Revolver? Die on the vine?

[-JCN-]

Check this out:

 

With less than a month’s work, we were able to get V. to be a reloading monster. 
 

She put in a s#!t ton of work and with focused coaching she’s now sub 1.2 second reloads pretty reliably. 
 

Ran Can You Count cold as her first shots today. Both reloads were 1.1x. 
 

Smooth as silk. 
 

She had two Charlie immediately off the reload where she got lazy with the vision and likely didn’t shift her vision to the micro spot after the reload. 
 

Awesome reloads though! Very proud and impressed. 
 

With the two Charlie:

 

 

If they were alpha:

 

 

We heard there’s going to be a local classifier match soon….

 

Hmmmmmm….

[-JCN-]

Looking at the time frame of the classifier match and looking potential classifiers on the docket, set up the spreadsheet to deconstruct times and hits needed.

 

For most speed type shooting, the maximum speed to accuracy balance comes in around 3A to every C give or take. That's how I set up my anticipated par times and practice.

 

Will be interesting to see what we can do in the next month or so...

 

Will the revolver be feasible if I try training up?

[-JCN-]

April could see quite a few revolver goals accomplished if I can make some progress...

[-JCN-]

I don't think GM level skill with revolver irons is possible in one month (for me). Irons aren't a strong suit for me and I'm still not (nor will ever be) a strong guy.

 

I think best case scenario is hero/zero the classifier match and see if I can get lucky on a stage or two. Then keep hitting local classifier matches as they come up over the next few years and see what happens.

 

My sense is that since I'm going to be trigger finger speed limited is that I try and force hits at my maximum split speed. And keep working on reloads when I can.

 

I don't want it to take too far away from my LO goals, but if I can use reloading as a fidget spinner and trigger presses as PT it might use up a different time budget.

[-JCN-]

This is a pretty divergent pair of guns to be actively training on…

 

 

But in some ways, that’s the point. 
 

 

[-JCN-]

Did some more recoil management work with the Alien, trying to burn in the pressure and reset needed. 
 

This was not a cold run, but it was my best run. 
 

3.25 first string and a 3.13 second string, which is I think the fastest I’ve done with any handgun. The reload was a 1.0 and was very smooth, the extra hogging definitely helps. 
 

 

Also did some work on 10 yard doubles. 

 

Edited March 16 by -JCN-

[-JCN-]

Two weeks with the Alien. 
 

I’m at 1700 rounds. 
 

That’s on pace for 40k rounds for the year. That’s probably what I was doing pre-COVID with Shadow 2s for a couple years. 
 

It will likely drop significantly when I feel more in sync with the recoil timing and trigger. 
 

One of the Laugo guys replaced his top rail at 60k rounds so that might be a thing to watch for. 
 

It also makes me wonder if it’s time to buy a third LO. 
 

I like having at least two identical copies for competition guns, one serves the dry/backup role and as the primary wears down, it moves into the dry position. That’s where a 3rd gun enters the rotation. 
 

Will think about it (which means I’ll probably do it). 

[-JCN-]

It took me three years from my first Alien to feel comfortable with my available parts stash to compete with them. And it’s the first time 22 round mags have been available. 
 

Right now I’m using an Alien LO with Creator magwells and Creator mags for classifier type work. 
 

I checked and Laugo won’t have the thinner backstraps (that come standard on the Creator) available for sale for a couple months. 
 

Somewhere down the line, they’re supposedly coming out with an LO kit to convert Creators to LO. Probably will be the top rail / thumb rest and retro slide. 
 

They sell top rails… but often out of stock. 
 

Same thing with recoil assemblies and small parts. Often out of stock. 
 

I’m still not sold on the platform over an S2, but figuring out equipment scratches the masochism part of my itchy brain. 
 

I could go back to CZs right now and outperform my Alien self, but every time I invest time in a platform I learn something new about shooting that I probably wouldn’t have if just sticking with the tried and true. 
 

And for better or for worse, I value learning and education over my performance. 
 

Maybe because I know performance fades with age, but learning and education can be shared and passed on to the next generation. 

[-JCN-]

Spring Break with the wife and kiddo

 

 

Normal non-firearm practice gear. 

 

Strike clicker and Trigger Trainer (with cheapo FF3 mounted). 
 

 

Works like this (I usually do freestyle, hard to have things lined up with the eye when videoing one handed, but you get the idea). 
 

 

 

[-JCN-]

Teach a (wo)man to fish….

 

V shot a local IDPA match without me, as I’m out of town. 
 

She crushed it. Finishing 1st or 2nd in every stage.  
 

We debriefed and it was clear that she implemented some of the specific lessons we had discussed over the past month and the performance improvement wasn’t subtle. 
 

If we could just get her to check her damn equipment before matches and not assume it’ll be zeroed and work flawlessly, haha. 
 

But the match performance is improving as well as the fundamental skill refinement. 
 

It’s super fun for me to be a part of. 
 

When I was self learning pistol and USPSA it was not efficient. Because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. 
 

I chose to overwork fundamentals to get to a high level (hence my former classifier fetish) so that there would be fewer variables when trying to add movement and stage planning on top of that. 
 

But in V’s case, I have better context now and can layer her training to improve classifier and course skills in tandem. 
 

Just like with my daughter, I want her to have all the benefit of my learning and experience so she can grow as fast and as far as she can and wants to. 
 

Them surpassing me would be a great joy to me. Time and age comes for us all. And in the end, what outlives your physical presence is all that remains. 

[-JCN-]

“Too many irons in the fire?”

 

I’m still struggling with the balance of splitting focus versus better utilization of unused time and muscles. 
 

I might have to sub segment my time to make sure I have enough time and energy to do it. 
 

Part of it is also getting data to see how far I’m from the goal. 

[-JCN-]

But for now… I’m content with sitting on the balcony on vacation. 
 

 

When I was in school / training, I had to plan literally every 15 min in the day to maximize learning and efficiency otherwise I wouldn’t hit the goals and benchmarks needed. 
 

It was decades of that kind of training and life. 
 

The thing that was so striking to me at the time was how much you could accomplish in such a short chronological time if you maximized efficiency. 
 

“I’m not good at XYZ… but give me a month and watch out!”

 

It’s also part of the reason I’m not defensive or insecure about it if someone says I suck at shooting or this or that. It wastes time to cower behind ego and blind yourself to the weaknesses you have. 
 

The only way to guarantee you don’t improve is if you don’t think you have anything to improve on (double negative points if you’re insecure and don’t want to admit that you have things to improve on).

 

Ego (self concept) is a funny thing sometime. It can be helpful, but for a lot of people it’s the thing that prevents them from getting to where they say they want to be. 

[-JCN-]

Okay. Independently, V said she wants to step it up. So she’s going to try and get onboard with a month of hard core training before the classifier match. 
 

Going to make a spreadsheet….

[-JCN-]

Working through a budget and training plan for myself with modifications for V. 
 

If it goes according to plan, it’ll probably represent a 3x time and effort commitment to what we are doing now….

 

I’m setting up some training goals and benchmarks on our spreadsheet. 

[-JCN-]

Spreadsheet roughed out. 
 

I’m going to have to commit to doing some strength training in order to make the revolver the goal viable. 
 

If I’m going whole hog, I’ll see If I can do Revo, Production and LO…

[-JCN-]

Thinking what I can dual use for IDPA classifier. 
 

I have a 986 with 2.5” barrel that would be legal… but the short barrel length makes muzzle stability more difficult at speed. 
 

I also have a M66 with 4” barrel that would be great if it were cut for 9mm moons. 
 

I also have a 686 with 3” barrel and I hear that Smith used the same 357 barrels for their 9mms…

 

I wonder if the cylinder timing would work out if I just swapped them….

 

I like the sights on the 686 better…

[-JCN-]

I also have this frankenbuild out of a 327 that cracked the front shroud and the velocity was anemic out of the short barrel anyway…

 

So I cut down a 4” barrel into a 3” and made a front sight receiver for the glue on XS. 

 

 

 

 

[-JCN-]

On preparing for classifiers:

 

There are different philosophies regarding training for classifiers. Some people don’t think that preparation for classifiers should be done.

 

I think preparation for classifiers can be extremely helpful in breaking down what is expected of you at what level. Especially when component parts can be deconstructed and drilled.
 

I am also of the opinion that in general, classifiers test very common skills and arrays. While there is more than that to performing well at a match, the new movement classifiers are bridging that gap.

It’s also notable IMO, that the way to train for classifiers isn’t necessarily to run that classifier over and over. 
 

Just like when we were assessing V’s deficits and we were going to run El Presidente, it was clear that she needed work on her reloads so we broke that sub skill out and had her work specifically on that.

 

Is that gaming the system? Is that practicing for a specific classifier? 
 

Not in my opinion.  It’s using the classifier to identify a weak area in skill and performance, so it can be isolated and worked on. 
 

The set of classifiers on the docket for the upcoming classifier match are a nice spread of speed, skill and movement.

 

It’s going to test recoil control at speed, transition precision and draws plus movement. 
 

For me, I will have a different approach for production and revolver than V will have for LO. 
 

I am preparing for Hail Mary, not reproducible performance to try and make a GM goal. 
 

She will be preparing for reproducibility on demand. Match performance, if you will.

 

Subtle differences in goal, but it influences how the preparation changes.

 

My LO preparation will be similar to hers, but I am being more realistic for that and aiming for M performance for myself. I have a long way to go before I could even consider myself remotely GM field course level and honsestly I’m not sure that’s even a viable long term goal. 
 

 

Edited March 18 by -JCN-

[-JCN-]

Still on vacation, chomping at the bit to get home and get back to my gear to practice. 
 

Putting so much time on the trigger training that my finger is unhappy with the plastic burrs on the trigger. I’ve not spent much time with the device previously so didn’t really optimize it. 
 

I have to also Dremel down a sharp edge  on the beaver tail too. 
 

Daughter gave me a band aid for my trigger finger…

 

[-JCN-]

Bundled goals. 
 

I have some goals that can go together. 
 

If working USPSA revolver, it bundles with IDPA revolver and Steel Challenge revolver. 
 

If working USPSA production, it can bundle with IDPA SSP or ESP and Steel Challenge Production and Limited. 

 

USPSA LO can bundle with Steel Challenge Open. 
 

The IDPA stuff is kind of a one off. 
 

Steel Challenge I like for high accountability trigger presses at speed. 

[-JCN-]

 

This is where I’m at for Steel Challenge. 
 

I had thoracic outlet syndrome so badly last year that I couldn’t feel my trigger finger and it took until the Fall to improve. 
 

So instead of USPSA, I did IDPA and Steel Challenge last year. Couldn’t do long guns most of the year either. 
 

I didn’t think I’d be in shape to come back this year, but training with V has gotten me more motivated and in a better position than I thought I’d be in. 
 

Before I shot Steel Challenge for the first time, I thought it was going to be lame. 
 

But I have a mantra that goes, “You have to be decent at something before you can knock it… otherwise you might just be ignorant.”

 

Steel Challenge offers accountability training and single shot transitions, both things I was weak on just shooting USPSA. 
 

One of my side goals is to make M in all divisions and eventually GM in all optic divisions. 
 

I feel M in irons would represent adequate competency at using the sighting system. 
 

Steel Challenge centerfire pistol GM requires a great draw and index, so it makes sense to bundle a particular firearm to USPSA classifier goals. 

[perttime]

What you are doing is quite foreign to me. So methodical and goal oriented Fascinating to follow but not something that I would do.

 

I guess it is enough for me to shoot for fun, and participate in a few matches. Make 60% score unless I have some serious issue, RO at local IPSC matches and maybe train some newbies to the point that they are safe on the range and can hit targets.

 

There is a local match coming up, and the Madness has struck me. I'm thinking of shooting 6-shot Major Revolver, instead of Major .45 in IPSC Classic (SS). At least I'll have an excuse for not winning anything

[-JCN-]

3 hours ago, perttime said:

What you are doing is quite foreign to me. So methodical and goal oriented Fascinating to follow but not something that I would do.

 

I guess it is enough for me to shoot for fun, and participate in a few matches. Make 60% score unless I have some serious issue, RO at local IPSC matches and maybe train some newbies to the point that they are safe on the range and can hit targets.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! That’s how I view golf these days. It’s more social and recreational. I don’t have a performance goal inherent in it. 
 

I don’t know that I would be embarking on this kind of a scheduled whole hog program (at this stage in my life) if it weren’t for V. 
 

But she’s motivated and it’s basically the same effort for me to coach her as for me to participate alongside. 
 

It’s also a way to document her progress. 
 

Many of the journals here are from people who are trying to achieve something they haven’t yet and documenting their journeys on how they figure out how to get there. 
 

Some of them have unrealistic goals and timelines for what they’re willing to put in work-wise.
 

Some of them have realistic goals and achieve them, but by the nature of their self-discovery… there are mis steps and inefficiencies built into the process. 
 

This journal is a little unconventional in that it’s partially a coaching journal with a bunch of personal side projects littered into it. 
 

It also might help people get some insight into a place / process they haven’t been/seen before and maybe implement some of that into their own training (if they are inclined). 
 

At the very least maybe they’ll understand the amount of thought and effort it takes to make chronologically rapid progress and see some of the barriers that might be holding themselves back.

 

Some people are sensitive to direct criticism because of their vulnerable self-concept. They can’t hear it without either getting damaged or defensive. 
 

A format like this where it’s not directed at them, but they still might be able to gain insight? Hopefully people can still get something out of it. 

[-JCN-]

Example of multitasking. 
 

I’m doing this:

 

While also doing this. 
 

 

I can strengthen my finger while spending time with my family. 
 

It’s not an either or. 
 

Especially when committed to both. 

[-JCN-]

Had this Facebook conversation today with someone shooting an Alien in US Steel Challenge:

 

 

That also changes some of my Steel Challenge calculus…