Trooper

You and me both... Shot my first Level III with Revolver recently too.. Our Nationals actually.. 19 stages over Easter. Great match (IMO) and a hell of a learning experience. We are restricted to 357/9mm bore dia down here (so the Open guys shoot 38 Super/357 Sig).. not surprisingly I shoot a 686.. and have not tried to go Major.. yet. In fact I'm shooting "9x19 Rimmed" which is a good nickname for 38 Short Colt.. That cartridge gives me the benefit of short cases.. which as you know (presumably you shoot 45ACP in moonclips?) are much easier to "throw" into the cylinder..great little cartridge! (PF of 135 according to the Nats chrono stage) I visit the USA regularly for major Cowboy Action shoots...(going to the LA and IA State titles in May/June) and will - definitely - bring the revolver over one of these days and shoot an IPSC/USPSA match with you folks!

Great thread! Like sargenv I shoot a revolver.. In Standard Revolver Division. I routinely shoot stages slightly differently to my Open/Production/Classic clubmates.. (and here in Oz they all have 10 round mags of course) At our Nationals over Easter (Terrific match BTW) I shot a particular stage on Day 2.. and the RO commented that I was the first shooter to shoot it "that way" (leaned around one end of a wall to take an open target that was more easily engaged from the other end.. but doing what I did made the stage more "revolver friendly".. giving me a moving reload to boot)

Nice post Fanny!! You're right XRe... it IS a hoot.. and there IS a lot of talent in the game.... And yes, the guns are "tweaked".... My Vaqueros were worked by Oglesby & Oglesby... 73 rifle was slicked/short stroked by Cody over in Maryland... Marlin rifles and my shotguns have been tweaked locally... Having started IPSC last year.. I'm encouraging folks at the little CAS club I run to give it a try... My CAS pistol shooting has certainly improved since I took up IPSC! I'm a hopless case though... having started with a Glock in PD I'm ALREADY playing with a second IPSC Division..... and it's REVOLVER..... P.S. Don't be put off too much by the costuming requirement.... Sure, folks like Fanny (and others in her photos) go "all out"... but all you HAVE to wear is ordinary jeans... a long sleeve collared shirt... appropriate footwear (Ariats/Ropers are fine) and a hat! The clothing minimum really is pretty "minimum"!

Genghis.... Why didncha say ya got the DQ on the last stage of the second day???? Thanks for all the other stories guys... I feel a bit less "stoopid" now! Seems DQ's are on of those things you have either already got........ Or will one day!

Funny you should say that.... I found one on the Dillon website that I REALLY like the look of...... Think I'll order it tomorrow..... Better go back and look for those moonclip holders... I picked up three of the "double deckers" from a shooter here in Australia... and would like another one the SAME! They are a clever design.. and work! Thanks again Gentlemen.... It will be interesting to see if shooting the 686 does help with shooting the Glock... I know for SURE that shooting IPSC has improved my single action revolver shooting.... shot the US Nationals of CAS ("Winter Range") a few weeks ago and had NO pistol misses - not in the main match, the warm up or the side matches either.... that has NOT been the norm for me over the years!

But I LIKE whining...... Normally noone listens.. so no harm done!! Not a big issue... and I spose a callus will develop... but I'll "trawl" a bit and see what other options are available....

Thanks Guys... Shot our club shoot this morning... and apparently opened a few eyes!!! I've been practicing the load/unload so I wan't too clumsy (or as slow as they expected methinks! ) All A's or C's (easy to concentrate on the front sight when you no longer have the luxury of "back up" shots....) Will have a look at alternative grip choices.. but won't rush into any change.... ONE MORE QUESTION though.... The cylinder release really "sands" my right thumb.... the checkering is pretty savage for this "office worker hands" guy.... What aftermarket/legal options are there for replacement? Seems to me the checkered pad area isn't really necessary.... perhaps a "higher" button that you just push 'against" if you get my drift???

I have a great amount of interest in this problem..... as I only started IPSC 6 months ago and was guilty of EXACTLY the same thing as that other "new guy".. How was I to know any different? Everyone just "assumed" certain knowledge... NOT fun. Signage is a REAL good idea.... having another shooter take ANY newcomer (or visitor?) aside immediately for a quick "this is how we do it here" chat is even better. I have already done that myself.... didn't want anyone else to go through that experience! It IS a problem that needs thoughtful attention......

Didn't realise just HOW much fun it would be!!! Got this OLD "pre-dash" revolver at an excellent price.... sent the cylinder away for moonclipping.. got the bits and pieces from TK Custom... And had an excellent session at the range this morning! Only hangups were with some rounds that didn't want to chamber.... I've added the FCD into the loading process and EVERY single "second batch" round seems fine.... Get to shoot them at the club match tomorrow.... So.. I'm using the TK moonclips... Starline brass... the Factory crimp die.... and "double stack" moonclip holders. I've watched the RD folks on the XIV World Shoot DVD (which is what inspired me to GET a wheelgun in the first place!) and am happy with the "left hand" loading method... (just need practice with it!) ANYTHING ELSE I should be getting or doing?????? I'll have to learn this on my own.. ain't no Revolver types at my little club.....

Toward the end of the movie Zulu... Michael Caine says "It's a miracle!"' Stanley Baker replies "If it is it's a Boxer Henry .45 calibre miracle!" LOVE that movie!

ESTJ And BOY! Does the "description" sound like me!!!!

We muck around with time all the time.... it is not really a 'fixed" item... we just have "conventions". Ever hear of the International Date line? That's a doozy! Why d'you think so many organisations operate on "Zulu" or GMT? Hell.. when I fly from Sydney to LAX it takes 13 and a half hours.. but I get in several hours BEFORE I LEFT! Bet some folks reckon THAT is "wrong"! Even HAVING a convention as to "what time" it is "here" is quite recent.. and was driven by the railroads in the US... Until they came along noone could travel fast enough to notice the differences in 'local noon" across the country. The early railroad timetables had to have complex tables to help folks calculate connections in the major cities... based on what local time conventions existed at 'feeder" towns.... No offence meant.. but I suspect those who object most strongly to DST (particularly those who lean toward calling it "unnatural" - as if ANY timekeeping is "natural!!!) are descendents of those who protested against the introduction of "standard time" by zone across the country..... the protests sound familiar today too... some living near the zone boundaries couldn't understand why they had to get up an "hour earlier" than those "lazy bums" on the other side of the line.... And yes, DST mostly dates from WWII.... where the Brits even went to "Double Summer time". The logic is impeccable when resources are scarce. DST makes a BETTER match of daylight hours to 'waking" hours.... It ain't perfect of course.. what is? It saved the Brits a LOT of fuel.. that is for certain..... It works best where day length varies more from summer to Winter.... and worst where such variation is minimal.... here in Australia our Northern States don't have it at all for that reason... but it works well in the more southern areas....

We shoot at targets like that regularly (Classic targets here).. Never thought of the "practical" side.. just see it as a fun/challenging target. If you want to pick holes based on whether something is truly "practical" or not then we are all in deep trouble!! Would you EVER use the tactics we use on stages in real life?????

Shot my first "bigger than local club" (Level II) Match over the weekend..... got DQ'ed on the 13th of 14 stages... Sigh!! Moving through a tunnel draped with cam nets (soft cover).. engaged the last target available through the cover and took off at high speed into the conncting Cooper tunnel (sp?)...... only to find the pistol was snagged in the netting..... couldn't stop in time to avoid breaking the 180.... Lesson learned... I hope. Happy that all my living room practice has made "finger out!" a subconscious habit now!! Even with that... had a lot of fun over the weekend... met lots of good people... even shot some stages well...... Looking forward to the next one. Plan to do better.

I know you weren't serious newshooter.... BUT.... HERE IT IS!!! 1 GRAM = 15.43235 GRAINS. Ta-DAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Looks like the reasoning is consistent! Thanks Guys.... (I've worked out too WHY it seemed a bit odd to me... I came to IPSC from CAS... when we move there with a handgun trigger finger position is irrelevant.. as one MUST move with the hammer down on an empty chamber/spent case - So - same result - safety - from a different direction is all.)

G'day Folks, I'll be in Phoenix for 2 weeks from the 1st of March.... (shooting the Cowboy Nationals at Ben Avery - my OTHER shooting sport! ).. Any gunshops in the area lean towards "practical"? I am already planning to visit Dillon (natch! )

I am SOO glad to see I'm not the only one who dislikes those things... AND not the only one who asks those folks how the assimilation is going!! I grew up with a Dad who was a fairly eminent Psychiatrist Down Under..... and in my youth saw some of his patients standing around talking loudly... to thin air.. Not surprising what I think when these folks start yabbering!

G'day Folks, Just read Vinces Pinned thread above.. and thought I'd ask for the reasoning behind an IPSC rule.... as he offers that service!! ... So - when clearing stoppages, doing mag changes etc AND when moving without engaging a target one must keep ones trigger finger OUT! Or face a severe penalty. Pretty clear what my question is I suppose..... How come it is considered dangerous/illegal/immoral and probly fattening to have your finger inside the trigger guard whilst moving without shooting ...... but perfectly kosher to actually SHOOT on the move... Am I the only one to say... "Huh?" Don't get me wrong... I OBEY the rules! And I'm not saying it's "bad" or anything.. just curious about the (official? formal?) reasonng behind it..... The only thing I can cme up with is something along these lines..."when actively engaging a target the shooter is applying a higher level of concentration than when.. say... looking ahead to the next firing point etc" So it may be sort of "insurance" for muzzle direction???

As already pointed out.. for many of us "dang furriners" the "Sport" aspect is the ONLY justification for the existence of Practical shooting events (ANY shooting events actually) - and the corresponding governmental permission to own the "tools of the trade".. in this case - Handguns. Yes.. "permission". Firearm ownership (particularly of handguns) is a "conditional priviledge" Down Under...... not a "right" of any kind. I can see the advantage IPSC hopes to gain by further International recognition.... whilst on a PERSONAL level thinking drug tests et al are not such a great idea. (False positives anyone???) As a 45 year old not (currently) on ANY medications I could say "Not a problem".. but who knows what I may need (pharmeceutically that is) in 1, 5 or 10 years time? Extra recognition - particularly Olympic - sure wouldn't hurt here!!! (Not that it's at all likely) Semi auto pistols are Numero uno on the Aussie gun-grabbers list of "NEXT TARGET!!!" Our ONLY defences ARE the competitive aspects of our shooting sports...... and that's the reality of the situation for us....

An SDB - for IPSC 38 Special loads.. A 550 (Large primer) for 44-40 and 38-55 A 550 (Small Primer) for everything else... Cowboy 38 Special/9mm/32-20..... Like both kinds VERRA much! Yes, a modicum of attention to detail IS required... which I hope everone applies no matter WHAT they load on....

Howdy Doc, SAJ, Dan... Constable Nelson here..... Folks,... I've been shooting CAS since 1994..... and only been shooting IPSC since November 2006! They are BOTH excellent shooting disciplines. Challenging AND fun. I have met some of the best folks ever in CAS... and have already met many fine folk Down Under in IPSC.... (and I can't wait to come over and shoot a USPSA match!) We really shouldn't overtly knock other shooters.... especially if our info is somewhat second hand. Shoot USPSA? Never seen a CAS match? Try to get to one... you might just be surprised. Don't get hung up on Power Factors.. sure you have them, and they don't... so what? Shoot CAS? Never seen a USPSA/IPSC match? Try to get to one... you might just be surprised? Don't get hung up on rumours of "having" to have a $5K race gun.... Now why does that sound familiar?? I held off shooting IPSC for a couple of years.. because my first experience was a very poor one... I dropped in at a local match and (unknowingly of course) picked EXACTLY the WRONG person to approach.... he was unwelcoming to the point of active rudeness.. I know NOW that I shouldn't have takent him as "representative"..... and HOW! Can't we all just "git along"???

Jon... SJC advertises Dave S's pistol as the first "Glock" to win a World Title .. Why is it "not even a Glock"? Serious question!!! Not hassling ya OK! I'm curious cos I've been drooling over those "Race Glocks" since I was first given a link to that site!!!

I have (recently) added IPSC to my shooting "calendar".... I've shot Cowboy Action for 12 years.... and done alright. Category win at EOT in 2001... category wins at various US State Titles etc (CAS is split by "category".. based on shooting style/propellent/etc etc) At CAS events, as mentioned, the prize draws are random.... so, it's true that the shooter who came in DFL might actually walk out with a rifle or a pistol or a 550 or.. well, you get the idea. To the winners go the trophies (and the honour?) - prizes are a matter of luck. That works well..... in CAS. Why? Because that has ALWAYS been the philosophy! I cannot see it working in IPSC/USPSA - regardless of any merit the idea holds - or doesn't..... as it would represent a MAJOR change. Or that is my impression from this thread and others.... I DO think there have been some excellent ideas suggested here however!

Looks like everyone has been doing the same sort of things! I shot at 15 yards (as I recalled an excellent comment on this forum about how 15 was a "critical point"!! ) I'm an ungraded newbie shooting a Glock 17A (Production) from a kydex holster. 1.73 = A 1.67 = A 1.60 = A 1.69 = A Then draw and TWO shots. 2.13 = 2A 2.17 = 2A 1.91 = 2A I like that one so I checked the first shot.. it was 1.50 Lesson? Well.. I obviously have a long way to go.. BUT I was pleased with all A's - as I WAS trying for speed... and would have been satisifed even with more than a few Charlies. At THIS point in my IPSC shooting I found that session to be a "morale boost"... (I shot a bunch of stages and some speed drills as well - with good results.. a GOOD day in fact!) I plan to be back out there next Saturday to continue the practice!!!! Damn.... this is a fun sport! Wish I'd got into it years ago! P.S. One of the speed drills was a 4 target "Box A - move & mag change - Box B" type of thing.. if that makes any sense?? Targets at 10 yards. Shot 14A / 2C in 8.93.... (So thats a HF of... 8.51? Sounds High (for me!!!!) but it is a fast sequence I suppose) What would a good, experienced shooter be looking at for that drill? Whoops... for those who said "HUH?" A 17A is simply an otherwise normal 17 with a 121mm barrel to satisfy Aussie law!