BayouSlide

Heck, Ed, I practiced my swimming at the October match in Thibodaux and then refined my technique at the RO shoot Thursday at Area 4. I'm READY for this match Glad the weather looks real good for the weekend's shooters. Curtis

Congrats John! Curtis Edited to add:...and not just stage design. The CRO course is where you really begin to get a handle on the why behind all those pesky rules and the understanding of how to apply them properly. Better officiating means a better match experience for everyone.

Best said, it's a good timer with the possibility of chrono function. I've had a reasonable amount of success with it, but the track record isn't 100 percent. Definitely works 100 percent better in shade than direct sun in my experience. I use the skyscreens even in shade. Direct sun is really iffy based on the light angle. And I recently lost an entire string in the memory by unplugging the sensor wires before turning it off...sure wasn't expecting that! The timer/chrono unit works best if shielded from the sound of muzzle blast (I use a padded case from a portable CD player). Seems to be sensitive to the position of the sensor wires as well: don't cross them over, keep 'em parallel. I love the sensors separated from the head unit...I've hit sensors in the past. All that being said, I find it frustrating enough that I've bought a CE Prochrono Digital to see if it worked a little more consistently. Unfortunately, without an expensive add on, I won't be able to retrieve info and reset from the bench like I could with the Pact. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Charlie Vanek's Production legal trigger has been my choice for a long time. Curtis

Try loosening the two allen screws that hold the primer assembly and carefully realign it for free-est movement before just snugging down the bolts. Bending the operating rod is not a solution, in my experience. The problem lies elsewhere, but if your operating rod is bent, replace it. If the black plate (the slide bearing surface) underneath the slide is worn a new one will help. A polish on the bottom and sides of the slide may help as well. It's important to keep the slide and bearing surface clean of primer dust. I wipe the surfaces down with M Pro 7 every 100 primers: it cleans and keeps the sliding surfaces very smooth (small amount of lubricity ??). I had all the problems in my primer mechanism you had and more, until I started cleaning with M Pro. Best of luck. Curtis Edited to add: I used to use alcohol to clean those surfaces. The M Pro 7 actually keeps them working smoother.

I must be the odd man out here. In match chronos ranging from low 90 degrees and muggy to high 50s/low 60s, I've always found Titegroup very consistent, chronoing to within 3 or so PF points for my 9mm Glock. That said, VV is a cleaner powder, just more expensive and harder to get sometimes. That's why I use Titegroup. Curtis

Pangris, you've probably already perused this thread: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...;hl=lem+trigger One of the posters indicated he received an affirmative reply on LEM's legality. If you do, please post the results. I'd be really interested in a definitive answer because this has been asked more than once by guys in our section, though H&Ks are a pretty rare bird in Production. But you still would seem have the issue of the unapproved model. If you're GTG, I'd recommend tucking a copy of the correspondence in your range bag, just in case you're questioned at a match. Curtis

If it's not on the approved list, I would be very surprised if he would deem it legal. The manufacturers have to specifically submit each model by model name for approval. Makes no difference if the model is essentially the same once you remove parts. IIRC this was once addressed in Front Sight and the LEM was not considered a true DAO/DA/SA, which is the reason for the exclusion language in the H&K list of approved Production models, as listed below, from the USPSA Web site. H&K - HK45 45ACP (32 oz.), HK45 Compact 45ACP (28.2 oz.), P 30L 9mm (27.6 oz.), P2000 (22 oz.), P30 9mm (25.6 oz.), P7 (28 oz.), P8 (25.3 oz.), USP 45 Auto (30.4 oz.), USP 9mm (27.1 oz.), USP Compact 9mm (25.5 oz.), USP Compact .40 S&W (26.4 oz.), USP Compact 45 Auto (28.2 oz.), USP Compact Stainless 9mm (25.5 oz.), USP Compact Tactical .45 (30.1 oz.), USP Tactical 40 .40 S&W (32.4 oz.), USP Tactical 45 .45acp (32.5 oz.), USP Tactical 9mm (29.2 oz.), USP40 .40S&W (29.2 oz.), USP9SD 9mm (28.2 oz.) Tactical models in DAO only. DAO DA/SA models only. USP Expert and Combat Competition not allowed due to magwell. That said, it never hurts to ask Curtis

now your going to give him a big head Here in Blake's home town that's called Le Gros Tete Curtis

I thought I was missing something: thanks, Nik. Logical enough...especially if you put your brain fully in gear before typing. I love the rules forum: always end up learning something. Curtis

I thought you had to shoot that round.? Under USPSA rules, Open's a maximum of 11 rounds loaded, or a maximum of 10 in the case of Rule 8.1.1.2. Curtis

Unless I'm overlooking something, the only recourse that comes to mind under the rule book would be match DQ for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, in this case, cheating. 10.6.1 Competitors will be disqualified from a match for conduct which a Range Officer deems to be unsportsmanlike. Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to, cheating, dishonesty, failing to comply with the reasonable directions of a Match Official, or any behavior likely to bring the sport into disrepute. The Range Master must be notified as soon as possible. Anything else? Curtis

I heard a lot of people say that they really enjoyed Stage 2. And FWIW, I think you did the correct thing as well for not pursuing the reshoot. It would have been cut and dry if the RO had stopped you or you had stopped, but that didn't happen and you finished the run. And I, too, have seen firsthand reshoots that end up worse than the first. Ouch! You really handled a tough situation well...first class effort. You were a great group and hope to see you guys again sometime down the road Curtis Edited: typos, typos, typos...I hate 'em

You always have the right to point to the rule book if you believe an RO has made an incorrect call. If the RO of the stage doesn't agree, appeal to the CRO of the stage. If he or she doesn't agree, then go to the RM. A good RO should never hold it against you if you can politely cite the proper rule and you are interpreting that rule correctly. In a case like that, I would thank the shooter for pointing out my error. And I would expect the same courtesy from the competitor when I cite the correct rule. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Here are the two that apply in a situation where you lose eye or ear protection during the COF. 5.4.3 If a Range Official notices that a competitor has lost or displaced their eye or ear protection during a course of fire, or has commenced a course of fire without them, the Range Official must immediately stop the competitor who will be required to reshoot the course of fire after the protective devices have been restored. But what if the RO doesn't notice? Then you always should stop yourself, per 5.4.4. 5.4.4 A competitor who inadvertently loses eye or ear protection during a course of fire, or commences a course of fire without them, is entitled to stop, point their handgun in a safe direction and indicate the problem to the Range Official, in which case the provisions of the previous rule will apply. Note that you are entitled to stop, but not required to. If the RO doesn't stop you and you don't stop, then we fall into a gray area. For safety's sake, I would suggest always stopping if you lose ear or eye protection and the RO doesn't immediately notice and stop you. Of course, intentionally losing them to halt a COF is a DQ under 5.4.5. Curtis Edited: to add another point to the discusssion.

Got a call today that Grafs was shipping my 10K of Federal Small Pistol primers and 8# jug of Titegroup. Both out of stock when ordered on 9/7/09 and both shipping today on one hazardous materials fee Curtis

We've been using Stage Score for our club as well, Lee. It's an absolutely great program. But I was really commenting on your way-cool hardware setup. Your battery-operated printing setup really helps get the most out of Stage Score when you can hand the competitor a printout of his score right at the stage within a few moments of his run. Curtis Edited: 'cause I hate typos!

Excellent job! Curtis

I have to commend all the organizers behind this match...despite the conditions, they really took care of business and made our jobs as ROs easier in every way. I worked Stage 2 and it was a fantastic experience. From the match director down to the newest unclassified shooter, all I saw for four days were great attitudes and people ready to rock at the beep. And for you guys who thought Friday was tough, after the RO shoot on Thursday where our squad only got to finish eight stages, it took almost two hours to just to clean the mud out of my Glock mags. The four stages I shot Friday afternoon felt like a walk in the park by comparison. And a special to Lee Neel. His scoring setup from the electronic leader board to the infrared synced printers on each stage was absolutely first class and state of the art. Thanks to all involved getting Area 4 back on track. Curtis

I have pro level audio mastering software for my Mac and should be able to convert it for you to your specs. I'm leaving for Area 4 tomorrow but could take care of it for you when I get back. PM me if I can help you out and I'll give you my e-mail address or upload instructions to our Web file server. Curtis

Lee, I'm assuming the uspsa.org squadding list that shows Squad 32 (RO) shooting Sunday rather than Thursday is a typo. Curtis

FWIW, the current 10-day forecast on weather.com is quite a bit more optimistic. Curtis

I sympathize. My recent snafu was primer-related, too. In the groove making lots of ammo on my 550. Reached over for a new tube of primers, picked it up, and mindlessly pulled the retaining clip...before I had it anywhere near the press. Took a while to find primer 100 out of that batch. Curtis

Plunking myself down in front of the TV every night...vicariously revisiting some of my favorite places as well as many someday-will-see places. Curtis

I prefer the eye relief with the SPR-E for my Meopta 1-4X. Just perfect for me, and I like to get my nose in tight. It is a really nicely machined mount: rock solid and bullet-proof...in a manner of speaking. Curtis