BayouSlide

I think you might be a bit confused. As a longtime Vanek user, I'm familiar with his triggers. The set screw you're describing is a common way (Lone Wolf sells trigger housings with a similar mod) of reducing overtravel. Nothing unsafe about it: all safeties function exactly as intended. Never a problem for me in almost 40,000 rounds on two Vanek triggers in two different Glocks. As always, YMMV. Curtis

My Buckmark has never failed with Federal Automatch .22 (available at Walmart in 325 rd. boxes, IIRC), even before it was totally broken in. Oil the slide bearing surfaces well. I bent a .223 bore brush to an L shape and twist it in the chamber every couple of hundred rounds. The screw at the shooter's end of the top rail on my Contour URX does loosen easily and needs attention every 200 rounds or it affects operation. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Then you must not have heard me: I was the CRO on Stage 4 that would explain to anyone who would listen that I LOVED the Palms from the moment I figured out how to comfortably work with them...Now I'll take two for any stage I work, please I have worked with Palm scoring for over a year at a Louisiana section club, at Area 4 and the Gator Classic in 2009 and now at Double Tap. I've worked with them in the rain, and now the snow, as scoring RO, RO or CRO, and they are superior IMO to paper in almost every way. I do hear a little griping from ROs about the Palms, but on our local level where I am most familiar, the only people who really hate them are those who are either unfamiliar with them or afraid of them. Your experience in this regard may vary from mine, of course. At our local club, we beam from the stage Palm to a transfer Palm. When using printers, sure I'd like faster printing (or two Palms per stage, which frees up one Palm for scoring while another is used to complete printing for the prior run)...and screens with less glare in that evil early morning sunrise backlighting in Texas Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Another thing I was reflecting on on the long drive home today was how a person's true character reveals itself under adversity and disappointment, for better or worse. The Hell-A-Port was not kind to Max, but he handled it like the gentleman that he always is. I saw others as well deal with their disappointment in an similarly admirable fashion when the stage turned ugly for them. Class will out, and a true champion is always a class act, despite the competitive pressures. Curtis

Agreed. And txaggie is right on the mark. I was thinking on the ride home that I know I could have saved at least 30 seconds per competitor on Sunday on Stage 4 (when we were trying to make up some of the time lost to weather) if we had used two Palms like we did on some days during Area 4...grab the second to run the shooter while the first was printing out the prior competitor's score. When you really have to roll, two Palms per stage is definitely the way to go. Printing is truly the only bottleneck: whether you print each competitor after the run or the whole squad at the end, the Palm is still tied up until printing is complete. It's a small bottleneck, but when you multiply 30 seconds by 125 competitors, you're talking about saving an hour. Love the Palms...that's why I want two of 'em Curtis

His 2nd outing ahem,; his 3rd outing... (DTC09, Space City09, DTC10) Just got home, whipped after the 9+hour drive. I was complimenting our other Steve, Mr. RM, and apparently messed up his track record as a Range Master based on faulty info. But while we're on the subject of Steve, Mr. RO, major kudos to my Stage 4 partner, Steve Cline, who rocked the bedrock for three days, whether on the Palm or the timer, with unflagging energy and enthusiasm, great judgement under fire, good calls and fine humor throughout. Anyone who works with Steve at a match can count themselves lucky indeed. Here's to ya, buddy, and hope to work with you again sometime down the road. Best of luck as you complete your CRO certification: you'll make a good 'un Curtis

Didn't see a revolver go through our stage all weekend. Curtis

Division scores were posted on the wall to the left of the overalls, at some point after the overalls went up. And lets not forget the lady R.O. who fell at the hotel, went to the hospital, and then showed up to work her stage all weekend with a broken collarbone. My appreciation to all those squads who hustled so hard to tape and reset Stage 4 - Drive In Movie to help us keep things rolling. You guys were a pleasure to work with and made all the effort worthwhile. Yah, Texas weather can be fickle and at time's on Saturday, I had to flick up my outer shields on my shooting glasses to see the holes to score...Rudy Project, have you guys ever considered lenses with a de-icer But the stages were exceptional fun and, no matter what the conditions, Double Tap is an amazing experience because Robert really puts his heart and soul into this match. And congrats to Steve on a great first outing as Range Master...it can't get too much tougher than this, buddy Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

That certainly wouldn't be my interpretation: the rule is rather clear and you will not "retrieve and use them". You're safe. Curtis It's clear that they need to be in a division-compliant location to retrieve and use them without penalty. It's not clear if they need to be in a division-compliant location to carry them. My read would be that they do. 5.2.4 During the course of fire after the start signal, unless stipulated otherwise in the stage procedure, spare ammunition, magazines and/or speed loading devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the competitor’s belt and specifically designed for that purpose. Unless specifically prohibited in the Written Stage Briefing, a competitor may also carry additional magazines or speed loading devices in apparel pocket(s) and retrieve and use them without penalty, providing that the location of the apparel pocket does not violate the requirements of Appendix D, Item 12 (subject to the provisions of Rule 6.2.5.1). At If You Are Finished, Unload and Show Clear you temporarily stow a magazine in a noncompliant pocket, you have no intention using it. Now if you see an unengaged target before showing clear, reload with that mag from the non-permited pocket and engage a target, we would have a penalty. The new wording to me clears up the only likely issue. It would seem to be easy to comply with. No reasonable RO is likely to play gotcha here unless you actually use a magazine for a reload during the COF from a pocket that violates requirements. Your make ready mag is safe no matter where it comes from and I would contend so is the mag removed at ULSC because you will not "retrieve and use" it. I see your point. But the key words are "retrieve and use them without penalty" as long as they are in a compliant location. If you don't retrieve them and use them, no problem. That's the way I would apply the rule on my stage...anyone feeling they need a trip to Open because a barney mag moved in front of their hipbone could always arbitrate my decision. As usual, if I'm wrong in my reading, plenty of NROI instructions will straighten us out before too long. Curtis

My Glock mags cleaned up real well in the hotel bathroom sink after Area 4 at DT Ranch. 'course I carry a LOT of mags so the real messy ones can get set aside for that treatment at the end of the day See y'all on Stage 4. Packing up tomorrow. Curtis

That certainly wouldn't be my interpretation: the rule is rather clear and you will not "retrieve and use them". You're safe. Curtis

On the Match Rules page. Second item (right after "January 2008 Edition USPSA Handgun Rule book"): "Rule Changes to 2008 edition Handgun Competition Rules effective March 1, 2010 (PDF)". Curtis

The rules have now been posted on the USPSA Web site. Anybody notice the following change: As revised (added words in bold): 5.2.4 During the course of fire after the start signal, unless stipulated otherwise in the stage procedure, spare ammunition, magazines and/or speed loading devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the competitor’s belt and specifically designed for that purpose. Unless specifically prohibited in the Written Stage Briefing, a competitor may also carry additional magazines or speed loading devices in apparel pocket(s) and retrieve and use them without penalty, providing that the location of the apparel pocket does not violate the requirements of Appendix D, Item 12 (subject to the provisions of Rule 6.2.5.1). Curtis

Mine are still set up on some G19 (15 rd) mags. Got my full +5, reloadable with a reasonable whack IIRC. Been a while since I used those (actually since my first match about 5 years ago). Curtis

True...but but the older the school, the more demanding the headmaster. After the sixth revision (I sorta lost count) I would have used up a box of erasers. Thank God for the digital domain. Well. ya just have to get it right the first time. It was pretty easy for me, I think I was done in a week or two... my mentor was always there when I had a question and very quick with an answer. I should have given all the props to the Enoverse as I learned most everything I know from going round and round with the guys here. Your mentor has nothing on this crowd! :devil: I always like to travel the path least taken...the more brambles the better...and I'm the kind of guy who will always find a way to complicate a one horse parade, just ask George Jones Curtis

As Nik says. I remember having to bevel the inside bottom lips a little to avoid this. A razor knife or a light touch with a Dremel and you should be good to go. Curtis

True...but but the older the school, the more demanding the headmaster. After the sixth revision (I sorta lost count) I would have used up a box of erasers. Thank God for the digital domain.

You could try keeping your left hand on the foregrip and rotating your wrist counterclockwise until the loading port is up. Curtis

To me, I've always preferred the Lone Wolf 3.5# connector...it seems to have less "mush" than the Glock OEM 3.5. YMMV. Curtis

Been running Titegroup for years with 147 gr Zero JHPs for years. 3.3 gr chronos to a PF of about 138 in my G34 with this bullet, 3.2 gr closer to 131 or so. I shoot for an OAL of 1.112, give or take a few thou. Atlanta Arms and Ammo loads 147 gr JHP closer to 1.105: ran them successfully for years and they chrono in the 136 - 1388 PF range as well IIRC. Granted lead bullets are a whole 'nother issue. It would be darn near impossible to fit 6.4 grs of Titegroup in a 9mm case without noticing, though anything is possible if your attention lapses, I guess. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

A friend of mine passed this drill on to me to help me with the same problem: he said it was the key to helping him to Master. I always call it the Daniel Drill—giving credit where credit is due. Set up a target at 10 yds. I like to put a black paster down in the upper A zone for a more precise aim point. Set a PAR time in your timer. I usually start with 3 or 3.25 seconds—whatever it takes to allow a normal draw and accomplish what is required in the following drill—then work to decrease the PAR time in stages. At the first beep, draw and prep the trigger on the paster, but hold...don't break the shot until the instant of the second beep. The PAR time should be adjusted as necessary, just make sure you are leaving enough time to force you to hold momentarily on the target (and concentrate on that sight picture) as you improve. Curtis

A deep front pocket would make a lousy mag pouch. Kinda hard to worry too much about penalizing a shooter when they've already done it themselves. Curtis

The most current rule revisions are full of issues that I've seen discussed at length—and sometimes intensively—on these forums. So people do pay attention to potential problems. Everyone's goal is the same—to keep a level playing field and apply rules fairly, consistently and in the best interest of the sport and its competitors. Personally, I always get a lot out of the discussions here and from comments like yours. As I always say, it's dry fire for ROs to keep us sharp, focused on the rules and their application in all sorts of circumstances so that we can do the job to the best of our abilities. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Why would it be an issue if you walk up to the line with your make ready mag in your hand? Your magazine will be inserted in the pistol at Make Ready. Per 8.2.3, you are not allowed to have a loaded mag in hand (or gun in hand) after Standby. But prior to that it makes no difference according to the rules if you walk around the range all day with a loaded mag in your hand (except the safety area, of course) or in any pocket you want. But if you intend to use a mag from the pocket after the buzzer, it's placement becomes important. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos! Yeah, I do not see why it would be an issue either, and I would like to point out that the rule states "During the course of fire". Problem is I do not see why it would be a problem to use a magazine that you retrieve from your front pocket or for that matter from your waistband for make ready that others have pointed out either. It has been pointed out that depending on what division you are shooting in, it is possibly not legal to do so. So, if these are not legal, why would carrying that make ready magazine in your hand be legal? It is going to be carried in front of you, or at least in front of your holster and specifically designed magazine carriers at some point, making that mode of carry illegal. I know, it makes no sense. Another poster has pointed out that stowing a magazine in your front pocket after unload and show clear also bumps you to open. Again, this makes absolutely no sense. Again, this rule needs to be clarified and perhaps rewritten to remove any confusion. Different people are interpreting this rule differently. And this is going to be a problem from match to match, RO to RO, and competitor to competitor. I can see that this may very well be big problem for many. Bumped to open because I removed my make ready magazine from my front pocket? Bumped to open because I stowed my magazine after unload and show clear in my front pocket? I hope we get some wordage added to that rule to clarify the intent. Cheers! The wording "During the course of fire" does raise a question, in hindsight, because according to 8.3.1, the Make Ready command is the beginning of the COF. "After the start signal" might be a better choice of terms and would adequately address the issue without raising the sort of problems of interpretation you're worried about. The new rule seems designed to specifically address a slight gray area of interpretation of the rulebook regarding retrieval of magazines from the pocket for reloads...now this is specifically addressed as permitted, BUT there are still restrictions based on equipment requirements in a division like Production that requires all magazines and the holster to be behind the front of the hipbones. All this means is that IF you do use a magazine from the pocket for a reload after the beep (which is how I would interpret the intent of the rule as a CRO), that it was located as required by any restrictions in your division's equipment requirements. I usually keep my Make Ready mag with 11 rounds—I'm a Production competitor—in the front "cell phone" pocket on my 5.11s. The key is whether you are using this magazine for a reload after the beep. Stowing a magazine in your front pocket after unload and show clear bumps you to Open? Have you used this magazine for a reload during the COF? Would holding the magazine in your hand after If You are Finished Unload and Show Clear bump you Open...Of course not. You have to retrieve the magazine for a reload from a location not permitted, i.e. in front of the hipbone, after the beep and before Unload and Show Clear to get the ticket to Open. This rule is rather straightforward in correcting a gray area and I really don't see any problem from any R.O. with basic familiarity with the rulebook and this issue. If I'm wrong, I'm sure we'll both be corrected in short order...that's the great thing about a forum regularly visited by the NROI's instructor cadre. Curtis Edited for clarity and to address an additional point.

Always nice to welcome another Bayou Stater to the forum. As barney88pdc says, tie into the area competition community at lagator.org. Curtis