Jerry V

mcb, Even though I use a 610, I'm with the others --- 625 you can't go wrong. The 610 is a good revolver, the only drawback I notice is the unfluted cylinder & smaller chambers (.40 vs .45) that make for a heavy cylinder that you feel when shooting fast. I intended to get a 625, but a very good friend gave me his barely used 610, so I've stayed with it. I have no doubt your get some very good advice from the others, so you've come to the right place --- Jerry

To Dan's credit, he explained to me how to shoot it and what would happen if I didn't do it right and had every intention of doing so. But as what happens when the heart's pumping fast and vision goes into tunnel mode, plans & intentions are forgotten. When I got to the "star" (last target on the stage), I made the mistake of squeezing the trigger on the first plate my front sight found: 9 o'clock plate and realized the mistake as the "star" started to spin at warp speed. In all honesty, in don't know the actual round count, but I still had one plate left that I had winged and was flopping around on one pin when I dropped in my last moon in and pulled the trigger as fast as I could and dropped the wounded critter.... finally. When that happened, I heard laughter behind me I assumed they were laughing with me because I thought it quite humerous ... but it could have been at me also ... which was it Dan? Oh well doesn't matter, it was fun. Being a rookie, do apprecient everyone's advice, it is helpful -- Thanks Note to Walt: I found out Sun. our club just bought one of these, so we'll be getting a lot of practice ..... cool uh Jerry

Mike, Interesting point .... Except no video games, I'm not that young -- 43 Dad was a dedicated bird hunter and got my brothers & I started young But... since all my bird hunting the last 3 yrs has been grouse with a recurve that might explain it --- I'm leading too much, since arrows are a lot slower than shot. Guess I need to knock the dust off the 870 and go shoot some trap Thanks Keith, I know I shouldn't have reloaded and wasted so much time. But Dan as my witness, I just wanted to kill that thing and I did ..... finally

..... after 4 moonclips What sick, twisted & demented mind thought this thing up ???? Can't wait to do it again ---- Jerry

Thanks Hop, but with my daughter graduating from HS and then starting college next year, everything kinda in a "lets see mode". I do intend to go to Area 1 next year, especially since it will be 2hrs from where I live. There was 12 revolvers there this year, hopefully more next year. At the CC Sectional, goal is to get 90% of Dan's score (he promised he'd be back) and beat him on a couple stages. How's that for some goals. You are right, it's the social aspect thats the most important, it's really the part that we take home us that lasts Sure I'll give Precision bullets a try, but the Berry 180gr RN I use are a true round nose. I gave some to Dan to try in his 610, so perhaps he'll report his opinion of them. Thanks again for the advice, it does help. ---- Jerry

Thanks Hop, I will admit that a couple weeks before the the match, I had made up my mind to concentrate on steel for a while with a IPSC match now and then. I wasn't really improving, in fact was backsliding and wasn't enjoying it very much. I told Dan my plan on Friday and by Sunday the "plan" was in the crapper. I owe it to Dan's patience and just being a example of what can be done with a revolver in the sport (I used to call it just a game) note the change of attitude He identified the things I needed to change: 1) Modify the gun, my 610 is basically stock with exception of chambered holes and Wolff springs. I'm lightening the hammer, trigger stop and polishing the action. 2)Get away from conservitive shooting style and get aggressive & fast. 3)Though I had gone to a weak hand reload 2 weeks before the match, he showed me what I was doing wrong. The reload now coming together, just need lots of practice. 4)Go to 40s&w brass --- brass is ordered It was how smooth he ran the stages and the reloads that got me fired up about taking it to the next level and wanting to be able to do the same. But what really turned it around was our last stage ... the Jungle Run (aka Hawaii 50). It's a run along small stream w/14 IPSC targets at "blow the tape off the target" distance. Dan came up to me and said "Don't hold back" and I didn't.... that was so cool. Next goal.... See you at National's (ok, maybe in 2yrs) ---- Jerry

Lee it was great meeting you and glad you were in our squad, hopefully we can do it again. Dan hopefully your flight home went ok and you do need a little rest, you were looking a little ragged yesterday. Thanks again Dan, it was great --- Jerry Note: I edited the post after rereading the above, was still rather tired this morning and was way off. Later Dan had emailed quote: "the Glock is no-more. This Revolver country!!!!!" What more is there to say

Well, the match is over and Dan's on his way home. He really impressed everyone in our squad of what a dedicated wheelgunner can do. There was plenty of comments made when Dan was shooting that reflected this. I truely apprecient Dan taking the time & patience to work with me and explain what I need to do to take it to the next level and I will do so. Serious mode off Mike you bring a good point, on the classifier (99-55) his time was really good, but he got mike on the first target. He explained it as a simple mistake -- shot too fast or something, but now I'm thinking that's how got his nickname .... Danbagger It was a great time and I'll let Dan tell everyone about the Jungle Run.... it was sooooo cool --- Jerry

A little update: Just got back, our first day was 6 stages at Tri-Country range -- hot, little shade in a rock quarry but the stages are great. Their technical and fairly revolver friendly, only a couple standing reloads. Dan's easily leading the Revolver Div., with me a little ways back in 2nd (ok a long ways back) and no one in 3rd. It great to watch a wheelgunner as good as Dan run these stages, I've already learned a lot. Dan said to tell everyone HI and that he's glad none of you are here to see how lousy he's shooting, especially Hop. Personally I don't know what he's talking about ......... well, there was the FTE, a couple of mikes here and there and the no-shoot, or was it two I think he's shooting great, but what do I know, I'm just a rookie Tomorrow 5 more stages at Dundee range, including the ...... Jungle Run Later, Jerry

Met up with Dan tonight at the registration for the Columbia-Cascade Section match .... great guy . Showed him around the range, checked out the stages and just did a lot of BS'ing. Went to one of the shooting bays to do some practicing, got to shoot his 625, I now know why their considered better IPSC revolver than the 610 ... nice gun. Let him shoot my 617 (10 shot) and he did what everyone who shoots it does 1) Laugh and say "Man that's a lot of fun" 2) "Gotta get one of these" 3) "Heck ya I'll shoot that again It was a good warm up for Sat. & Sun ....... gonna be fun --- Jerry

Here you go Walt: http://www.gun-parts.com/star/index.html/index.html/ http://www.9mmlargo.com/

Pat, you pretty much nailed it Except I would add something about the stares and snickering like someone put a sign saying "Dumbazz" on your back

Hey Dan, I'm using a 125gr plated (West Coast & Berry's) w/ 5.2 W231 out of my S&W 686+ 4" for Steel. It's a very accurate load & light recoil. When you come up here for the CCS match, I'll give you some to try if you want. We had Outback as one of the stages a couple weeks ago and there didn't seem to be much of a pause before the ring of the bullet hitting steel ---- Jerry

Airedale, Be easy on Walt, he shoot's in L-10 Super Senior and he just had a match on Sunday using one of those bottomfeeders So he maybe a little confused, don't worry though, in eleven days he'll have a wheelgun in his hand shooting steel But I have to admit, even though I'm a good friend, I found posting such a picture on the Revolver quite offensive also I say HANG HIM

Hey Walt, glad you can make it Walt's a really great guy, doesn't get frustrated, just keeps trying to improve and he has improved a lot. Even through he shoots L-10 now, his first match (was mine also) was with a revolver or should I say revolvers You see part way through the match his Dan Wesson started to malfunction badly and instead of quitting he gets out his Colt snub nose and finishes the match. No thats hard core I have no doubt that he'll go back to using a wheelgun in IPSC again in the future He does shoot a S&W 620 at our club's Steel matches and he's really starting to give Dave (another wheelgunner) and myself some real competition It's great to have you here Walt, see you at the Man of Steel match --- Jerry

Ever shoot a stage were everything went real smooth -- reloads, transistion, hitting your steel....... ..... except when you find out it wasn't that smooth Ok, ready ..... beep I drew and ran to the barrier on the left, shot 4 IPSC thru a port with a very smooth reload after the 3rd. Turned 180' and ran to the other barrier (with the muzzle pointing downrange of course ) and shot another 4 IPSC also thru a port, with another well executed reload. Then I ran down middle between the 2 barriers with a extremely fine running reload. Now as I'm stepping into the box I'm raising the front sight of my 610 on to the IPSC/NOSHOOT (you know the kind where the noshoot is covering the bottom half of the A zone) squeeze off 2 shots, then start on the steel... 1 steel ... 2 steel ... 3 steel ... 4 steel .... smooth reload .... 5 steel .... then the other IPSC/NOSHOOT. Unload ... show clear ... holster Now I'm feelin real good when I notice 2 perfect head shots on the first IPSC/NS ........ in the NOSHOOT 40pts ... penalty.... AAAHHHHHH I tried to explain to the RO the first shot would have dropped the good guy ... I mean noshoot ..... which means the second shot would have been a Alpha in the bad guy ... I mean ..... oh, you know what I mean Will I at least made him laugh .... but he wouldn't go for it I did learned a couple things: concentrate on the shot and the front sight ..... don't get over confident ...... and I'm getting pretty damn good at my reloads ----- Jerry

Wish all of you the best of luck at Nationals ..... have lots of fun Most importantly, show'em what wheelgunners can do

Well you did a lot better than I did (like that's a big surprise ) I did it the same way but at 64pts 20.23sec Hitting my knee on the metal frame didn't help either, not that I'm making excuses but ....... Later -- Jerry

Mike, Just curious how you shot the classifier and how well you did ?

Mike, That's too bad, it's not a good design, not just because of the reloads but also because of how close the box is to the barrel. There are those who may not have problem, but at 6'2" I had a hard time keeping my feet/knees in the box while shooting and reloading in the barrel. I smacked my knee on the metal frame of the box while going to my knees - good thing it was my last stage of the match, it swelled up a bit. Hope it works out for you -- Jerry

Dave, I quess it depends how the scores are posted. All matches I've been to so far have combined overall & stage scores and a division breakdown of final scores. So with this type of score posting, you are compared with all of the divisions. My comment wasn't based just on classifiers, but stages in general. But since I'm usually the only revolver shooter, I don't expect any special consideration, I just deal with it and have fun After all it is just a game, right

I just dealt with this with the 03-06 Barrel of Fun Classifier. Engage 4 IPSC perform mandatory reload, reengage. For the wheelgunner it means 3 reloads, not 1 like everyone else. I still don't think there's a bias against revolvers, just a indifference

P is for the 7shot version aka 686+ (my favorite) PP is for the Power Port version (compensator) --- Jerry

Dave, I need to chrono. again, here's the reason why. I was using 5.6gr w/180gr West Coast RNFP and was getting 932fps. I switched to Berry's and got 921fps, a little too close 916 (165 PF) So I bumped up to 5.8 (listed as max.) to make sure I don't have any problems making major. But as a bonus, the new load's accuracy is more consistant. I plan on running the load through a chrono at the Speed Steel match this Sun. I'll let you know. fomeister -- that's interesting, but every gun is different. I probably do need to try different powders, thanks for the info.