Gary Stevens Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 The 20 year post made me remember that this summer will mark my 30th year in IPSC/USPSA. This journey started at the now defunct, Butler County Sportsman Club in Butler County Ohio in 1978. I met a lot of nice people there, and in the following years. A lot of those are now deceased. The good part is they have been replaced by many, many more equally nice people. I remember when we did things like weak hand draws which were accomplished by reaching around behind you and drawing the pistol with your weak hand, or drawing from the front and then "rolling" the gun across the front of your body until you could get your weak hand on the grip. These were usually followed by a weak hand only reload I remember when if you had an 8 round magazine you were considered "Hi-Tech". When the first 45 comp gun arrived everyone had to immediately have one. Needless to say when the 38 Super comp gun came around shooters fell all over themselves to get those extra two rounds. Of course there was the learning curve on reloading, which lead to the phrase "super face". Remember the power factor was 175 then, which required 180+ to keep out of minor land. Then came the first strange high caps using 9x21 ammo, and the dot scope that Jerry Barnhart unleashed. As we say the rest is history. All in all a rather heady time. I sort of miss that time, and wouldn't trade the memories for anything. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganShootist Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 (edited) Good for you Gary ! ! ! ! Us old farts have to stick together I can remember in about 65 or 66 when the local cops allowed shooters who were interested to come to their range and practice with them. All you needed was an interest and a CPL and they welcomed you ... Wow... how times have changed--- in many ways for the worst. Edited May 5, 2008 by MichiganShootist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showclear Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Thanks Gary for that quick trip down memory lane. I still have the comp from my first .45 race/pin gun. It's funny thinking back at those days. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eerw Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 I can remember getting my first Devel followers..and being gamey. only 21 years in USPSA for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x21 Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Awesome. Can uspsa publish member counts 30-year, 20 year? not names, just active members! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Stevens Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 I don't know as USPSA didn't come into being until 1984. Numbers would only go back that far. Some folks like myself didn't join until a year or so later. I would guess it would be on a "yeah, I was there" basis. I believe the Columbia conference was in 1975, so there were a number of IPSC shooters out and about before I got in three years later. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Dang Gary, I used to just think you were old.....now you have gone and confirmed it As I said in the 20 year thread. I just wish I had been introduced back then so I could have enjoyed it more. dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Congrats to you Gary. I love hearing stories about the "early days" of USPSA shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobert1 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Many of us that have met you over the years have surely been blessed. Thanks for all you do !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I don't know as USPSA didn't come into being until 1984. Numbers would only go back that far. Some folks like myself didn't join until a year or so later. I would guess it would be on a "yeah, I was there" basis.I believe the Columbia conference was in 1975, so there were a number of IPSC shooters out and about before I got in three years later. Gary '78 was a good year....me too, although I have a break in service in the late '80's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Congrats to you Gary. I love hearing stories about the "early days" of USPSA shooting. There are good stories, funny stories and then there are stories about Mr. Jake J.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Gary, you've been shooting IPSC longer than I've been alive!! I wish I had found this at a much younger age but like Chris, stories of the good ol' days, gotta readem all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Stevens Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Uhhh...yeah, Thanks for reminding me Let's see, above ground, verticle, and taking nourishment. Yep, all is well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Meek Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Uhhh...yeah, Thanks for reminding me Let's see, above ground, verticle, and taking nourishment. Yep, all is well So Gary, What was it like to shoot IPSC with a Cap and Ball revolver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Stevens Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Real smokey, and the reloads take a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMS42 Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Real smokey, and the reloads take a while. If you were using a Colt the reloads were pretty slow. If using a Remington and had some cylinders preloaded it wasn't too bad. But they both beat the heck out of the single shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 The bows could sustain fire fairly well, but carrying all those sticks around was something of a problem... Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Meek Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 The bows could sustain fire fairly well, but carrying all those sticks around was something of a problem...Guy So where there many "lost arrow" matches back then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 The night shoots were the worst for not recovering arrows... Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer-lock Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Arrows? All we had was a big stick. Come to think of it that big stick is all that is keeps me going in Open... David C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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