3G, Frostproof, 1-27-18

Open Division

• Open G34, 124gr BB RN ammo, ETS 170 and 140mm mags
• SW-JP15, Strike Eagle 1-6, Perfecta 55gr and PPU 69gr ammo, Troy 32rnd mag, dual PMAG
• Saiga 12, Vortex Venom, Remington Target (7.5, 1-1/8, 1200fps), Heavy Dove (1255fps) and Managed Recoil Slugs (1200fps)

The night before, I verified zero of the Sightmark secondary with the JP and shot some drills using Perfecta ammo. That’s when the Sightmark’s dot decided to go on vacation. It might be the battery as it went back on later, only to go off again later. With little time to troubleshoot, and with its reliability in question, the Sightmark was benched for this match. I continued with the Strike Eagle and practiced off hand at 25, 50 and 75 yards on an 11×17 envelope. Here, I found that I needed some magnification (3-4x) to shoot a target that size reliably. I finished off with half and half drills using 5 round strings instead of the prescribed 10.

Stage 5

• Start with rifle, go to the right side for 2 near and 2 down range (10-15yds). The half and half drills’ effect allowed me to comfortably shoot quick controlled pairs at the far arrays.
• Go back to the left and shoot the close 2 before leaving the box to re-enter downrange for the last 2 before dumping.
• Pick up the SG and I take the right array of steel and clays from the pickup spot. Step back to see more steel and clays, then bend over to shoot more clays and steel through the low port. I differ from most in that I shoot all steel and clays 3-5 steps away from the pickup. Most walked across the stage to dump the SG at the opposite barrel. I dumped at the pickup barrel.
• Finish off with 5 pistol paper.
• Clean. 8th out of 39

Stage 1

• Optic set to 6x, dual mags loaded with 69gr PPU. From the post/crossbar, 4 flashers from 50 to 200yds, repeat. 1 extra shot for the requisite 8.
• Run to the right post for the 300 and 400 yd shots. The 300yd LaRue takes about 3-4 shots, hitting it right after a call on the last miss. The 400 is hit in about 2 shots.
• 6th

Stage 2

• 4 slugs to start then clays and steel. I drop but 2 steel to save travel to the far right.
• Switch to pistol for paper and remaining steel.
• 11th

Stage 3

• From the wobbly platform, with long guns on table and pistol in holster…
• Rifle loaded on table, 2-2-2 on top array, reload, 2-2-2 bottom array.
• Same as with pistol.
• SG is unloaded for 8 shots: 4 steel, 4 clays.
• 6th

Stage 4

• With rifle 4 no-shoot obscured from the start. The last 3 I take on the move out.
• Run to dump barrel on the left side, and there I engage the remaining 5 rifle paper.
• 3 paper with the pistol on the way to the right and from there, 4 poppers and 2 swingers.
• Clean, 5th.

Finished 6th overall and 1st out of 5 in Open. The match felt good. I haven’t felt as good in a while for the whole match. My right knee on the other hand, was a different story. It was popping and creaking all day, more than at Ruskin 2 weeks ago where I barely noticed it. I did walk 2 miles last night though…

The Good

• Pistol work – steel mostly 1 for 1 and clean.
• Rifle splits, which I credit to last night’s half and half drills.
• LR rifle
• SG uneventful – always a good thing.
• Equipment 100%
• Stage planning and execution.

Needs Improvement

• Pistol splits – need Bill drills the night before, as I did with the rifle.
• Verify rifle zero with PPU 69gr.
• Continued PT for general fitness and to improve my right knee.

PSA-JP 9mm Drum Test, 1-12-18

After this weekend’s issues I tested the PSA-JP PCC with just the drum mag using only my 124gr BB RN loads. Checked for accuracy at 25 yards and passed (maybe slight left bias) and shot 5 round half and half drills. Drum was loaded to capacity and shot dry. As an added plus, the drum was easier to unload as I safed and un-magged (but left chambered) during target pasting/checks. Passed.

Technique reminder: use support hand to ‘stab’ your right shoulder with the stock to keep it flat.

USPSA, TBSPC Ruskin, 1-7-18

PCC Division using the PSA-JP 9mm PCC:

• Bushnell TRS-25 primary, SIG light+laser combo
• JP 9mm SCSS (std)
• SGM drum, Glock 33 rnd mag
• 124gr BB RN, 124gr HP Freedom Munitions, 115gr Sig

This is the first match of this system. (While I did use it for 1 stage at Frostproof last year, today will be full match use.)

Stage 3

• From the furthest box, open target, 6 shots. 2nd shot jams and stopped (local match flex rules). I strip off around 6 rounds from the 33rnd mag and restart. Clean.
• From the middle box, NS obscured, clean.
• From the front box, weak shoulder, on the zebra, 1 mike.
• 10th out of 67

Stage 4

• With the drum, from the back of the box, shoot hashes (#1 and #3) and stop.
• Shoot heads (#2 and #4) then zig-zag 2 plate rows (3 per row).
• 17th
• On ULSC, I had to have the RO yank the drum mag off. This would be the case for the whole match.

Stage 5

• 3 heads, 2 each. Clean, 15th

Stage 6

• 4 large poppers (2 activators) on the far right to start off their swingers.
• 4 NS obscured through a port down the middle.
• 4 on the far left, then step up for the swingers.
• Throughout the above, the drum jammed a few times. The round would get stuck at the throat and not chamber. Extracting the non-fired round then brought about a double feed situation. Tilting the gun to let the non-fired round fall out fixed it.
• After these jams, on engaging the swingers, I notice the right swinger isn’t. I thankfully stop and look back at the squad for what I think is a range malfunction. Only thing is, it’s not. The activator popper is standing tall right next to it. I hit it in the beginning, I just didn’t drop it. Pretty embarrassing.
• I fix the issue (shot the popper and swinger) and move to the right to finish off on 4 more paper.
• 40th
• This contradicts the uneventful first time run at Frostproof in November last year where I used only 124gr BB RN ammo. Today, I *may* have mixed in some of SIG 115gr ammo which could have caused the issue.

Stage 1

• Left of the upside down ‘V’, 2 targets.
• Run to the other side of the ‘V’ for 4 swept right to left.
• Move up for 2 on the right, then 4 steel, and 2 more paper on the far left.
• In between the above, the 33 rounder also jams. (ugh)
• 31st

Stage 2

• Steel and heads, forget the clamshell opening.
• No-shoot on the first head, and another jam with the 33 rounder. (more ugh)
• 49th

After the match the gun’s issues may be due to:

• HP ammo getting stuck and not chambering (USE ROUND NOSE)
• Drum mag (need testing)
• Glock 33rnd mag (ETS recommended, need testing on both)

The Good

• Mental game – staying in it through the bad
• Planning and execution
• Accuracy/zero
• I ran!

Needs Improvement

• Awareness – should’ve seen that activator was still standing and not assumed a range malfunction.
• Test mags and drum with RN ammo and compare with commercial ammo.
• ETS mags were recommended as their followers apparently point the round higher than standard Glock mags.
• Taylor Freelance extensions were also recommended
• The system is ‘jumpier’ than the Oly 9mm. (sigh)
• Fix the Oly upper’s ejector.

First match of the year and also from a 3 week break. Finished 29 out of 67 overall, and 14 out of 18 in PCC. I was going to use this match as a gauge for readiness for the Florida Open in February. Based on this match, it ain’t happening. Not a great start for the year, but at least I can only really get better. And I was able to run today, with little or no knee issues, so my physical state is better than from past matches last year. Silver lining!