Little Kahuna's Range Diary

[Rob D]

It was awesome to get to meet you guys. Bummer about messing up your hand on the ammo can stage, but I guess it could have been worse. Great shooting man, I'm sure I'll see you at some matches in the future.

[little_kahuna]

I apologize for the delayed update.

-Date: 4 July 09.

-Type of event: Level I (Local Match).

-Location: 5 Dogs Range, Bakersfield, CA.

-Time: 0800-1330.

-Range Conditions: Warm, dry.

-Training partners: Match Participants.

-Gun used: Borrowed Open Gun (5" .38 Super).

-Ammo shot: Borrowed .38 Super.

-General feeling in session: I was somewhat tired, but eager to learn about open, and relaxed.

-Focus of the Sesson: My goal was to learn as much as I could through observation and awareness about shooting open.

-Content of the session: It was a 5 stage + 1 classifier match. It included various stages from -18 round courses to +37 round field courses.

-New things learned: I learned a few of the behavioral quirks about open guns. I gathered that due to the optic, it's easier to lose your focus, and focus on the wrong thing, or to lose your dot in transitions/draws. I also found that due to the compensator, i can no longer "drive" the gun around, as i can in limited, rather i must "float" the gun, and allow the comp to do the work as i "guide" it.

-Experimentation: I shot open, and tried to do nothing but observe without thought or judgement. After the match, i went back to one stage (a 24-rd hoser stage) just to see how fast i could possibly shoot it, and with no mind, i pulled off an incredible run, cutting 2-3 sec from the winner's stage time, with all my hits.

-What I want to work on more: I'd like to shoot more open, to practice and experiment with it a little more, to be more comfortable with it for big matches coming up, as well as the next few seasons which i plan to shoot it.

-What I did best today: I learned much about open, and made many observations. I also performed rather well for my limited experience in Open division.

-Goal statement: I am the High Junior at 2009 Limited and Open Nationals by placing in the Top 16.

Date: 11 July 09.

-Type of event: Level I (Local) Match.

-Location: Norco Running Gun, Norco, CA.

-Time: 0800-1230.

-Range Conditions: Warm, dry.

-Training partners: Match Participants.

-Gun used: Borrowed Open Gun (5" 9mm major).

-Ammo shot: Borrowed 9mm major.

-General feeling in session: I was eager to learn more about open, but still mostly calm.

-Focus of the Sesson: My goal was to shoot open, observe, while i pushed some of the limits of my performance of open. I want a general guideline to start my work in practicing open, to explore the boundaries of my potential.

-Content of the session: It was a 5 stage + 1 classifer match.

-New things learned: I learned a bit more about calling shots, following through, and seeing the movement of the dot. It is much faster and in some ways much more challenging that calling shots with iron sights. It is easier to know exactly where the hit is "supposed" to go, but much harder to see where it actually went; as opposed to limited, where it is a little more challenging to guage where the shot will go based on the alignment of multiple planes of focus, but easier to see where it did go after the shot breaks.

-Experimentation: I worked on shooting faster, just to recognized the diffferentiated pace between limited and open. Furthermore, I played with changing the planes of focus, especially between the dot and the target, just to know exactly what i should be looking at, depending on the difficulty of the shot.

-What I want to work on more: I simply need to shoot more open to see where i need to progress, and to find my limits, and not exceed them in a match, but to allow myself to shoot at a subconsious level which will maximize performance.

-What I did best today: I observed and learned much about open, which is a success in itself.

-Goal statement: I am the High Junior at 2009 Limited and Open Nationals by placing in the Top 16.

Date: 12 July 09.

-Type of event: Level I (Local) Match.

-Location: Bishop Practical Shooters League, Bishop, CA.

-Time: 0800-1230.

-Range Conditions: Warm, dry.

-Training partners: Match Participants.

-Gun used: Borrowed Open Gun (5" 9mm major).

-Ammo shot: Borrowed 9mm major.

-General feeling in session: I was pretty calm, having shot open for the last 2 matches, i was ready to shooti it and continue observing.

-Focus of the Sesson: I am continuing my awareness/observation of the results of combining my previous shooting condititioning with an open gun. My goal is still to be aware of my body while shooting open, and be aware of the gun while my body uses it to shoot.

-Content of the session: It was a 4 stage + 1 classifer match.

-New things learned: I learned much more about dot placement/movement, and calling shots with an optic. Additionally, I observed how to better transition and not lose the dot. I cannot adequately explain it, but i my body naturally found a way to transition and still find the dot quickly.

-Experimentation: I experimented with timing, speed, and perception of speed while shooting.

-What I want to work on more: I'd like to practice open more, to draw the lines of my performance, so that i can expand them.

-What I did best today: I observed with an empty mind, found places for improvement, and i started to improve on them.

-Goal statement: I am the High Junior at 2009 Limited and Open Nationals by placing in the Top 16.

Notes: Throughout the last few matches in open, i found that my preception of speed is even more greatly distorted than i had thought (tachypsychia). I am unable to tell whether i was really shooting fast, or slow, even when i may feel that way. For example, on multiple stages, i finished the stage and thought to myself, "darn there were a lot of places i could have turned it up" but everyone is standing with their mouthes open in shock, wondering how i shot so fast. Most of those times, my hits are highly variable, but most likely due to my inexperience with a dot. It is going to take work to find the balance between speed and accuracy in open, especially since i have no idea how fast i'm actually going.

Match Results:

5 Dogs Action Shooters 4 July 09

Norco Running Gun 11 July 09

Bishop Practical Pistol League 12 July 09

[little_kahuna]

I shot open Nationals and was Disqualified. I shot Limited Nationals.

I might go into details in a later post.

This past weekend I shot Norco and SWPL back to back. It was pretty good. Despite the mediocre performance at the Norco stages, i was surprised at my performance on the Classifier, Fluffy's Revenge 2. I shot it in 3.15 down 2 points in Open. I had an extra shot, but without it, the time would have been 2.87. It went pretty well for me. I calmly shot and things just came together on that stage, i connected.

I shot SWPL on Sunday, and actually felt great. I dropped no mikes/no-shoots, shot at a comfortable pace, and dropped few deltas. It was a good match for me, I am excited to see the results.

More to come, depending on my availability!

I've been occupied with all the travel lately. That includes the trip the Vegas for the Nationals, and my expected trip to Ohio for the IPSC Nationals later this week. I'll resume my range diary and write more detailed reports when i come back from the IPSC Nationals.

if i can get them organized, i'll post Video and pix as well.

Thanks!

[A62335]

Good luck in Ohio!!

[yoshidaex]

We'll see you in Ohio as well.

[Chris Keen]

Look me up when you get there Nick.

[big_kahuna]

Nick is on a plane to Ohio, so I'm posting his latest match results.

results from SWPL match 27 SEP 09

Here are the top 10 Overall - Combined Divisions

Place Name USPSA Class Division PF Lady Mil Law For Age Points Stg %

1 Butler, Taran L2354 GM Open Major N N N N 597.7584 100.00%

2 Voigt, Michael RD4 GM Limited Major N N N N 552.0867 92.36%

3 Butler, Taran REENTRY GM Limited Major N N N N 536.1134 89.69%

4 Santiago, Nick A57820 A Open Major N N N N Jun 508.5956 85.08%

5 Cutts, David L3102 GM Open Major N N N N 501.9295 83.97%

6 Plete, Joel L2720 A Open Major N N N N 460.6300 77.06%

7 Mora, Mitch TY58112 GM Open Major N N N N 459.8099 76.92%

8 White, Sterling TY38773 M Limited Major N N N N 431.8567 72.25%

9 Chan, Gary A52406 A Production Minor N N N N 431.2429 72.14%

10 Arredondo, Ralph FY24813 M Open Major N N N N 422.9965 70.76%

Here are the Top 10 in Open Division

Place Name USPSA Class Division PF Lady Mil Law For Age Points Stg %

1 Butler, Taran L2354 GM Open Major N N N N 604.0059 100.00%

2 Santiago, Nick A57820 A Open Major N N N N Jun 514.4685 85.18%

3 Cutts, David L3102 GM Open Major N N N N 507.5974 84.04%

4 Plete, Joel L2720 A Open Major N N N N 466.1617 77.18%

5 Mora, Mitch TY58112 GM Open Major N N N N 465.1861 77.02%

6 Arredondo, Ralph FY24813 M Open Major N N N N 427.6551 70.80%

7 Benedetto, Ed TY50487 M Open Major N N N N 401.2546 66.43%

8 Levanza-Rosales, V L1237 B Open Major N N N N 395.1074 65.41%

9 Reese, Maggie A60197 B Open Major N N N N 358.1303 59.29%

10 DeLe Merced, Ariel A60636 U Open Major N N N N 324.6129 53.74%

Good job Nick!

[Chris Keen]

Great job Nick!

Thanks for posting Ceaser!

[shooterbenedetto]

Nick,

Stay relaxed and shoot the stages as if you are at home range!!

You dont need the luck as you are a great athlete and practices all year. Have fun. Dont worry about how you will place in Ohio.

Just shoot and keep it clean.

SB

[Micah]

Hope you and A-rod get to squad with me on Sat

[LChico]

Hope you and A-rod get to squad with me on Sat

Have you been sneaking a look at my squad lists?

I think you will all 3 be in very good company Saturday & Sunday. Don't I always put you on great squads?

Linda Chico (L-2035)

2009 Ohio State & IPSC Nationals Statistician

PS - what division is Nick shooting Sunday - he left that off the application.

[big_kahuna]

Hope you and A-rod get to squad with me on Sat

Have you been sneaking a look at my squad lists?

I think you will all 3 be in very good company Saturday & Sunday. Don't I always put you on great squads?

Linda Chico (L-2035)

2009 Ohio State & IPSC Nationals Statistician

PS - what division is Nick shooting Sunday - he left that off the application.

Nick is shooting OPEN for both matches.

[Audifn]

Congrats on your placement at norco buddy, you were right, you almost beat taran.

Kick ass at IPSC nats, I'm not gonna make it after all.

[Micah]

You're the best Linda See you and Nick and Adrian and every-freakin'-body else tomorrow!

[Ben Stoeger]

Good times shooting with you little man.

[Micah]

+1 to what Ben said. You are a hoot as a squad/team mate, and one heck of a talented shooter!

[nwb01]

It was nice shooting with you on Saturday Nick, you, Adrian and Micah were very entertaining !!

Stay Gangster bro !

Nick

[little_kahuna]

I am back and will continue posting regularly in my range diary.

Review of my matches can be found throughout the Area 2 Website, including clubs such as Gen-X IPSC, Sage Pistol League, 5 Dogs Action Shooters, and SouthWest Pistol League.

I've also shot the Nationals, The IPSC Nationals, the Ohio State, and Area 2 since my last update. Those results can be found on the USPSA website.

I've now temporarily switched from Limited to SingleStack division, for the Western States Single Stack Classic that I can hopefully attend in January of 2010.

After that, I expect to be shooting quite a bit of Open, and if all goes well I'll actually be using my own gun

[little_kahuna]

Results from my first single stack match.

I was pretty careless, throwing a couple mikes. I really enjoy shooting single stack though, it's challenging and extremely fulfilling lol. I shot on the Open A and Master squad, so I think that might have been trying to keep up with them, and on a couple stages beat a few of their times, but singlestack is a totally different game lol. Next match i'll be shooting at a "singlestack" pace haha.

[big_kahuna]

Nick,

Brie just called to say the rimfire steel match results from Sunday are posted. In case you hadn't heard, you won. Congratulations on a job well done. Here they are:

Place Name Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Total

1 Nick Santiago 10.79 17.29 13.87 27.57 11.87 16.93 98.32

2 David Benson 20.44 31.47 18.02 16.89 12.61 13.75 113.18

3 Diane Tilley 14.22 19.07 31.55 17.91 14.93 22.33 120.01

4 Elvy Hoplins 14.31 25.07 38.32 17.63 15.61 16.84 127.78

5 Nick Rowan 18.20 26.70 36.71 17.64 15.71 31.74 146.70

6 Connor Anderson 18.43 27.58 38.40 23.63 26.63 29.05 163.72

7 Rob Starnes 20.60 30.89 41.15 22.70 22.70 26.51 180.47

8 Donna Benson 26.23 34.37 41.99 26.95 20.77 48.59 198.90

9 Katie Santiago 23.11 34.05 32.05 40.11 42.61 43.85 215.78

10 Austin Karpinski 34.72 32.06 51.95 20.70 20.70 42.56 221.02

11 Brie Hardwick 25.82 29.37 48.52 31.69 54.67 51.53 241.60

12 Lisa Santiago 25.08 31.68 40.56 50.62 49.27 60.00 257.21

13 Ben Karpinski 34.87 55.85 57.50 41.48 41.48 50.74 280.94

14 Ruth Karpinski 32.52 52.86 69.61 59.84 59.84 59.73 298.25

Steel Match Results

[aaronjbush12]

Nick,

Brie just called to say the rimfire steel match results from Sunday are posted. In case you hadn't heard, you won. Congratulations on a job well done. Here they are:

Place Name Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Total

1 Nick Santiago 10.79 17.29 13.87 27.57 11.87 16.93 98.32

9 Katie Santiago 23.11 34.05 32.05 40.11 42.61 43.85 215.78

12 Lisa Santiago 25.08 31.68 40.56 50.62 49.27 60.00 257.21

Steel Match Results

So, how many Santiago's does it take to win a steel match?? Good Job peeps!

[BrieH43]

It was a great steel match....Caesar was the only one who didn't shoot it!! (epic fail Caesar)

Anyways...hope you're digging the Single Stack Nick...kinda cool that you're shooting with Eric.

Good luck on the Open Gun!!

ps...yay me for placing 11th in my first steel match

Edited December 4, 2009 by BrieH43

[little_kahuna]

My guns are being worked on, and I have no ammo, so I haven't shot much lately, but I have been reading (and rereading lol).

I just want to comment on the value of shooting books. I learn so much by reading every day. Brian E.'s Practical Shooting Beyond Fundamentals, Saul Kirsch's Thinking Practical Shooting, and both of Steve Anderson's Drill Books are phenomenal. If you haven't tapped these resources, you're missing out. Thanks to the authors of these books, they are immensely insightful.

[little_kahuna]

Date: 17 Jan 010

-Type of event: Level I (Local Match).

-Location: Sage Pistol League, Ridgecrest, CA.

-Time: 0800-1330.

-Range Conditions: Cool, dry, mild winds.

-Training partners: Match Participants.

-Gun used: CZ SP-01.

-Ammo shot: Match 9mm Minor ~140 PF.

-General feeling in session: I was relaxed and happy to be at the range with my dad and friends.

-Focus of the Sesson: The focus of today's range time was to shoot Pro ( a divison that I am realtively new to) and to learn about it.

-Content of the session: The match consisted of 5 stages and a classifier, all USPSA-legal courses, ranging from 8-32 rounds, including a texas star.

-New things learned: I learned about relaxation and smoothness, as both are crucial to production (such as nailing smooth reloads w/o a magwell etc.). I feel that I achieved my goal of shooting without expectations or clouded mind. On most all the stages (excluding the classifier), I maintained awareness and open-mindedness, allowing myself to perform at a subconscious level.

-Experimentation: Besides shooting a different division, I didn't really try anything special. By shooting production, I was forced to take on a different approach to stages than I'm accustomed to (the 10rd mag capacity limit).

-What I want to work on more: I would like to continue being aware/accepting while I shoot, because it is a skill far more valuable that conscious drive/forcefullness.

-What I did best today: I adapted very effectively to a new platform and division.

-Goal statement: I am the 2011 WS Jr Champion, by practicing hard and having fun.

I'll post the results and video as soon as I've got em.

[BrieH43]

Hey Kid,

results are up and posted thanks to your pops.

Nick shot a CZ75 SP-01 yesterday and kicked the crap out of most everyone.

It truly is an experience watching Nick shoot.