March 2004 Virtual Match: Comments and Questions Thread

[El Rojo]

Are some of you planning on shooting this month? It has been sort of slow around here. I am assuming that some people are just procrastinators or do people not like this match? I thought I gave enough options that everyone can still participate. Tell me what you think.

 

[photo_guy]

I am hoping to do at least open class.
I did use this match as an excuse to finally buy a shot timer(arrived today ) but it is unlikely I will be able to use it effectively for the match. The primary range I use is indoors and does not allow drawing from a holster. Also, I can't imagine the shot timer will get accurate times if it detects the sound of rounds fired by others on the range. It would be very frustrating.

 

[jamz]

El Rojo: I LOVE this match. However...

I have to find the time to make it to my Dad's range, because my range won't allow targets closer than 30 feet, and won't allow drawing from concealment. So I am sort of stuck. Because this is still winter in New England (March is usually worse than December) I'd like to wait till the end of the month for it to warm up a bit.

Another thought, people would have to line up a friend to go with them in order to do the timing. This could knock a couple of people out due to scheduling problems. That being said, I still think it's a cool match.

-James

 

[El Rojo]

Thanks Jamz. I made some test loads for my .308 today and headed out to my secret location to test them. In between barrel cool offs, I did the match again, but forgot my timer. These scores are unofficial and will not count for anything. I just wanted to prove I could do a lot better with my Glock 27 than I did officially. I did my drawing and shooting as fast as I could with the intent of getting hits. I did pretty good.

Open class 10', 20', 30' reload, 60'
Concealed
96 points.

Open class 10', 20', 30' reload, 60'
Non-Concealed
86 points.

So if you don't have a timer, just go out and slow fire it if you can. Those of you without a timer and can't draw can get a easy 100 this month. I am stuck with a 69 for my official score.

 

[Ankeny]

EL Rojo:

I can see dumping the draw and timer for guys who face range restrictions, but I think folks should be encouraged to shoot quickly if the range will allow rapid fire. Maybe start at the low ready and let it rip?

Frankly, I thought the hot rock point shooters from the self defense threads would wander this way and school us hard, lol.

 

[El Rojo]

I specified I wanted them to do it as fast as they can in the rules. I wish I would have waited to shoot my Glock today rather than rush it in last week. Oh well.

 

[jamz]

We can fire from low ready, and can do rapid fire, as long as you get them all onto paper. If I can
t make it to my Dad's range, I'll do that at the end of the month.

-James

 

[BamBam-31]

Sorry, El Rojo, but Beetle Bailey and I prolly can't do this match. Our local range is minimum 50 ft., no rapid fire/ double taps, no holster draw. We could go to Burro Canyon, but it's a bit of a drive, and safety rules there are a bit too lax for me.

I think next match should follow in photo_guy's footsteps: simple, fun, but with a twist. By simple, I don't necessarily mean easy, just not as many range-rules-bending hoops to jump through. I think there would be more participation that way.

 

[Ankeny]

I never knew so many ranges had so many restrictions. I guess I am lucky. How do the guys on the forum who have carry permits get in any real practice? Bummer.

 

[Quantrill]

I posted my scores on the other (I hope correct) thread (83 and 86). I used a Colt Commander in a matte stainless steel that I picked up a few years ago. I put in stiffer springs (I really forget what but one can feel the difference between it and the soft springed Gold Cup), shock buffers, oversized mag release, safety and slide lock, and a group gripper. It has the matte "silver" sights which made it hard to rapidly acquire the white target used. I have shot mostly bullseye competition in the past with enough PPC and IPSC to make it interesting.
I surprised myself by coming in under the time limit in both concealed and unconcealed for the 10' and 20' stages. I would have thought I would not come in under the time limit for any of the stages. The 30' reloading stage and the 60' were both over the limit, but the raw scores were 99 in each case. The bottom line here is my reloading is slow and I concentrate on hitting what I shoot at to the detriment of speediness. I really don't know if that is bad or good but as an old man, I am comfortable with it. Next time, I will try an old S&W59 that rarely gets taken out of the safe. Quantrill

 

[Ankeny]

Quantrill:

Good going. If you could find an electronic timer to use you might get a better picture. Doing this match with a stop watch is pretty tough.

 

[Quantrill]

I was lucky that my wife was available this weekend, so I had a stop watch operator and my 2 grandsons (6 and 8) to pick up brass (another reason to use a revolver eh?). Of course I had to spend Sat. with them and the BB gun and the .22 rifle. They drive a hard bargain just to pick up brass.

 

[El Rojo]

Those are pretty good scores in my book. The reload stage is something best practiced at home with an empty gun and magazines. The more dry fire drills you do, the better your reload becomes. Good shooting.

 

[Quantrill]

Thanks again to El Rojo, ROTR and those to come who come up with these postals. You all do a great job. Quantrill

 

[Langenator]

My only suggestion with the IRS match is to have pistol and rifle divisions. Pistols at whatever the agreed-on distance (25m seems popular), rifles at 50 or 100m. Oh, no scopes on the rifles. Iron sights only.

 

[Edward429451]

I wanted to shoot this match but between snow in the mtns early in the month and work later in the month...

Maybe I'll do it retroactively for my yearly totals. I think Grzegorf and Daniel were both slightly intimidated of the match and didn't show any interest this month. I think it was the (have to post your) time pressure against you guys. (You guys are on the net, so must be a bunch of masters, right?)

Go against the clock?

 

[El Rojo]

Why be intimidated? You don't shoot against the clock to be afraid, you shoot against the clock to get better. No matter how good you think you are, some guy like Ankeny comes along and makes this look easy and you realize you need more practice. The good news is, the more you practice, the better. Especially if the thug you run into some day holds his gun sideways and never practices. Besides, I have my friends to come on here and do horribly! They don't care and your scores ought to be higher!

Sure post some retroactive scores. When only 7 guys shoot, I am going to be hard pressed to say no.

 

[jamz]

I'd like to do the same. I was hard pressed to get weather, friends, and weapons all in good condition at the same time and place in March.


While that might be part of the Competition, i.e. you have a time limit, that can be more of a test of organizational skills rather than shooting skills.


I liked the idea for the March Match, but probably won't have the means until the summer.

-James