Jane

Interesting. I forwarded this post to Randy Allen, whose PLC-driven "Allen Actuators" have been used in TX state matches. It really does make it much more interesting to have a swinger or mover that doesn't display a predictable back-and-forth motion. Also to Ken Reed, who's designed some interesting movers (although I don't think Ken is using PLCs)

Certainly. I just don't see how that's a factor if you don't do reloads on the clock... as in the text I quoted. IDPA had optional BUG stages at this year's nationals, so perhaps that will develop more in the future.

Of course, if you're playing by IDPA BUG rules (current rule book page 26) that's not a factor.

You've got mail

downloads fine for me Send me your address ( jane at beachbunnysoftware.com ) and I'll forward to you.

The "XD in ESP" question comes up from time to time. This was Ken Hackathorn's explanation in the Tactical Journal in 2003:

I've only shot one sanctioned match with shirt rather than vest. It was in Sacramento and near 100 degrees. The advantage of one less garment outweighed any slight competitive disadvantage. (Hey... me turning up at any match is by definition a competitive disadvantage ) But fun to have a few people ask me "Aren't you shooting? Where's your gun?"

I'm just guessing that by "steel ammo" he isn't speaking of jackets... just of having a few rounds in your pocket that make more than 125.00000001 pf

Patrick, I like that solution

There's a list now dated October 11

All of us are ignorant of many things. Recognizing that is the first step toward learning and is the antithesis of "being dumb" If you don't have a copy of the IDPA rulebook, you might want to download it. From the description of CDP requirements (page 23 of the current rule book)

Joe, I think a lot of people would love to see a rules FAQ on the IDPA website. IDPAforum has attempted to start a small 'unofficial' rules clarification section, but it's had very little activity. As for your specifics... I don't know the rationale for retaining an empty mag. What I would GUESS is that unless you're counting rounds, you won't KNOW the mag is empty unless your gun is at slidelock. The classes I've taken at Front Sight and elsewhere have emphasized that in a stressful situation you're unlikely to count rounds accurately. For example, cops asked how many rounds they shot in an encounter are often wildly off in their estimations. If you're "caught in the open" seems to be addressed on page 43 of the current rule book: I nearly called a guy for rounds-dumping in a match Saturday. (I was reading his mind). Then he read my mind and knew that thought had passed through the blondeness, so he sprayed three on each of a couple of other targets to divert me But even though I had read his mind and knew he had read mine, I let it drop there...

Generally too expensive. But last year Ammoman.com had a special on 'reclassified' Speer Gold Dot 357SIGs. I bought a couple of thousand rounds. Shot several matches including the CA state IDPA match with that ammo. But the Winchester white box .40 S&W from Wal-Mart makes major, and that's mostly what I've shot this year. I consider that to be reasonably 'full power', even though it's not JHP defensive ammunition.

Rich, They were 'anal' enough to weigh guns at this years Nationals. At least 2 guys got FTDRs for being overweight. As for an approved holster list, that went away with the LGB. There are holster parameters now, rather than a list. While some people may whine about the daylight or 3/4 inch provisions, the rule book makes a blanket statement that ALL inside waist band holsters are approved. They seem to be trying to make the rules adhere to the philosophy on which they founded this GAME. Of course, I'll still whine cauz I now have to shoot my almost-43-ounce P226ST .357 in ESP against C&L bunnyfart-loaded 9s... But I can live with that...

My 226ST .357 barely makes ESP weight... with either the factory plastic grips or Nills. (SIG's website says 42.2 oz with mag). So this year I've just shot a Glock 35.

Ted, as I read the current rule book (item 12 on page 64)... even for a sanctioned match, "SOs working the match must have previously worked club matches and seen the video "How to run a match." Only the MD needs to have taken the SO course. But only standards-type stages, I think ? (CoF 20 on page 13). Jane

BTW... here's a link on PA's CCW reciprocity.

BTW... You'll notice a certain CDP/SS named Dru Nichols racked up 8 procedurals... The woman shot the entire match on crutches and with a knee brace (karate accident a couple of weeks back), so just took a procedural on each stage that required the shooter to take a knee...

Actually, there is information. For 2005, scroll down to the bottom of this page.. 254 procedurals... 289 shooters. For 2004... 279 procedurals for 328 shooters. For 2003... 283 procedurals for 311 shooters. So yes, this year's percentage is higher, but only slightly.

There were 320+ shooters registered, plus the BUG stages (which had a few procedurals). That averages out to a little more than 1 procedural per person during an 18-stage match...

Cloth tape lines, no doubt

I just sent in my app a few weeks ago and see I'm number 56 on the list on the web page. Jane

Sorry to destroy your excuse Page 10, paragraph C15 of the rulebook: In that SSP requires most guns to start a stage loaded with 11 rounds (10 in magazine and one in chamber), many matches allow you to load 11 rounds in a high cap for the first mag. All other magazines must be loaded to division capacity (10 rounds for SSP... or the gun's maximum if it's something like a SIG P239 which has lesser capacity.)

The best link is right to IDPA's website. acronyms and abbreviations basic info full rulebook (4.5 megabyte download) The rulebook has photographs showing what they want as far as holsters and magazine/speedloader carriers, and explains which guns (and possible modifications) are permitted in which divisions. Classifications are determined by how well you do on a standardized shooting skills test with a particular type of gun. HTH

Aha! I see you in squad 3 As for secret handshakes, somebody posted this nametag. Here's another, a bit cleaner. After you open it in Word, you can click on the S&W logo and hit Delete. I understand we'll have match nametag badges as well. Although at a half inch under 6 feet tall and (albeit from a bottle ) blonde... I'm not hard to recognize. For some reason, I've kept a pic of me bobbling a reload.. And an older (but still recognizable) pic from my teaching days. I'm vegetarian and have already located an Indian restaurant a few blocks from the hotel. So I guess I'll be following my own different drummer yet again I see from the mailer that Thursday shooters need to sign in at the match hotel "no later than Wednesday night". I'm looking forward to putting faces with some of the names I've seen here, on IDPAforum, and elsewhere.