Leozinho

I've never seen this and find it hard to believe. Over the last 5 or 6 years I've taken ten guys to shoot their first IDPA or USPSA match. All shot production (or SSP). Some shot one match, some shot four or five. None are still shooting competitions, and none of it had to do with downloading to 10. Ranges too far away? Check. Don't want to stand around for 4+ hours on a Saturday afternoon to shoot just 75 rounds? Check. Ego couldn't handle getting beat by overweight civilians? Big check. Got deployed and didn't pick it back up when they got home? Check. None ever mentioned downloading mags as a reason for not going to more matches with me. In fact, four of those shooters shot their duty Sig 229, and they would have noticed they could only load 12 in their mags when everyone else loaded 15. (229's factory mags hold 12).

Not sure if down the middle is the right line where shooters are split. I routinely talk to the people I shoot with. Part of being an AD. I'm getting substantially less than 50% that want the Production capacity changed. Adding you and Chad I've now heard from 3 people that want it to be 15. I've heard from close to 100 that don't want it changed. New shooters, experienced shooters. GM's, D's. Doesn't really seem to matter. Some will initially say, it'd be neat to have 15, but when the down side is mentioned, immediately change to 10 is better. Add me to your "leave it at 10" count. I have a couple of reasons. I have a duty 229 that I occasionally shoot which only holds 12, and I don't think I should have to shoot minor against $3500 S_I's making major just because a handful of people don't like mag changes. More importantly, I enjoy the challenge of the extra mag changes. It's another thing to set Production apart from Limited. My 229 emphasizes the point already made about the dangers of looking at equipment at Nationals to make decisions. Not too many folks (ie none) going to Nationals are going to shoot at 229, but that doesn't mean beginners don't get their start with it or similar guns, or that old hands like to bring out different guns from time to time. Seriously, if mag changes bother someone enough to start a campaign to change the rules, they should already be shooting Limited.

I know the AMU guys have a lot on their plate, but they probably have easy access to boxes of old Beretta mags and they might be able to loan you a couple. Look for the big FB3G thread in the match announcement forum and post there. Also, maybe some Beretta shooters are coming that can lend you some mags. I think you can find Beretta mags in gun shops, but doubt you could sell them at the match. I could be wrong, though.

I think it's the other way. It does not specify that you can be retired. Isn't the point of the rule to allow LEOs to get in trigger time with duty rigs? Then why would retired soldiers and cops shoot in rigs they are no longer using?

Have you shot one, or just basing the statement on how it looks?

Add me to the list of USPSA shooters that haven't yet made the leap into 3 gun because of the shotgun portion. I grew up hunting with a shotgun, but have no interest in trying to be the fastest reloader. Also, I've got a couple of 870s that I used duck and bird hunting, and I'm not keen on purchasing a semi-auto just for 3-gun stages. I plan on shooting one of the majors next year for the fun of it. I know I could use the pumps anyway, but without an extended tube I would hate to look at the scoresheet and wonder where I would have been if I had a more competitive gun.

Randy Lee of Apex said on another forum he wanted to make one if he could ever find the time. It sounded like he hasn't started work on it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most of those 1-2lb open and limited guns have manual safeties, which should be engaged before reholstering? That's my point. Both of the USPSA shooters that I personally know that shot themselves did it reholstering with their fingers in the trigger guard. If they had engaged manual safeties, it wouldn't have happened. I can't tell you if a heavier trigger would have prevented it, but it wouldn't have hurt. And yes, safety began with them, they preached keeping their finger off the trigger, and all the other stuff we say. Thinking it can't happen to you is a mistake. I'd be more concerned about shooting myself reholstering than launching one over the berm (not that that isn't a safety violation either.) Anyway, just be cautious. Good luck.

The gun has a safety, its built into the trigger. Safety starts with keeping your booger picker off the boom lever. This applies to any gun so why would it be any different with this one? I'm with JT on this. By your logic, a 2 oz trigger would be completely safe, right? Making glib comments about keeping the finger of the trigger is fine, but the problem is that we don't always keep our fingers off the trigger. Better shooters than you and me have had NDs and even shot themselves even though they preach keeping keeping their fingers off the triggers too. I've seen good "safe" shooters' fingers get on the trigger at the wrong time, and a safety or a few pounds of pull might have been the difference between a bad accident and nothing. Not to mention that things other than fingers can also pull the trigger. A few extra pounds might be the difference between a round through your thigh or you realizing in time you snagged your shirt in the trigger guard when reholstering.

Whenever someone (relatively) new comes onto the scene, I'm always curious if he had a coach or a teacher. Or did he just hang around Rio Salado absorbing from the shooters there? Or maybe he's completely self taught? Anyone know? Congrats to Nils.

I've heard many reasons from the tactical ones why you should use your weak hand to release the slide: thumbing the slide lock is a fine motor skill that will disappear under stress, pulling the slide back further puts a little extra power on the slide as it goes forward, it's the same motion you use in for Tap/Rack when clearing stoppages. Rather than countering those arguments here, I'll just say I still release the slide lock lever with my thumb. It is faster. (Using my weak hand to release the slide also has the tendency to engage the safety on my Beretta.)

Bring him to MD and limit the class to around 6 experienced USPSA shooters and I'll be there.

Bennie Cooley seems to get to NC fairly often and maybe to VA. Other than monitoring M4carbine.net for course announcements, I'm not sure how you hear about them. His Tactical Carbine (or Practical Carbine, not sure what was called) was pretty heavy on shooting the AR quickly and accurately and not overly heavy on "tactics." (Just the way I wanted it.) There were a lot of 3-gun competitors in the class I attended.

Do you have a source for this? The part of throwing people out of his inner circle is well documented. Mark Rippetoe (wrote the book on weight lifting technique), Dan John (wrote a lot of books on strength training), Mark Twight(wrote some books on climbing), Robb Wolf (wrote the book on Paleo), Gregg Everett (wrote a book on Oly lifting)... All left CF on less than cordial terms. There are more. It's been said that there's no one at CF HQ left that has any S&C experience outside of CF, but I'm not going to bother to try to find a source for that. Regarding being overweight and prone to drunken ramblings: http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/GG_AtChalkboard_Threshold_JournalPreview.wmv

I'm looking into buying a couple static steel plates to use for practice, but wondered if it might cause some problems. Like maybe listening for the hits rather than calling my shots? It's a minor concern, but wonder if anyone started practicing exclusively on steel and had problems as a result. Anything else I need to be aware of? Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. I've showed him the photos and passed on the info.

It's been about nine months since the last thread on ranges in Northern Virginia. I think I know of all the indoor ranges around, but I'm looking for a place to practice USPSA-specific drills (rather than stay in my lane, not draw from the holster, not shoot 'rapid fire' etc.) Am I correct to think that Fredericksburg Rod and Gun would let you set up targets and practice if you are a member, and you have a bay to yourself? It's far enough of a drive that I'd be limited to weekends, though. What about the various Izaak Walton Leagues, or the Quantico Rod and Gun Club? (It's hard to tell from the websites what they allow in their ranges.) Where are the serious shooters practicing? Thanks.

A friend asked me, and I didn't know but told him I knew where to find out. So I thought I'd turn to the place with the most experience with various offset mounts. Will the Burkett or one of the other offset mounts provide enough clearance to be used with a 50mm objective lens scope? Or will be big objective lens take up half the field of view of the Jpoint? The plan is to put it on a M1A, so mounting on the handguard is not an easy solution. Is there an offset mount that has more "offset" than the rest? Thanks.

Ya think? I have no problem with the deal-making and machinations that go on. It happens on all of the reality shows. And let's be honest, since the shooting challenges and most of the shooters themselves are underwhelming, it's the only thing interesting about the show. I do have a problem with the contestant that tried to engineer a back-room deal and then took umbrage when it backfired and sent him to an elimination challenge. He escaped elimination, but only by a thread. You live by the sword, you shouldn't be upset when you almost die by the sword. My biggest disappointment with the show has been just how mediocre the skills of the majority of the contestants are.

That is correct - it is inteded for use by those in harms way, not gamers. In a CQB situation, a standard brake would leave a lasting impression on those you hope will be helping in the fight. Muzzle blast/concussion would be very distracting during a live fire entry!!! In a thread on M4carbine.net, one of the owners of Battle Comp said his comp wasn't as effective at reducing felt recoil or muzzle rise as some of the comps designed for 3-gun. However, he said its the best compromise available for reducing recoil while not being overly harsh on anyone nearby and still taming muzzle flash. Having said that, I bet 90 percent of the m4carbine members that purchased the comp will never see a shoot house, much less be part of an entry team. The fanboy is strong over there. $148 is a lot to spend on a comp that you aren't going to use for its advertised purpose. Some of the reviews over there are not from unbiased testers. (I have a PWC FCS. It still puts out a pretty good blast to anyone beside you. Does a fair job at hiding the flash. Doesn't reduce felt recoil quite as well as some other comps I have tried.)

I didn't have the withdrawals, experience low energy or anything negative that some people do. Perhaps it's because I didn't start cold turkey/super strict. I kind of dabbled with cutting out grains first, before realizing that it is a sustainable way to eat. (I was initially skeptical that I'd have the willpower to not eat bread.) I'm not super strict even now, which has me excited. I've already seen positive results and I still have a lot of room to improve my nutrition. My palate does seem to be changing, as others report it did for them. I don't know if it's psychological, but I now enjoy vegetables, such as broccoli, that I never liked eating before.

For what it's worth, since I know it's been discussed here: After initially scoffing at it as fad, I started eating paleo (or primal) about six weeks ago after reading anecdotal success stories mostly from the Performance Menu/Catalyst Athletics crowd. I can't give any results from benchmark workouts, as I'm lifting heavy now and not into long met-cons anymore. But I have gotten leaner (borderline ripped) than I've ever been in my life, with a clear six-pack. And my adult acne has cleared up (which may have been caused by glutens.) So, years of endurance work (44 mile ultras, iron-distance triathlon, Cat 4 cyclist, mountain climbing, military training) and months of CF/Military Athlete workouts, and I never had more that a faint 4 pack. Now I've virtually stopped cardio (except for BJJ when I can make it to class) and my abs are defined. This is at age 37, and I haven't even gotten my diet dialed in yet. I'd say I'm not much than 80 percent compliant. It was easy to cut out the potatoes, pasta and rice. I've done a fair job of cutting out sugar. I do miss bread, but partly for the convenience factor of grabbing a sandwich at Panera for lunch. I'm developing an appreciation for vegetables that normally I wouldn't have eaten before, like broccoli. I know I need to eat more veggies. I have had some cheat meals with bread and ice cream. Also, since I started this as part of a mass gain/get stronger cycle, I'm eating everything 'primal' I can get my hands on (including force feeding five eggs and some sausage for breakfast) and supplementing with whey protein shakes. I haven't been hungry once and I've gotten leaner literally unintentionally. Take it for what it's worth. It's only been approximately six weeks. I was fit before I changed my diet, just not 'ripped.' My change in eating habits coincides with a change in how I train. I haven't had any blood work done. I just recently discovered Mark Sisson's blog. Of all the paleo/primal resources on the 'net, I think I like it best. He's like me, a former endurance/carb junkie (though I was never anywhere near his level as an athlete), so I can relate to him. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-to-the-primal-eating-plan/

Since you've re-read the passage about grip tension, you need to read this thread. You may have done what I did, which is misinterpret what Brian was trying to say in the book. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=47744&st=0&p=550159&hl=grip&fromsearch=1entry550159

I liked Ron Avery's series for the beginner.

I strength train in the afternoon after work. I train BJJ in the evening – usually 7:30 to 9:00, which makes going to sleep at an early hour difficult because it takes me a bit to unwind and relax. In the Army I trained in the mornings, of course. I don't like to do that anymore because I find it very difficult to train when I haven't eaten in 10 or so hours. Something to think about.