Cruel Hand Luke

Seems that there might be some issues with consistency.....

There was a major match in South Africa back in the summer , one in Lithuania recently and one in Italy coming up. 

THREE weeks to go on these! Grab your pistol and your shotgun and come on out and join us!

Then YES I do....

As to the LPO I'm all for that too. Red Dot pistols are a reality. And so are lasers. Like it or not,  it is not 1950 or 1970 or even 1997 anymore.  You see them in gun magazines every month and I see them in classes more and more. They may not quite be "mainstream" yet, but they are heading in that direction. SW now makes the MP CORE as a regular production item. So IDPA can either keep its head in the sand and remain an iron sight only game or they can step into the 21st century and allow lasers and red dots. Especially since there are REAL gun carriers out there carrying those guns for REAL. I know several police officers who carry them as their duty gun and even more civilians who carry them as their EDC CCW gun.    People have always argued it would be an unfair advantage if they shot those in ESP or SSP against iron sighted guns. Fine. Give it its own division and that argument goes away. Heck, we have separate divisions for revolvers and autos...and that (going from revolver to auto) is a bigger advantage than a laser or a red dot adds to an auto against another auto. So I'm all for the LPO division.    With the added divisions we will have   SSP (full size double action service guns or smaller guns if you wish)    ESP (full size single action (or double action if you choose) 9mm and .40 cal guns )   CDP (anything in .45 auto but primarily full size single actions)   CCP (compact carry guns both SA and DA )   LPO (any autos with laser or optics )   SSR ( revolvers)   SSR LPO (revolvers with optics or lasers)   BUG (small low capacity guns that really do not compete well with mid size or full size guns )   ESR will be gone, and frankly I'm not sure that is a good idea but I don't have a dog in that race since I don't shoot ESR. BUt they said they'd try to merge it with SSR.      With the new divisions and assuming they merge ESR and SSR that pretty much covers all the bases...... 

As to CCP I'm all for it if it is essentially SSP and ESP for short guns. They mentioned single actions were legal so that means a Para Ord P12 or a Glock 19 would be OK. I have no problem with that. Like I said, it might be good to see more compact pistols at IDPA matches since most folks are going to shoot the biggest easiest to shoot gun they can to be competitive. As such you see all the G34s in SSP and full size 9mm 1911s in ESP. I doubt 2% of the people shooting SSP with a 34 or ESP with a full size 1911 REALLY carry that in everyday life. What do most carry? A G19 or MP compact or XD compact or something similar. This would create a division for folks who want to be competitive with their real carry gun and not have to shoot it against a G34 or a 5" 9mm 1911. Now, having said that, I actually DO carry a full size pistol concealed on my person( G17 or a G34) in everyday life. But most people do not.    And I'd even be OK with allowing some minor mods. A little stippling on the grip of your otherwise box stock G19 should not force you shoot against $3000 STI 9mm 1911s. As it stands now, stipple your glock and you get sentenced to Enhanced Service Pistol to shoot against 40 oz single action 1911s in 9mm........ But that is a different subject.....   How IDPA can screw this all up is to make G19 and SW MP compacts legal in same category as people would be shooting their back up guns like the Khar PM9 or their SW Shield or SW J frame. The only way to make a shield competitive with a G19 is to make the round count low enough to negate the capacity advantage of the G19. And that would just make this a ridiculous exercise in "fairness" not anything even remotely realistic. NO ONE downloads their G19 to 5 rounds.......Keep the BUG category and limit the round counts to make J frames and Shields and G26s "more equal" but don't allow G19s in ...that would just be ridiculous.    So keep the BUG as a separate thing and use CCP as a means of getting people to shoot the guns they are REALLY carrying (IF they actually carry guns in real life but that is a pet peeve for another time....) 

The reasoning is because it is tactical suicide to leave cover and advance with your gun not topped off. Think of a parking lot scenario . You are behind cover engaging the BG. Your gun runs empty. Are you going to advance while loading? Advance toward the guys SHOOTING AT YOU with no way to shoot back until the reload is finished? Probably not. You want to get it reloaded before ever leaving cover....that makes good sense. Leaving cover with an empty gun is not smart.     But what if you are behind cover at the back end of the car and run empty and decide to reload as you move to the front of the car (but still behind cover)? You are STILL behind cover...right? So what your feet are doing should be irrelevant.  So you should be able to move your feet and reload IF you are not Banzai charging them with an empty pistol. Those are 2 different things. Moving is not always "advancing" but "advancing" is always "moving"......   Problem is that they are making rules for a GAME that is populated by "Range Lawyers" and they have to make rules that are clear and easy to enforce. In order to keep people from doing the IPSC reload on the move (running from position to position reloading) they instituted the "flat foot " reload because that was the only way they could word the RULES OF A GAME  to make it clear across the board for all clubs and Safety Officers. 

I don't really think a plane ticket to Puerto Rico and a week stay there once every 4 YEARS is in the realm of the elite.... a family vacation to Disney World is probably more expensive.....   The World Championship is only held once every 4 years. And EVERYONE else in the world is going to have to travel to another country unless they live in the host country. I realize most IDPA shooters are in the US, but not ALL of them. IPSC has held World Championship matches in South Africa, and Ecuador yet american shooters still showed up at those.... And a plane ticket to Puerto Rico is a heck of a lot less than one to South Africa....

Got that email last night and am not terribly happy about it.....   I busted my butt last year travelling around shooting enough sanctioned matches to get into the World Championship in Puerto Rico. I was looking forward to taking the wife there on vacation and shooting the match while we were there. That makes for a cool vacation to a tropical locale.....now I get to go back to Tulsa.... Wow. Now instead of going to the beach and to some cool historical places maybe we can go to the tumbleweed museum or the stock yard....... :shrug:

OK, but if G19 and SW MP Compact are OK (per the announcement) then it truly is not a "BUG" friendly classification. Sure you can shoot your Khar PM9 if you want....but someone with a "mid size" pistol is going to have a huge advantage if stages are same as the rest of the match. An 18 round stage is 3 full mags from a Khar PM9....... And shooting 5 round only stages with a G19 is just frankly just ludicrous.   If it is a seperate category to be run at matches on the same course of fire with SSP Division capacity then OK, fine,  that makes sense. People are going to shoot the biggest gun they can to be competitive and as such, the G19, one of the most carried CCW guns is conspicuously absent at IDPA matches in the holsters of higher level shooters.    I shot 10 sanctioned matches this year and do not remember seeing 10 TOTAL G19 sized guns in my squads all year combined. So if this is adding a division so that people can compete against each other with one of the most often carried CCW firearms and not full size service guns and long slide competition guns in the same division then I'm all for it. ....but if this is just a bastardization of the BUG matches but allowing bigger guns than are currently allowed in BUG then that is a waste of time and effort and ANOTHER big miss by IDPA HQ.   Add the CCP and KEEP the BUG stuff too, don't get rid of the BUG by adding a category that they CAN shoot their BUG in but will never be competitive in. Heck, for that matter you can shoot a BUG in SSP now.....but no one does so they need to keep BUG as a seperate thing, not merge it with CCP.

Where did you see/hear that?

These two classes are coming up in just about 4 weeks! If you wanted to get started on the right foot thses two are for you. If you need a refresher on defensive pistol skills and shotgun skills then this is for you. Last chance at it in the TN/GA/AL area in 2014, so come on out and join us. You'll be glad you did.

The 15 round tend to be more reliable anyway....   With modern ammo (Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense) the M1 is more effective now than ever before. It may not be uber-modern and sexy , or look cool on the cover of Recoil magazine, but the M1 carbine is still a reliable and accurate gun in the zero to 100 yard range. Would I suggest you buy one over a new AR ? No simply because the AR is a more modular design and it can be accessorized and customized easier. But if you already have an M1 or can get one for a good price, they are solid performers....and always have been if you actually hit what you are shooting at....

I will probably be doing one in the not too distant future. I'll post it here as soon as I have a date on it.

Quick reminder, this pair of classes is coming up in about a month.   This is an excellent opportunity to get a 1 day pistol class and a 1 day shotgun class all in the same weekend.   I hope to see you there!!! 

Less than a week to go ! It is looking like this class will be on the small side so if you were looking to get a lot of personal attention and one on one coaching in the skills of fighting at two arms length and closer then this is your chance! 

ONE WEEK TO GO ON THIS ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THREE DAYS TO GO!    Weather is supposed to be 65 and partly cloudy ...perfect weather for this type class. 

One week to go!!!! This event is THIS COMING SUNDAY.  If you ever wondered how you'd react to a touching distance attack, how you'd be able to get to your gun and how you'd keep from getting the gun taken away from you this is the perfect opportunity to add those tools to your toolbox. Hope to see you there!

November 22, 2014 Suarez International COMBAT PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP Chattanooga, Tennessee Price: $200 Instructor: Randy Harris In this class you will learn how to fire an accurate shot with your carry handgun, from concealment, in situations replicating what may be necessary to prevail in a proactive street gunfight. This course is perfect for the novice or new CCW licensee (although no licenses are necessary to attend). DURATION: 1 day   TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Central Time)   AMMUNITION: Approximately 150 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: Modern Defensive Pistol, Holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt at the "strong side", 3 Magazines and One Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection and ear protection) To register......http://www.suarezinternationalstore....anooga-tn.aspx And then on Sunday..... November 23, 2014 Suarez International DEFENSIVE SHOTGUN Chattanooga, Tennessee Price : $200 Instructor: Randy Harris The shotgun is the top choice among Americans for limited role home defense. In its niche it is a devastating weapon. This one day class will teach you everything you need to know to employ this iconic American fighting tool to its best utility. DURATION: 1 Days   TIME: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Central Time)   AMMUNITION: Approximately 100 rounds of Birdshot, 50 rounds of Buckshot, 15 Slugs and 50 rounds of pistol ammunition.   YOU NEED TO BRING: Clothing appropriate to the weather. Lunch, snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day. Baseball or other style hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), folding chair, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape).   REQUIREMENTS: Shotgun (any caliber pump or semi-auto). All shotguns must be equipped with a sling and a stock. Pistol with at least two magazines, suitable belt, holster, and magazine pouches. A method of carrying extra shotgun ammo (for example: shoulder bag, ammo pouches, side saddle, or butt cuff). Ear & eye protection.     To register.....http://www.suarezinternationalstore....anooga-tn.aspx Sign up for BOTH classes and save $50! Both classes together for the discounted price of $350

Just a reminder...this class is coming up in about 3 weeks!

AWESOME.    The little details being accounted for makes the difference in a match and an excellent match....Hognut runs an excellent match.

Hey Hognut, as to the lunch situation will there be "extra lunches" for non shooters to purchase?   Making sure that we don't run into a situation like at the Nationals where they made no provision for "non shooters" who were there with the "shooters".  Apparently their plan was to feed all the shooters and then if any lunches were left over then non shooters could purchase lunch...   The first problem with that plan was that lunch was already over before you would even know if there would be any extra left over and the other problem was they apparently didn't have enough lunches for the shooters...much less the non shooters....so the non shooting spouses etc either had to go without lunch or then had to try to leave the range after lunch was over and navigate a strange city to find food instead of being there watching the shooters when they started back shooting.......

OK. When "the Knoxville group" did the back in 06 the guy who taught it was a certified Monadnock instructor. He mentioned that ASP certifies people to use ASP equipment only but Monadnock certifies the material you use.....not the weapon. So I was just curious as to who the certification was through.

Who was the training certified by? Was in Monadnock?