Mike P

Charles, Linda listed a phone number. Why not just call and ask her?

I say shoot it, the woese that can happen is you'll get better with it. There is a guy around here who shoots an SKS with detachable mags to good effect. The thing never misses a beat.

Crumpets may a bit of a problem old bean, would a leftover biscuit work just as well?

I finished this for you. Mike Professional whiner. Yea well, not about the ticks though. I plan to eat so much garlic, hot peppers and fresh habenero salsa in the weeks leading up to this match that when I step on the property the ticks will think they are being invaded by Chinese pirates. They'll all head for you, Mr. Darby, and FB3GDQ.

What??? Back to the Pro-Am division thing again? And here I thought we were done whining about that and were whining about something entirely different.

I hear you Dano, but that may be too optomistic. I should have left before Christmas (with damn snowshoes) OTOH Rockcastle may have the real estate and expertise to host something like ITRC here in the southeast. Wouldn't that be cool. Unless it was in the summer, then it wouldn't be cool.

It'd probably be more like trying to shoot through unconsciousness.

To schlep 3 guns and related gear over the expanse of Rockcastle for 3 days in August would definitely present some physical challenges for all but the hardiest competitors. Maybe save that match for November or December...

What made me decide to shoot on the pro side is the method of prize distribution, and the promise of a bit more challenging stages. I'm not even a sandbagging B class, much less a pro but I prefer order of finish ove random draw.

FWIW I plan to shoot the match using a RDS and maybe a magnifier, in pro. I am planning on having a blast. It is a great facility, the stages are going to be from some of the best in the business, and it is relatively close. It'll be warm in August too. Any tick that plans on biting me better have a supply of lime and coconut. Or is that Lyme and coconut?

The reason I don't shoot HM ALL THE TIME is because I tend to do what suits me with regard to hobbies. I shoot HM, Tac-op, and Limited too. The reason for not shooting HM certainly would NOT be lack of competition. If I had to list one reason I don't shoot it MORE it'd be the prize table thing. But you can't really expect the HM prize table to be large when the participation sucks as bad as it typically does. The MS 3-gun is a perfect example, couldn't even get 20 takers with the promise of a new M1A.

For the purposes of ipsc, or uspsa where major and minor are part of the normal scoring program, maybe a low major PF makes sense, so those who want to shoot something different than a .223 can, sort of safely. On the other hand, HM is a specific division with other criteria for participation so a change to a more realistic PF for the calibers involved should cause no heartburn. I'm pretty sure PF of 370 or better is easily accomplished (safely) with a 16" barreled carbine in .308 using a 150 gr bullet, probably some other calibers too. With 230 ball,190 is easy. So why the lowball PF for HM? Could it be everyone is afraid that HM would lose some of it's popularity if the PF was upped and enforced?

"But that power factor was created based generally accepted standards in place at the time it was created" I don't think I've ever seen a factory .308 that had a PF as low as 320. Even if it were produced the average for the caliber is much, much higher. Care to share what those "standards" were?

I agree, the 320 PF is ridiculously low, as is 165 for a .45cal. It does seem odd though, at least to me, that in oulaw matches most require the two calibers and not enforce ANY power factor. At least uspsa TRIES to enforce a PF even if it so low as to be silly. At this point, HM is HM in name only, but as long as it is, when I choose to shoot in that division, I'll run light loads.

Their game, their rules. Isn't it SOP for 3 gunners to just read the rules and exploit them for advantage to the best of your ability? How is this different? Sounds like the exploitation has already begun. Good luck.

I think shooting HM heads up would work. Most of the top HM shooters, or iron shooters would play (again IMO) if there were no advantage or disadvantage in mag capacity. Using Trapper's scoring method does sort of "level the playing field" in that regard, but increasing the legal mag capacity for heavy pistols and rifles and doing away with the pump SG requirement in addition to the scoring methodlogy would REALLY make a .308/hm competitive heads up. A little bit of rule tweakage, and some good stage design would make the .308 competitive in the hands of the best HM shooters. In fact in the best hands, it is probably pretty competitive anyway. This would open the other can of worms about what HM REALLY is though from a purely purists standpoint.....

I don't give a crap how much stuff another shooter has on their rifle, nor how they carry mags, or what kind of holster or optic they run, as long as I don't have to run/carry it. Equipment choice dictates the division I shoot in same as everyone else. Why be hating on people because of their opinons about equipment choice. Hell, I want ALL OF THEM to come to the matches. Most people who stick with it (competition) will modify their equipment/kit all along anyhow. Cut your shooting neighbor some slack, 3-gun isn't such an exclusive endeavor.

I would only add to Scouts comment that it'd probably be a great idea to shoot those mathes for a while. Lots of fun and a great experience.

You didn't say what length gas system you used for the builds. I believe an adjustable gas block and a good brake will get you a flat shooting carbine if you use at least a mid lenth gas system. A rifle length is better (for me). I have no experience with lightened carriers or buffers, but those who run them seem to think it helps. I do run H buffers in my piston guns though, but not for recoil reduction.

I love the IOR scopes. I hope that they do make it a FFP with their MP8 (or TMR)reticle. With a true 1x, a BRIGHT dot and turrets this would be a perfect scope for almost any application. It sounds almost like a short dot with a 10x top end. As slow as I already move, the weight is a non issue.

Is the prize table done in order of finish?

So now Trapper is going to try and "level the playing field"? What a grand idea.

Wait for the finished product, it'll be worth it. I am going to see if I can come up with some sort of ofsett swivel type holder so that the cup stays level no matter what. I want something that won't allow my beer to spill even when I drop the carbine and transition to pistol. A cup holder with "sea legs", built in.

Am side??? BLASPHEMY!!! I plan on stinking up the "pro" division. I'll be running irons with a RDS and a magnifier or seven, also a large tactical tick fogger mounted at six o'clock in place of the tactical BS meter I use at most matches.

Will hedgehogs or other similar grabby/sticky barricade positional stability enhancers be allowed on rifles?