davidb72

If ANYONE shoots a gun that does not conform to OPEN, they are no longer shooting for score (or not shooting at all, depending on the infraction). A PCC cannot conform to Open Handgun Division rules, so the shooter is just shooting for fun. This is one reason why I would prefer PCC equipment rules to be as unrestricted as possible, at least initially... if/when it can stand alone as a separate match format, that would be the time to start segregating PCCs by barrel length, magazine capacity, caliber, sights etc. etc. I guess that's the way it HAS to be at least initially.

Area 7 accepts their own members first and then fills the rest of the match a week later with those who are not from Area 7.

They're not? Nope! http://techwearusa.com/techwear/ Any shooter can have a jersey, all it takes is money. Those blouses look expensive - do the sponsors typically buy them for the pro shooters?

If a single stack (or production) shooter loads from his front pocket he gets sent to open. Too many rounds in the mag - sent to open, etc... Where does the PCC shooter get sent to? Do they get sent to open as well?

This guy could probably be the fastest.

What is the procedure for moving your PCC from stage to stage? Cased? On a cart? Who is responsible for bringing the shooter their cart or case at the end of their run? Not a huge deal, but a little bit of a logistical problem on a large field course when you start over here and end up all the way over there.

They're not?

Quotes from you: "Simple question - should true "amateur" shooters have to compete against "pros"? When I was involved in motor racing there was a pretty clear definition of who was an amateur and who was a pro.There doesn't seem to be that distinction in USPSA. I would have thought the classification system would take care of this, but it seems like pros come in D class to GM these days." So---apparently you think that "pros" (which is an ill-defined term in shooting) have skill levels of all types, from D to GM. "Should any "pro" shooter be required to register as "industry" so they don't take prizes away from the "amateurs"?" And are you interested in this for the prizes. "I think if you have sponsors that cover a quarter of your annual shooting expenses you definitely qualify as a pro. How am I (who gets NO support - not complaining, just stating a fact) supposed to compete with that?" Why not? You just said various pros are at all skill levels. Isn't your classification higher than a D? "I go to as many as my time and money will allow me to go to. I am the USPSA match director at the new club we just formed as well. This year I will probably go to 5 major matches of which I will work one. That's what my time and money allows." So you do USPSA often at a local level, and attend numerous majors in a year. And practice on your own. What exactly are you complaining about again, since you already have said that pros have skill levels from D up to GM? "I find it interesting how so many of the other professional shooters jumped to your defense. Sounds like you guys stick together!" Actually, pretty much EVERYONE spoke up against what you said. That could be taken as a clue. Especially noting that you didn't respond to their points, merely argued about the people who responded. "I dry fire almost every day that I don't do live fire. I try to practice live fire once a week usually between 200-400 rounds. I understand that getting the results we want takes time and effort. I may not spend or work as hard at it as you do, but I don't expect magical results to just happen either. To me this is a hobby - same as when I was racing. I want to compete with other people who view it as a hobby, not some folks dressed up in fancy shooting blouses handing out protips all over the place." To which I originally replied: You want to compete with other people who view it as a hobby? Well congratulations, we do exactly that. I personally found that as a hobby, practice makes me better. I also find that people who practice more, get better faster. People have individual priorities. If yours is that other things are more important than practicing, that's certainly fine---but it also means that if you have a problem with others having different priorities, then that would be YOUR problem. As for people handing out protips---personally, if someone is doing something better than I am, and are willing to tell me how, I plan on listening. But then again, I'm not complaining that I have to compete against people who are currently better than I am, or practice more than I do. As has been made very clear (and is well-known to pretty much everyone in the shooting world), there are only a couple of people in the U.S. who get paid enough so that "shooting" is what they do for a living. Everyone else has to make a living elsewhere, and find time to practice. Sure, they might get support, but hey, that's what happens when you practice enough to get good. (This post written by someone whose only sponsor is himself. And likes shooting as a hobby. And likes to shoot against everyone else, and isn't grumpy because other people can practice more so I don't win everything.) I note: I'm not sure I'd like to go to a club where the match director has been vocal about how wearing shooting jerseys makes him unhappy. Or that people who practice more shouldn't be allowed to play the game with people who practice less, because they take their hobby more seriously than others. And I'm saying it again, because it obviously is relevant, and responds directly to what you said. Sorry that, because you don't treat your hobby with as high a priority as others, you aren't as good and instead want other people to somehow not have to compete with you. (Even though you started off by saying that "pros" come with all skill levels from D to GM. Or are you only unhappy about the ones who beat you in matches?) I'm not a sponsored shooter, and I didn't have much trouble making M. I haven't made GM, but I haven't practiced as much as I'd need to do so. Other people have different priorities, and thus increase their skills faster. I'm envious of their time, but I don't begrudge them it. As has been shown repeatedly in this thread (which certain people have ignored) hardly anyone makes a living at shooting, and the ones who DO receive product and such in terms of sponsorship do so because they practiced enough to get good in the first place---and said product doesn't let them quit their day job. Seriously, I'm not sure exactly what you are arguing for, here. Do you think there is a protected class of "pros" who are fully supported by others and spend all their time practicing shooting sports, that are in competition with you for prizes and match wins? How many of these people do you think there are? We're going to have to agree to disagree.

I go to as many as my time and money will allow me to go to. I am the USPSA match director at the new club we just formed as well. This year I will probably go to 5 major matches of which I will work one. That's what my time and money allows. I find it interesting how so many of the other professional shooters jumped to your defense. Sounds like you guys stick together! I am honestly trying to understand your statement about not being able to "compete" with my level of sponsorship when I clearly invest twice as much of my own money than you currently do regardless of my sponsorship. When people assess others sponsorship they usually only look at the benefits received by the sponsorship and conveniently ignore the fact that it costs a lot in time, dedication, and $$$ to get there and maintain that level of participation. There is no free lunch in anything. I dry fire almost every day that I don't do live fire. I try to practice live fire once a week usually between 200-400 rounds. I understand that getting the results we want takes time and effort. I may not spend or work as hard at it as you do, but I don't expect magical results to just happen either. To me this is a hobby - same as when I was racing. I want to compete with other people who view it as a hobby, not some folks dressed up in fancy shooting blouses handing out protips all over the place. You want to compete with other people who view it as a hobby? Well congratulations, we do exactly that. ...if instead you meant "I want to compete against other people who don't practice more than I do" you probably should have said that. I personally found that as a hobby, practice makes me better. I also find that people who practice more, get better faster. People have individual priorities. If yours is that other things are more important than practicing, that's certainly fine---but it also means that if you have a problem with others having different priorities, then that would be YOUR problem. As for people handing out protips---personally, if someone is doing something better than I am, and are willing to tell me how, I plan on listening. But then again, I'm not complaining that I have to compete against people who are currently better than I am, or practice more than I do. As has been made very clear (and is well-known to pretty much everyone in the shooting world), there are only a couple of people in the U.S. who get paid enough so that "shooting" is what they do for a living. Everyone else has to make a living elsewhere, and find time to practice. Sure, they might get support, but hey, that's what happens when you practice enough to get good. (This post written by someone whose only sponsor is himself. And likes shooting as a hobby. And likes to shoot against everyone else, and isn't grumpy because other people can practice more so I don't win everything.) I note: I'm not sure I'd like to go to a club where the match director has been vocal about how wearing shooting jerseys makes him unhappy. Or that people who practice more shouldn't be allowed to play the game with people who practice less, because they take their hobby more seriously than others. I didn't say that. Maybe you should re-read it so you understand it better.

.22 rimfire carbines too?

Thank you.

I go to as many as my time and money will allow me to go to. I am the USPSA match director at the new club we just formed as well. This year I will probably go to 5 major matches of which I will work one. That's what my time and money allows. I find it interesting how so many of the other professional shooters jumped to your defense. Sounds like you guys stick together! I am honestly trying to understand your statement about not being able to "compete" with my level of sponsorship when I clearly invest twice as much of my own money than you currently do regardless of my sponsorship. When people assess others sponsorship they usually only look at the benefits received by the sponsorship and conveniently ignore the fact that it costs a lot in time, dedication, and $$$ to get there and maintain that level of participation. There is no free lunch in anything. I dry fire almost every day that I don't do live fire. I try to practice live fire once a week usually between 200-400 rounds. I understand that getting the results we want takes time and effort. I may not spend or work as hard at it as you do, but I don't expect magical results to just happen either. To me this is a hobby - same as when I was racing. I want to compete with other people who view it as a hobby, not some folks dressed up in fancy shooting blouses handing out protips all over the place.

I go to as many as my time and money will allow me to go to. I am the USPSA match director at the new club we just formed as well. This year I will probably go to 5 major matches of which I will work one. That's what my time and money allows. I find it interesting how so many of the other professional shooters jumped to your defense. Sounds like you guys stick together!

I live about 30 minutes from there - is it worth going to for someone who is basically only interested in pistol shooting with no hunting, rifle, archery, or shotgun interests?

I think if you have sponsors that cover a quarter of your annual shooting expenses you definitely qualify as a pro. How am I (who gets NO support - not complaining, just stating a fact) supposed to compete with that?

YES!!! Well put Laddie!I'm a "C" shooter and have no problem competing with GM, M, or "Pros". You can learn a lot from watching and listening how they attack and break down a stage.How would you define "Pro"? Classification? Sponsored? I know several sponsored shooters that get a few pieces of gear, a little ammo/reloading supplies or some of their match fees covered. The vast majority of their costs are out of pocket. Would you require a financial disclosure form before each match? Prizes don't mean much to me (they would be nice). I compete to improve, enjoy the shooting and the people. I may never reach M or GM level but, it's fun to try. I think the sponsored shooters are the pros - Team Rudy, Team Sig, Team Glock, Team Springfield, Team Akai, Team CK, Team Phoenix Trinity, etc... I enjoy shooting with them too, don't get me wrong. It's a cool benefit that amateurs can be on the same squad as them.

I doubt it - the one I had was every bit as big as a Glock 17.

Simple question - should true "amateur" shooters have to compete against "pros"? When I was involved in motor racing there was a pretty clear definition of who was an amateur and who was a pro. There doesn't seem to be that distinction in USPSA. I would have thought the classification system would take care of this, but it seems like pros come in D class to GM these days. Should any "pro" shooter be required to register as "industry" so they don't take prizes away from the "amateurs"?

IDPA BUG - Master SSP - Expert ESP - Expert CDP - Expert CCP - Expert USPSA SINGLE STACK - B PRODUCTION - B

Thank you for the welcome. We are looking forward to putting on the matches. I have been in contact with some folks who were active during the early 90's when SIGHTS Practical Shooters ran IPSC / USPSA matches at West Shore Sportsmen's Association. Our club apparently has quite a history.

We have formed a new USPSA club at West Shore Sportsmen's Association in Lewisberry, PA (across the river from Harrisburg). We are planning on running matches on the third Saturday of the month from March to November weather permitting. We will run a five or six stage match using five bays. We would like to run two classifiers a month with four field courses mixed in. Our match capacity is probably going to be about 75 shooters - with five bays running that means 15 shooter squads. If the two classifier idea causes a backup we might have to drop it to one. See you in 2016! facebook.com/WestShorePracticalShooters/ facebook.com/WestShoreSportsmensAssociation/

One more data point. 1st, 4th, 6th, 9th,10th all shot minor at the Kentucky State Championship.

Three of us drove out from central PA for this match and we were not disappointed. We are already recruiting more shooters to come with us next year. Thanks to everyone for the hard work you put in.

I have an STI Trojan Lite in 9mm and like it a lot. If you go the STI route check our Dawson Precision as he will install a good magwell and an extended and tapped mag release button as well as part of his competition ready package. I can't get past the external extractor on the Sig 1911's - that's not how JMB designed it.

I like it.