bpgorbe

There is more bad news. Basically, magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds are illegal in CA (if you had them before the ban, you can keep them -- but no transfers, importation, sale or building). In so many words, even with an open gun, you will be in Open 10 division (ha ha) unless you commit a felony. Which leaves Limited 10, Production, Revolver, and IDPA. Basically, Open and Limited divisions are slowly dying in CA.

I use the estimated hit factor to decide issues like movement and make-up shots, not speed. Sometimes it's better to take the long shot/head shot and lose a couple points instead of moving closer. And sometimes the hit factor is so low that turning those C's and D's into A's is worth the extra shot.

The MD for my local IDPA matches is talking about having some SO meetings to hash out some of the inconsistent interpretations. This is not national, sure, but at least shooters could get some consistency between stages. I think we shoud even write out the decisions on paper and give a copy to HQ (don't ask them, just tell them!). Any decent national SO program will need a good feedback mechanism. No rulebook or manual will ever cover every problem, but SO's should be able to appeal to HQ and get a written (and permanent) answer that get's incorporated into future training. (It would be nice to get this on other issues submitted to HQ, too.) One possible benefit I see from better SO training is better stage instructions. Too often I see the shooters question the SOs because they don't know how the rules will be enforced. And some of the SOs just give up and give detailed instructions in anticipation of all those questions. It takes all the solving out of the problem.

Think "slicing the pie". After shooting T1, you edge out from cover further, exposing yourself to T1 in order to see T2. If the answer to the original question is that you cannot remain exposed to T1 through T3 after neutralizing them, then you cannot slice the pie anymore. The quote above is the only sensible interpretation.

A better question is: Where is the time going?

You need to change your planning a little. While IDPA courses are more scripted, there are plenty of small details you can plan that shave off a couple of tenths here and there. It adds up. Plan your shots (not just targets) and figure out where you will go to slide lock. Don't let slide lock suprise you. Is it better to shoot from the left or right side of a barricade? Is there an advantage to switching sides on a barricade during a reload? If two-to-the-body-one-to-the-head is required, is it better to shoot all bodies first, then heads? And remember, all IDPA stages are 2 hit factor stages! -- Brian G

When I found I wasn't improving much, I analyzed my performance and decided that mistakes of all kinds were holding me back. So I picked a couple of initial goals -- better stage planning and execution (no more brain fades) and perfect shots (take as long as necessary to SEE the sights and FEEL the trigger on EVERY shot). When I started making every (well, almost every) shot the first time, my stage plans stopped falling apart. When my plans worked, I could plan better and concentrate more on my shooting. Which resulted in better shots. Which....you get the idea. I am "shooting slower", but my scores have improved greatly. In retrospect it is so easy to see how the different aspects of action shooting are inter-related. When you cannot control one aspect, all the others suffer too. Now if I would only practice as much as I promise myself!

I have a lot of respect for those who get DQ'd and stick around to help. -- Brian

Ira -- I certainly think and feel the same way. I screwed up stages 2 and 3 and kicked myself for the nex hour. I just verbalize it less that you do. Besides, I have never heard you say anything negative about anyone else, so go ahead and vent. -- Brian