John K

I think our club is going to run this this next weekend. i can hardly wait. What a great idea, maybe National HQ will see this and figure something to do on a larger scale.

I read last night about reloading in the Beyond Fundamentals book. Great Book. My question is. I came froma glock to a 1911. My hands are fairly large. When I relaoded my Glock I stripped away the old mag with the weak hand. In BE's book he says that he had his gun grip modified to allow him to use this strong hand thumb for the the mag release. I have been told by some that the strong hand runs the grip safety, trigger and thumb safety and the weak hand does the rest. By doing this the grip never changes for the strong hand. But In BE's book he says that he goes right to the loaded mag with the weak hand. In order for me to do this with my stock Kimber in an IDPA stage I would have to change my grip with the strong hand to do the same as BE. If I am not inclined to modify the gun to allow my thumb to run the mag release, is there another way to accomplish the reload more efficiently? Sorry for rambling, John

I have a Lee turret press and bought a set of lee carbide 45acp dies. The problem is that the belling die does not seem to be compatible with the powder drop. The dies has a screw in the top but when i take it out, nothing happens. I see in other pictures of the carbide die sets that the belling die does have the threaded adapter for the powder charge. Am I missing something? thanks, John

I can tell you what I would do. At a local match with a new shooter, I'd let the guy shoot. If that was the whole story. I would inform the shooter that what he wants to do is not sanctioned by the rule book and tell him the consequenses of his choice. But if he sweared or acted less than civil, well that is another story. He can shoot what ever stage another RO will allow, but he won't shoot mine. I don't volunteer my time working the match, ( I'd rather stand sround and BS with the other shooters, but we are always in need of ROs) to be chewed out by someone who is wrong and vulgar.

I have been shooting a G17 for a few years now in IDPA and at the local steel match. I recently got a Kimber 1911, and boy is it different. What tips are there for making the jump to the 1911. The 2 guns are so different. I have noticed that when shooting on the move, the glock was more stable. Witht the 1911 I see the front sight dip more when moving. Triggers are like night and day. I know exactly where the reset point is on my G 17. The 1911 trigger is so different. If anyone can offer some tips to help along the way it would be appreiciated. happy New Year! John

I am not trying to start the Kimber vs Springer debate. I have found Kimber 45 triggers to be better out of the box. Here is my situation. I want a 1911, but am too cheap to feed a 45. I have a G 17 and a CZ 75 pre-B, both I shoot in IDPA. I would like to get another pistol and am considering a 1911 9mm. THe springer is less expensive,and comes with a second magazine. The Kimber appears to be fine pistol as well. Are there issues particular to these manufactuers 9mm's that can help me make my decision? I live in CA so I do not have all the purchase options as some do, so my choices are limited. Can you guys nudge me in the right direction? John

What irks me is that a guy trains all year for the state match, and then some A class IPSC shooters manages to get classified as a MM and wins the MM division with scores that would have won the SS and placed 3rd in the Expert. I doubt that an A class IPSC shooter would ever shoot his best, trying for both acuracy and speed, and shoot in the MM or SS class. Those who would do sucha thing are cheaters. it seems that there is no way for a bonafided SS or MM to win the class because sandbaggers will always do what it takes to "win"

Seeing as how I now have no shame, it was at this last weekends California state IDPA Championship match.

I was getting to the front of the check in line and when they asked for my pistol, well it just fell out of the, apparently unzippered pouch. Hit me right in the foot and then slid about 8 feet. To top it all off I swept the check in guy with the muzzle when I retrieved it. That being said, the RO was a little upset but was fair and did not make me feel any smaller, if possible than I already did. He said that I had dropped my gun in the only place in the match that they wouldn't DQ me from, as I hadn't checked in yet. saw the guy latter in the day and we just sort of laughed. I went on to have a pretty good match. I learned a big lesson that day. The RO was great at beig firm and compassionate. I'd like to say that I would never do that again, but........ Let's hope I learn from my mistakes. John

I shoot a G17 in SSP and I have one hi-cap. I have applied a piece of red vinyl to the baseplate of that magazine. I always load it with 11 and always start the stage with it, unless for some reason it is a six round stage. Gun starts topped off and none of the mag back and forth changes. 1911 guys, well I feel for you. John

I am there. I can hardly wait, last year was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BBB, The ten round mag restriction is in place because of places like wherre i live, California, where hi caps are not legal. It keeps competitors on a level playing field. If you want to shoot IDPA, come to the match. i am sure that the local MD will allow you to shoot with you textured grip. You would not have any trouble by anyone until you shoot a state match. I am with Ken on this issue.

It grinds my gears to hear people complain about the quality of SO in IDPA. Have we all forgotten that they are volunteers that may be compensated by shooting a match for 1/2 price for their day of making unpopular decisions and enforcing safe gunhandling. If you think that officiating is lacking, read the rule book, pick up a clipboard and timer and work the match. I think that there are shooters out there that will always do whatever it taked to win. Sandbagging the classifier, wimpy ammo, guns and equipment that have no practical use in a CCW enviroment. There are those who oppose just about any rule. It is a game and it has rules. There is an intent behind the rules. I think that it is reasonable to exempt a heavy gun from matches because the average joe would not carry it day in and day out. Holsters that no one other than a IPSC shooter would use have no value in CCW. Do i think that there could be some rule changes, yes. But I will play it as it is currently set up and campaign IDPA for what changes i think valid.

....AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON!!!!!

Brian, First, yes i am looking for the sight to raise. Perhaps beyond just being aware. Maybe the monkey mind thing has got me going too many directions at one time. I was fooling around with new ammo. I have been shooting Winchester white box 9mm. When I tried some real light loads, I had a hard time seeing the front sight raise and felt like the gun was full of jello. i tried some fairly hot loads and I did see the front sight through recoil and, of course the gun cycled faster. Could this have to do with the amount of time that it take fro the slide to cycle, slower for wimpy reloads and faster for hotter loads. All this in conjunction with the flinch reflex? I don't beleive that I am flinching as I have been able to see the front sight raise. or, could it be that I am just trying harder at the match than when I am practicing? Seeing the front sight raise just happened, I did not make it happen. Can I command this to happen everytime with quality practice. Sorry for rambling and for SO MANY questions. Thanks, John

I am not trying to start the " glocks are better than 1911" debate. But, I have a question. I see more guys at matched fighting with their 1911 doing the rack/slap drill to clear their 1911. i have very rarely seen a glock/xd do the same. The only times I have seen it with other than 1911 is when guys I know mess with the insides of the gun or shoot reloads. Shooting my glock is boring, it makes for no drama. Is my perception correct? John

Here's my problem. When i am shooting the match i see the sight rise and fall. Nothing could be better, but when I am at the range practicing, I don't get the same rise and fall of the sight. What's going on here? Any help will be appreciated. John

Hey I'm with you. My sinuses are as dry as a bone right ow and it is killing me. I know what you mean by being conflicted as to whether to shoot and risk the infection of others and getting to do that thing you think about all week. You could try wearing a mask, but guns and masks are a bad combo, send the wrong message. I have had bronchitus and I get it every year. I aint no fun. I hope you get better John

I am a IDPA shooter and would welcome shooting any other shooting sport. I have noticed some of the anti IDPA. Some IPSC shooters have said it stands for "I don't Practice Anymore" Some I know think it is just too easy and beneath them to shoot IDPA. I have also noticed that most of these shooters are the ones that show up for the match, only tape targets when pestered and leave without helping out with the teardown. Vincent, if you think the Tactical Journal needs improvement, why don't you send something for them to publish? Lastly, I know that this board has a policy of not bashing other shooting sports. I support that idea. As many have said before me, all trigger time is good.

I have been setting up stages for about a year now and shooting IDPA for about two years. At first I scripted everything in a stage. If i wanted a shooter move from P1 to P2 and then back to P1 to take shots on a target, I spelled it out in the course description. I said when to reload and when to move and what to shoot and wherre you should be standing when shooting. I still insist onthe sequence of shooting targets, 1,1,2,11 or double tap. Recently I have because more ambiguous. I set a start point and perhaps P2 to move to. I leave the reloads to the shooters as well as where the statagy in using cover, what angles to take and what side of the cover to use to engage targets. As long as safety is abserved, I like it when a shooter figures out a better way to shoot the target. it is a game afterall. As for the 47 yd targets, it is legal, as a skills test, but a bit far to my way of thinking. As to modifying the CoF by cutting heads off targets, CoF 21 says that all the shooters that shot before the modification of the stage get a re-shoot. I could find no where in the rule book that outlaws modifying the target by cutting the head off, as long as it was not a classifer. Targets are modified by painting hard cover on to them. You ran into a range nazi. Don't give up on IDPA there are a lot of great shooters and officals out there. John

SSP Beretta, 1911 for cdp and 1911 less than 45 for esp. We see some SIGZ and a few CZ

We have a gun shop herre in town that has the snottiest salespeople. They were all force recon or SEALS or Green Berets or eaglescouts. Everyone a commmando that likes to scream at the customer that just wants a "thingee" to hold his sling on with. They just love to berate customers in their own smug way and then regale you of when they were in the teams. I look but never buy there.

I hear where you are coming from. I am involved with setup/ SO/ tear down of the monthly IDPA match. I started doing it because they needed the help. We have had some success with getting some of the newer shooters to show up and help out. Some shooters want to show up, load up, shoot and scoot. They paid their $15.00, they do not feel obligated to tape, or stay and help with the tear down. I was real new to IDPA and comp shooting when I began helping with the setup and some SO duties. I now create stages and look forward to both the match and the setup. i can guarantee this, if you get involved with the setup and admin of the match, your shooting will get better. This is definitely true for new shooters. I have told several new shooters just that and they have had the same results. At a local range they have a rule during the steel match that if you SO 7 or more shooters at a stage you can cut to the front of the line at the next stage you shoot. Good rule. Shooting the match should be sold to the competitors as follows: Either show up early and help set up, or stay late and help with the tear down. Everyone is expected to tape. Anyone can be tapped by an RO to aide in running a stage for a short period of time. Sorry if I rambled John

Good for you!! Now come back to earth and start planning your next conquest. it's great to be a winner, ( or that's what I heard)

My understanding is that if the target is missed completely, the misses count as does a penalty for failure to neutralize. John