Redrum

I carry what I compete with....I change holster though. I carry either a S&W 625 or my XD-40...depending on where I am going. I change from Kydex holsters to leather High ride holsters though. The only time I change from this is if I am dressed up in a suit (suspenders...no belt....) then I will carry my Bersa in an ankle holster. Can't have that weight pull my drawers down...

Ditto!!! kj

I guess I'll have to put in my .02...FWIW... First...this was not an AD but a ND. Yeah I know...semantics...but it more accurately describes what happened. The shooter just got a bit confused (with the addition of the flashlight and cast) and it took him out of his "normal" routine of Unload and show clear. This however shows that we must at ALL times be aware of what we are doing with a firearm...loaded or unloaded. I have been shooting with this shooter for many years and I have all the faith and confidence in him and I respect him now even more than before due to the way he conducted himself. This is the first ND that we have had at this match in the 5 years of holding the match. We have only had 1 other DQ (for not showing up for the rest of the stages). This is a very well run match. The "time constraints" mentioned in another post cover the shooting block of 3 hours to run 8-10 shooters through 10 stages each (5 dark and 5 light). This being the case, safety is never sacrificed at the expense of "saving time". There were a few cases of firearm misfeeds that could not be cleared by racking the slide. The lights were turned on and the RO removed the firearm from the range to a safe area to be cleared. After this incident, procedures for that particular stage were changed for the rest of the match. After the shooter was finished and indicated that they were through, the shooter kept the firearm pointed down range, with the finger out of the trigger guard (being watched by the SO) while the scorekeeper moved to the shooters weak side and removed the "cast". They the shooter was allowed to unload and show clear. While I was on the range I never heard the SO tell the shooters to turn off and stow the flashlight until after they were holstered and coming off the range. That is not to say that it didn't happen that day ( I wasn't there that day), but the standard op was to let the shooter use his/her light to unload and show clear and holster and then turn it off. Many of the shooters put their lights in their mouths when they were done to illuminate the firearm. I let mine dangle from my wrist. It gave off enough light to show the cylinder (I shoot a wheelgun). After I was holstered I turned off the light and grabbed onto the SO's shoulder to walk out of the stage. I think that it was the addition of the "cast" and the flashlight that added 2 more levels of though to the procedures. While we try and get shooters accustomed to shooting with a flashlight by having at least one of our stages at the semi-monthly matches in the dark with the flashlight, adding the "competition" factor in may have also contributed to the "stress". I guess we are so programmed after a while to do things in a certain order that we fail to think about what we are doing when something new is added. This is not an inditement of the shooter...just an observation. Is this match safe? Yes. Can it be made safer? ...Every match can be made safer. We are always looking for ways of improving the match in safety and content. kj

Welcome to the wonderful world of wheelgun competition!!! Your gonna have fun!! The one thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is chamfering of the chambers. It will speed up your reloads dramatically.

Well said Keith...I agree...I guess people are not allowed to have opinions around here...might be stepping on some toes... Anyway...To conceal or not to conceal...that is the question... There are times when I get frustrated with the LGB. It is , at times, as vague as a NASCAR rulebook...Fine...call it a guideline book then...But people get bashed by all these self professed experts regarding the rules...if it does not state that concealment MUST be used, then it is at the descretion of the shooter, or even prior to that, the MD in making the COF descriptions VERY CLEAR. This game is supposed to be as close to life as possible...So let's make it that way. I don't have a problem with that...If I don't have to use concealment at a match (and I ask at the shooters safety brief) then I won't. But if it is stated that concealment must be worn , then I wear it...no questions asked. Conservative estimate is that 80% of the time I do not conceal. There are times when I do, because I do not have the time to explain to people or must, due to law. No biggie.

Hmmmm..."Suitable for all-day continue wear" and " If you wouldn't carry it to defend yourself, you can't shoot or use it in Defensive Pistol competition." Talk about your loaded answers...Here in VA, open carry is an option ...an option that I choose rather frequently. Just stands to reason that I can draw faster without any restrictions....and what I wear all day , that is comfortable for me, may not be for someone else. and the whole if you wouldn't carry it, then you can't play the game with it attitude is just bogus...There are many people that I know that carry a ported handgun...but they cannot use it in IDPA...This goes directly against the rules that IDPA and Bill Wilson created....Guess that's why IPSC was formed (and that's another different can of worms...) anyway...just throwing in my .02...FWIW ps. I also have a optional concealment rule May-Oct...Indoor ranges get just to hot...

Shred...Thanks for the reports!!! Usually don't hear anything until it's over!!! You take the pics??? Nice job!! Just waiting here for the next report!!!