Buzzdraw

Exactly the fix in many instances. The course designer must take cover positions into account. It becomes a potential safety hazard for a shooter to back peddle 10 yards to available cover (as required) in event of a reload/malf. Inexperienced shooters can whip the muzzle around toward the SO/gallery in this instance. The SO is subject to being run over by sudden travel change or so out of position that control of shooter's gun upper arm isn't possible. A barrel in a forward but off to side location makes this less likely. In the event the course designer recognizes that no cover is available, the COF should clearly state this. Good COF averts many DQ's and SO traps.

Many of you have a copy of the Official IDPA "How To Run A Match" video. Key it up to 31:00 and let it run a minute or two. Hack says clearly that it is the SO's reponsibility to determine if the gun is really unloaded. What happened at the particular match is over with and cannot be changed.

Badlands Regional IDPA (April 27-29) is full as of today. There are 2 SO-only openings remaining; shoot match Friday, SO or SK Saturday & Sunday. Certified SO's preferred.

At an IDPA match, the Safety Officer is ultimately responsible to see that the shooter has actually unloaded his gun. In this case, the SO made an error and the gun went bang. Under IDPA rules, the SO made the error, not the shooter. The shooter should not have been DQ'd unless there were other mitigating factors. The rules for USPSA match are different; the shooter (NOT the Range Officer) is responsible for determining that his gun is unloaded, regardless of what the RO states during the unload sequence. If the same thing had happened at a USPSA match, the shooter would have been clearly DQ'd.

127 shooters coming so far.

You may not leave cover, to continue the COF, until your gun is reloaded. This means mag seated and slide forward with semi-auto or for revolver, the cylinder is closed. Sometimes people try to argue that the distant cover theory puts them in a situation where they may leave established cover to advance, but are not visible to threats. Good for at least a procedural, maybe a FTDR on their part. In a COF I write, I'm as specific as possible about cover, be it high or low (requiring kneeling). Also I will stipulate clearly that the top of cover may not be fired over, from low cover. If cover is not available in a COF, often I'll so state, so there isn't an issue. These simple COF inclusions eliminate the need for the SO/MD to deal with "range lawyering". KISS works.

As a major match MD, I can tell you that it is fairly quick and easy to check holsters for "light thru the crack" and general holster legality. My 3/4" wood dowel is available, but seldom used. If the holster meets the first two criteria, it most likely passes the 3/4" rule. I prefer to do the check before competition starts, so the shooter can go fix a problem, then get rechecked. My preference is to not issue FTDR's if possible. Once competition begins, then violations must be a FTDR, IMO.

Attendance at the Badlands is growing, not decreasing. The 2006 attendance was up 8 over 2005. Perhaps it just looked less busy in 2006, due to the shooters being spread out over the additional bays constructed between the 2005 and 2006 matches. We even held the same shooter count in 2005 (the year of the holster rules correction) as in 2004. The 2005 Badlands and SC Match were the first matches in the country shot after the April 15 effective date of the holster rules. The competitors had enough confidence in the Badlands match administration to know that we'd assist them to comply, no matter what it took, so they came in the same numbers as in 2004. Some matches experienced a decline in 2005, especially early in the year. The additional bays constructed in late 2005 mean that we can handle more shooters and shoot better stages to boot. The match design committee has done a bang-up good job this year.

Yes, Badlands 2007 is a STI Contingency match.

I plan on attending this year. For planning purposes, how many stages will be shot on Sunday, and just how early do you expect the match conclude on Sunday Afternoon? I've got a 7 hour drive back to the house. Thanks. Plan is to shoot 10 of the longer stages on Saturday and have the six Sunday stages be of the quick-running variety. You should be headed out home by around 2 PM.

Layers of clothing to include something to keep body core, feet, and most importantly hands warm. Gloves and warm pockets are essential. I've seen guns go flying in the air when hands got too cold or too icy; not pretty. A hat is appropriate. Snow isn't that rough to deal with. We've even bladed snow off ranges and range roads with the club tractor to shoot a match. A sunny day with snow on the ground is okay to shoot in. The freezing rain/ice that we are predicted to get over the weekend (during the match) may cause the first cancellation in several years. If you can't stand up on the range, much less get the car to the range without driving in the ditch it's time to stay home and reload.

7th Annual Badlands Regional IDPA Championship & Oklahoma State Match April 28-29, 2007 Tulsa, Oklahoma The all-scenario stages are awesome, but straight forward. AM or PM squading for Saturday stages. 2nd day everyone shoots AM, so you’ll start home early on Sunday afternoon. • 16 stages/200 rounds. • Experienced SO’s and staff. Certified SO’s on every stage. • Superb 1st Class Facility. Ample close parking, flush bathrooms, AC Clubhouse to eat in; everything convenient. Range is 15 minutes from HQ hotel. • Great random prize table to include guns and lots of gear. • Dual computer stats, running on Beach Bunny software, for speed and exactness. • Many things to do in Tulsa area, including world-class museums, shopping, restaurants, and more. Past shooters have repeatedly commented that the Badlands is the best match they attend all year long. Cost: $80.00 (includes competitor full lunch both days.) NO entries will be accepted after April 16, 2007 This match will be limited to the first 150 shooters. Link on IDPA HQ website to MD to request application and other info.

For Badlands info email jjo38s@att.net

The 6th Annual Badlands Regional & Oklahoma State Championships will be April 22-23, 2006. Hosted by Oil Capital Rod & Gun Club, Tulsa OK. Link to request match info on official web is now correct. 16 stages/201 rounds. No "trick" stages, just a solid test of all your shooting skills. Quality SO staff and superb facility (several new bays this year.)