truespode

That is how I was in 2020 with Carry Optics. I was shooting Limited and Production but was not having as much fun. I liked shooting Limited and was happy with my equipment but once I shot Carry Optics I really enjoyed it. Even with an FNS 9L and Vortex Venom it was addictive to use the dot and made me enjoy it a lot more. If capacity was lower I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much though. If it wasn't for Carry Optics I would have quit in 2020/2021 because I wasn't having a lot of fun. Since then I have gotten more involved, shot a Sectional (and helped with setup of it), help with my local and am a lot more involved. I switched to LO to get classified but really like the magwell and still love my dot (SRO this time). If I had to go to irons or lo cap I wouldn't continue to shoot.

For USPSA as long as it is part of the take down lever it is legal. https://nroi.org/q-of-month-results/is-that-thumb-rest-legal/

We're talking about Practice? Practice? Not a game. Practice.

I'm spoiled then. If it wasn't for 3 GM's (2 of which recently finished in the top 30 range at CO Nats) I believe we wouldn't have had our sectional match and definitely wouldn't have the level of locals we do. It's sad that more GMs don't help but I have witnessed more GM's and M's in my area doing the most work. They set a high bar in performance and work. As for LO and CO I really like both the way they are. I admit there isn't much difference for me as I just put a magwell on my FN so making changes that separate them more makes sense in some way but I think reducing capacity isn't one of them. With all the new shooters I have talked to (and many are older) to a person they said they don't like lo cap like what they say they see in IDPA and all preferred CO because they can buy a gun off the shelf, two mag extensions and be good to go. Most don't understand the difference between LO and CO but they do know they like loading to 22 rounds. Other changes may go unnoticed but capacity is one that won't, IMO. Those same new shooters also have tried out local PCSL and first thing they asked is he many rounds can they load

So, should divisions be setup to cater just to the top shooters?

I didn't see him as crying about it. I think that there are two camps, which I see as a common theme in almost everything USPSA... 1) Those who play this as a hobby (me) and don't have as much invested emotionally and are going to shoot whatever yet will still ask for more. Personally, as a hobby I want more divisions. I don't mind people shooting just for a "participation trophy" since that would increase numbers overall. I realize that waters down things but I know of more expensive hobbies with just as much limited volunteers that do well because of the inclusion of "participation trophy" type classes/divisions. More participation also yields more volunteers which we have very few of. 2) Those that take this as a competition and sees everyone in that same vain (where I think he is coming from). I think that a lot in this area want slow changes or more consistency long term to judge comparisons in competition and prevent competitive inequity long term. As much as I don't mind the changes in CO awhile back they did change the challenges of the division. These guys benefit from the hobbyists because it gives them more people to beat In the end that is what makes these discussions fun. Disagreeing from different perspectives. The funny part is no perspective, other than being more lenient on safety, is wrong. USPSA is just a bunch of agreed upon rules that can change at any time based upon different leadership and different whims. Bylaws control that to an extent but still very amendable.

Yeah... Bling factor and choice. I don't mind that. I admit when I raced dirt bikes I put thousands of aftermarket parts on it and they didn't make me any faster Those are personal decisions and not competitively necessary. There isn't an answer that will please everyone but I have no issues with things as is. But I'm definitely not normal according to my wife

What disadvantage? It's a hobby for me and most. I get to shoot the gun I want which is a lot more capable then I am. I will not finish higher with a 2011 than I do my 509 because I don't train. Most shooters don't. It may make a difference in the top 10% but none of us are catching them if we have STI and they have M&P. I do want a MPA but mostly for bling factor I like the division. I like hicap minor with a magwell. If they combine LO and CO I won't care. If they leave it alone I won't care. You may be one of the few here that gets this reference but put me on a 500AF and Dungey on a TTR125 and Dungey wins hands down :). I witnessed similar in Illinois when the maker of the 500AF who had a pro card but but top level beat solid B class riders who were riding 250's and he was on a TTR. There is a lot that can change for personal preferences but except at the top it won't really have a significant competitive equity impact, in my opinion.

I think anything can be criticized but so far I like LO. I thought I would just shoot it to get classified then go back to CO since I'm using the same gun and just added a magwell. I ended up liking the magwell more than I thought. I shot Limited before and liked my magwell but didn't realize how much I like my grip when shooting it. I changed my sign up for NC Sectionals to LO and will probably stick to it even though I have a better chance at getting B in CO (my high % was 59% but had a string of 40's recently).

One of their lefty shooters I get to shoot with quite often. Great guy. The first time I met David I wasn't squaded with him but asked him about an extractor issue I had on a Ruger Mark II. He told me what to buy then later while passing going to different stages he comes up to me with his phone and shows me the link to get it. This was literally at least 2 hours later. Shot with him twice at our local this year when he has traveled up (we are about 2 1/2 hours away from him) and he is genuinely a nice guy. I have heard him say "nice run," "great job," and other compliments more than anyone I have ever shot with and these are all with people who have just met him. And he shoots extremely well too

That is beautiful! My Apex'd 509 is not holding me back but after squading a few times with Dave and meeting others on the team I am starting to save for one next year. May get the IDPA DS9 version since I sometimes dabble in that. Great customer service matters.

Yes it was. I never met him but interacted online since the mid 90's on RMD.

Moto... off-topic twist but being from Idaho did you know David Jones? He did a lot of offroading in the area and was a big part of a USENT Group RMD back in the day.

Good point... I would think that would have to be the way. I am shooting my CO in LO. The gun doesn't hold me back b/c I'm not that good but if I was an A shooter going for M I'd probably want a 2011 or CZ instead of a plastic striker gun. If they do make CO more restrictive or re-create it into a more restrictive division I'd stay in LO. As it is now I'm just doing LO for fun and because it only cost me a magwell. Then again, I only shoot for fun so whatever rules they put in place I'll find a spot I prefer... most likely anywhere a high cap plastic gun can play even if it isn't the most competitive choice.

Wouldn't changing the mag capacity have an impact on classification percentages? How would readjustments go? I don't see them going away from 140mm for CO.

I load my Carry Optics mags to 21 on average except a couple here and there b/c they are easier on seating and does not impact where I make my reload during COF.

I'd like to see Practicescore track and USPSA report on the gun people use as well. Just because it tracks minor doesn't show the true use of the division and options available. If someone is shooting 40 minor out of a 2011 with a dot in LO it isn't tracked so there is no real way to know how many 40 people are in the division. Plus it would be nice for sponsors to see their gun by specific shooters. I am pretty sure a lot of them would pay me not to use their gun

I use a local guy who does great work. Got the lock from Grainger and put a magnet on it that lines up with the bottom screw and it holds great. I have competition holsters, carry holsters and even a holster for my paster gun The GX look great and the quality seems top notch but I feel my local guy does just as well and is fun to squad with too.

Great response... busting out facts. Thank you for that.

I shoot a lot of indoor matches and I can go to the separate bay that doesn't hold the match and shoot all I want until it is time for the match. Then I go, sign in and shoot the match. I have even showed up with my carry gun, went to the other bay, unloaded and put the cold gun back in the holster then went signed up and shot the match. Common practice. At my outdoor range we competition only bays and public bays. It is a very large range and none of the public bays are close to the competition bays. I can go to the public bays and do whatever I want then go sign in and shoot my match. No DQ. Again, common practice.

I shoot a FN 509 with Apex 5" slide and 135gr truncated cones Blue Bullets with clean shot and mixed range pickup brass. I use 3.6 grains of Clean Shot and get between 129 and 132 PF consistently. The only reason I bring it up since it isn't 124 or a Shadow is that the guy who taught me to load had a CZ and liked the truncated cones so he could load a little longer OAL. Not sure if that is something that you want to try or not. Personally I like the 135's as well as 147's but bought a lot of 135's and have gotten so comfortable loading and shooting them I don't see myself changing anytime soon. Even with costs of ammo coming down I am still loading b/c of the stress break I get when doing it

Sounds a lot like my home club when they setup for matches. They have bays that are off limits to everyone except for matches (IDPA, USPSA, Cowboy, GSSF, etc.). Anyone can shoot anywhere until they come to the competition bays and sign in but it is a cold range as soon as you get into the competition parking area. The competition bays are always off limits except on competition day. It allows for setup over the course of days and isn't so rushed. As for the morals... I help setup with my home club and I don't really care what others do. Since you setup the day before that is great but irrelevant in my opinion. There is too much negativity and shaming of those who don't help. I've been at a point when I started where I couldn't help but could shoot for a few hours here and there. Without going to the match and meeting a lot of non-judgmental great people I think I'd have gone crazy with my personal and professional stress at the time so I am extremely grateful for the time I had to shoot. Fortunately, I am able to help more now but that is a personal decision. Now... if someone isn't helping but always complaining about the stages or wanting things designed or done specifically for him/her then I do have a problem with that. If you don't help... fine. Just be happy with what you get to do and thank those that do when appropriate.

I used a boss hanger. I tried multiple spacers that are commonly used on holsters retention so I could adjust it as I wanted. The attached picture is without the spacers.

Isn't 2500 members a good portion that actually shoot regularly? There was some stats around those that shoot more than a few times a year and it was pretty low if I'm remembering correctly.

That is beautiful!