USPSA, WAC, 11-27-18

Open Division

Shooting the Open Edge in .40SW using 155gr BB RN loads. After another short break from the Open Edge to focus on the CO G34 for Benning, back at it to keep it current.

Stage 3

• Good start, steel 1 for 1, but bit of a trigger freeze on the top no-shoot. that turned out to nick it (still got the ‘A’ hit)
• Second array on the move.
• Last array got off sequence but recovered.
• 9th out of 47

Stage 4

• Good start again, nice consistent tempo on all 4, and steel 1 for 1.
• Consistent tempo again except for long transition to the right.
• Extra on the steel.
• 7th

Stage 1

• Planned on an increasing tempo as I went far to close on the first 3, but only barely sped up on the last. Also some trigger freeze on the second.
• On the move for the next few. Seems like I could speed up a bit as they are close with no obstructions.
• On the last 3, the first 2 could also use some speeding up.
• 8th.

Stage 2

• Memory stage, but was able to cook up a simple plan. 26 shots, 26 rounds.
• First array a bit too much zig-zaggy. Thinking of it now, probably should have shot the one on the right while backing up to the left, which would then make the one ahead of it visible after the move. Then swing left and finish up moving forward.
• Last 9 shot at another good consistent tempo.
• 4th

The Good

• Stage 4
  • planning
  • shot tempo
  • lots of As
  • little/no hesitation on the up close no-shoot
• Good consistent tempos within arrays. (sounds like shooting 1 target – no gap on the transitions)
• Better  execution – less doubt and overthinking, just shoot.
• Only 1 extra on steel.

Needs Improvement

• Keep working on split consistency between different target distance.
• Tempo is good, now work on speeding it up.

FInished 6th overall and 1st out of 5 in Open.

3G Frostproof, 11-24-18

Open Division

photo from TTI

• G34 CO – Fastfire 3, 12.5# recoil spring, tungsten guiderod, ETS mags, 125gr BlB RN ammo
• JP15 20″ on the Aero lower with mil-spec trigger with yellow JP springs and carbine buffer, Strike Eagle 1-6, Sightmark micro dot, Nordic extended PMAG, Federal 55gr ammo
• 18″ NFSC – 18″ New Frontier Side Charging upper on the M&P lower with JP trigger and SCSS, Strike Eagle 1-8, offset mini-dot, JP Eliminator, SCSS, Armaspec magwell, PPU 69gr ammo
• borrowing Lee’s TTI Benelli M2 – 11 round extension tube, Remington and Estate 12DRAM 7.5 loads and B&P slugs

The old JP workhorse now has a standard BCG and mounted on the Aero M4 lower with a standard carbine buffer. The JP will be used for close range while the Side Charger for long range with its 1-8 Strike Eagle.

Stage 4

• Metric – pistol, Classic – rifle, white – slugs
• Pistol and rifle: 2 each, reload, repeat
• Rifle – JP 20″.
• Need some speeding up; and I miss the first slug shot (jerked it)
• 21st out of 40

Stage 5

• The first steel I engage with the SG doesn’t fall, and I never make it up.
• Too many extras with the pistol.
• Splits need speeding up, specially with the closer paper (my issue of inconsistent tempo on different targets)
• 19th

Stage 6

• Orange – shoot, white – no shoot
• No plan, I picked a spot with the most chance for doubles and shot the SG dry then shot the pistol
• Lee set his choke to Full for his run but asked him to set it to Light Modified for my run. Seemed to work out ok here.
• Finally, clean. 6th

Stage 1

• Rifle – NFSC 18″.
• From the bench: 2 LaRues at 400yds. First shot low, next 2 hit.
• From the box, off-hand: 2 on 200yd steel. Bit harder, needed 4 to hit.
• Run to SG box, but on the way, 5 pistol paper single handed (strong hand).
• 2 slugs on the 50yd steel; first shot low, I adjust and hit on the next 2 (again).
• 7th

Stage 2

• Rifle – JP 20″.
• Good splits to start, but slow down a tad inside the house.
• As I near the end of the rifle run, I re-engage 2 targets – plan not fully locked in.
• 12 shots to drop the 9 steel. I was setting the shotgun front bead under the target (as with flying clays) and was hitting low. Once I aimed dead-on, the hits came. Spent more time here than with the rifle re-engages.
• 22nd

Stage 3

• Rifle – JP 20″.
• Rifle – heads, pistol body.
• Good splits to start again, then slows down again. Work on consistency.
• Relatively close wide open pistol, and I’m shooting for alphas.
• One of the front target I shoot once after I called an ‘A’ hit is actually ‘C’. Either I hit an ‘A’ fast and don’t need to verify the hit or just shoot 2 quick, specially for these wide-open targets.
• Good plan, but needed faster execution.
• 12th

The Good

• Both rifle systems worked for their respective jobs (JP – close, NFSC – long).
• Adapting to the Benelli
• Clean pistol (accuracy)
• LR rifle

Needs Improvement

• Tempo consistency between different ranges (pistol and rifle)
• SG work
• Keeping my head in the game (felt a little off today)

Finished 15th out of 40 overall and 9 out of 15 in Open (looks like there was a scoring snafu today and these don’t mean anything).

2018 Fort Benning Multigun Challenge, Nov. 16-18, 2018

Open Division

• G34 CO – Fastfire 3, 12.5# recoil spring, tungsten guiderod, ETS mags, 125gr BlB RN ammo
• 18″ NFSC – 18″ New Frontier Side Charging upper on the M&P lower with JP trigger and SCSS, Strike Eagle 1-8, offset mini-dot, JP Eliminator, SCSS, Armaspec magwell, Federal 55gr and PPU 69gr ammo
• Saiga 12 – Venom dot, Remington Target (1200fps), Heavy Dove (1250fps) and Managed Recoil (1200fps) slugs.

DAY 1

Stage 12

• First day, first stage, first shooter. Temp was about 30-40 degrees. I didn’t mind going first, as I’m pretty used to it now,  and I thought there wasn’t much to planning the stage except making sure I knew the best positions for the rifle.
• Pistol looks like I was tentative and hesitant at points, with too many shots on the swingers, and me looking around for now reason.
• The swingers were unlike what I’m used to, with a delay after the activator is shot and I shot them that way. With this setup, as soon as the activator is shot, it’s going, so it can be shot immediately instead of shooting other targets while waiting as there is no wait.
• Rifle portion is too slow to be competitive. While it was dawn and the sun was just rising, the targets were visible enough. I turned on illumination at minimum so the reticle wouldn’t disappear into the dark blue targets. What did give me trouble was my breath, as it was fogging up my scope. You can see my breath rising as I exhale. As it rises, what’s in the way? The scope’s eyepiece.
• 154th out of 248 shooters.

Stage 9

• Pistol splits could be quicker but at least I was shooting on the move.
• Some shooters in the squad ahead of us shot the Polish plate rack in about a fifth of the time I did, or faster. Too many extras, and the FTF only added to the time. The FTF (incomplete battery) – which had started showing itself the past few matches – would continue for the rest of the match.
• On pulling the slung rifle, only then did I realize I didn’t make ready on it, and the chamber flag was still in. Extra time to get the flag out and then load the mag. Good thing it was set to 8x and I didn’t need illumination.
• Rifle is better now that it warmed up (just a bit) so no more foggy breathing. Just a few extras this time.
• 136th

Stage 10

• One of the very few (if not the only) times the Saiga ran.
• I should’ve dumped the SG at the barrel next to the staged rifle to save a stopping point.
• Rifle goes well up until the last small popper (took 4 to hit). Paper shot with the side dot, steel with the scope set to 8x.
• The cut I took to get to the sled cost me a procedural. I should’ve checked to see if I could leave the shooting area.
• Too many extras on steel leading to a standing reload with the pistol.
• 179th

Stage 11

• Better pistol work this time around, and the Saiga FTFs again.
• 127th, best for the day.

DAY 2

Stage 4

• Pistol splits need some speeding up.
• SG going great up until another FTF
• Why 4 on the open target, even on the move? Could’ve used some speeding up.
• Looks like I’m overly cautious and ginger.
• 117th – good start for the day better than any from Day 1

Stage 1

• Nothing but FTFs
• Should’ve shot mostly pistol after clearing the back SG targets instead.
• 145th

Stage 2

• Forgot to turn on camera, no FP video.
• Probably should’ve taken an intermediate clay between the flipper and flyer.
• This time the Saiga ran (2nd time it does).
• 95th (wow, I broke 100)

Stage 3

• Pistol goes well, but I only get 1 in on the first drop turner.
• SG goes well up until that last clay and the bolt is permanently locked back it seems, after numerous attempts, including a mag change. This is what happened:
  
  Saiga finally bit it.
• 155th

Day 3

With the Saiga down, I use my friend Lee’s TTI Benelli M2 with extended mag tube, which I can load up to 11+1.

photo from TTI

Stage 8

• New day, and with the Saiga down, using Lee’s Benelli with max load of 12 (13 using his B&P ammo but we find that out only at the last stage).
• So thinking I had 13 instead of actually 12, I lose the round count. With the gun locked back after using up the tube, I load up on the slugs and promptly forget the last clay. All 4 slugs miss the first 75yd slug steel target. For future work, engage everything once, then come back for the makeups to avoid the FTEs.
• At least I don’t forget to prep my rifle unlike stage 9.
• Pistol is the best part of this debacle.
• 217th

Stage 5

• SG goes well, getting used to the Benelli, even though I actually loaded 4 instead of the 2 needed on the move to the barrel.
• Probably should’ve shot those first few rifle targets elsewhere (probably at the dump barrel) to save a position.
• Splits with the rifle are slow to start but looks like I tell myself to speed up.
• Not pretty, but I get over the wall. (!)
• Pistol has some extras, but I’m just happy I get over the wall.
• 154th

Stage 6

• Splits need to be consistent with the targets (slow on close but faster on further). Need to be confident the hits will get there.
• SG goes well and I avoid the no-shoots (black plates).
• Should’ve started on the left with the pistol as my head was already pointed there to start.
• 118th

Stage 7

• Rifle splits finally are where they should be. I shot closer targets without no-shoots slower. Also didn’t need that third and last rifle shot (I was told there were 3 holes and I only needed 1).
• Pistol is pretty good with shooting on the move, up until that second to the last popper that falls on the 4th shot.
• SG is also pretty good.
• 109th, my second best stage.

The Good

• LR rifle – not too many extras (some of my friends timed out)
• General rifle work (clean match) – really pleased with the 18″ NFSC system, will be THE match rifle and re-start using the 20″ JP as the practice rifle
• General SG work when it was working
• Not giving up even when the Saiga bit it
• Getting over the wall
• For stages with simple movement (Day 1 and 2), I used the Bladetech holster. For Day 3 with the wall and the most running, I used the Safariland retention holster. Both worked great but I was less smooth with the Safariland.

Needs Improvement

• Speed up LR rifle
• Split consistency with both rifle and pistol. Stage 7 with intermediate ranged rifle targets show I can connect with 2 quick shots.
• More pistol practice on further steel (or verify zero)
• Need to speed up SG after watching other squads and seeing their SG splits
• Get the Saiga fixed or move on to the Vepr
• Keep up with the PT to develop speed and agility (to get over the wall quicker, and other physical challenges)
• Draw practice with the Safariland holster

Definitely better than 2 years ago, but with lots of room (acres!) for improvement. I seem to be too careful and ginger with my actions, rather than being quick and direct while still being safe. Finished 140th overall and 31 out of 46 in Open.

Many thanks to Fort Benning, The AMU, MWR, match staff and sponsors for hosting this great match! Thank you to Lee, Keith, Chris and Mike for the camaraderie and friendship. Thanks too to Icarus Shirts, Deep River Customs Inc., DaVinci Machining, The Wyoming Antelope Club, God’a Grip and Gunfighter Gun Oil for supporting Team Icarus Florida.

Special thanks to CMC Triggers for supporting the match, and for the CMC Glock 9mm Flat Trigger from the prize table!

USPSA WAC, 11-13-18

Open Division (minor)

• Glock 34 with a Burris Fastfire 3, using regular, 170mm Dawson Extended and regular 17 round mags with 125gr BlB loads.
• Bladetech holster

Forgot the camera, no videos.

Stage 1

• Start straddling stick, 2 wide open on the right.
• Start moving forward and take 2 (with no-shoots) on the move on the left.
• Reload, post-up on left position for 4, then the 4 in the middle broken up by barrels on the move.
• End on the right most position for the last 4.
• 9th out of 33.

Stage 2

• Finesse plan – further out but less positions. Start on the left for the first 5 left to right with the last 2 through ports.
• Run back uprange to the second position for the last 5 and 1 small popper.
• Popper is 1 for 1 but 2 mikes on the last through port and the last paper at the second position.
• 37th

Stage 3

• Similar to last Friday’s stage 3 with less targets
• From the middle, 3 paper and a popper. Last paper shot on retreat.
• Run to the left for a large popper, 2 paper and a small popper (obscured by the large one).
• Run to the right for the mirror.
• Gun-shy with the mikes from 2, I take 2 extras which turns out I didn’t need.
• Few extras on the left small popper.
• Still, clean; 15th.

Stage 4

• Start on the left for 2 hashes and 2 zebras
• Move right and on the move, take the large popper/activator on the left, paper on the right, and the swinger. I had to stop after the first 2 didn’t connect with the popper.
• Run right for the last 5 hoser targets.
• 6th

The Good

• Stage 4 – keeping at it despite previous bad stages
• Draws quicker with the good ole Bladetech.

Needs Improvement

• Felt tired today, shooting since Thursday night through Sunday, with a break yesterday and somewhat today. Still feeling sleepy now as I write this.
• Upfront/rush plans are showing to be more effective than finesse plans (stage 2).
• Shooting on the move
• Steel 1 for 1
• Use the Bladetech or Safarland open top for USPSA and the retention holster for 3gun.

Finished 14th overall and 4th out of 6 in Open.

USPSA HSC, 11-11-18

Carry Optics

• Glock 34 with a Burris Fastfire 3, using regular, 140mm Dawson Extended and ETS 21 round mags with 125gr BlB loads.
• Safariland 6390 RDS ALS holster with retention.

Stage 2

• First up and I setup as best I could for the unloaded start with mags on the table.
• I pickup and load, then after shooting the first 2, I pickup the second mag and stow as I move right. As I review, I could’ve staged the second mag on the right side of the table and picked it up on the run forward and reloaded. That would’ve saved some time instead of stowing it as I did.
• On the right side of the forward area, I should’ve continued sweeping inwards for the deep left target then engaged the right one while backing up/going left.
• 12th out of 33.

Stage 3

• Holster gave some resistance on the draw, but the run was as good as I could.
• 17th

Stage 4

• In the house, all up close but my splits are as if they weren’t. Ok for the no-shoots and zebras but was too focused on ‘all A’s’.
• Still, clean; 13th.

Stage 5

• String 1 – 6, reload, 6 strong hand
  • Slow, but the hits are there.

• String 2 – 3, reload, 3 weak hand (same comment)
• 14th

Stage 6

• Unloaded start, hence the gap between the beep and first shot.
• Planned some movement but ended up shooting mostly standing.
• At least it’s clean; 21st.

Stage 1

• Splits could use some speeding up.
• 17th.

The Good

• Clean match
• 1 extra on steel (far one at that)
• Stage planning
• Getting my hits on strong and weak hand
• Last of a record 4 consecutive matches since Thursday.

Needs Improvement

• Splits – faster at the WAC, but slower today (think I was tired today, being the 4th day of consecutive matches). Goes back to my split consistency issue.
• Quicker strong and weak hand
• Use the Bladetech or Safarland open top for USPSA and the retention holster for 3gun.

Finished 11th overall and 1st out of 8 in CO.

3G Manatee, 11-10-18

Open Division

• G34 CO – Fastfire 3, 12.5# recoil spring, tungsten guiderod, ETS mags, 125gr BlB RN ammo
• 18″ NFSC – 18″ New Frontier Side Charging upper on the M&P lower with JP trigger and SCSS, Strike Eagle 1-8, offset mini-dot, JP Eliminator, SCSS, Armaspec magwell, Federal 55gr and PPU 69gr ammo
• Saiga 12 – Venom dot, Remington Target (1200fps), Heavy Dove (1250fps) and Managed Recoil (1200fps) slugs.

Stage 1

• Rifle on 2 paper at about 30yds (with the offset), then 3 steel (75-100yds) from 2 barricade positions (primary set to 8x). 1 extra.
• 15 steel with the SG, including 2 flippers. I thought about going flipper-flipper-clay-clay but went conservative with flipper-clay (x2). Second or 3rd shot didn’t go into battery, and pushing forward on the bolt didn’t work, so racked it out and continued. 20 rounder was good enough and didn’t need the spare 12 rounder on my belt.
• Pistol on all steel went ok.
• Clean, 16th out of 44.

Stage 2

• Rifle on 2 paper at about 30yds (with the offset), then from the car hood using the bipod at 100, 200, 275 and 340. 1 for 1.
• Pistol on steel.
• 9th

Stage 3

• Good start on the first 2, but the tempo should’ve been the same on the first 2 after the run.
• RO told me to move to the doorway even though I thought it was irrelevant that I was shooting through the window.
• 7th

Stage 4

• This paper isn’t any further than the ones in stage 3, but splits are slower. Need to be consistent and confident the hits will get there.
• 3rd

Stage 5

• While dumping the Saiga in stage 1, I hit the Venom on the barrel. After the run and during reset, as I was turning off the Venom, I noticed the dot was hard to pickup. On shouldering, the dot seemed high and barely visible at the top of the window. Difficulties hitting here confirmed the drift, it was shooting low. Adjusted high and was able to finish with the 2 from the spare 12 rounder.
• Aside from the sight drift/shift, another failure to go into battery on the second shot.
• Pistol is good, but too many extras on the second array speeding up trying to make up time.
• 30th
• After the match, 2 test slug shots at 25yds confirmed low POI. Adjusting elevation revealed the adjustment screw didn’t have as much resistance as normal (too easy to turn). Out of commission, will need to get it repaired.

The Good

• Stage 3 and 7
• Rifle work – good splits
• LR rifle
• Pistol work

Needs Improvement

• Consistency and confidence on rifle splits
• Replace Venom dot asap and get it fixed.
• Work around battery issues with the 20 rounder on the second shot – download to 18 or 19.

Despite the debacle of the shifted sight, finished 9th overall and 8th out of 15 in Open.

USPSA WAC, 11-9-18

PCC Division

• PSA-JP9, Bushnell TRS-25, 125gr BlB RN and 124gr BB RN loads

Stage 1

• Pulled the second shot on the first target high, hence the makeup shot.
• After the second target, since the next array on the left involved a deep right target, I switch shoulders on the move over. The cam is now pointed off since I’m shouldered on the left. The slower shots are also a result.
• Extra on the steel but at least this is a good recovery.
• Good splits to finish.
• Clean, 9th out of 44 shooters.

Stage 2

• Gun empty, mag on barrel.
• Counterflow plan (all went left while loading then went left to right). I figured that was too much travel and it was shorter going right.
• Weird sequence on the last array, don’t know why I did that (should’ve been: low, high, right).
• Clean, 7th.

Stage 3

• Steel 1 for 1 this time.
• Shot the last 2 open target through the port while retreating.
• Left array sequence was good but the last array should’ve been popper, right, popper, left, left.
• Still, clean and 4th.

Stage 4

• Everything up close, so it was a mad dash; helter-skelter.
• I just pointed the muzzle at the second array of 2 behind the barrels.
• Slowed down a bit near the end because of the extreme lean.
• Clean again,15th.

The Good

• Clean match.
• Good splits.
• Stage 3

Needs Improvement

• Weak/support shoulder with carbine/rifle.
• Keeping up the splits despite extreme leans/angles.

Finished 8th overall and 2nd out of 4 in PCC.

Action Rifle, WAC, 11-8-18

Rifle Division

• 18″ NFSC – 18″ New Frontier Side Charging upper on the M&P lower with JP trigger and SCSS, Strike Eagle 1-8, Offset mini-dot, JP Eliminator, SCSS, Armaspec magwell, Federal 55gr ammo

Haven’t shot this match in a while, good to be back.

Stage 1

• All targets in this match are minis requiring 2 full diameter hits (partial/edge hits are mikes).
• Good splits and good setup after moving (maybe too stop-start and not fluid enough).
• 3 mikes, 11th out of 17 rifle shooters.

Stage 2

• Lots of shooting on the move, so I slow down on the tempo.
• 1 mike, 4th.

Stage 3

• Rifle is unloaded, bolt forward on the barrel, and the mag is next to it, loaded with only 20 for the 10 targets to be shot behind the barrels support side (hence why the camera is off in the beginning since I am shouldered on the left).
• Side charger is quicker on unloaded start, glad I have one.
• Shooting from the left shoulder, the ejected brass bounces off the barrels back onto me, or it’s ejecting into my right shoulder. Either way, I am very aware of the hot brass bouncing around my right shoulder and sometimes coming down my right side.
• Reload with second mag loaded with 20 and finish.
• Finally a clean stage; 5th.

The Good

• Shooting on the move (stage 2)
• Splits on stage 1 and end of stage 3
• Move – setup – shoot
• Gun ran

Needs Improvement

• Didn’t quite respect the smaller targets at the start and paid for it with 3 mikes.
• For the smaller targets, the Strike Eagle’s busy reticle was too busy. A simpler dot would’ve sufficed. I thought about using the offset dot for the rest of the match, but since I obviously needed work using the reticle, I stuck with it. At least by the last stage, I was clean.
• Support side shooting

Not bad, given a different rule set and targets. Finished 6th out of 23.

USPSA WAC, 11-6-18

Carry Optics

• Glock 34 with a Burris Fastfire 3, using regular, 140mm Dawson Extended and ETS 21 round mags with 125gr BlB loads.
• Running a new Safariland 6390 RDS ALS holster with retention (removed the anti-grab shield).

Stage 1

• Semi-finesse plan, for the ones on the left side. Direct meant posting in front of them – 2 positions – for quicker shots.
• Clean,  19th out of 51.

Stage 2

• I started with a 17 rounder, so I only shot what needed to be shot on the front left position and shot the rest in the end.
• Steel 1 for 1.
• 6th

Stage 3

• Start with gun on barrel, unloaded.
• Ran this counterflow to everyone else as I felt there was less movement.
• Couldn’t tag the activator – took 3.
• Tight round count and once I took the extras on the activator, I knew I had to reload. I reload while retreating.
• Double max-trap is clean – I had thought about not even taking it and just taking the no penalty mikes.
• Good splits on the last 3.
• 10th

Stage 4

• Trouble again with the first piece of steel – probably not getting steady enough after moving, just like in the previous stage. Next 2 are 1 for 1.
• Mike on the right swinger (as I remember now, I thought the second shot was wonky but good enough and obviously not).
• 20th

The Good

• Stage 2 – good splits, steel 1 for 1.
• Clean on the double clamshell.
• Gun ran
• Better holster work than last Sunday, but still needs work.

Needs Improvement

• Splits (always)
• Swingers – 2 and done – but do the make-up(s) if I see it (stage 4).
• Waiting for parts so I can drop the holster a tad lower.

Finished 15th overall and 2nd out of 8 in CO.

USPSA Ruskin, 11-4-18

Carry Optics

• Glock 34 with a Burris Fastfire 3, using regular, 140mm Dawson Extended and ETS 21 round mags with 125gr BlB loads.
• Running a new Safariland 6390 RDS ALS holster with retention.

Stage 3

• Probably should’ve started on the left side and made that slight bounce back to the right part of the total travel.
• Almost forgot the reload and hit it just in time crossing between the shooting areas.
• Didn’t dawn on me until the next stage to shoot the far left array on the move right to left versus standing still left to right as I did.
• Mike’d one of the headshots in the end.
• 14th out of 33.

Stage 4

• Since we had a different start, I took the head shots from that closer position.
• Adjusted from previous and shot the first array on the move.
• 10th

Stage 5

• Classifier – String1 (15 yds: freestyle, reload, strong hand)

• String 2 (10yds: freestyle, reload, weak hand)
• 13th

Stage 6

• About as best planned and shot as I could.
• 9th

Stage 2

• Left side start is good but could’ve been smoother if I didn’t have to stop for the no-shoot.
• Middle swinger array would’ve been better shot all on the move as I did in the beginning, only to pause to get more shots on the left swinger.
• Right side as good as possible.
• 13th

Stage 1

• Steel 1 for 1.
• This time the opposite swinger needs the extra shots.
• 13th again

The Good

• Shooting on the move
• Steel almost 1 for 1 (1 extra)
• Gun ran
• New holster works

Needs Improvement

• Splits (always)
• Swingers – 2 and done
• New holster too high, needs to be dropped (drop kit on order). Also, anti-grab shield not needed (take off).

Finished 12th overall and 1st out of 6 in CO.