cpty1

Mario, get some of the industrial strength velcro tape that comes in 2 or 2.5 inch widths. You can fix your velcro compatibility problem real quick.

I agree. The heat was rough. I'm from Atlanta and it was getting to me. I underestimated on fluids and ending up drinking half of what I took for the whole trip, the first half day of shooting; then still had a headache that night which told me I hadn't drank enough still. Needless to say I ended up buying more water and drinks while out there. Up on the hill was especially bad due to the lack of shade. Congrats on your finish and for taking Jerry to school, and winning that one stage.

Did anyone video any of your stages at the FGNs? If so, I'm sure there would be those willing to critique your technique and supply suggestions.

Thanks Ron. That's exactly the kind of feedback I'm interested in. Was thinking that if the buzzer isn't being muffled a shooter might hear it better....quicker. Looks like for you anyway, it made no difference at all. Good to know. Anyone else get different results?

In no particular order: The African Queen Mr Majestic Heat Outlaw Josey Wales Forrest Gump A River Runs Through It Legends Of The Fall O Brother Where Art Thou - if you can get through the bluegrass music (if you're not a fan), it has good cornpone humor, but if you really want to get high brow, try to find all the parallels between the movie and Homer's Odyssey. Oops, gotta throw in Swordfish. (Edited by cpty1 at 8:19 am on July 31, 2002)

Looks like there's going to be a lot of really tight shots on a lot of the stages.

Agree with everyone in needing to know more about the stage scenario and layout; how much paper, how much steel if any, distances between shooting boxes or positions of engagement. To me the stage design dictates what needs to, or can be done. In production division, I've shot 11 round stages where I finished at slide lock and also shot 11 round stages where I reloaded somewhere during the course of fire. I don't let the presence of steel mandate the need for a reload nor do I shoot more conservatively than normal to prevent having to do a reload if I can't do one without losing time. And yes, every once in a while, that approach comes back to bite me.

Did anyone ever hear when ESPN would air the FGN segment? Is ESPN going to cover the Open/Limited nats as well? Hoping it will mean some renewed interest in the sport and especially in the new divisions. (Edited by cpty1 at 7:55 am on July 30, 2002)

Maybe we should work a little slide glide red into the color scheme.

I used to use a dental pick. Seemed to work pretty well.

This one should be interesting. My thoughts to your questions, in order: 1. Jarrett, Sevigny and Langdon shot production at the FGNs. I rest my case. 2. Agreed, but I think the point is of no major significance. There are plenty of people who shoot both production guns and 1911s with no difference in split times as recorded on a timer. 3. Agreed, but the statement as to times was specifically related to the FGN shoot-offs which were all steel. No worry about A vs C hits there. 4. Gets my vote. 5 - ????? - I shoot a Glock 34 in production and a 35 in Limited-10. There is little difference in my overall times, split times, or my point count with either gun, so I don't buy the minor should be faster theory. Granted, this could affect different shooters in different ways. In a match, where C and D hits are penalized more for the minor calibers, there could be some people who slow up a bit to compensate. I think the difference in times at the FGN shootoffs was due to the rules limitations. The shootoff format magnified those differences where more time was spent drawing and reloading than actually shooting. Production shooters were using non competition type holsters worn behind the hip. Mags were in non competition type carriers also worn behind the hip. Mags could have no extension baseplate for ease of seating. Most, if not all the production guns in the shootoff had no magwell to ease reloading either. I think these things account for the difference in times between Lim-10 and production. Also to be considered is the format agreed upon by the shooters. A tenth or two would have been saved if the production guys, like the Lim-10 guys, had voted to do the mag change anywhere in the string instead of specifically before the stop popper which was a US popper. Again with the thought that you can engage a standard popper quicker after a reload than a US popper. In a match environment, the gap gets larger. Based on my own tests, I lose a tenth or two on the draw and on reloads when using production gear as opposed to my Limited/Lim-10 gear. Let's say there are two shooters of equal skill, one in Lim-10 and one in production. If the production guy loses a tenth or two on every draw and every reload, not counting minor power factor scoring, that is a big difference in match points at the end of the match. Especially when you multiply that small amount of time, let's say by 19, which was the number of stages at the FGNs. I love shooting production, but you have to be sure you're comparing apples to apples, which you aren't if you're comparing production and Lim-10 shooters, even of the exact same skill level.

Thinking not doing.....hmmmmm. Been giving some thought to this lately. The FGNs was a match in which negative reinforcement (smile) allowed me to recall something I thought I knew or at least used to know. That being, for me to shoot to the best of my current ability, I just need to program my mind to what I need to do, then just go on "automatic", if that makes sense. I had a few stages, especially maybe the first stage of either day where I was too deliberate. My best stages were those where I just shot, instead of thought about shooting, during the actual shooting of the stage. I wasn't pushing the envelope mind you, I still saw what I needed to see to shoot the stage, but it wasn't a confirming and reconfirming type thing as I perceived my actions on some of my more deliberate stages to be. Reminds me of the Bruce Lee quote in Brian's book, something about the greatest hindrance to any physical action is conscious thought. Yep, I can relate.

Has anyone checked for differences or have opinions as it relates to reaction times to the start signal when comparing electronic protection versus traditional ear plugs or muffs? Was just wondering if the electronic muffs might provide for a faster recognition of the start signal and therefore a quicker first shot.

No, shooters in the Top 8 production division shootoff voted to required the reload specifically before the stop popper. I don't know why we did it that way because as mentioned, the times would be a bit slower because it takes longer to get on a US popper after a reload than a standard size popper. I did concur to shoot in this fashion but moreso because three or four people had already voiced wanting to do it that way, and I figured it was the same for all 8 of us. Limited guys did shoot as Patrick stated.

IMO, airsoft is an alternative for those like Vince where laws are restrictive. Otherwise, I think dry fire practice with your actual weapon would be far more beneficial than airsoft type shooting.

Could be wrong but I don't think the times are listed anywhere. Start position was hands relaxed at sides for every divisional shootoff. The only changes made were the removal of two poppers for the shootoff between divisional winners to accomodate the revolver and each group could decide whether their reload would be required anywhere in the string or specifically before the stop popper. Production guys voted to do the reload before the last popper, and limited voted anywhere in the string. Can't remember how the revolver guys decided to do it. Generally speaking production winning times were around 4.25 and limited was around 3.25. (Edited by cpty1 at 4:21 pm on July 28, 2002)

I kind of chuckled under my breath and recalled this post when I saw a guy working on his broken Bomar in one of the safe areas at the FGNs. Something must have changed with their QC because years ago they had a tremendous product.

I'll give another vote to the Nike cleats. Don't know if mine are Land Sharks though, I do recall them being a football cleat.

I'll be keeping an eye on the results from Hotlanta and hoping for a forum member sweep at the awards ceremony. Good luck to all!

Congrats on your performance Erik! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who goes back through each of the stage results for a minute' critique of what went right, what went wrong, how I compared to the best shooters in my division, etc. I think doing so allows one to pinpoint certain areas that may need more work than others and if the performance was not up to par, provides a little extra motivation to work harder on improvement.

Good movie that really hit home for me. Remembering Matt Rierson, who made it through the attack only to be killed by a mortar round inside the compound a day or so later. Matt was one of the Delta guys that used to shoot IPSC in the North Carolina/Virginia area.

For the overall match, they did plaques for top 16 in both Lim-10 and production, not sure about revolver. In the shootoffs it was top 16 from Lim-10, top 8 from production, and top 4 revolver. They also had a ladies shootoff earlier in the morning, I'm not sure how many they allowed there as I missed most of that piece.

Division winners in the shootoff were Rob in Lim-10, Langdon in production, and Jerry in revolver. In the final, Jerry beat Langdon and then in turn got beat by Rob. They modified the format to compensate for the wheel gun by removing two standard poppers, the US stop popper, and the mandatory reload requirement that was in place prior to the grand finale.

Jon, what you think you heard is correct, and no, I don't think the number of unclassified shooters had anything to do with it. There were lots of unclassified shooters in both production and Lim-10. Duane - thanks for the correction. Heck, 50 points proves the point even more.

I couldn't believe it, but once again this year, competitors in all divisions visited the prize table in order of overall finish. I thought surely with the FGNs being dedicated to three divisions, with the focus obviously being on increasing participation and visibility in those divisions, that there would be a change regarding distribution of prizes from last year. Hah! Granted, they did award plaques to the top 16 in the stepchild divisions, followed by awards by class, but prize selection was in order of overall finish. According to Duane's post, Todd attributes a loss of 30 match points to the lack of a mag well alone. For us lesser mortals, production rules multiply that loss significantly. Why sacrifice holster type, holster position, mags without pads, mag position, and minor scoring when, for prize selection, everyone is lumped together anyway? I can tell you there were a lot of production and revolver shooters that left PASA shaking their heads. I don't know how USPSA expects to grow the production and revolver divisions in that manner. I can guarantee you there wouldn't have been 74 shooters in the production division this year if they had known how the prizes were to be distributed. I enjoy shooting production more than Lim-10, but there will be no more production for me. OK, I'm done.