Buzzdraw

Looks like Rule 4.1 requires, even for Tier I, plate painting prior to each competitor's first run on Classifier stages. For time reasons, normally the shooter will not paint his targets before he shoots.

Once my eyes were not correctable to a good shooting script, I promptly had my regular eye doc refer me to specialist to do the lens replacements. This office was most professional, as was the surgeon who did the work. He does LOTS of surgery with very few complications. Took a few weeks for eyes to settle down to point I could return to regular eye doc for an updated shooting script. All was fine for a couple years until I had a retinal detachment start. Off to urgent surgery with another highly qualified doc. I was one of the unlucky 6-8% of those with cataract replacement surgery, who have a partial retinal detachment ensue. I am back to shooting again, with excellent vision.

The more closely I try to re-read the IDPA RB 2024, the more difficulty I find regarding a penalty action for dry fire (in a safe direction) during LAMR. A discharge is a clear DQ. A sight picture would be a PE. Oh my!!!

Rule 2.2.4.6 A discharge before the start signal. DQ penalty.

Many of the "plastic fantastic" guns have a version available with a manual thumb safety. Most all these levers are tiny, not lending themselves to rapid manipulation "on" or "off". The same gun, in its LE version, typically will not have the itty bitty thumb safety lever present. I simply make sure to get the LE version in that case. The LE version usually omits the civilian magazine safety too, which I likewise can do without. Occasionally a gun is going to get loose and fall. The onus goes to the owner to make certain no mod's are done to the gun to make it less safe than stock when it hits the ground. Humans tend to try to grab for a loose falling knife in the kitchen, unless they are well conditioned. That conditioning needs extension to their reaction to a falling gun. We can learn if we try.

IDPA got itself into the current inconsistent "well ask up the authority ladder, in rung order" by abandoning the "ask HQ for a clarification" system of several years back. The significant clarifications were posted online on the HQ site, for all to see. Consistency was possible under this method, which IDPA HQ chose to abandon.

In reference to IDPA 8.1.7.4, the grip safety on a 1911, when functionally fitted, blocks the sear (I mean bow of the trigger), not the hammer. Effectively if the trigger can't move, nor can the sear rotate to release the hammer to fall. No mention of a sear blocking requirement in current 8.1.7.4.

IDPA still has not learned. The first World IDPA match had SO squads shooting by vehicle lights. Not just dark but "dark dark" in the Florida swamp.

IDPA's point system for their Nationals reward those who shoot IDPA Tier 2 and higher matches. For some, with few sanctioned matches near them, it's expensive to travel far enough to gain sufficient points. The location of any upcoming Nationals always has an impact on who can come, based on travel time, costs and gun laws at the site. IDPA's Rules have changed greatly from the genesis in 1997. Today's Rules are much nearer USPSA rules than before.

From the 2015 Rulebook ver 1.1, Match Administration Handbook section. "1.2.6 Firearm Test Boxes 1.2.6.1 The IDPA firearm test box has an allowed dimensional tolerance of -0” and +1 /16” (1.6 mm.) Boxes outside this tolerance range may not be used in IDPA matches for equipment checks or for “firearm in the box” starts." Did not research how many years previous a tolerance in print was added.

We run 6 stage Steel Challenge matches 2X monthly. Squads are 10 guns. Since we are affiliated with SCSA we are obliged to follow the Rulebook closely. That includes painting before each shooter. We allow a limited number of 2 gun shooters per squad, spacing them out so that the few gear changes that occur do not slow the match. We have a mixture of centerfire pistols, RF pistols and rifles, and PCC's. Occasionally the CF revolvers come out. Today we shot a 5 stage match, with all squads finishing between 2.25 and 2.5 hours.

I recall NRA events allowing special scoring plugs to be used in some cases. Often they had a clear magnifier at the edge. Could only plug the hole ONE time and only with an official plug. I shot a lot in Arkansas and don't recall meeting the "stuff a bullet in the hole" shooter but would not put that past some shooters. I can tell stories of Doubles George in AR many years ago at USPSA matches. Every one of his misses was a double, that was until the overlay came out.

As a long standing USPSA CRO, I have no problem in the use of overlays. USPSA RO training does a good job of showing the multiple uses of the pair of overlays. I have always held the opinion that it takes just a jiff for the RO with the overlays in their pocket (you DO carry them on your person at the match, don't you?) can quickly and fairly determine a proper, unbiased score. If there is a hint of a dispute, the target is pulled and set to the side so the match continues timely. The IDPA hierarchy has some sort of "allergy" to overlays. Wish they would go to overlays.

The above info, including some decent pixes, can be found in the current Certified SO training curriculum.

For the purposes of IDPA, the bullet grease ring must touch the higher scoring zone to gain the value. Radial tears are specifically not considered. IDPA has never allowed the use of scoring plugs, overlays or similar. It's a "does the SO see it or not". SO is required to give shooter benefit of a doubt in the process. That is how it is done in IDPA.

I had the pleasure of knowing him back in the late 1990's into the early 2000's. One heck of a gentleman as well as a tough outdoorsman. He definately could shoot. I remember him telling a story about trapping in Alaska. Said when times got tough they would put wolf on the dinner table. Definitely not good fare he reported. He will be missed.

I'm going to cut to the chase. I feel that the peculiar interpretation in the recent Down Zero Blog does not match what is written in the Rulebook. It appeared to me that the 2022 RB fault line rules gave the SO something that was clear and workable by and large. Now the SO is going to have to attempt to mentally extend physical fault lines to meet "deep cover", a concept that is not specifically allowed in the RB. The SO must also be judging if the competitor has entered into visibility of unengaged targets of a different array while doing the "deep cover" thing. It is a mistake and bad for the sport IMO.

In which case the semi-auto shooter likely would claim "malfunction" if questioned. SO would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that wasn't the case. Shooter's time would be negatively impacted by the manipulation so it's unlikely it would occur deliberately.

Dropping too many loaded live rounds on the ground if you are running a revolver will potentially get you to the dreaded "I'm out of ammo!" phase in a CoF.

Nowhere in the discipline's name is "Tactical" used. For some time now, IDPA hasn't been concerned with the competitor utilizing true cover to engage targets. IDPA is concerned with the order of engagement (pie or distance), which will vary due to the "cover" situation. If the competitor chooses to apply true tactical sense to an IDPA stage, they may do so as long as they stay within the Rules. Never forget; IDPA is a game with rules.

And you can still do that under RB 2022. All the new RB does is to replace the imaginary extensions (which were sometimes a shooter/SO PE calling issue) with a concrete fault line. As long as the shooter does not support weight on the ground on the other side of the line there is no penalty; this is as before.

Under Rule 3.6.6 a MD may mark the terminal end of a fault line using various means. We will be using a 2-4 ft length of the same dimensional lumber (1 x 2" in our case). That piece of wood will be at a 90 degree angle to the primary line. The intent is to make the terminus of the line both visible and tactile so that shooter can keep both feet not touching ground forward of the fault line. If shooters faults the line while engaging targets he gains a PE. Simple and clear-cut for both shooter and SO crew.

3.6.6 Indicates the fault line end may (not must) be marked with a barrel, cone, etc. Less of a shooter trap or a SO subjective call thing.

It's been 20 years since we've done plaques for tier 1 IDPA. The sharp competitor looks first at how they did within their division before looking at overall placement. They totally ignore PCC unless that's what they shoot.

A long-term core concept in IDPA is to encourage use of existing self defense firearms. Definitely NOT to encourage an equipment race like the one that damaged IPSC shooters in the early to middle 1980's. Ones newly built then were likely obsolete when delivered from the gunsmith. To counteract this, Single Stack and L10 came in as well as Limited. IDPA is stumping its toe with CCP changes disenfranchising those with the single stack 1911 type carry guns. It's been done twice now in recent years. Looking at revolver, if it is opened up to 8 rounders it will kill the use of millions of 6 shot revolvers out there. The typical self defense revolver is not one of the scarce 7 or 8 rounders but one of the plentiful less expensive 6 shot ones. Changing rules to favor the newly manufactured guns of any sort may make industry partners smile but will make those with existing quality self defense guns frown. CO may be on the ascendancy but let's not grease the skids unnecessarily just to please industry partners.