A6 2018 MG Championships Prep

Week of 3/26/18 – SW

• Monday (3/26)
  • JP-SW15 Meopta zero check
    • PPU 69gr
    • adjusted 2 clicks down, 2 clicks right
    • verified at 100yds
  • Saiga 12, Venom slug re-zero
    • Remington Managed Recoil slugs (1200fps)
    • initial adjustment: up, left
    • after 15 rounds:
      • 25 – dead on
      • 50 – low
      • 75 – low right
      • need more to verify
• Tues – SW Action Shooting (Para 45)
• Wed
  • Verify Saiga slug zero
  • no changes
  • after 10 rounds: low right at all distances
• Thursday
  • Slug re-zero, with the Mod choke removed (same as last year’s A6, no choke)
    
  • Verified: dead-on from 25 on. 2 outliers on right above, prior to final adjustment
  • Verified Sightmark offset optic on rifle: dead-on at 25, low at 50yds
  • 2 round pop-up drills with rifle

Matches Prep:

2018
1/7/18	uspsa ruskin	pistol	2
1/27/18	3g frostproof	rifle/pcc	4
2/25/18	uspsa wac	2g	1
3/4/18	uspsa ruskin	3g	2
3/11/18	uspsa wac
3/17/18	idpa hsc	Total	9
3/18/18	pcc 2g hsc
3/24/18	3g frostproof
3/27/18	action pistol sw
3/31/18	A6 MG
2017
1/14/17	3g manatee	pistol	1
1/28/17	3g frostproof	rifle/pcc	3
2/4/17	3g manatee	SG	1
2/5/17	uspsa ruskin	2g	1
2/25/17	3g frostproof	3g	6
2/26/17	uspsa wac
3/4/17	ssgm wac	Total	12
3/5/17	uspsa ruskin
3/11/17	3g manatee
3/25/17	2g hsc
4/1/17	3g manatee
4/2/17	uspsa ruskin
4/8/17	A6 MG

3Gun, Frostproof, 3-24-18

Open Division

• Open G34 – ETS 27rnd mag, 124gr BB RN ammo
• SW-JP15, Strike Eagle 1-6, Sightmark micro dot, Nordic extended PMAG, Perfecta and Freedom Munitions 55gr and PPU 69gr ammo
• Saiga 12 – Venom red dot, R&R 20rnd mag, Remington Target (1200fps), Heavy Dove (1255fps) ammo and Managed Recoil (1200fps) slugs

Stage 2

• Plenty of options to shoot around the house. I start with SG using the 12 rounder topped off with a bird followed by 3 slugs. The 3 slugs are for the right side pistol paper.
• After the slugs, I finish off the remaining clays going counter clockwise in the house.
• Change to pistol for the remaining pistol targets at 2 positions: the dump barrel and the left window.
• Re-hoslter and pickup rifle while going clockwise around the house ending at the 4 o’clock window.
• Multiple positions, I’m not as direct and deliberate as I should.
• The best way to shoot the stage was to go all SG and mostly slugs. Doing so meant 1 trip around the house instead of going back and forth. I only had 6 slugs for the day so I went multigun and had to go around the room twice.
• 14th out of 39

Stage 3

• From the railroad tie, step down to the left side of the shooting area and with the SG, engage steel and clays. I use the 20 rounder with 15 Target topped off with 6 Heavy Dove loads.
• After making my way down the course and finishing all steel and clays, I switch to pistol for all the paper, starting with 2 at the end.
• Run uprange to the second spot for the remaining 4. The last one I take strong handed while looking through the screen wall.
• As with the previous stage, the best way was to do it with all SG and meant going down the line once. Not enough slugs, so I had to go back uprange to finish.
• 13th

Stage 4

• Rifle on the 75yd plate rack. Not 1 for 1, but only 2 extras.
• Leave the box for the long run to the SG, pausing 15yds in for 4 on the move.
• After the long run, pickup SG for 3 slugs at 50-75yds. None hit. Finish off the 12 rounder on the plate rack.
• Switch to pistol to re-engage the slug steel. The first 2 I hit 1 for 1. The last takes me 4 or 5.
• 22nd

Stage 5

• Pistol on the left bay – from the left ‘door’ I start the array with the activator and end with the swinger and repeat on the right door.
• Run to the right bay after dumping the pistol and pickup the rifle.
• I work left to right with the rifle then go left sideways prone to shoot through the middle low port for the 2 arrays of 3 left and right.
• While it felt good, I get 3 FTNs.
• 21st

Stage 1

• Rifle loaded with 69gr PPUs, magnification set to 6x. Rifle resting on the pole for the 4 far steel (165-267yds). 1 for 1 until the last 2, with a few extra shots needed.
• Run to the fallen tree where I take up a kneeling position and rest on the trunk. Again, 1 for 1 for the close targets but need extras for the 267-333yd steel.
• 17th

The Good

• Was more cognizant of the ‘stab’ technique for rifle and SG shooting and I’d remember to apply the technique during shooting.
• Equipment – ran reliably, no issues.
• Stage planning – slug deficits needed efficient stage plans to makeup or at least keep up.
• Running – this is the most running I’ve done in a match since last year’s Area 6 before my right knee started acting up.

Needs Improvement

• Verify rifle zero with 69gr PPU, seem to be aiming slight right
• Verify slug zero
• SG and rifle presentation and initial target acquisition wobbly. Need it to be crisp, direct and deliberate. = Dryfire
• ‘Stab’ technique needs to be ‘always on’ rather than me having to remember to use the technique
• Bring more slugs every match
• Keep improving fitness so I can run faster and recover quicker

The take home from this match is how physical this match was and I was able to keep up. A few weeks or months ago, this would have been impossible. But while I was able to run, I wasn’t able to run fast enough. I need to see if I can start doing sprint workouts again or start easing my way into it. Finished 18th out of 39 overall and 7th out of 11 in Open.

 

HSC IDPA and PCC 2Gun, 3-17-18 Weekend

IDPA 3-17-18

Shooting CDP since forever with the Para Limited using TNT 230gr RN ammo. Re-learning the game and getting used to new rules.

Stage 4

• Left to right, 2 to the body on the 6 targets.
• Reload needed to complete the 12 shots, then 1 each to the head (reload again needed for the last shot).
• 14th

Stage 5

• From the barrel, 2 up close while retreating to the right.
• At the right side, 2 while pieing and round dump on the last for slide lock.
  • I verified that the round dump would not be a procedural during walk through. (new to me)
• Reload, then run to the left to finish off the remaining.
  • I only learned later that I could’ve reloaded on the move to the left in spite breaking cover.
• 10th

Stage 6

• Centered on the wall, I go to the right side first for the 2 far paper.
• Move to the left for the other 2 with a round dump on the last.
• Break cover and run to the forward low wall while reloading. (Since I last played, it is now legal to break cover with an empty gun.)
• Last 2 are low that I have to shoot 1 handed over the wall.
• 15th

Stage 1

• Hands on wall: pie the left window for 2, then pie the right door for 3.
• Reload for the last shot on the last target then cross the doorway for the last target through the right window.
• 11th

Stage 2

• Starting seated, gun on table. I stand on the get go then take the first head shot on the right (3 per target).
• Finish on the last 3 with required reload in between.
• 6th

Stage 3

• String 1 – 2 on each, in Tac order (2 close, 2 medium, 2 far)
• String 2 – mag loaded with 6: 1 on each strong hand; reload, 1 on each weak hand
• 12th

The Good

• Clean match
• Learning the new rules
  • round dumping
  • reloading while moving in the open
• No malfunctions
  • Not during a run, but while ULSC on the first stage (S4), the round wouldn’t extract. After repeated racking, it finally ejected. No issues throughout the match afterwards.

Need Improvement

• While clean, my accuracy for the match needs improvement. Need range work for accuracy; dot torture drill.
• Speed and recoil control improvement; Bill drills.
• Dryfire to improve overall grip and reloading.
• Range strong and weak hand practice.

Good match getting back to IDPA and shooting an iron sighted gun, a 45, no less. This really needs to be part of the monthly routine to keep the skills up. Finished 12th out of 24 overall and 2nd out of 3 in CDP.

 

PCC 2Gun, 3-18-18

Open Division

• PSA-JP PCC with the TRS-25 optic using my 124gr BB RN loads
• Open G34, using the same ammo.

Stage 2

• Start with the pistol near the extreme right, for what should be all paper. Move to the left for 2 more, then to the barrel for the last few.
• Dump the pistol in the barrel and pickup the PCC. Paper and steel from the start, a few on the move to the right, then finish at the right most.
• Lots of travel and some shooters started closer to the left. Too many far head shots from those positions so I chose more travel for better target presentations.
• 6th out of 27

Stage 3

• From the start: 8 long range steel (100yds). It takes me a few shots to get dialed in – I need to aim left. Few extra shots to finish, then 3 poppers to the left (50-75yds).
• Run to the house while reloading. In the house, I take as many as I can on the move.
• 21st

Stage 4

• Guns unloaded on table. I start with PCC on the 2 small poppers. Move to the PCC area on the left side and take as many as I can right to left. A few extra shots are needed for the small steel at distance (30yds). Reload while moving to the right to finish off what’s left.
• Run to dump barrel, then back to the table for the pistol.
• Load on the run to the pistol area for paper and 2 clays.
• 4th

Stage 1

• From the boardwalk on the left side, laser on – headshots and triples (need 3, 2 Cs to neutralize). I start off with the 27rnd mag. All are shot using the laser.
• Run to the mineshaft for the 2 windows. Since I’m using the laser I don’t go as deep to the second window and I don’t see the upside down head. A better stage plan would’ve made me remember that specific target.
• Reload while leaving and moving downrange. From there, I take the middle array by combining flat footed shooting for the heads and on the move while advancing when I could for the triples.
• Move to the left for the left array, then to the right to finish.
• 6th

The Good

• Second match for the weekend (!)
• General accuracy – close to medium is good for small targets
• Laser work in Stage 1
• Mental game – overcoming:
  • bad second stage
  • sleepiness – second day match with 6 hours sleep the night before
  • fatigue – see above
• PCC and pistol ran fine.
• Fitness – more running today and doing ok afterwards.

Needs Improvement

• Fine tune zero of PCC (seems to be shooting left at distance)
• Still not doing the stab technique to speed up splits – dryfire or range work during the week or the night before.
• Sleep schedule so as not to be a factor.
• Fitness – continue improving.

Finished 8th overall and 1st out of 7 in Open.

USPSA WAC, 3-11-18

PCC Division with the PSA-JP9, TRS-25 dot, SIG laser-light combo, 124gr BB RN ammo, Glock 33rnd mag.

DST change and I am on zero sleep. I dozed off after dinner around 8 last night, then woke up around 11-12. I tried to get back to bed at 2 but no-go. I’d be up for the rest of the day.

Stage 2

• Mirror stage: first with 3 up close on the left, then the mirror on the right on the move out.
• 2 down the middle on the move to the left, then once there, the left array.
• On the move to the right, what’s left of the middle array, then finish off on the right side.
• 25th out of 58

Stage 3

• From the barrel in the middle, with the first target visible (to the right), which I take on the move out to the left.
• After the front left array of 4, run diagonally back to my second spot where I take the 2 through the port, and 2 down the middle.
• Take 1 close on the move to the right charge line where I finish off with the other close paper, 1 downrange, and 2 headshots.
• 18th

Stage 4

• From the gap on the left side, I sweep left to right: 3 paper, small popper activator, large popper, then swing back to the pop-out target (disappearing swinger). I thought I only got 1 through but later find out it was good. C-D, but still good.
• Run uprange and from the second position – headshot, big popper activator (for that headshot) while taking a step, then 2 with hardcover down the middle.
• Run to the right for the last 3.
• 4th

Stage 5

• Starting on the left with 3 paper, then diagonally across to the right for 1.
• A step up and slowly on the move to reveal the dual bobber array – right small popper activator, left small activator, left solo paper, then back to the middle for the left and right bobbers.
• Run to the right for the final 3.
• 8th

Stage 6

• Start with paper, activator, clamshell, paper combo. I thought I missed the activator when I returned to the clamshell and it still hadn’t opened even after I’d engaged another target in between; but it did open.
• 2 on the move going diagonal to the right, then slow down for the middle array of 3 with a no-shoot.
• 1 on the left just before going into the ‘hallway’, then the one on the move at the end of the hallway.
• Once at the end, the 3 remaining.
• I had to borrow some ammo (19rnds) from Abe as the 150 or so rounds I brought was out.
• 4th

Stage 1

• Classifier: Raw Deal – seated, elbows on marks, holding cards, loaded gun on table.
• 3 on the left, reload, 3 on the right. As I always do with classifiers, I start with a 17rnd mag and reload with the 33.
• I have enough ammo to run my own.
• 16th

The Good

• Gun ran! 2nd match with no issues.
• Accuracy – clean today.
• Mental game – overcoming lack of sleep.
• Planning – helped Abe out with some planning and came up with some out of the box plans (as usual).
• Improving fitness – even more running today, and actually wearing previously tight, unwearable pants.

Needs Improvement

• Dryfire – I find myself hesitating in the beginning when I see the dot on target and actually pulling the trigger.
• Too many A-Cs, which tells me I’m not controlling the gun at recoil. Not employing the ‘stab technique’ – using my support hand to ‘stab’ the stock into my shoulder to help control recoil. = Dryfire!
• Keep on improving fitness

The match felt good as the gun ran clean for the second time, and despite the lack of sleep, I shot clean, planned and excuted well. Finished 9th overall and 2nd out of 5 in PCC.

USPSA TBSPC, Ruskin, 3-4-18

PCC Division with the PSA-JP9, TRS-25 dot, SIG laser-light combo, 124gr BB RN ammo, Glock 33rnd mag.

Stage 3

• Laser on, dot on 1st target while in low port arms start position. Works great until the next target and I shoulder the gun, and see 2 dots. Which one?! Didn’t dry fire, so I’m guessing at this point instead of knowing. Or get a green laser.
• After quickly figuring out the dots, the first 3 on the right go ok, as does the 3 on the left, while on the move.
• The 2 steel I plan to take from the left box both ding and I leave to go to the front box. But I see the large popper NOT fall, so I step back, ding it again, leave, not fall again… box tango. I should have just gone on to the front box, and shot the steel from there, closer, instead of being wedded to the original plan. Lesson learned: sometimes moving forward after a failure and leaving it, allows a future opportunity to fix it with better conditions.
• After finally falling and wasting all that time, I finish with the steel, paper, and headshot (was the activated clamshell).
• 34th out of 55

Stage 4

• Last/back array of Stage 3, starting with barrel on middle wall.
• Laser now off, and the steel that gave me problems falls easily.
• Right array goes as from before. 17th

Stage 5

• El Prez
• I go too fast and call a bad shot on the second target. My brain automatically says “make it up” = extra shot, extra hit (didn’t need to shoot again).
• 44th

Stage 6

• 3 far on the left from the start, then 4 on the move on the right.
• 2 more on the move on the left (mid range but wide open), 3 more on the move on the right, then end on 2 with no-shoots through the port.
• 7th – finally, a good stage!

Stage 1

• From the upside down triangle ‘box’, first target on the move to the left, plus 1 more.
• Run to the right side for 2 more paper with no-shoots and 3 steel. The 3rd steel is obscured by the 2 bigger poppers in front of it, but part of it is visible through the gap, so I shoot through it.
• 5th

Stage 2

• My plan is backwards from everyone else, starting up front instead of the back. From there, I thought the targets flowed better…
• 3 far on the left, sweeping left to right. 2 up close on the right on the move to the right, and from that position, 4 more far paper.
• Move uprange to the right and take the close one on coming into position. Finish with 2 far paper.
• 13th

The Good

• Gun ran! – Much, much better than the last Ruskin match with this gun (malfunction junction)
• Accuracy – clean, except for 1 mike
• Mental game – not letting the bad beginning get to me, I get better through the day
• Planning
• Improving fitness

Needs Improvement

• Dryfire – to address identifying which dot is which
• Or get a green laser – but dryfire is cheaper
• Keep on improving fitness

Too many bad stages in the beginning to recover from, even with the better stages later on. Finished 16th overall and 6th out of 12 in PCC.