jroback

I would definitely try it with finger wrapped around vs. off the trigger guard, and compare. I started wrapping my finger around the trigger guard a few months ago and my control immediately improved. Also, it just felt "right". The "trick" is getting to that grip quickly off the draw; its definitely easier to draw to the unwrapped grip.

Hi, just wanted to add my experience. About 6 months ago I had my lead level tested and it was 10.4, with < 5 being normal. At that time I was shooting indoors at an older range and not really doing anything special after I finished shooting. Over the last 6 months, I moved to a newer indoor range (presumably with more up to date ventilation equipment) and started scrubbing my hands well with D-Lead soap after each shooting session. I didn't change the amount of time I was shooting. With those 2 adjustments, my levels has dropped to 5.1 So, if you get tested and your levels are high, these are some simple fixes you can try.

Saw him in Chicago, maybe 25 years ago. He was old looking then, but just awesome! He and BB King are the best, for my money

I did those exercises when my elbow started hurting -- they worked for me.

I took a class with Robert Vogel last year, and someone asked him a similar question. I believe his answer was that he uses the same gear (or nearly the same gear) in both IDPA and USPSA. Sorry I can't remember his exact answer, but I do remember he kept holstered gun at same height relative to his belt so he didn't have 2 different draw strokes.

Don't discount the possibility of finding the best grips by mixing and matching. I use the stock rubber on strong hand side, and the thin lemon grater on weak hand side of grip.

Which LGS?

FWIW, I did send an email to IDPA with this exact question. Never got a response.

I mainly posted for 3 reasons: 1) the observation was surprising to me, and I was wondering if anyone else had seen this; 2) I agree that this movement would not affect the shot just fired, but its possible that with rapid fire the sights would not have returned before the next trigger pull; and 3) even if this movement did not affect the shot in rapid fire I still feel its something in my trigger technique that needs to be cleaned up, so I wanted to propose one way to do that.

I made an interesting observation on my trigger pulls. With slow speed dry fire (1 second between trigger pulls) I can keep the front sight motionless. At faster rates, there is some left-right oscillation to the front sight -- but the movement happens when I release the trigger not when I'm pulling it. This makes me think that my problem with trigger control at speed is not how I pull the trigger, but how I release it for the reset. I'm planning to try using less trigger finger extensor muscle, and let the trigger spring "reset" my finger more, to see if that helps.

Hopper is an upgraded Dish system (we just got one). Advantages are whole house connectivity with one central receiver/DVR that runs all TVs wirelessly.

I posted this question on another forum. Still disagreement, but one member said that the prohibition against bull barrels in SSP was dropped from the new rules about to take effect. http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/11716/master/1/?page=1#.VN4PKynqeZk

I think its the bull barrel, but that point probably requires clarification. Maybe I'll post the question elsewhere and see what others say.

Actually, in retrospect these have been some of my most important shooting days because, as Jack said, figuring out why you are having problems allows you to take a huge step forward in technique and performance.

I'm interested to hear what you find. I got an X-Cal (my LGS said it was the last one at the distributors they use) and I confirmed the findings of other posters who said it recoiled comparably to an SP01, but at a much lighter weight. I am now going back and forth between the X-C and the SP01 during practice. The downside of the X-C, as you noted, is that it is likely not IDPA-legal because of the bull barrel, although I guess its up to the discretion of MD's what a bull barrel is and isn't. But if the X-Trim can be made to run comparably to the X-C, it could be pretty awesome for IDPA.

For those of you who might be interested, I started listening to this audiobook from Audible. So far its a pretty good introduction to mindfulness. Only cost $7. http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Practicing-Mindfulness-An-Introduction-to-Meditation-Audiobook/B00DDVQQLA

Thank you. Sounds pretty grueling...

"If you can do a sub 7 minute Fran you will have all the grip strength you ever need for pistol shooting." What is this ?

Eric: do you use this grip on your SP01? I try, when I think about it, but I don't get the sense its as important with the SP01 as it is with a polymer gun.

I shot my X-Cal for the second time yesterday. As background, when I first got to the range I put about 200 rounds through my cajunized SP01 (anywhere from 3-25 yds) at various speeds. The SP01 is currently my preferred platform, simply because I'm very comfortable and accustomed to its weight, solid feel, and sight tracking; with the tweaks I've made to my grip the sights predictably rise and return to the target. I then put about 70 rounds through the XC . The most noticeable thing after shooting the SP01 is how light the XC feels. Based on the difference in weight, I keep expecting to experience a lot more recoil and muzzle flip with the XC, but its not there. I'm not sure I'm prepared to state that it has less muzzle flip that the SP01, but it doesn't have noticeably more, and much less than expected. After modifying my grip a bit, I found good success with the Vogel technique of torquing the hands inward to "choke" the gun. The gun was then quite accurate in my hands (although I'm thinking about getting a thinner front sight since I don't shoot as well with the fat ones). I had 10 rounds left, the target was at 10 yards, and I decided to squeeze them off as fast as I could. The results surprised me, 7 alphas. I was surprised because I am not yet accustomed to the sight tracking on the XC. I was getting the sense that the sight was returning faster than I was used to with the SP01, so it messed up my timing a bit. Short summary: this is a very cool gun, with some interesting performance qualities. I have no doubt that after more practice it will give the SP01 a run for its money, and may even surpass it in my hands.

Thanks for the detailed explanations. I feel better about this gun being IDPA-legal after those responses. From a shooting perspective, it is a very cool gun. On Saturday, I shot it against a CZ75 Shadow and an SP01, both of which have been cajunized. I have a lot of time on the range with the CZ's, and feel pretty comfortable with the grip and the overall feel of the guns; this was my first time shooting the X-Calibur. In my hands, the XC and SP01 had very limited muzzle flip, very similar to one another; they both had less flip than the 75. Note that the XC weighs about 8 oz less than the SP01; a lighter weight gun with limited flip is a real interesting combination. I was more accurate with the SP01, but it could just be range time. The XC is a keeper for sure...

I just picked up a Grand Power X-Calibur. It is IPSC-legal and will probably be ruled USPSA Production legal soon, according to other posters. In addition to USPSA, I also shoot IDPA. By my reading of the rules, I think it is not IDPA legal, but wanted to get some other opinions. Specifically: The bull barrel: per 8.1.7.3., heavy and/or cone style barrels without a barrel bushing are not legal except as allowed in ESP and CDP divisions with length restrictions. If you look under the ESP section of the rules, 8.2.2.2.21., its stated that heavy or cone style barrels on firearms are only legal with barrel lengths of 4.25” or less (the X-Calibur barrel is 4.99") Lastly, I think the slide cuts (even though they standard on this gun) are not allowed in ESP, as per 8.2.2.3.2. removal of material from the exterior of the slide other than front cocking serrations, tri-top, engraving, carry melts, and high power cuts. I hope I'm wrong about this, because I would love to use it in IDPA, but it seems pretty clear. Thx.

I am no kind of expert when it comes to interpreting IDPA rules. I think I'll cross post this in the IDPA forum and see what they say...

Nic: after pestering my LGS, I now have an X-cal inbound. Anxiously waiting to try it. 2 questions: 1) since you commented on IDPA, I assume it fits in the box and is IDPA legal? Should be OK for SSP and ESP, correct? 2) have you gotten used to the clockwise recoil torque that you commented on previously? Thx, JR It should fit the IDPA box, since it fits the IPSC box, although the latter is deeper. If anything, you may have to switch the safety levers which would not be an issue if you shoot SSP (DA start). IDPA SSP has no list, unlike USPSA production. Read section 8.2.1: http://members.idpa.com/Content/Rules/g0hunysc.eoc.pdf You may have to bring some printout of the Grand Power website or even a brochure to show that this gun comes as it is. You may have a hard time explaining that, yes, the slide ports are stock, as are the sights (USPSA allows sight modifications, not slide ones). All that is required is a 2,000 production. Showing a printout of the fact that it is on the IPSC production list (and USPSA once it is) would prove that it meets the requirements. Don't forget that some IDPA SOs are very strict as far as rules and regulations. The yaw you mention is only an issue if you shoot weak hand without prior practice. It was worse with the K100, not much with the X-Cal, which I love. Nic: Based on all the discussions of the X-Calibur I got one (can't wait to shoot it tomorrow for the first time!). However, I researched this question a little more and, strictly speaking, I don't think its IDPA legal. By my interpretation (please correct if I missed something), its because of the bull barrel. Specifically, per 8.1.7.3. heavy and/or cone style barrels without a barrel bushing are not legal except as allowed in ESP and CDP divisions with length restrictions. If you look under the ESP section of the rules, 8.2.2.2.21. states that heavy or cone style barrels on firearms are only legal with barrel lengths of 4.25” or less. Lastly, I think the slide cuts are not allowed in ESP, as per 8.2.2.3.2. removal of material from the exterior of the slide other than front cocking serrations, tri-top, engraving, carry melts, and high power cuts. I hope I'm wrong about this, because I would love to use it in IDPA, but it seems pretty clear. Nonetheless, its an awesome looking gun and I'm sure I'll love shooting it tomorrow...

I just finished reading Havana. I seem to recall (but can't confirm because I already took it back to the library) that he has a funny statement in the acknowledgements to the effect that "in the future, when Harvard commissions a complete Stephen Hunter anthology, I will correct all errors, omissions, disagreements in the timelines, etc". IOW -- get over it, because its never going to happen.