Radical Precision Designs, aka Venry d'Aiguillon

[Radical Precision Designs]

I am writing this on 1 January 2008 after some deep thinking as to the meaning of it all and setting a sense of direction for the present and future goals.

I promise to try and stick with it.

A brief background. Over twenty years ago in New Jersey, I had a part time employee at my Store/Shop where I had started my pistolsmithing thing. He was an active duty police sargeant/detective, and a Viet-Nam veteran. He was also active in the Army Reserves. He was a good armorer. He asked me to go with him to one of the local matches of what was then called: "Practical/Tactical" Shooting. He said I would see there a few of my customers who were shooting my custom guns (1911's) and it would be good for business and a lot of fun. He provided me with the "correct" holster of the day, a Bianchi #4 and told me tobring some of the De Santi mag pouches from the shelf/stock. I chose to bring in a Colt Gold Cup (45 ACP, what else in those days ??) rather than one of my custom 1911's. That way if I did good, it was the shooters "glory", but if I did poorly it wouldn't reflect on my custom guns ... he, he !!! In the parking lot at the Club's range we loaded our mags and gun, and proceeded "cocked 'n locked" to the premises/club house for registration. I was asked what was my standing/classification. I had none, it was my first match. They conferred among themselves and came back and told me I would be shooting in Master Class, because of known ability. I asked what was this "known ability" thing, and asked to be placed lower. They refused, and told me they knew who I was and what I did. I only wish somebody told me what that was, but what the heck. I took it as shooting with a "handicap"!!! I thought I did terribly in that first match, since I was concentrating in accuracy rather than speed, but I was told that I held my own and placed well. I went to several matches after that and had a great time. I even on ocassion would shoot one of my guns, or a customer's work in progress as part of the "break in" process. But then I stopped going to the matches for a while, and USPSA was consolidated and absorbed many of the "local" Clubs.

Fast forward. While I would continue to attend some local matches here and there, I did not rejoin the now USPSA untill the early '90's . The had no record of my earlier classification. No biggie. I would start from scratch again. To this day, due to some bad accidents I was not able to really push it to regain my classification, and the standards have gotten a lot tougher. A Master class shooter of the late '70's early '80's would be beaten easily by one of todays "C class" shooters. IMHO. While some of my physical handicaps will indeed "try" to hold me back, I will endeavour to get that "M card" a.s.a.p. with no excuses allowed. I am presently classified as "C" in Limited and Open. I have posted almost enough classifiers for a "B" but keep on blowing some local match "surprise" classifiers, which has diminished the eligibility of some of those scores. So, it is my resolution to work on those classifiers and obtain my Master card. That's my present goal, and I believe it will be attainable.

I will record here some of my progress as I go along. Oh, yes, my intention is for Master in both Limited and Open simultaneously.

As a bonus, I will report on some other items of interest. As many of you know, I do build custom pistols for competition and do work on existing competition guns, as upgrades, updates and repairs. Very often my practice session at the range will begin by my testing various guns prior to any work for diagnostics and then again after any corrective measures. I will report on some of those which may be of interest to you all in my opinion. Then, I will do some drills and practice for my own personal training and will report on that for your comments, should any of you want to offer them. I can be blunt, as some of you know by know, but I do not suffer from a fragile ego, so feel free to give any "constructive" tips, as they will be appreciated ... and if usefull they may be implemented in my training regimen. Now let's see how quickly I can get this done.

[HSMITH]

Well Venry, I am pulling for you!! I hope that you meet your goals.

If you don't have Steve Anderson's first book get it and use it, 20 minutes a day 4 or 5 days a week. Classifiers get SO much easier with his program, I worked it for a few months last spring and picked up 15%. My classification almost caught up with my field course shooting LOL.

[Radical Precision Designs]

Thank you for the good wishes, Howard. I will give it my effort, for sure, and it should be doable. It's not like if I was asking for GM. Maybe after I go for my second knee replacement, so that I can really do some sprinting. Hard to do GM just on paper, although I heard it's doable too. I guess there are GM's and then there are "super" GM's. Maybe they should come up with another higher classification than GM for some of the "phenoms" we have in this sport, and we have quite a few. We also have a lot of GM's that are not as competitive but they made it. Maybe move up the scale to 110 percent for the Super GM's ??

Anyway, starting to get my planning together, formulating a mental picture, and following up. Just like shooting a stage. LOL !!!!

There is one gun from a customer that was not extracting properly, surprisingly enough a long dust cover, bull barrelled Infinity. The customer said it had problems extracting. Took it to the range, and sure enough, it was a single shot semi-auto. Took five shots, and all five cases remained in the chamber. Darn it, I didn't even get to have enough shots to help in my live firing practice. Looks like a definite problem with the extractor itself. I guess I'll take it apart and have a look. Should have it ready for tonight and go test it at the range. Who knows, maybe this time I may get at least 200 rounds with no malfunctions. That should be some good practice. I think some "Bill drills" may be in order. At the same time I have this other single stack (.45 ACP) 1911, and the customer says it is shooting way too high. It has a Bo-Mar rear and fiber optic front. I don't have any ammo from the owner, so I will test it with factory ball, see if I kind estimate what will be the height of the new front sight ... if that is the problem. I guess this will be a good time to practice a little bit of my "Kentucky windage/elevation.

Oh, yes. This Sunday 30 December we had our first Anual Production Challenge Match. I was one of the sponsors. Worthy cause. Recently I had my arm twisted by a friend/customer and sold him my complete set-up for Production: a Steyr-Mannlicher M 1A in 9mm that I had modified the original "triangular" front sight with an .040" red fiber optic and some grip tape panels, with two De Santis double mag pouches, five mags and a cut down leather De Santis holster. I loved that gun. Have to get me another one. So I shot my Para LDA 14-40 with some sweet "powder puff" loads from a friend. It is too bad that I twisted my left knee on the third stage in a very low stance port with nasty no-shoots in the way. Sometimes you have to watch your limitations, or you will pay the price. In this case I had to scratch the remaining five stages. But my little Para was working great, including those three double Alphas at thirty yards in stage one.

Now, later on the day I will give Eric Stanley a call. A couple of my fellow Club members and myself are planning on doing one of his two day classes just prior to the Florida Open, and if I can get away from having to be at the Store that Saturday, it will be some great training. :ph34r:

[XD Niner]

Venry, I have no doubt you'll get your M card in the near future. You certainly can shoot Alphas. Good luck and see you at the next Monster Match if not before.

Kent

[dirtypool40]

Ready to go big guy!!! Bring a gun that'll run and 1000 rounds and we'll have you tuned up but good!!!

We'll do a refresher on rock solid fun-damentals, accuracy, movement, and how and what to practice to keep improving after the class.

Operators are standing by.... Hollah!!!

Edited January 3, 2008 by dirtypool40

[Radical Precision Designs]

During my normal work days I get my hands on different kinds of guns, especially when I go to test them at the range, during and after building or modifying them. I can not usually limit my exposure or practice with just one specific type. This is going to be a little bit of a concentration hazzard when shooting my own competition guns, be it Open or Limited. But I am getting better at separating the response by using different targets for testing "daily handled, Shop" guns where I will use a standard silhouette target with a 3" red center circle, and then using the standard IPSC targets when I practice with my personal/competition guns. Hopefully that should work.

Last night we had our weekly Thursday night match. I shot Limited. I used a recently built gun for a customer, part of the final break-in process. I used my own mags, as I didn't want to go dropping/scratching his precious brand new tuned mags. Up to recent times I had been shooting mostly Open, and have gotten used to the Open gun swing during transitions. I can pretty much call my shots (and deliver them), and have my muscle memory coordinated for that. Shooting Limited the muscle memory synchronization has a little bit more "lag" between calling and actual delivery. Last night I was shooting a very light Limited gun tipping the scales at only 29 ounces, and great balance. My splits were very close to each other, and sight recovery was excellent. But ... during one stage, which was a "speed shoot" I really found out what this "synchronization lag time" was all about. My time was very good, and my splits were very, very close ... but about three inches ahead to the "panning" direction of travel. Enough to move the grouping from alpha into charlies, or as in one array with blocked out areas, into four mikes. Yes, I've heard it already that you can't shoot both Limited and Open on the edge at the same time. I guess I'll have to find a way to disassociate one from the other, somehow. Practice and concentration.

[HSMITH]

I've heard it already that you can't shoot both Limited and Open on the edge at the same time. I guess I'll have to find a way to disassociate one from the other, somehow. Practice and concentration.

For that very reason I have been experimenting with my own Limited gun, I have primarily shot Open for the last year or so and switching back and forth is hard for me as well. The set up that seems to work the best so far (when I can engage my brain) is a front sight that doesn't quite return fully requiring me to 'drive' the front sight around more than a gun that just pops up and falls right back. It is just enough that I have to drive the front sight to where I need it and press out each shot. With the brain engaged it doesn't slow me down, points go way up too as I am really focused on the shooting. Let the clutch slip a little and don't get the brain fully engaged though and disaster comes hard and fast. The point of my experiments is just to have the gun retain my attention so that I can shoot THAT gun while it is in my hand. Going back to the Open gun also seems a little easier as I am more attentive to the dot. I may be way out in left field with this approach, it is relatively new to me and I am still working through it.

I don't know if it will work for you or not. Just a thought from someone drifting in similar waters looking for a paddle......

[Radical Precision Designs]

Wow. Saturday was a record day at the Store. Lots of competition shooters coming by. Saturdays I try to relax a little bit and play "host" to local Club members in need of some assistance with their daily mundane shooting chores. Like one (Craig) that came in with his "parts in a box" dilemma (S.A. XD-9) after he took apart his mag release assembly to polish. He couldn't get it back in, called me about it. I told him bring it over, and we'll see. When he came I showed him to a suitably equipped bench, and told him to go to it, and re-learn how to put it back in !!! He gave me a blank stare, to which I smiled and said: " I'm pretty sure you can put it back, if not I'll give you a hand ..." After and hour or so of fiddling around, I couldn't stand his suffering and cursing, so I gave in and demonstrted him some basic principles of re-assembly. Now he knows for the future.

Anyway, I've had this project on the back burner for myself for a while now. My trusty, fine, CZ 75 Champion in 9mm. I just got a customer a CZ SP01 from Angus Hobdell, and while arranging the transfer with Angus I had Rob send in along one of his aluminum grips and a competition mag well assembly for my Champion. ( I ordered a six inches barrell for one of my Hyper-Jet Comp System for it, but he couldn't find one around in time for this shipment, and that will be another post ... ) I was looking for an opportunity to install these "goodies" in my gun for possible use next day (Sunday) at our first Sunday of the month match in Markham Park. I normally close my Store doors on Saturdays at 4:PM. It was 6:PM before I could get started to play with my gun ... for next day's match. Then it occurred to me that for a while now I have wanted to design and make a new frame mounted base for a Docter red dot sight, which I had been using mounted in a standard accessory slide mounted base. So why "lolly-gaggle" any further ??? So I got my design pad out and started drawing some lines and taking some measurements, making some patterns and laying them on some aluminum stock. I wanted to mount the frame mounted base in the right side instead of the usual left side, but drill and tap the frame identically in both sides for future use of a right sided one if I did not like it. This would also give me a place to install one of my thumb rests, which I like. I used the standard five holes by .375" spacing so "beloved" in 1911 circles because it is sturdy. I even incorporated a small blast shield into it for future barrel vents. I also grab a "sidewinder" (Shooters Connection) slide racker and installed it in the Bo-Mar style dovetail cut in the slide. To end up this story ... by 4:30 AM !!!!!! ???? I finally got finished with the project. I had designed, manufactured and installed a pin registered Docter re dot "right" side mounted base, drilled and tapped all ten holes (both sides), also re-designed , manufactured and installed a frame aluminum thumb rest, and installed the "Sidewinder" slide racker. Ah, oh, yes, I also installed the "Angus" aluminum grip/stocks and mag well. I grabbed a "Laser-lite" and bench-adjusted my red dot. Then because it was so late, I threw everything from my office couch on the floor and caught a couple hours of sleep in order to get up and make it on time for the match.

I was very tired when I got there and had not even taken a sighting-in shot. But I am used to this already. LMAO !!! Somebody already had me signed up. (Thank you !!) I loaded up the magazines with my STI/SVI gun's (Open) normal Major 9 loads and proceeded to shoot the Match. The sights were well adjusted for windage, but were shooting about two inches low at fifteen yards. No biggie, I chose to leave the adjustment alone and "Kentucky" compensate. It was an experience getting used to the new mounted position of the red dot: just a little bit higher than iron sights, and a lot lower then my C-More usual picture. I "hunted" a little bit a few times on the first shot and in some long transitions, (Have to get some practice to memory of this new formula !!) but otherwise it was a good day. I took my time to work my new gear into work, and it is an awesome set-up. While some people may think that putting new gear like this to first use during a match it is not advisable ... I totally concurr. And, I am glad that it all worked out flawlessly, because a lot of people were looking on, and any malfunctions (other than brain !!) would reflect gravely. Now a few shooters are looking at the possibilities of the CZ platform ... in 9mm Major !!!

After the match I went back and "crashed" until a couple hours ago. Just enough time to go back to sleep after I finish this post. Good night, y'all .

[Radical Precision Designs]

Dear Diary ...

Sorry I have been not writing my reports. My work load has been strenuous to say the least, and in this business the customers guns come first.

One thing is for sure, my practice has become more "aware", as I am looking for refinements "after" I did my shooting to analyze what I did, and ways to improve it. Mostly I relied on my excellent, photographic like memory to set a stage prior to shooting it. I had to modify this, as many times it caused me to make costly mistakes. Like when memorizing the positions of all the targets is a course, then reviewing them with eyes closed prior to shooting it. This is very nice and worthy, except that sometimes when in a rush first walking a stage some targets are not actually seen. Then later while pasting you, much to your disdain find them ! Now you need to re-do your mental scheduling, or else. Then a little further down you discover a "view" not seen before of a better angle or position. Point is that if I "locked" a specific course of action to memory initially and then tried to correct it later, very often I ended up with using the first once the beep went off, and ignoring prior corrections or "missing" targets. I need to re-train my memory focus to get data, but not record it untill a conscious command is put in. Not as easy as it seems.

I am getting ready for the Florida Open. I will shoot Open. That means try to "un"-focus when daily shooting customers guns, and project everything only when shooting the actual gun I expect to use or another similar one. Recently I had a customer who just ordered one of my Hyper-Jet Comp System Open guns shoot my personal gun during a match. So I shot my CZ Champion (9 Major, at least shot the same ammo) with the Frame mounted Docter red dot. My normal use gun has a frame mounted C-More, with a much higher mounted dot. When I brought the gun into shooting position (the CZ) the dot was just not there, where I expected it to be. It was mildly frustrating as I needed to punch the gun out closer to my body in order to match it to my "called" spot. So, untill the Match is done I will only shoot MY gun at all matches, as I do not want any "latent" confusion in my transitions. Otherwise, it is all good. Have been making progress and gaining total confidence as to where everything is as I shoot or dry fire. Have been practicing my shooting on the move to minimize my slight up-down gait due to my artificial left knee, which has been known to give those "alpha-mike" hated combos sometimes. Getting better, but may need a brace to help steady things to an acceptable level. Have put in a laser pointer, taped to my gun matched to my red dot to help me on my sight acquisition while dry firing on the move. It has helped a lot watching my up/down gait as I walk with the projected dot.

I'll keep up a good regimen. It can only help.

[Radical Precision Designs]

One thing is for sure, slowing down on my approach to the targets is paying off greatly, and actually gaining speed and accuracy.

Now I just need to cinch down this in a consistent basis and continue on my goal >>>>>

[Radical Precision Designs]

Sometimes your goals need to be switched around or delayed.

Such is my present case. I will need to postpone my goal for this Diary. As some of you know, my recently started fight with cancer will unfortunately delay my ongoing quest for the M card. I do fully intend to come back to it as soon as I regain my energy and conditioning after the chemo/radiation treatments.

It will be my goal to come back here and report my progress in this quest for the M card, which I intend to fulfill.

Venry

[Steve J]

Give it hell, Venry. You'll be in our prayers.

[GeneralChang]

Get well soon and Godspeed.

[eerw]

you're already a master..

get well soon.

[Neomet]

Get well soon guy. That's the most important game in town.

Then come back and kick ass!!