boo radley

I hate shooting in the rain, and whine like a six year-old at the mall. No doubt this indicates a mental weakling, but I shoot matches for fun, and shooting in heavy rain gets NOT fun quickly. It's less the actual shooting part, it's everything else. Bagged and soggy targets, pasters that won't stick, and the ground turning into a bog, and in some cases, like last year's VA/MD Sectional, places of shin-deep mud. One of the shooters on my squad won A-class Open in the exact same conditions, so it's clearly possible to not let the adverse conditions get to you, nor dwell on how Saturday's squad enjoyed perfect weather....<sigh>

SDM, I don't know.... 22 rounds, with some movement....Let's say without the needle, I could shoot 90% of the points in 21 seconds, for a guess, for a 4.7hf. If I take a 10pt procedural that goes down to 4.2. But if the task adds 5 seconds, that's a *3.8* hf. By my rough math, if threading the needle, or whatever, takes longer than 3 seconds, you'd be better off skipping it, if it only costs 10 points, no? Especially if there's some disaster potential, like dropping the needle.... So if the WSB states a specific penalty for not accomplishing something specified, that trumps the "or significant advantage gained" issue? It would see to me it would, otherwise why specifically list the procedural?

Actually he said the WSB says "One procedural if needle is not properly threaded." I read that to mean an attempt to thread the needle must be made to limit yourself to 1 procedural for the COF. If he fails to attempt to thread the needle (as he indicated he may do), then he may be gaining a significant advantage and failed to even attempt compliance with the directions. He could get hit with the 1 penalty pre shot. As also noted, just ask the RO before shooting the stage. A lot less hassle. Bill Hiya Roger -- yup, we're probably thinking of the same stage. Soon. East Coast. Bill, by the time the squad I'm on shoots the stage, I'm sure other it will have been well thrashed out, but for sake of argument, this is pretty vague stuff, no? I don't mind asking the RO, but it's possible the RO won't be right -- look at all the different answers already.

Thx, FullRace -- it's still no clearer what the final penalty might be, but it's not something I'm going to try to circumvent. With the exception of the task, the WSB is basically verbatim.

Yeah, the needle was just a silly example...just substitute 'some' task you have to do prior to engaging the targets, that's somewhat lengthy. FullRace -- so it's the MD's decision....that seems a roll of the dice. On the drawing of the gun, if the task were involved, even with a locked race-holster, it might be faster and less risky of a dropped gun to draw at the beep, go to the table, put the gun down, do the task, pick it up and go.... Here's another wrinkle: suppose I ignore the needle, shoot the stage, move safely back to the table, engage the safety, put the gun down per 10.5.3.2, then thread the needle -- *quietly* so I don't register on the timer. Now what?

I was looking at the stage description for an upcoming match, and became curious about something. Suppose the WSB read (making this up): "Enter the shooting area, retrieve needle and thread from box on table, thread the needle, then engage targets as they become visible from within the shooting area. One procedural if needle is not properly threaded." I have two questions on the above. If I totally ignore trying to thread the needle, will I only get 1 procedural? For example, if it takes me 5 seconds to thread a needle, my hit factor might be higher if I just eat the 10 points. Second question -- suppose I want to draw as I'm entering the shooting area, and put my pistol on the table, while I attempt to thread the needle. Legal, right? As long as I'm within 1m of the gun and 10.5.2 doesn't apply? The gun is already in 8.1 from the start. Thx

I'm looking, too, so please shout out, if you find a source....Target Barn doesn't ship?? Odd how hard it is to find certain components for which there's a demand.

Thank you...I appreciate your significant input in this discussion. You must admit, you and many of the cross-fit enthusiasts spread a pretty intense strain of evangelism. Functional fitness has been ignored by many, but not all, and for 95% (more?) of the US population it's more a matter of doing *anything* than arguing about dead lifts vs. the leg press machine, or scorning serious long-distance athletes ( many of whom also cross-train, no?).

HuskySig -- no, I'm talking about shooting around the barrel. I just don't remember the position requiring an awkward shift to engage T2 and T3....The targets are fairly close together, and you're still back, what -- 15y?

IMO, the classifier is a decent test of shooting chops, but there are at least two long threads on the first page of this discussing issues with IDPA rankings.... A couple things I'd wish they'd change about the classifier: 1) Should require a cover garment. Wearing that damn vest makes a big, big difference in draws and reloads. 2) The 3rd stage or string, is weighted too heavily. It's good to have some shots at distance, and maybe even longer, but so many? 3) Tactical sequence never tested. At the barricade distance in the 3rd stage, there's no slicing of any pie, and very little shift is needed at the barrel. And what about near-to-far? The 1-1-2-1-1 stuff?? I think you could drop one of the two SHO strings, and one of the two El Pres's and replace with a barricade a shorter distance, and some hard transitions around cover. <shrug>

+1 It's always an interesting match, and *always* one that tests accuracy, with lots of steel. I don't think I've ever seen more than a couple Open shooters -- as Martin says, most shoot Production, then Limited and a mix of L10/SS. Production is a good Division to shoot, as it's always large, which pumps up the $$$ in the pot, and most of the entries aren't going to be competitive. I wish sometimes he'd make the short stages a bit longer, and the long stages a bit shorter. He does get a lot of new-to-USPSA shooters, and some of those arrays of steel do a number on 'em (and me, TOO). If a shooter is struggling with a plate at 20y, then giving him 19 more can make for a long day. Regardless, it's a nice treat for us civilians to shoot down there and with service members, and it's a match I always have on the calendar. The first Saturday of the month is Sir Walter, which Martin runs, and I think this upcoming match will be the North Carolina State Amateur Games match. No classifier, but if it's like past matches, will have kick-ass stages and top shooters. (It's nice, too, that it's recognized by the State, with medals and t-shirts if you preregister). Steve

I know this past Saturday at an excellent local match I attend, there were around 100 shooters. In our squad we had 16 shooters; a pretty big squad. But - out of 16: 5 are 'out of commission' : RO, scorekeeper, shooter, previous shooter loading mags, and next shooter on-deck. 3 more might be gone working on a gear problem, buying Gatorades, in the john, wherever. 2 more might be deep in a conversation, or taking a quick break from RO'ing or scoring 6 people is none too many to paste a 32-round large field course, and too few to brass, that's for sure, though most of us try to help the Open shooters get back their SuperComp. At the end of the match, after the stages is torn down, there's a lot of brass on the ground. Only a couple people -- to my eyes -- make an effort to pick it up, most leave it, not wanting theirs and Shred points out, and not really wanting to pick up anyone *else*'s. It's doing the MD a favor, since HE doesn't have to pick up a bunch of brass, or let it turn black and ugly. At another match I used to shoot (too long a drive, these days), there were maybe 30 shooters tops; often just 20. Plenty of time between shooters and squads. Picking up brass was encouraged after each shooter. Again, no problem. It's just situations are different.

Hmm....made this tool last night -- good use for a cheap POS Chinese screwdriver that always seem to be in every drawer (until you *need* one). Then I drilled the base-pads as in your picture only with the hole in the back corner of the pad. It's -- better, but not perfect. I still have a hard time getting the very last coil out of the way, and it flips up and wants to be dragged along with the pad. Maybe I'll combine this trick with bending the last coil somehow. I also filed and sanded the tabs on the mag so the base pad really slides on/off as easily as possible. What a pain these things are.

thx, both of you.

Bringing this back up, since the Dawson International pads are killing me, to get them off. The end of the spring keeps getting pulled out of the tube along with the pad. CenTX -- what do you mean by having the 'hole a little higher'? Anyone -- are there other tricks for removing this style of pad? Thx!

That has happened to me as well -- shooter has targets on the right and left, and turns UPRANGE, sweeping everyone. I cannot believe your shooter was not DQ'd. That makes no sense. Times are weird, though -- heard from a friend about a shooter blowing a hole through his holster at a recent major IDPA match. THAT wasn't a DQ either, apparently.

Still trying to get my mag situation straightened out with this 9mm Eagle 5.0 and IDPA box-compliant magazines. With STI mags the Grams kit seems to help, and spacer seems to help, though I'm only loading 10-rounds, so I'm not getting deep into the fat part of the tube. However, I recently bought two brand-new STI 126mm tubes from a forum vendor, and they're *shorter* than my other STI 126mm magazines, and won't seat at all with the SV magwell I have on the gun. Very frustrating that quality control is all over the place, but that's another issue. I'm ready to buy a bunch of SV tubes, and Grams kits and just be done with the g**damn issue. My question is this: SV tubes are advertised as not 126mm but 124mm. Now what? If I buy these, pair them with a wedge-shaped Dawson Int./box base pad, what are the chances they will seat with an SV magwell?

In most major USPSA matches, awards (trophies or plaques and sometimes cash and prizes) are presented to winners of divisions and classes and categories. Depending on how many shooters are in a particular class, 2nd and 3rd place shooters might also be awarded... As an example: SC awards If you do not hold a current classification in a division -- ie, "U" -- you will only be eligible for the division champion. Some shooters, such as Aikidale, are only interested in winning and competing for HOA, regardless. On the other hand, if you do hold a current classification in the division you're shooting, you will still be competing for division champion, but also against a subset of your relative 'peers' as determined by the USPSA classification system. At large matches the number of shooters in your class might be quite large, and with varying talent levels that might well exceed the classification. I would never trivialize anyone's accomplishment in winning an award at a major match -- 3rd C, or or otherwise -- nor the classification system as a motivational tool.

Me, too, FWIW. Some people are simply loud. If you turn UP your ears to accentuate the start of the beep over the gunfire in the adjacent bay, and usual background noise, it IS distracting to hear loudmouth braying about his run, or heckling a buddy. It's just courtesy, if it weren't courteous then people wouldn't shut up -- which they most certainly do -- when the best shooters are on the line.

With the Lee 4-die set, the first sizing die sizes much lower than, say, the Dillon dies. Don't some say it *is* the EGW die? I want nothing more.

If you're taking the same gun and load that you used to shoot in SSP and pitting yourself against the folks armed with custom 9mm/.38 Super 1911s in ESP, that seems pretty studly to me. Then you must find it studly to shoot a Glock. G34/35 with a slicked up trigger, sights and springs and 9mm 147gr's, or .40 equivalent: SSP " " (with maybe a magwell) : ESP They're not giving up anything to any other platform, IMO.

<shudder> Plus there's all the other crap to buy -- tumbler, calipers, scale, setting up a bench, etc. , etc. The upfront price of a Square Deal quickly vanishes. I just don't see how this is working with factory .45acp ammo, if money is as tight as you say. Winchester White box at WalMart is running, what -- $19.95 for 50, give or take? So a club-level USPSA match will cost $60 in ammo, alone (round count of 150). If you're shooting one match a month, and just *1* decent live-fire practice session a month, you're still close to $200 in ammo alone. It seems you either have to figure out a way to reload .45acp, which may or may not be possible given the constraints of apartment living, or else sell the H&K and buy something like a used Glock 17 or XD, and a case of 9mm; both are used by competitors at the highest levels.

A couple years ago, I was doing some car shopping, much online, and to avoid spam, opened a hotmail account using the name "boo radley" on a whim, from a vague memory of "To Kill a Mockingbird." * At the same time, I had just started competitive shooting, and stumbled on this board quite by accident, and wanted to ask a question, so I logged in as 'boo radley' with the hotmail address, never imagining I'd be here 1k posts later.... I need to change it, but at this point....Full name is certainly available in my profile. * One salesman responded to my question about a Honda, and signed his reply: "Atticus Finch"

I'm glad you brought this up. I have often wondered the same thing. Do you think? There are IDPA Masters a-plenty in my neck of the woods. Some also shoot USPSA; some don't. But that is very true in reverse as well -- maybe much more so. I have a tough time with that hypothesis.

I don't hate Zen. I hope that's not a rebuttal. I don't understand it well enough to form such a strong opinion....From the little I DO understand, some facets of this school of thought are a lot more accessible to my Western mind, anyway, from various publications related to sports psychology, etc. I've always been a bit suspicious of picking and choosing (no one here, I'm sure) selective pieces of "Zen" to improve shooting, golf, etc. It's like hearing that celibacy really focuses the mind, so you want to become a Catholic priest to improve your match performance.