LawDog101

The paintball gun is super wicked. "Running for Cover" has a whole new meaning. It has semi and FULL AUTO. It hits so hard that when you are behind cover, you can really feel the impacts on the wood. You do not want to get hit. The 4x18 plates with clothes on them are cool also. They even have head that if you shoot them, the plate won't fall either. Only hitting the hidden (under clothes) plate makes it fall. I saw a bunch of guys miss over and over with these. Fun stuff. James

The SERPA is really good at retention. I used one for a shoot at Tiger Valley a few weeks ago and I found out when I dropped my ruck and a strap grabbed the Beretta in the SERPA. With a 50lb pack, I got pulled off to one side and fell over. Very funny. Glad there were not too many witnesses. The real kicker was when the strap really grabbed the Beretta and I was pulling on it. The gun refused to budge. Good stuff. On the same note, the SERPA got filled with dirt and other crap, but still had no problems with the draw. It is my first competition holster and it is pretty darn cool. I am not so fast as of yet, but since this thread appeared to be about retention, I thought I would relay my story. James

Need a new barrel for the 870. current barrel has been useful but, b/c of the rib on it, the ghost rings sights won't mount up. What are my options? Remove the rib? New barrel? (If so, anyone have a used one or know where a cheap new 18" cylinder bore, 12ga 870 barrel is just lying around...lol.) James

Thanks to TJ, I have my Trooper gear ready for CAV3G in Sept. Should be a blast. James

I would love a list of things to pack for the Trooper class. Any help is appreciated. James

This is a great forum for things just such as this. I would add to your comments that if both the "suit wearing guy" and the "rumpled guy" are both pointing an AR at you, I don't think you would care who was wearing what. Right? For me, who is just getting into this sport, I have figured out that the concealed thing just doesn't work for me. Some say it is practical, but like I said above, I carry SOB, so a hip holster for competition doesn't do anything for me. So, I have made a choice to shy away from the rules that require me to have a concealed holster. However, the new USPSA multi-gun rules (with addendum from the Nationals) lets me wear my drop leg tac holster. Good thing. Also, the IMG rules are pretty fun also. Like they say, there is a place for everyone. James

I have several pairs of Khaki BDU's which work fine, but, again, my point is this..... a bunch of guys shooting with AR's (with every accessory mounted to them), pistols (with many mags), and a shotgun. Does anyone really think that anyone will somehow believe that they are PC just because they are wearing Khaki's instead of camos? For that matter, what if we all wore suits and ties and did our shooting in a pair of Cole Hahn laofers? Would that somehow make us more PC. I do not have a problem with the rules. Zero problem. It is just the principle that if we wear something subdued that it will somehow cover up the fact that we are weilding full on mil-spec weaponry. Thanks for the input. James

Great info guys. Thanks. James

The AR series of rifles clearly dominates the carbine selection for about 95% of 3-gunners as well as the military, tactical, police, etc. From my limited experience it appears to me that, for purposes of 3gun, the light weight, mag capacity, and low recoil are the main factors contributing to the AR's popularity. Several why questions? Why not use something in .30 cal (FAL, M14, etc.) carbine? Isn't a bigger hammer always better? Why the .223? Why not use something more reliable (not saying AR's are lacking), but I think most folks will agree than an FN, M14, and AK are all higher up on a purely reliability scale? I would like to hear some of your thoughts on this. Thanks. James

Since I am new at this, I would like to hook up with a couple of folks at the match and if possible chat a bit beforehand. Thanks. James

Lefty here. Cannot comment on the competition element as I am a serious newbie, but I will say that I swapped my Beretta over to lefty and I engage the release with my thumb with consistent results. Not fast, consistent. Unfortunately with the Beretta v. Glock or XD you have to deal with a not so good trigger. The Glock and the XD are much better IMO. when I have the extra cash, I will be swapping over to Glock or XD, or maybe to .45 class. James

Appreciate the info. Always good to be able to discuss things. Different people have different positions on shooting. I figure that once I get +40, my attitude will probably be different than it is now. If you have a comment, Pickles, go ahead. If I am way out of line, fine, I can handle it. Don't agree, fine too. I am a lawyer by trade, Plaintiff's bar, but still have friends that are defense attorney's. All this PC nonsense and trying to make everyone think one way or another about the shooting community just doesn't work for me. We shoot guns, most are of military spec, AR, .4's, etc. None of that is PC to the tree-huggers or other anti-gunners. Just because we run around in Khaki's and button downs doesn't make them hate us any less. How we conduct ourselves in everyday life is what matters. When I go shoot, I shoot in a manner that I get the most benefit out of it. Mall-ninja included. You are right, IMG is fine with me. Headed to Tiger Valley on the 18th. James

I think some folks are using the Tiger Valley IMG 3-gun rules. The rest of this is pretty bogus. No camo's? I wear them b/c they are cheap, durable and have tons of pockets? Besides, they are what I hunt and shoot in. Anyone have a list of clubs in Texas that shoot IMG? James

The idea of using what you c-carry is nice, IF, you carry at the hip, standard holster. I don't carry that way and use a Milt Sparks SOB holster to carry my Kahr P9. So having to shoot with a hip holster when I don't ever carry that way makes no sense to me. As an attorney, I really can't put a .45 on the hip under my jacket. Doesn't work. But, since my jacket is long enough, the SOB works. Plus, the Kahr is small enough that if I land on my back, it is much better than a full size pistol. I can see why there is always a discussion on the boards regarding rules. It appears that IMG and USPSA is where I need to be. Thanks for the information. James

I appreciate the help, but is this for IPSC, USPA, IMG, etc.? I saw a bunch of folks in the Trooper class at Tiger Valley that had drop legs, so it wouldn't interfere with their packs. Why does it matter where the holster is, so long as it is safe (no sweep, etc.). Seems like the IMG folks have it pretty good. They don't seem to care. I can understand not having full race gear with tac gear, but otherwise, isn't is just a preference. Some people carry at the hip, some carry IWB, some OWB, some paddle, some SOB, etc. Unless it gives one person an unfair advantage, why would anyone care? I like the drop leg. It feels more natural in draw and holster (I am taller 6'2") and it is out of the way for my pack and LBE gear, etc. I really do not get the whole concealed thing at all. Maybe someone can explain it to me but it appears that there is a big debate over all of these rules anyway. Seems like most folks would like to shoot in their own style. I prefer military/tactical. I like my BDU's, LBE, drop leg on both sides, etc. Some folks prefer otherwise. James