Headshot45

hi ryucasta, I never had those problems, but also I didn't just bolt them on and shoot. I would blend them with the bottom of the frame and open them up slightly. Frank p.s. I have just started going back to Glock, so I need to look at whats available now before I order a CCW magwll for my new 17

I have always used the one from California Competition Works on my 17's and 34's for IDPA and for carry.....of course,the ones for carry were heavily moified. Frank

Hey Eric, Yes, that holster is legal.....any other questions? Frank

my vote goes for Nashville (since it is near Ft Campbell, and my 20 yr old whos in the 101st Air Assault should be back from Iraq late August-early October), and the match fee should be in the $95-125 range with a discount for a second entry......and if there is any prize table, do it by random drawing...... Frank p.s. just glad to have power after Wilma....98% of us lost power

Doug, That is not the purpose or the definition of the FTDR rule....if it is used that way in your area I am sorry, but it is not used that way down here... I get a kick out of watching somebody figure out my COF's and hose them...in fact, I love it the very few times somebody has outthought me and my designs....but I haven't been out thought much not because I am smarter than everybody, but because I have designed COF's since 1979 in IPSC and since 98 in IDPA, and I have seen it all...well maybe not yet, but I know to expect the unexpected......and to me, that is the fun of designing...not to outsmart the shooter, but to allow the shooter to outsmart me....and I have shaken the hand of many shooters for a flawless performance on a stage that everybody else thought was too hard until this shooter figure a way to "Beat the Clock" Frank

To Ted and all, What I did this year at the 2005 Florida State Match was tell everyone at the shooters meeting that there will be an equipment check at every stage. If you weren't sure if your gear was good to go to see me or our AC for a quick inspection before proceeding to your first stage. They were also told that whenever the SO at a stage did an equipment check and the shooter was warned of anything his score sheet would be notated of such. First offense was considered his verbal warning. Second offense was a procedural added to his time. Third was a FTDR, and a fourth notation was a match DQ. When the shooter was called to the line for his turn to shoot, the SO would do the equipment check before the "Load and make ready" command. This was done while the SK was scoring and targets were being pasted so as not to waste time. The scoresheets went to the scoring shack and the notations were recorded. If a competitior received a second "Equipment" notation I was called and went to the shooter to advise him so we can help him NOT do that again, as it could have been accidental. I know, because I got notated once. It seems when I sat down in my chair for a few minutes the arm of the chair pushed my mag pouch too far forward....oops.... We had nobody complain of this check system, and only 1 competitor received a third violation.....and he was puposely trying to gain an advantage. I explained to him that the 1 or 2 seconds total time he might save over 10 stages was now already gone with the second violation, let alone the third, and he flat out apologized, and he was a model citizen after that. Was this draconian it its application? I don't think so, since the warning was given at the shooter briefing....any comments? Frank

Vlad, I shoot IDPA exclusively for right now, and to answer your question....as stupid as it sounds, yes.... The whole point is the "Swan Lake" choreography of it all......but if you can think and analyze without the histrionics of the dance, then by all means plan it out in your head. My opinion, and unfortunately, most of the IDPA bashers haven't had the luxury of getting to shoot COF's designed by people who understand the rationale of proper course design. That is a MAJOR component of the class when I, as an SOI, teach new students getting certified to be an SO. A perfect scenario-style COF has a very simple walk through briefing. It sounds like this; " OK, listen up.....this is Stage 2......the Start position is____. On the signal, go to cover and engage them as you see them.....any questions?" I know, sounds simple enough, but will it really work? At the 2005 Florida State match 4 of the 10 COF's were that simple....the COF wasn't necessarily simple, as there was movement, reloading, non-threat targets and such, but the COF was laid out in a format that was easy to understand, had a few different ways to shoot it, and had MINIMAL judgement calls by the SO's....and there was no need to choreograph....just look at it, assess your strategy, and see what happens.... Frank

sooner or later I knew I would have to jump in and reply to some of these topics, so...... Airgunning is neither good or bad....but it is against the rules, plain and simple. The reason for this is simple...the founders wanted the shooter to perform the needs of the COF without all of the extra choreography being practiced before hand. See? Plain and simple. Where the discussions get askew is the fact that in USPSA the COF's are very intricately choreographed, down to the airgunning of the draw stroke, the reloads, exactly where to place your foot, etc. The other problem with airgunning is the amount of time it can take....for example...there are some shooters who will take more time choreographing a single stage then they take actually shooting an entire match. Very likely not even knowing what they are really doing, but emulating the truly gifted shooters who have an exact science of what they are trying to achieve. Picture the weekend golfer....as he walks around the green trying to read his 10 foot putt for double bogey or worse....lookig at all angles....getting behind the ball and plumb-bobbing....probably has absolutely no clue what a plumb-bob is let alone how to do it, but sees it on TV when the truly gifted pros do it. never mind that they know what they are doing....anyway, the problem snowballs and it was something the founders of IDPA did not want in this sport. Does that mean it is a stupid thing to do? No, far from it, but unless you know exactly what will benefit YOU, why bother? All you are going to do is have something go wrong halfway into the stage, have that dumb look of surprise since THAT wasn't choreographed , suddenly realize that the clock is still running, and "brain fade" your way through the rest of the stage ending up nothing at all what you just "airgunned". Ok, maybe that only happens to me.... Frank

I shot IPSC before USPSA existed, starting in 1979...back then the hot ticket was a 1911 full size or commander in a Sparks Summer Special or Yaqui slide....still a good rig for IDPA. I stopped shooting IPSC/USPSA in '98 when our club went full IDPA. I have no animosity towards IPSC/USPSA or its shooters...in fact, I will start shooting USPSA matches again with a revolver just because it will be fun....plus more trigger time. But for now, I am a 100% IDPA shooter....after the first of the year it will probably be more 60% IDPA, 30% IPSC, and 10% steel as my free time permits. Frank

Michael, when you come down to Miami let me know and we'll grab lunch and talk.... Frank

to Randy Lee and Michael Bane, I love the idea of getting Ruger and Taurus into the fray....even Dan Wesson if Mr Serva will listen... but to the point.....Taurus is 15 Minutes from my house...if there is anything I can do from here to help you guys try to talk some sense into Taurus please let me know.....nothing would give them a shot in the arm towards more acceptance of product quality than to have their revolvers used as a base for competition..... lets make this happen Frank

Carmoney, you are officially on my s**t list. Because of this post my little brother has totally ruined my keyboard with drool.....he now is getting a 617 just so he can get those loaders and send the gun to Randy for a sub 2# triger job!! And on top ofall that, we don't even have a game to play with that revolver down here. Paybacks are a ......... Frank

I would ask my dealer to order one for me....just hate the idea of spending that much money to only have to ship it to Randy to make it complete, but.....I am a dumb redneck, so I will buy one. In case you aren't sure if I am a dumb redneck, last week when Hurricane Katrina came through my neck of the woods down here in south Florida, I actually spent over $70 on ice to save $40 worth of food..... Frank

thanks Dave....I put the envelope in the mail to you today..... by the way, any answer from your buddies re: Southern Revolver Championships? Frank

I have always used the strong hand to handle my speedloaders, so I just continued that muscle memory to load moonclips..... I tried switching last week, and practiced it utilizing a new grip in which my left thumb rides the cylinder latch and pushes forward to commence the load sequence before going to the belt. I kept the revo in my right hand and held it up for a gravity deload(deload? is that even a term?) but sometimes the moon stayed in the cylinder, so.....heck with it...back to the old way.... Frank

ok guys, I have been shooting revos in IDPA since its inception, and until the change to ESR I had a great load for my 625 Mountain Gun. Now, I am getting another 625 in 4" for IDPA and occassional use in USPSA, and am looking for a 25-2 for USPSA and need to know what the "trend" load is. As I have read here in numerous posts, my 625 does not shoot 230 ball very well past 20 yds...it does shoot my IDPA load well, but it is only 142PF....thats all we needed last year....so, do I switch to 200 gr Berry's or 185 gr JHP's? I am at your mercy, so be gentle..... Frank

I started shooting IPSC in 1979, and in the beginning would occassionally shoot one of my carry revolvers......I have been almost exclusively shooting IDPA since its inception, some of the time with a revolver, and probably will continue to do so.... The problem down here is not IPSC/USPSA per se, but the people at the club level....they look down on you for shooting a piece of junk since it didn't cost $2000, yet when you stick a reload(and sometimes it is faster than they did with their custom Whizbang Copperflamer rebuilt by Joey Supersquad) and top them on a stage or 2, they either 1. ooh and aah and want to see what that dinosauric contraption is that keeps the brass from flying into the RO's face, or 2. they step back from you as if you are some heretic, whispering to their friends about missing chickens and cats in the neighborhood that allowed you to do that voodoo that you do. The people that shoot round guns stick together...we watch each other shoot, we help each other figure out COFs, we share tips, we actually enjoy each others company....well, except mine...I am an a**hole sometimes, but that is just my humor trying to rankle the club-types mentioned above...its a fun sport....anyway, thats how I see it. In our home IDPA club, Tropical Sport Shooters Association, we have a bunch of guys who are buying revolvers because they see how much fun the few of us who do it on a regular basis have...they feel they are missing out.....they are, we already know that...so we help them with equipment, techniques, tips, and the thought that when we go to a match away from the home club, lets all show up with Hawaiian shirts and round guns and have fun.....and set up a grill and cook chickens! Frank www.tssa.net p.s. we are thinking of holding a revolver only match down here in south Florida...any suggestions as to when?

Hey Steve....you posted at 4 in the morning....shouldn't you be cleaning Kyles gun? Frank

I don't disagree with you, crusher, I am just saying what we were taught by HQ.... as to upper torso, that starts at the diaphragm, just below your sternum, not at the waist like some people think....and utilizing cover and calling it by an SO is probably the hardest, yet most controversial, calls...too many opinions differ. Like you said, if force on force....I have joked with many a shooter who hardly used ANY cover that if I had the targets rigged with paintball guns they would look like a poster child for Crayola... Course design and proper directions will make things easier, but we do need to let shooters solve the problem....most of my COF's are usually between 12 and 17 rounds...I tell them start here, finish there, and shoot them as you see them....simple. Frank

When I was trained by HQ for my SO and subquently SOI status 5 or 6 years ago, we were taught that you may NEVER shoot over the top of cover unless SPECIFIED in the COF. The reason we were given was that by going over the top you have exposed 50% or more of your personal "A Zone"....remember, the rules state that you must keep MORE than 50% of your personal "A Zone" behind cover..... That is the way I have taught it for all this time, but I also teach during COF criteria, that the designer MUST state whether or not to shoot around or over cover, as this alleviates confusion and makes it easier to SO. I am open to hear differing schools of thought.... Frank

I signed this well written petition as #71...and I agree with it completely....same thing I tried to get across to them during the "taking constructive criticism" process.... Frank

I agree with everything all of you are saying....even about me....I wasn't trying to insult anyone.....I am also not happy with the way things were done as to the new rulebook.....but I just don't want to see shooters just walk away instead of stay and try to fix things.... Did some of the things I say sound like I was being overly critical? Maybe, after all, and this is no excuse, but most of my posts are around midnight after being up since 5am....again no excuse. But I never wanted to disparage anybody personally...but that is not the way it seems to have gotten across.... and jkelly, most of the more expensive holsters are legal...including Blade Tech, Ky Tac Safariland, Comp Tac, G Code, etc.....and the stupid belt tunnel/daylight rule will have minor effect on some, but again, and I hate this too guys as I have to bend a few of my holsters, a little heat in this area will fix the problem. I am not an apologist for the way things have been handled by HQ, but I understand what they were ATTEMPTING to do....it just wasn't handled quite right.....and there were knee-jerk reactions on their part, on our part, and they are trying to fix them......there still is work to be done......I'll continue to try to make a difference, what little one person can do, but wish things were simpler. I also wish I could start over again on my original post, but I can't..I will accept any criticisms you want to level at me, but my intentions were not to start trouble, but to get you guys to not give up on IDPA, but help those of us still trying to make it better...and easier to communicate our displeasures as well as our applauding measures taken.....with that I will sit back and just read from now on... Frank

Wow, a lot of people on here either don't see what I am TRYING to say, can't read or are predisposed of their opinion no matter what the facts are.....that is why I hate trying to make a point on these things....misunderstandings.....and if there are any, my fault and I apologize..... jkelly, I was not minimizing their loss, just that the only holster pointed out by name to be now illegal is the one from Uncle Mikes.....the fact that it is only $19 was mentioned because it was a minor investment versus a now illegal firearm, not because of what they spent.....again, I hate forums because intent of comments cannot be read, only the words that are shown and the writer has no control over how it is read or what context is taken.....so to you I apologize, but we are just miscommunicating.... Caspian 45, I wasn't saying you HAD to bend your holster, in fact, the shooters down here using KyTacs have no modifications to make to their holsters....they fit the body and the belt within the rules....yours probably does the same thing....just like almost all of the kydex holsters.....depends on how it fits you....not trying to be negative, trying to ask others NOT to be negative....read all of my post, not just a few words.... snokid, again, read ALL of my post.....I said USUALLY....not always....and to as how the rule change was done, well a lot of people were upset over it, it eventually was addressed, and it will continue to be monitored....and you are the kind of shooter that every club wants...never said shooters like you wouldn't be missed.....you would be...you are the kind of shooter that can take part in RUNNING a club and getting involved in the administration end....helping make changes where they are needed.....so please, don't misunderstand me either...and don't leave IDPA...stay and help make it better..... sgtis108, whatever reason you don't want to shoot the Florida State Match is yours and yours alone.....if you also are offended by my comments, then I am sorry, but they are the facts....I have been in this sport for 8 years....I shot IPSC since 1979 until IDPA came along....I just like it better.....I got rid of my raceguns because I enjoyed shooting my single stack 45, a revolver, and my Glock 19 when I shot IPSC and I liked the more realistic COF's of IDPA....so I have seen changes in both sports....some good, some bad....but eventually things got better....that is what I want from IDPA....I do not think it is perfect....I do not agree with how HQ usually handles things...but it is their game that we play.... If anybody else is offended, it is not my intention...I just was giving my opinion...apparently some here don't want to hear one that is not theirs....too bad.....you guys are all intelligent people and all of us shooters need to stick together to make the shooting sports more enjoyable AND more accessible....yet you don't read complete posts to try to understand what the author is trying to say.....if it is written a certain way that you think is not to your liking you jump on that particular sentence, even if taken out of context......I guess I should know better, but I will continue to post here because I do RESPECT you guys and ALL shooters....we are a minority and we need to change that. Frank

jdkelly, I think you are missing my point....I don't want anybody to leave, but USUALLY the ones complaining and threatening to take their toys and never shoot IDPA again are also the same ones that show up about the time of walk-through, rarely help paste, leave immediately after firing their last stage, and don't help tear down and put things away....again I said USUALLY...... I have some concerns about the wording in the new rulebook as well, but I am going to help shooters understand the new rules the best I can, along with teach and certify new SO's about handling the new rules and part of the class is all about NOT being a rules nazi..... The 2 biggest complaints are the holster situation, which is not as big of a deal as some are making it...if your gun rides closer than the 3/4" yet has a little daylight in the belt tunnel, just do as Bill W. said, heat it up a little and bend it just enough to prevent it. The second complaint is the split in the revolver division.....I don't like that either, but enough members complained that the moonclip guns were the only way to be competitive, and that the N frames didn't fit their hand.....unfortunately I shoot both, an L frame with speedloaders and a 625 with full moons......I shoot the 686 faster and more accurate, but load the 625 slightly faster.......hhmmmmm......also since my 625 is a Mountain Gun the new power floor will slow my shooting down a little more, so I will shoot the 686 more often.... Anyway, I never said that others couldn't have their opinion, but to just up and leave? Those are not people I want at my club....with over 70 shooters at each club match I have enough of the ones who do nothing.....luckily they are the minority here......but as I said, every sport, whether shooting or not changes its rules every year, sometimes not pleasing the participants......but this is the first new rulebook in 4 years, and we will live with it, and as time goes on certain rules will be clarified, and the bad ones will be modified....just give it time....... Now everybody just go out and make lots of holes with your round guns and have fun......and if you are only shooting at the club level and your holster isn't legal anymore and you do not want to modify it or get a new one, just shoot anyway.....just can't get classified or shoot sanctioned matches....but support your local club. Frank

it is not a question of what was legal one day and not legal the next.......this is the first rulebook in 4 years.......a couple of changes, basically no different than any other sport, shooting or not, that changes its rules EVERY year...... Lets not argue about this....some of us that have been DEEPLY involved with IDPA for the last 8 years have been asking for the holster changes for the last 3 years....yes, I agree that it sounds ominous......some people who have $19 invested in their "match" holster(Uncle Mikes, which was OBVIOUS why it wasn't legal) might have to buy another holster......woops......so instead they are going to boycott IDPA and go shoot USPSA instead.....okeedokee....or ICORE, and believe me I wish we had that going on down here, but talk about equipment intensive.....BYE! Any shooter that is going to take his toys and leave are not dedicated IDPA shooters anyway, so shoot somewhere else...we wish you wouldn't, but.....you also won't be missed. Frank