[rvb]

won the stage in SS

Awesome!

Now you just gotta get that gun to run 100%.

Have you tried different bullet seat depths, as well as different bullet profiles?

as for your grip diagnosis, man you think much deeper than me. I really want to be able to think about and breakdown things like you do... As soon as i get home, im gettin the SS rig out and doing some diagnosis of my grip too!

It's a curse as much as a blessing...

At the end of the day I have to be able to shake all the 'hows' and 'whys' out of my head, watch the sights, and trust the rest.

I haven't been doing that lately. My match results have reflected that....

-rvb

[Tired of arguing about cover calls?]

I think the intent behind the no foot-fault rule is that the competitor has to find that line that provides adequate cover on their own, vs the stage providing that input in the form of paint or raised line. I would consider this gizmo to be aiding the SO in knowing where that line is more so than the competitor. I don't see it as a fault line unless the competitor can see the IR beam and use it to know where the out of bounds line is located...

-rvb

[Tired of arguing about cover calls?]

hopefully you can turn it off before the squad goes down range to paste!

-rvb

[rvb]

So, I'm looking at my grip like I'm a total noob. I guess that's good once in a while.

I started looking at my grip because my grip has crept higher and higher to where the slide almost never locks back on my 92. [since I haven't been shooting IDPA where a slide-lock reload is critical.] I've run dry after a needing a make-up shot a few times and not realized it. a click is amazingly louder than bang.

Then I started dabbling in the 1911s after not shooting them for a while. my left grip is now so high it tends to push up on the safety. silence is even louder than a click.

So looking closely at my grip... my LH fingers do not sit on top of the RH fingers (with the LH index and RH middle up against the guard). Instead, my LH is shifted up w/ the LH fingers in the pockets between the RH fingers. I started doing this a long time ago as I felt I got more consistent. (Think of stacking cord wood, you don't stack them directly on top of each other, it's too unstable). The LH index finger is forward, and provides little additional grip strength; if anything, it's also pushing on the RH middle finger. This shifts my whole WH up 1/2 a finger width. Reviewing recent match footage, it -almost- looks like I'm using the front of the trigger guard.

After doing some searching/reading yesterday, I see this thread which I somehow missed earlier, with great pictures of benos:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=101325&st=0&p=1154965

So last night I spent a couple hours working to grip the gun more "normal," with the fingers directly on top of each other. But then I'm watching some past match vids and I see some vid I took of Vogel, and hmmm, that looks familiar. So I go searching youtube and find him talking about how he slides his LH up farther than normal, and moves his LH index forward to do that. So I'm not the only one...

So, can I get away w/ it w/ a glock? I shot Micah's 34 this spring and I still rode the SL. Would Vogel have the same problem with a 1911? Is it a hardware issue? (I'm thinking of trimming the safety on the 1911, I don't "ride" it anyway, it just sits in the pocket between hands.)

I'm now looking at my elbows. I've been trying to get them higher lately, and as part of that I think my LH has rotated even more. I may be "over cammed." I think I've found a void between my RH and LH fingers at the front-strap.

I hate going through struggles with the basics. I feel like I don't know how to shoot at all. As I experiment, I expect to have some bad performances. Usually the end result worth it... let's hope so...

As part of experimenting, I dryfired a few el-prez's last night with different grips [w/ the 1911]. Interestingly, with my focus on my grip and not on beating the par, I was not only beating the par, but SMASHING it.

-rvb

[rvb]

Can you count is a fun one that Ive run in SS before (buckeye challenge i believe). Let me know if you want any tips on shooting that skinny gun,

Any good flexibility exercises to be able to reach all those mags? haha. I didn't have enough pouches (771s) so I used my old idpa pouches for the last two mags. They sit lower and I found that worked out cause I didn't have to bind up so much to be able to reach 'em. Downside is the top of the mag isn't much higher than 771 in front of it, so it's hard to sweep back and find. I might not invest in more 771s just yet (not that I can find em).

-rvb

[Friday afternoon thoughts]

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

Many good ones, but that's just awesome.

-rvb

[rvb]

I shot Single Stack at Angola this weekend. I felt like I needed a break from the production gun. Used the 1911 I built. It was a little awkward. I've been trying to figure out just where I want to grip it, and to get my WH to not grip so high it interferes w/ the safety. Each draw felt like multiple steps... draw, confirm grip, then press out. Sight tracking was a little erratic. Certainly a few timing drills would go a long way to getting me comfortable with the gun.

My head wasn't at all into the stages, and I really didn't have plans ironed out or ingrained. Just a product of working at that match where the ROs stay w/ the stages and fit in the shooting when they can instead of being integrated into squads. Lots of hestitations and "now what?!" moments.

Classifier was 06-03, can you count. String 1 had a jam. Not sure what happened, didn't look at it, just ripped it and ran. Threw a C and a D when I got back on the trigger. First actual jam ever w/ that gun (all the other problems were in the trigger group, which has now run ~300 rounds w/o any problems since I fit the new parts). Second string was a so-so 3.6 seconds, down 1. Considering the hhf for SS is the same as open on this and many classifiers, it gives me new respect for the guys making M/GM in SS!

-rvb

[Trigger Control Poll...]

I liked the idea of riding the reset... tried it for a long time a few years back. what I learned for myself is that trying to do so diverted my attention when I wanted it elsewhere. Reset is just something that happens. My finger moves enough to let it happen, then I'm back breaking the shot. Smooth press to break the shot, smooth release of the trigger, and back to breaking the next shot. When I do notice the reset, it's just because the shot is demanding enough that my attention has shifted from the target, to my sight picture, and on to my trigger press. Reset is just something I'm aware of in those situations, but my finger path does not change because I hear/feel the click (it's not my goal to stop just past the reset).

That's not necessarily a "right" answer for anyone but me. I experimented and that what I learned....

To me, "slapping" is such a bad word... it sounds like you're yanking shots... MY interpretation of slapping means smoothly pressing the trigger all the way through it's range of motion, as compared to intentionaly stopping movement at the sear. But then again, I've spent years shooting a DA/SA production gun, so a lot of my SA trigger work comes from also needing a good DA shot.

-rvb

[Talk me out of Dillon]

Corey,

I'd be interested in what you thought about each, after trying them both.

What did you end up with?

Still havent made a choice yet. havent had a chance to play with both,m hopefully in the very near future, ill have a new machine

You'll make a great manager at some corporation some day... imagine all the ammo you could have made by now had you made a decision!

If you want to checkout a 550, PM me.

-rvb

[What separates the Masters from the Experts ?]

accuracy. end the match fewer points down.

eliminating the need for make-up or "insurance" shots.

learn to call your shots. never leave a -3 w/o making it up unless out of ammo.

Eliminating excess movement.*

*examples: don't duck totally behind cover to reload. if you're covered enough for shooting, you're covered enough for reloading. and know your shooting positions. When you get to a cover position, be ready to shoot and know where the target is (actually 'pie-ing' takes a lot of time).

-rvb

[2010 IN USPSA Section Championship]

Here is the compliation video

sorry about the quality, not sure what is going on, it doesn't look like that when I play it back from the computer, but it did after the upload to youtube

youtube compression the shjt out of it.

Give it a day or two. Mine was video'd in 720 hd, but looked like crap when uploaded, w/ no option to select resolution. Today, several days after uploading, the option to select resolution has appeared w/ the 720 option.

-rvb

[rvb]

Last night I pulled the PD gear off the belt and put on the SS rig. Did some light dryfire both last night and tonight, largely w/o a timer. Just trying to get used to the grip and trigger finger placement. Still working to get my left grip low enough so I don't interfere w/ the safety. I was afraid I'd really fumble w/ the reloads, but they have been going quite smooth.

-rvb

[Closing the "actions off the clock" loophole]

*Alternately: I'm all for getting rid of NPMs.

Well, that sure would simplify everything. But I'm not sure this would be a majority opinion.

By removing NPMs, you would be taking an option away from the shooter. It would also make disappearing targets, especially quick ones, have an unbalanced effect on match scores, particularly for lower class shooters. Is that what you intend?

Oh, I had no illusion it would be a majority opinion.

As for the unbalanced effect, all that means to me is scores are not as close and you'll see more separation between classes. I don't see loosing some match points by missing a hard target as a problem. Would we say the same about a 50yd target?

Again it's one of those freestyle trade-offs -- the game isn't about shooting all the targets; it's about generating the highest hit factor....

I'd like to preserve some of those trade-off options; I wouldn't necessarily want to see them on every stage, but when it's well executed it becomes very difficult to tell whether skipping the target is worth it....

Well, it's making a HF w/in the rules. If the rules change, so would the strategy. I don't see it as a big change. On a philosophical level, HF comes from DVC, and it's hard to relate skipping targets to DVC.

I have faith our course designers are creative enough to still enable this type of freestyle decision from time to time.

NPM's are not a bad thing.

Removing the NPM and making shooters shoot at all targets, destroys one of the freestyle aspects of our sport.

I don't think they are a bad thing either. Just an thought I've always had that related to the topic at hand, so I threw it out there. I think to say it "destroys freestyle" is a bit strong. It changes the balance on one aspect of breaking down a course is all.

I feel like this is a thread drift, but I got there because of the history lesson on how we got to 9.9.3. And it seems that all those rules about activators, etc, are there ultimately because targets were left on the course that were not penalized w/ FTEs and Mikes.

-rvb

[rvb]

The Indiana State Match was awesome for me because I went MAJOR at the chrono!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAMER!

-rvb

[Closing the "actions off the clock" loophole]

George,

Can you please explain 9.9.3? I always read this as a "failure to activate" penalty. Otherwise, target scoring would be all that's necessary and we wouldn't need this rule, right?

Glad to.

Some history (which is pertinent). ... [cut]

So 9.9.3 was added to provide a penalty for skipping targets. So, there is no direct penalty for "failure to activate", but there is a resulting penalty for FTE and misses on the targets in question.

This is one of those things which affects how matches are put on the ground. Without 9.9.3, how long would it have been before designers stopped trying to design the more complex stages? "If I build it and they don't shoot it... why build it in the first place?".

So, if something is not activated, but the targets have been engaged, there is no penalty to apply.

And I would hope that someone doesn't suggest adding a WSB procedure to activate something. That would be contrary to freestyle (1.1.5) and the start down the slippery slope of "shoot it this way or else!"

Hope this helps.

Thanks, George.

I was away for a day and I guess the discussion has moved on, but I'll put out my thoughts anyway...

9.9.3 just says moving targets... so appearing/moving/disapearing/etc can all be considered moving depending on implementation. So it seems that it's possible, as happened in this match, that the target could be engaged, and by the wording of this rule, still have the penalty applied.

Sounds like the rule exists for the specific case of disapearing apearing targets

History for rules is important, but as the book evolves, I always think it's important that a first timer who has no understanding of the history can read the words and apply the rule. In this case, it says "will always incure ... penalties if... fails to activate."

After a quick skim of all the posts, I think what I'm seeing is that if the target is visible elsewhere (just a "mover") then you wouldn't need to activate it because if engaged there are no penalties. But if it's truly hidden (an "appearing" target) then the penalties apply because you wouldn't have shot at it.

So I guess I come back to my original idea... do we need that rule? More specifically, knowing the history, can we just remove the "always" and apply it to apearing targets?*

-rvb

*Alternately: I'm all for getting rid of NPMs.

[rvb]

On stage 10, the most common method was to spring forward with ammo can and slam the bottom of it into the port, then draw while the door was dropping, since it was a pretty slow drop. Engage the back four, back out while reloading, then shooting both sides.

Some of the Open shooters did it strong hand then went forward, a few put it between their legs, but most went forward first.

I still think hitting the back targets SHO was the way to go. I put a stopwatch on my mag problem, and that cost me ~1.30s. Even still, my time was 3rd fastest in PD, only 0.6 behind the fastest. I think it just didn't matter much... either futs w/ the can during the draw or the reload... now if I were shooting a high-cap game, I might be inclined to think through the port first is better.

-rvb

[Closing the "actions off the clock" loophole]

There is no rule which directly requires activators to be activated. If a shooter fails to activate something (preventing a target from presenting itself), there is no penalty for "failure to activate". There are penalties (procedural for FTE and apprpriate misses) applied to the "unpresented targets".

George,

Can you please explain 9.9.3? I always read this as a "failure to activate" penalty. Otherwise, target scoring would be all that's necessary and we wouldn't need this rule, right?

9.9.3 Moving scoring targets will always incur failure to shoot at and miss

penalties if a competitor fails to activate the mechanism which initiates

the target movement.

Thanks!

-rvb

[rvb]

Don't get me started on THAT guy...

-rvb

[rvb]

Dammit I missed that one!

Usually I'm the one saying that!

I actually won that stage in PD, thanks to my gamey-ness. [Figures I win the stage worth the fewest points!] Now I'm wondering how quickly I could have done it if I had shot the way Bob V did, which I hear was Head-P-P-Head. He still beat me by ~.4 seconds. But then you risk giving up more points....

-rvb

[Closing the "actions off the clock" loophole]

maybe the change should be that activators don't have to be activated at all. That removes the "off the clock" action. If the shooter opts to take a [typically] longer/harder un-activated shot vs a more wide-open activated shot, then that's free style. Once the target has been engaged, it's finished. What does activating it accomplish? It seems like this could be adding a rule to protect the "integrity" [for lack of a better word] of another rule that maybe doesn't need to be there...

you could still leave the Level I expection to force activation before engaging, I'm ok with that.

just a thought.

-rvb

[Glock 17 or 34]

I am going to get a Glock and after seeing most everyone shoot the 34,

I'm far from a 92 fan, but if it's working for you why switch?

I agree w/ SAF. If you're only reason is because it's what everyone else is doing, I'd say don't switch. If my Mom were replying she would ask "if a squad of uspsa shooters jumped off a bridge, would you?" If there is something specifically that you don't like about the 92/M9 where you think the glock might work better for you, go for it.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with seeing for yourself what color the grass is on the other side. You can always cross back over the fence. I've been thinking about this for a while myself.

-rvb

(fellow Beretta shooter)

[rvb]

I noticed on stage 9 that your slide was open on the table start they let you do that? I don't recall what the description was but I know our squad the slide was closed hammer down. Just wondering?

Hi BK.

Copied from the WSB:

Gun is unloaded and on table with the muzzles facing down range.

Compare with the WSB from stage 6:

Gun unloaded and laying flat on the mark with the muzzle in a safe direction, hammer down and slide and cylinder closed.

I think most people just made the assumption from habbit they'd have to rack it. I saw that in the WSB a couple weeks ago, and even practiced loading it that way in dryfire. I half expected it to be changed before the match, but it wasn't.

during walkthrough I asked the RO, "it doesn't say slide fwd, does it?" He thought about it and said "nope, I guess not."

-rvb

[2010 IN USPSA Section Championship]

a pinch of stupid mixed in

Want to match direct?

are you saying I meet the qualification listed above? haha.

I may be OVER qualified ...

-rvb

[rvb]

as discussed on another forum.... I though this description was better than what I typed up here, so I'm including in my diary...

Originally Posted by jakemartens

I need to get the speed up on everything else but the actual shooting.

That is where I am with my shooting. I went into the match with the goal of being more explosive between positions and to "cut out the fat" of wasted time. Unfortunately, I let it spill over into my trigger finger. I got lax on calling some shots, and the shots where I didn't watch the sights lift were either misses or no-penalty misses (eg Ds!).

After my first 3 stages, by 11 am, I had racked up 5 misses. By the end of the day I had a total of 6 misses and 17 Ds. I shot a pathetic 83% of the points for the day. You cannot miss fast enough to win. I believe that had I worked to ensure I shot another 10% of the points, my times would have not increased significantly, if at all. Pure lazyness and impatience on the trigger.

-rvb

[2010 IN USPSA Section Championship]

Sometimes when a match goes that south, I stop having fun. That was not the case with this match. Those stages were FUN. Big, monster, bad-ss fun! I wanna do it again!

Thanks to EVERYONE involved in making it run and bearing that monster heat. I kept thinking "they set this up TWICE?!" as I got to each stage. That's dedication! (with a pinch of stupid mixed in!) haha!

Congrats to all the division winners!

-rvb