shooting. If the shooter makes the decision to continue shooting, they are completely in control of the situation and the poor decision(s) they are making. I say completely in control because they know that each time they pull the trigger (save for a mechanical failure or the gun or ammo) they will be exposing their ears to noise levels that can and eventually will damage their hearing. If you want to hit the competitor where it hurts the most during the heat of the moment (their score), make a one line item rule. Failure to wear ear protection while shooting a stage will result in a procedural penalty of X seconds. If you make it 10 or 20 seconds, it will be worth taking the time to stop and fix your hearing protection then continue. If they choose not to stop, they get rewarded double for bad decision making by the potential hearing loss and the penalty to boot. To back up what fireman was saying, I shoot only with plugs with no cord when I'm shooting long guns. That's because I've knocked off muffs and snagged cords during practice and realized that the risk of that happening during a match isn't worth it. I wear electronic muffs when I'm not shooting and change out to my plugs while I'm on deck. On the eye protection, I think that the RO needs to intervene if the shooter doesn't stop himself after a shot or two. My thoughts behind that is because the shooter is not 100% in control of what may happen in the way of oil splatter, bullet splash and powder residue. You may shoot the same gun at the same target 1000 times and never get anything in your eye or you may shoot it once and have a piece of lead splash back and put your eye out for good. If the shooter doesn't stop to fix the situation on his own, the RO should stop him and consider the stage scored as-is. Or, possibly let the shooter fix the situation and run a second string from the point of the stop and combine the times for the stage.

I have an AR Gold and a Geissele regular S3G in two separate rifles. I prefer the AR Gold because it feels very close to my trigger in my 2011 and there is a defined 2nd stage. The S3G is nice for up close hoser stages. But, on long range it is..... different. The lack of a defined 2nd stage prior to the trigger break means you really can't prep the trigger for the long shots. After shooting a couple of matches with 500 yard shots, I stopped using the S3G and started using the AR Gold exclusively Also since the S3G doesn't have the defined 2nd stage, it is very easy to bump fire when shooting from some awkward positions or from a bench when you are shooting relaxed with your support hand on the sandbag.

I noticed that Daniel's stage seemed faster while watching it. I quickly dismissed the thought and figured that I wasn't paying close enough attention because I was playing on my phone too at the time. But, I did notice that either Pat or Chad made the comment that Daniel's time was "a couple of seconds slower than the time posted" for Ravin. I thought that was a strange choice of wording since I had already thought the time was off. They usually would say "slower than his time". Maybe they noticed that the scoring was wrong in post production. But, it was too little too late at that point.

My POI information for my 26" TTI M2 with 7/8 slugs: CYL: 50 = +7.5 75 = +11.5 100 = +1.5 SK: 50 = +8.5 75 = +12.5 100 = +5 IC: 50 = +11.5 75 = +8.5 100 = +5.5 LM: 50 = +8.5 75 = +7.5 100 = +5

This right here.... There's nothing like having a good feeling run and then getting the "IIIIIFFFFF you are finished, unload and show clear". Or to look at the target and think, "Did I engage that one? If not, it's too late now.... The penalty is probably about the same as the time I've wasted wondering if I've shot it or not"

I've had some good, fast service from several companies in the firearms / shooting business. But, I believe Kevin set the land speed record on my order...... I ordered a 2.8 Friday @ 11:00PM. Kevin emailed me @ 2:11AM Saturday saying that he received the order and it would be on the way by the end of the day Saturday. I received it yesterday (Monday) @ 2:00PM. I have not had time to put it together and play with it yet. I do agree with everyone else that the quality of construction is top notch. I will definitely try it out this weekend.

Winchester will be offering the rebate this year. I saw the form on Brownell's earlier today. For purchases from 5/18 - 9/13. All forms must be in to them by 9/27.

I pretty much did this exercise when I first got my Benelli. Except I wasn't aiming at a target in particular. I would close my eyes, mount the gun and open my eyes. I took notes on whether I was looking up the rib (too much drop.... stock too low), down the rib or over the rib and bead (not enough drop, stock to high, and whether I was looking to the left or right of the rib. After I had 10 sample points, I adjusted with the shims provided with the gun and now when I mount the gun I am seeing none of the rib and nothing but a perfectly centered bead. As stated above, a properly fit gun really shines when recoil comes into play. It's a challenge enough to shoot quickly and accurately when you are just combating the recoil. When you add in the fact that you have to reposition your head because the recoil knocked you off of your improperly fit gun, it makes it even harder. With a proper fit, you just move the gun to the next target and your head and eyes stay in the correct place.

I've had my TTI M2 for a little over a year now. I absolutely love it. It runs like a top and shoots slugs like a laser. Are his guns worth the extra $$? Probably not. An AI or TSS gun with a few $500 - $800 worth if shells will make anyone a better shooter than a TTI gun by itself. But, with that said, I do not regret buying a gun from Taran. I wanted a gun right away and he had enough parts to build three different configurations. We talked about options and preferences on a Monday and he built me a 26" model and had it in my hands by that Friday so I could have it for a match Saturday. As mentioned above, I think he does have some of the best customer service out there. He has sent me free accessories and goodies just because he developed and released them after my gun was built. The last time I spoke to him he was going to send me his new bolt handle and safety until I told him that he built my gun with the most up to date version of both those parts. As a side note, (and a little of a funny story) I was going to go the TSS route before I was unable to find the factory gun for the build. One thing that I had a disagreement with Benny on was the trigger. He told me that his guns do not come with trigger jobs. (I believe that all guns no matter what their intended purpose is should have a good trigger.) I thanked Benny for his time and called Taran directly afterwards. The first question that I asked him was if his guns had trigger jobs. His exact answer, "It has a trigger, doesn't it?". At that particular point, I knew he was my kind of fella and he was going to be a pleasure to do business with.

I work at an engineering firm and have access to autocad to draw up my own targets. I have a Bushnell 1-6.5 with the center dot right at 1 MOA. I've drawn up targets for 100, 200 and 300 each with multiple 1", 2" and 3" squares for each distance. It makes zeroing much easier when I can center the dot in the square so you can barely see a sliver of white on all four sides of the dot. Also, I have a 22 upper with a Prismatic w/ the circle dot reticle on it for practice. I drew up a target for zeroing at 25 yards that's several circles. Center the dot in the circle with a little sliver of white all the way around and it's a breeze to get a perfect zero. PM me if you want any of the targets. I'll send you the pdfs of them.

I had the pleasure of going to the SHOT show a few years ago. At the Lansky sharpener booth they were giving out a bandaid holder already filled with bandaids. I thought that there was marketing genius. I made sure to get some to take home to my father-in-law. He no longer lets me sharpen his knives because he said they're too dangerous when I get done with them.

Here's what I posted in another thread like this a few weeks ago..... If you do get a custom pair made and you want the maximum noise reduction, tell the maker to put the stopper as far in your ear as you can stand. Tell them to not stop until you tell them to. Also, when they are injecting the material, hold your jaw to the position right about where your ears pop and hold it there as long as you can while the material sets. That opens your ear canal a little bit larger than normal. It will make a huge difference. Just be warned, they will work really well. I cannot RO or take score with my plugs made like this. I take them out and use my electronic muffs after I shoot. My wife used to make custom plugs. I was her guinea pig for a while. We learned a few little tricks along the way. I have a couple of pairs made this way. The canals on them are really long. I have a pair with a lanyard that I wear while shooting pistol and a pair without that I use when shooting shotgun or rifle.

I just picked these up from my local trophy shop. $6 each and a day turnaround.

From the Infinity Facebook group page. I don't know who he (or she) is that owns it, but I already like them.....

If you do get a custom pair made and you want the maximum noise reduction, tell the maker to put the stopper as far in your ear as you can stand. Tell them to not stop until you tell them to. Also, when they are injecting the material, hold your jaw to the position right about where your ears pop and hold it there as long as you can while the material sets. That opens your ear canal a little bit larger than normal. It will make a huge difference. Just be warned, they will work really well. I cannot RO or take score with my plugs made like this. I take them out and use my electronic muffs after I shoot. My wife used to make custom plugs. I was her guinea pig for a while. We learned a few little tricks along the way.

After reading Pat's article and getting more and more match time in, I agree with this almost 100%. I have found that for heavier knockover buckshot targets at 30 or 35 yards need an IM if you do not have flight control buck.

I fully agree with this. I always tell anyone that asks me about shooting to practice accuracy first then speed. The way I see it is you have less conscious control over your flinch than your desire to go fast. A flinch by definition is a instinctive reaction. There is an explosion happening in your hands less than two feet from your face. It's human nature to not like that sensation. But, lots of dry fire and live fire with concentration on the basics of sight picture and trigger control will train your body to know that the gun going off is not a bad thing. In my experience, speed will come once your body (and mind) isn't focusing on the "negative' of the gun going off and you start to notice the sights lift and everything starts to fall into place. Also, if you start to push yourself and you are dropping points because you are going too fast, you can always throttle back to get your hits at your speed if you have the accuracy fundamentals. But, if you can't hit anything consistently at any speed, you really are in tough shape. I find it both funny and sad when you see someone that can burn down a paper array under 10 yards with a decent mix of Alphas and Charlies but as soon as you put a plate rack past about 15 - 18 yards they fall to pieces. Put one past 25 yards and it gets really interesting. I always try to shoot a few rounds at my 8" steel plates at the end of a practice session no closer than 25 yards. Usually 30 or 35 yards. It helps me to never forget that sights and trigger control are important. This is true. At my local match on Saturday I slowed down and scored a ton of alphas, and some mikes that really made a difference in the final score. BUT... The hard part for me is that we're talking throttling back by tenths, sometimes hundredths of a second. It's finding the line that really separates the winners from the middle of the pack. You are correct. It is hard to slow down especially when it may cost you a place or two when you are trying to find the speed / accuracy balance. What I tell (and try to do) myself is practice until I am outside of my capabilities and compete inside of my capabilities. It may (or may not) take me longer to get to the winner's circle that way. But, if you get there the correct way and the good habits are firmly ingrained in your mind and muscles, you should be a better person and shooter due to it. At least, that's what I tell myself in the mirror every morning during my daily affirmations.....

I fully agree with this. I always tell anyone that asks me about shooting to practice accuracy first then speed. The way I see it is you have less conscious control over your flinch than your desire to go fast. A flinch by definition is a instinctive reaction. There is an explosion happening in your hands less than two feet from your face. It's human nature to not like that sensation. But, lots of dry fire and live fire with concentration on the basics of sight picture and trigger control will train your body to know that the gun going off is not a bad thing. In my experience, speed will come once your body (and mind) isn't focusing on the "negative' of the gun going off and you start to notice the sights lift and everything starts to fall into place. Also, if you start to push yourself and you are dropping points because you are going too fast, you can always throttle back to get your hits at your speed if you have the accuracy fundamentals. But, if you can't hit anything consistently at any speed, you really are in tough shape. I find it both funny and sad when you see someone that can burn down a paper array under 10 yards with a decent mix of Alphas and Charlies but as soon as you put a plate rack past about 15 - 18 yards they fall to pieces. Put one past 25 yards and it gets really interesting. I always try to shoot a few rounds at my 8" steel plates at the end of a practice session no closer than 25 yards. Usually 30 or 35 yards. It helps me to never forget that sights and trigger control are important.

I've heard that if you use this mixture on your Retroencabulator's hydrocoptic marzul vanes that side fumbling will be effectively prevented.

I have a Stag 3G and my father-in-law recently purchased the Colt Pro (not the expert). I was very impressed with the Colt. It shot under an inch with Winchester 55 gr white box, Freedom Munitions 62 gr soft point and my 75 gr Hornady handloads. However, the Colt didn't do anything that my Stag couldn't do and the Stag does it for several hundred $$ less. The one thing you will have to do for the Stag is change out the comp. You can spend a little bit and get a Miculek that will do the job just fine or spend a little bit more and get a Rolling Thunder or a Titan and look a little bit cooler and (maybe) get the job done better. In comparison of the Expert to the 3G, I think the 3G wins hands down.