boo radley

Here's another poor data point. For just over a year I used n320 exclusively for .45acp, .40 and 9mm, though I mostly shoot .40. Then I couldn't find it in 4lb containers, and some people selling 1lb containers were selling them for $29.95, or something (IMO) outrageous. So I bought a big jug of Titegroup. I've loaded 180's JHP's at major pf -- about 4.5-4.6gr, same as with n320 -- and can't say I can feel a difference out of my G35. For practice, I have a bunch loaded with 4.0-4.2gr, which is a minor load (though well over the floor), and that feels fairly soft. I have not yet experimented with anything under 4.0gr, but in any event I don't see the point in spending what VV 320 costs anymore, now that I've started using Titegroup. I have no doubt there are differences, and maybe 320 might burn more cleanly < 4.0gr, but for what I need TG sure seems great.

I've heard this -- or something identical in meaning -- repeatedly, though I only have a couple of major matches under my belt... When things have gone very badly wrong, I'm not sure it IS true. It's painful to have an investment (money, ego, travel-time) just...evaporate because you trashed a stage. I guess it's a learning experience, and with that perspective perhaps you're right -- it's "fun" again. I find this topic fascinating. It seems there's Lanny on one end of the spectrum, advocating a position in which no other option BUT success is conceivable. Then, on the other end, there's the removing-the-ego, just-for-fun attitude, too. Which is right?

Know nothin' bout the Army, but are you planning on shooting an IPSC in the area? There's a very interesting match in Bragg the 2nd Saturday of the month, of you don't already know, and this Saturday is Sir Walter in Raleigh (really Creedmore), etc.... You probably knew all this, but in case you didn't. Check out: www.ncsection.org Steve

What's the greater achievement: fighting through neck-and-neck competition against one's peers, for 10 stages? Or dropping into L-10, with a weak field and beating them by 10%.

Just a thought, but are you sure you'd rule out flying? Checking-in a pistol really isn't a big deal (usually), and I would think most instructors/training facilities would allow you ship your ammo to them in advance via UPS Ground.

*That* is a great point. Clearly, for most of us, USPSA matches are a recreation, but at what point are rules and stage designs completely subverted for the indulgence of a proud parent?

Good luck. I'm betting the dad is going to be difficult. Did he bring the .380, himself? If so, he clearly wants his kid to shoot.

I hate it less when my 650 is running right, and perfectly adjusted. When all my primers tubes are already filled, and my cases have been tumbled, strained of media, and picked through for intruders.... In short, I do a lot of hating, as well. <grin> But it's a lot less hateful than buying 6 50-round boxes of .40/.45acp, at a small local gunstore, for a match!

Which is the genesis of the schism. I've come to the conclusion that these discussions always end up, at best, like calling someone's children ugly.

Good idea! Allow just *one* spare magazine, and drop all the rules related to reloading and round dumping. Let it work itself out on the stages. I never really understood the antipathy towards counting rounds, either. The disclaimer is always, "Well, in a real world scenario blah blah, the shooter wouldn't count rounds." Well...who's to say the shooter didn't have a lot of IPSC experience? <grin> Why is that any less of a skill than pocketing partially-filled (or empty) magazines? And, of course, if we're going to go down the avenue of "precedents set from actual shootings," there won't be much of a game.

Man, that's got to be frustrating as all hell.

I've spent the last couple weeks working seriously inside my 2-car garage, and I feel it's helping immensely. I have dry-fire targets of different sizes, along with some real USPSA targets. Many ranges will let you take the shot-up ones home, after a match. Also put up a barricade, and some paper-plates to resemble steel, and one the garage floor, I'll use duct-tape to secure a stick or two for boxes. So I'll set up some kind of "stage" and run it for a week, or so, before changing up. I'll set my CED timer to the highest sensitivty, and end the stage by slapping a piece of styrofoam placed near the timer. You can work up quite a sweat in a hurry, even in a small space.

I've noticed lately the difference between *seeing* and not seeing is starting to get vague again. I'm wondering if this is a function of improvement -- ie, things are happening faster -- or a regression into the danger zone of NOT seeing. IOW, from very painful experience, I learned exactly what I needed to see, at, say, 7-15 yards on important shots, say classifiers, and only when I started seeing that sight picture did scores and class improve, from C->B. But there was a really clear difference in "seeing" and not seeing, and what the front sight looked like, etc. Lately, I can tell that my scores and times are better, but I might shoot a stage, and get all the hits, but I'm not sure what, or how much I saw. It's different. Don't know if this is a function of just not needing the same sort of sight picture, as often, or if I'm just getting lucky and getting better at shooting my index, subconsciously. Is that indulgent babbling? There's really a genuine question in there, somewhere. <sigh>

This looks like a great match. I'm sorely tempted, but getting to Memphis from Raleigh seems tricky, not wanting to spend 12 hours driving.... Looked at Amtrak, which was amusing. SouthWestAir seems pretty reasonable to Nashville. What's the drive like from Nashville -> Memphis? 3 hours, on I-40?

I bought a pair last year, and have to agree with Vluc. Although the Kydex appears a bit thicker in the photo, than those in mine, they're pretty flimsy, and torque on the belt, when you grab a mag.

My Wilson extended magazine release arrived in today's mail. I've got to say -- it dropped in with ZERO problems, and I'm the kind of person who shouldn't be trusted with a screwdriver, much less a file. Took *maybe* 3 minutes.

If you start by simply using "who" if you could substitute "he/she" in the sentence, and "whom" if "him or her" works, you'll be better off than most. My pet peeve is hearing "less" when people mean "fewer." If you can count it, it's "fewer!" But it's a losing battle.

If Glock *did* make a 140mm mag, I wonder if they'd change their basepad? I've always found 'em a b*tch to get off...Probably just get the Dawson, anyway, though as you say: About $50 -- $15.99 for the hi-cap, new, + $29.95 for the extended pad. But it's also nice getting a handful of old, used, 10-round mags for a couple bucks each for practice in dry-firing. I could care less if they hit the concrete garage floor, or....

Has anyone read "Eric Clapton's Guitar -- watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument?" This thread kind reminds me of this recent book; Wayne Henderson being a brilliant, but somewhat eccentric, luthier who'll build you a world-class acoustic guitar for (relatively) peanuts, but there's a 10-year waiting list, that's not maintained very well. (Or maybe less than 10 years, you pester him and bring him doughnuts, or...Etc.). edited to add: I, too, find lack of response to email frustrating. I realize 'smiths (or whomever), probably get mail-bombed with constant inquiries or "how much would it be to...", 99% of which never occur, and composing an individual response to each inquiry has to be tiresome. But IMO, a simple form letter, or hell, boiler plate text that can be cut 'n pasted, that provides ANY kind of response is goodness."

The *average* temperature -- in the Western US, especially -- IS rising. It's like the stock market. Here, look for yourself: http://www.epa.gov/ncea/ROEIndicators/pdfs...ATION_FINAL.pdf I'm not some weird global warming alarmist, and Vlad is probably right: this topic skirts delicately close to politics and ugliness. But it doesn't strike me as a huge stretch to believe that mankind has been responsible for some climate changes over the last 100 years. <shrug>

But, certainly its enough to assume we're entirely at fault for it, right???? For the recent trend? It seems to me that there's a great deal of consensus that 20/21 century temperature changes are related to human activities. Was it hotter/colder/dryer/wetter/etc 1.4 billions years ago, or will there be another ice-age, or...sure. Why not? But the scope of *my* concern remains not only within the Holocene, but indeed, just the next 50 years, or so. <grin> I'm concerned, but not worried. I'm *worried* that in ~20 months of shooting IPSC, I've already seen two local matches fold up, and go away.

Nothing constructive to add beyond -- what a great reply.

I like the wilson's also but I am not sure if the .650's will fit in either the IDPA box (6" tall) or the IPSC (150 mm tall) box in a Government model size 1911. Thx all -- some good information... Ended up buying a couple KimPro Tac mags, since they come with different base-pads, teflon-coated follower (for what that's worth), oh, and rocket-grade wire springs. Anyway. I don't shoot much IDPA, but would like to shoot a State match in the Fall, and don't want to worry about the pistol not fitting in the box. I'm going to load up the other mags with dummy rounds, and pound 'em with a mallet, and see if that fixes the problem.

As you probably have guessed, you're stepping on one of IDPA's open nerves, and a lot of folks have strong feelings one way or the other about round-dumping, and the associated penalty. But playing it straight -- taking option 3 -- might not be as slow as you think, because, A. you won't have to rehearse where/when you're going to dump a round in your mind, and if you're shooting 2-2-2, it's remarkably incongruent to have to focus on shooting 3 on a target, and B., there's also the cost of the shot itself. A frustrating rule for all concerned, though -- if you do it often, all squad members and the SO will notice. There's only so much mind-reading necessary, when down 0's are made up with another 0, in optimal spots, and of course there's your own conscience. If you DON'T do it, then you get to appreciate losing a stage or match to someone who (probably) got away with it.

I've been shooting my .45 SS lately, with 8-round mags, practicing some IDPA stuff, etc., and am going crazy with the magazines getting "damaged" and somehow no longer dropping free, or even releasing, when I hit the mag release button. I'm not really abusing them, but they're occasionally dropping on gravel, or my concrete garage floor. The magazines are a mixed bag of (almost new) Chip McCormick and MegGar. I have *never* had this kind of problem with my McCormick Power-10's that I use for L10, despite much more use and abuse. I'm tempted to toss the 8-rounders in the trash, and spend the $$$ for Tripp or Wilson, but don't want the same thing to happen. Are 8-rounders in inherently fragile? This makes no sense. Thx