perttime

Do what you need to do, to get the hits. Even for the 1 yard/meter target, I like to see something. It might be just the silhouette of the pistol over the target. For longer distances or risky shots around No Shoots, sight(s) will certainly be verified - or focus might move to feeling the triggger to ensure that the sight is where it needs to be. For every shot. You might save tenths of a second by shooting fast. You can save much more by moving smart.

I think the Rules cover it pretty well: 5.2.1.2 Within the provisions of Rule 5.2.1 no ammunition of any kind is permitted on the gun, or in clips or loops fitted to the gun, or to a sling fitted to the gun except when under the supervision of, and in response to a direct instruction issued by a Range Officer 5.2.3 Unless otherwise specified in the written stage briefing the competitor’s equipment belt carrying cartridges (in caddies, loops, clips, bags or pouches) and/or detachable magazines and/or speed loaders must be worn at waist level. 5.2.3.2 Only one equipment carrying belt is permitted. Cartridges held in loops or clips on the belt are restricted to a maximum of 170 mm total height. Rounds carried in caddies (often known as "strippers") must not exceed 6 rounds in height. 5.2.5 When carried in loops, clips or caddies no part of any cartridge is permitted to extend further than 75 mm from a competitor's body. Cartridges carried on the gun are exempt and loose cartridges carried in a pouch or bag are usually exempt from this rule. The Range Master’s decision will be final in this matter. Open Division competitors are exempt from this rule.

Our upcoming local Level 2 IPSC match has a "magazine inserted, empty chamber" start. I'm betting that some competitors will put a round in the chamber, the first time.

Nothing in USPSA Rules about it? IPSC Rules have: 8.1 Handgun Ready Conditions The ready condition for handguns will normally be as stated below. However, in the event that a competitor fails to load the chamber when permitted by the written stage briefing, whether inadvertently or intentionally, the Range Officer must not take any action, as the competitor is always responsible for the handling of the handgun. .... ....

"competing for the wins! " Not really We are different persons in many ways. I've found that if I start taking a hobby or sport seriously or even, god forbid, running stuff for others ... it becomes a chore - and there's a good chance that I'll quit. For some time at least. So, I try to remain laid back and have fun as an "also ran". Back in 1996 when nobody else had a clue either, I placed 24th out of 91 at our National 3-Gun Champinships. More recently I shot an IPSC match using my 6 shot revolver. It was great fun and I was amazed that I wasn't last in Combined results. I'm thinking of doing the same thing at our upcoming local Level 2 match. And I don't expect to win anything. I've seen the WSBs, and mostly there's reasonable ways to break down the stages for a 6-shooter. Mostly....

No. 60. I suppose being able to compare classifier scores within the country is a valid point. During "the season", most active Finnish (or European) shooters have a Level 2 or 3 IPSC Match every weekend, within 2 or 3 hours driving. So you will go against the national top guys'n girls quite frequently. Many also cross borders and see how they do against a more international crowd. To see how you really do in a bigger picture, you have to go to a Continental Championships or World shoot, every 2 or 3 years - and that can get costly.

I think it is culture. Like... how you do at a Match is how good you are. If you have the best score you win. If you are the best among competitors of mediocre ability, it isn't really a win. People are familiar with sport classifications by equipment or age, but few sports seem to make arbitrary classes by ability and reward the top of those classes. IPSC has a list of Classifier stages, but in my area they are rarely used. It could be different in different IPSC Regions (Countries)

Talk about classifications is quite foreign to me. In my corner of Europe, few IPSC shooters bother with them. My club has a Level 2 IPSC Handgun match coming up. There's about 150 competitors registered, including 40 "crew" who pay by working at the match. The list of competitors shows THREE (3) who have a classification. The rest are marked Unclassified.

What gun will you reload for? A gun might "prefer", or "dislike" a bullet for accuracy. I don't see how a coated bullet would be detrimental to longevity. For myself, I've gone for copper plated bullets. Possibly cleaner to use than coated ones and still less expensive than jacketed bullets.

Vihtavuori N320 should work, unless you are looking for high PF.

The madness has struck. I'm going to shoot a Match in a different Division: Press the release, open the cylinder with my left hand, dump contents into my right hand, pocket the contents, and grip the gun with my right hand again. Keep the cylinder open until RO gives more commands.

For pistols with a safety, I quite like having a "shelf". The strong hand thumb stays on top the safety lever while shooting. My hands are not large, so I tend to use the weak hand thumb for the slide release. If there's sharp edges, you should be able to blunt them with a fine file. Or dremel if you are handy with them. Even a sharpening stone. The hammer on my Ruger GP100 revolver used to draw blood from my thumb until I blunted it a bit For sight colors: whatever works. I remember an older guy painting his front sight all white, so that he could see something against a tan IPSC target. I'm still coping with all black sights.

Cheap duct tape should do it. Perhaps with chalk marks for verification. And screw the strips together if the Level and size of the match seems to warrant it. Duct tape can leave a sticky residue on the surface. Does that matter? (... In Finnish, duct tape is often called "jesus tape": it saves you in many kinds of trouble ...)

I have some N320 that is dated 2019. It has the same graphite color as the 3N37 that I have.

For IDPA, you must remember to load the 627 with 6 rounds only. "A.5.5.7 Revolvers must be loaded to the division capacity of 6 rounds in the cylinder. Higher capacity 7 and 8 round revolvers are permitted, but may only load 6 rounds."

... or that you have too low pressure to burn efficiently.

You are in Europe, so probably play by IPSC rules. There, you must have a 120gr bullet, or heavier, for Major PF. Vihtavuori tables don't have much that can help: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/handgun-reloading/?cartridge=42 130gr FMJ with 6.8gr of 3N37 at 32.0 mm COAL might barely make Major. Maybe.

This FB page looks pretty recent and it has an Event for an upcoming Match (full already, I think): https://www.facebook.com/dvcipsc/

What load did the seller use? What about round count on the barrel? Not worn out yet?

... and to be precise, magazines "must not contain more than 15 rounds at the Start Signal." So, for a loaded start, people like to have one in chamber and 15 in the first magazine.

I quite like the holders that I bought some years ago. I can no longer find them, and there's no brand marked on them. A European product, I believe. They are one piece of pretty rigid plastic. One way up they fit L-frame speedloaders, the other way they fit K-frame size. The speedloader is inserted by pushing it straight down in to the holder. The "ears" surround the speedloader partially, and will flex just enough that you can release by pulling them horizontally away from your body. There's a slot that can be used to thread the holder onto a belt. Or the slot can be used to mount two holders onto a Tek-Lok belt attachment. I hope I make sense...

Our club (northern Europe) will report it to the police if a round goes over the berm. I haven't heard of it happening, though. There's busy roads and some residential areas within reach. Our IPSC match WSBs state that pointing over the berm with finger on the trigger is a DQ (which IPSC rules allow).

@Schutzenmeister Understood. This thread started from guide rods and rapidly expanded to differences between USPSA and IPSC Rules and practices. You mentioned 180, so why not drift the thread to a related point in the Rules.

IPSC doesn't rigidly stick to 180 either: 2.1.2.1 Subject to the direction and approval of the Regional Director, stage(s) or range specific muzzle angles (reduced or increased) may be permitted.... At our club range, both reduced and increased muzzle angles are routinely used. It is often reduced when we fit two stages into one large bay or use a place that isn't actually a bay. Also, in our bays, muzzle angle limits are often marked near the back of the side berms, so that the angle is quite wide when you are downrange. The non-default angles must be published in WSB: "LEFT AND RIGHT MARKED WITH POSTS. 90 DEGREES UP. REDUCED VERTICAL MUZZLE ANGLE WHEN FINGER IS INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD (2.1.2.1)"

I have a feeling that there are regional differences. Start positions are often demonstrated, or it could be standing naturally anywhere in the shooting area (referring to "APPENDIX E2: Diagram of Equipment Position", for "standing naturally"). I don't think I've SEEN the direction of the head dictated, unless starting facing uprange with wrists above shoulders. Direction of the body might be determined by mandating foot locations (heels or toes touching marked spots on a fault line).