yankytrash
New member
Got back from my first IPSC match today. It was my first time ever to real shootin range too; so, of course, it was my first time competing. It's a far cry from shootin in farm fields and woods, let me tell ya....
This country boy really hates the whole safety routine. I guess, though, considering the number of new shooters out there, a heavy lean on the safety aspect of the sport is necessary. It's gonna take me awhile to get used to this "180 degree" plane. Got popped for breaking that twice today.
One break of the plane was minor, and just got me subtracted a little. The second time was pretty major, for them. I was on my last mag for the round, and had a FTF. Dropped the mag quick, inserted the next, and finished my last 6 shots. A little disgusted at the FTF, I dropped my strong arm to my side, pistola muzzle down, turned, and the RO almost wee-weed in his Dockers. He grabbed my arm and acted like I was going to shoot'im or something. He kept yelling, "WHOAWHOAWHOA!! DOWNRANGE, DOWNRANGE!!", but all the while wouldn't get his dang hand from underneath my elbow so I could do so. Had to switch hands and grab the gun barrel and point it downrange so he would let go of me.
Think I'll do that again? Lesson learned: "RO make wee-wee when gun not pointed downrange. Yank get no points. No points bad, very bad." Maybe I will make it a point to introduce myself to the RO before the next match, and tell him, rest-assured, that I'm not gonna freak out and shoot him if I have a minor equipment malfunction.
We had something like 6 stages today, with, what I assume to be, the usual mixture of poppers, targets, and a couple plates.
I had a little trouble on one stage that required kneeling - I've got some 1-week-old torn ligaments in my strongside knee, and that made it impossible to take a stance of any sorts. I'll do better on that one next time around, if they have it again.
The rest of it was pretty fun. Runnin, shootin, all close range, how can you go wrong?
Misses, that's how. Found out hitting the target once and missing on the second shot is almost as bad as just sittin the entire stage out. Yank did terrible at "double taps", mostly when it involved weakside shooting. Gotta work on that. "C-C" is much better than "A-miss".
My times were horrible, but not as bad as I expected. I'm no Todd Jarret (Garret? Garett? Schmerit?.... ), but I ain't too shabby for the first time out. Definitely gotta work on mag changes. I bought a cheapo mag pouch for the match, and never strapped it on until the morning of the match. Only had 2 days' notice, so practice wasn't an option. I'll keep the cheapo mag pouch, and just get better with it. I think it makes other shooters there roll their eyes, and shock factor of doing well with subpar equipment should be half the fun.
Speaking of equipment, them raceguns. What in God's creation would make somebody buy such an atrocity of metallurgy and plastic? What's the use? For a couple one or two hundred rounds a month? I don't know guys. I won't be winnin any competitions with my stock 1911, but at least I can wear it with pride to the 7-11 after the match.
I definitely need a holster. I was using my daily-use holster: Hi-Ride Galco with thumb-break. I really like the holster for daily use, but I was seriously outgunned by everyone else at the match. They were using these "I wanna let a BG grab my gun" holsters. You know the kind - the gun's muzzle is balanced on a little piece of plastic, and the gun is held upright by light pressure on the trigger gaurd. I don't think I'll go that deep, but a holster with a little more forward cant and no thumbreak may do me some good at the next match. I've had my eye on a sweet duty-type Galco with the specs I'm looking for, and it's suitable for daily carry use. It's got them tension screw thingys.
Fun? Damn right it was fun. I'm gonna be at the next one with bells on, and perhaps a new holster too. I don't really like the public range attitude of every person in the place being considered an AD waiting to happen, but perhaps I'm a little to naive and countryfried in my ways. I'll get used to the distrust shown to shooters eventually, and everything should go a little smoother next time.
Hope to see you there.
PS - I know it's killin you to know... I placed something like 63 out of 64. I beat that sucker that had to carry his oxygen bottle up to the targets. Next time, I'm going for the old lady in the wheel chair's slot. Todd Garret (Merit? Zerit? Ferret? ): Lookout, you're next!!
This country boy really hates the whole safety routine. I guess, though, considering the number of new shooters out there, a heavy lean on the safety aspect of the sport is necessary. It's gonna take me awhile to get used to this "180 degree" plane. Got popped for breaking that twice today.
One break of the plane was minor, and just got me subtracted a little. The second time was pretty major, for them. I was on my last mag for the round, and had a FTF. Dropped the mag quick, inserted the next, and finished my last 6 shots. A little disgusted at the FTF, I dropped my strong arm to my side, pistola muzzle down, turned, and the RO almost wee-weed in his Dockers. He grabbed my arm and acted like I was going to shoot'im or something. He kept yelling, "WHOAWHOAWHOA!! DOWNRANGE, DOWNRANGE!!", but all the while wouldn't get his dang hand from underneath my elbow so I could do so. Had to switch hands and grab the gun barrel and point it downrange so he would let go of me.
Think I'll do that again? Lesson learned: "RO make wee-wee when gun not pointed downrange. Yank get no points. No points bad, very bad." Maybe I will make it a point to introduce myself to the RO before the next match, and tell him, rest-assured, that I'm not gonna freak out and shoot him if I have a minor equipment malfunction.
We had something like 6 stages today, with, what I assume to be, the usual mixture of poppers, targets, and a couple plates.
I had a little trouble on one stage that required kneeling - I've got some 1-week-old torn ligaments in my strongside knee, and that made it impossible to take a stance of any sorts. I'll do better on that one next time around, if they have it again.
The rest of it was pretty fun. Runnin, shootin, all close range, how can you go wrong?
Misses, that's how. Found out hitting the target once and missing on the second shot is almost as bad as just sittin the entire stage out. Yank did terrible at "double taps", mostly when it involved weakside shooting. Gotta work on that. "C-C" is much better than "A-miss".
My times were horrible, but not as bad as I expected. I'm no Todd Jarret (Garret? Garett? Schmerit?.... ), but I ain't too shabby for the first time out. Definitely gotta work on mag changes. I bought a cheapo mag pouch for the match, and never strapped it on until the morning of the match. Only had 2 days' notice, so practice wasn't an option. I'll keep the cheapo mag pouch, and just get better with it. I think it makes other shooters there roll their eyes, and shock factor of doing well with subpar equipment should be half the fun.
Speaking of equipment, them raceguns. What in God's creation would make somebody buy such an atrocity of metallurgy and plastic? What's the use? For a couple one or two hundred rounds a month? I don't know guys. I won't be winnin any competitions with my stock 1911, but at least I can wear it with pride to the 7-11 after the match.
I definitely need a holster. I was using my daily-use holster: Hi-Ride Galco with thumb-break. I really like the holster for daily use, but I was seriously outgunned by everyone else at the match. They were using these "I wanna let a BG grab my gun" holsters. You know the kind - the gun's muzzle is balanced on a little piece of plastic, and the gun is held upright by light pressure on the trigger gaurd. I don't think I'll go that deep, but a holster with a little more forward cant and no thumbreak may do me some good at the next match. I've had my eye on a sweet duty-type Galco with the specs I'm looking for, and it's suitable for daily carry use. It's got them tension screw thingys.
Fun? Damn right it was fun. I'm gonna be at the next one with bells on, and perhaps a new holster too. I don't really like the public range attitude of every person in the place being considered an AD waiting to happen, but perhaps I'm a little to naive and countryfried in my ways. I'll get used to the distrust shown to shooters eventually, and everything should go a little smoother next time.
Hope to see you there.
PS - I know it's killin you to know... I placed something like 63 out of 64. I beat that sucker that had to carry his oxygen bottle up to the targets. Next time, I'm going for the old lady in the wheel chair's slot. Todd Garret (Merit? Zerit? Ferret? ): Lookout, you're next!!