The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Tyler Durden on December 01, 2011, 01:23:06 AM

Title: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: Tyler Durden on December 01, 2011, 01:23:06 AM
Hi all,

Eight stages total.  Two different ranges/clubs.   Four stages at one club.  Four stages at the other.  Four stages could be used with a flashlight, and the other four stages no flashlight was used.

I finished up at 300 something seconds.

The top finisher was done at 185 seconds.

I was just using a Beretta with standard sights. 

I might try some glow in the dark paint on the sights to see if that does anything for them.

I was trying to use the syringe method for holding the flashlight with my weak hand, but I wasn't all that proficient with it.

So I regressed, and would just press the flashlight against my left ear muff, and the beam lit up both the sights and the target.

It's not very tactical but it worked.

And even though I was basically shooting some stages strong hand only, it seemed faster and more accurate to me.

if you have a chance, try shooting and acquiring your sights at night some time.   :o
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: fightingquaker13 on December 01, 2011, 01:41:04 AM
Sounds like fun. And as far as tactical? Well, as Alexander the Great said "Do whatever works".
FQ13
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: kmitch200 on December 01, 2011, 01:54:12 AM
I was trying to use the syringe method for holding the flashlight with my weak hand, but I wasn't all that proficient with it.
And even though I was basically shooting some stages strong hand only, it seemed faster and more accurate to me.

Which is why I like and use the Harries technique.   Strong hand shooting with some support from the off hand - it's also easy to align.
It's pretty much the only type of hold I practice with regularly, (I've tried several), as always - YMMV.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: alfsauve on December 01, 2011, 05:22:38 AM
Cool Tyler.   I went an observed a part of an indoor IDPA on Tuesday night.  The stage they were shooting was pretty simple.  It was  basically shooting while moving towards and then away from the targets.    And in the limited space they can't do anything very complicated.

I haven't tried night sights.   

The next Tuesday I have free I may go shoot too.

Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: billt on December 01, 2011, 07:59:01 AM
if you have a chance, try shooting and acquiring your sights at night some time.

I'm a little disappointed with Tritium Night Sights. They are not all that bright in practical / tactical applications. My Springfield SOCOM 16 has a Trijicon Tritium front sight post. If I go into a completely dark closet, you can't even see the thing. My Glocks and Sigs are not all that much better. Still and all I would rather have them than not, in a dark, self defense type situation. They're just not all they are cracked up to be. I doubt when they go dim in 10 years or so I'll be spending a C Note to replace them.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: Timothy on December 01, 2011, 08:16:11 AM
I'm a little disappointed with Tritium Night Sights. They are not all that bright in practical / tactical applications. My Springfield SOCOM 16 has a Trijicon Tritium front sight post. If I go into a completely dark closet, you can't even see the thing. My Glocks and Sigs are not all that much better. Still and all I would rather have them than not, in a dark, self defense type situation. They're just not all they are cracked up to be. I doubt when they go dim in 10 years or so I'll be spending a C Note to replace them.

My daughters Sig is about 20 years old I'd guess.  Her sights are barely visible in the dark now.  I didn't even realize they were tritium until we lost power a few weeks ago.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: Tyler Durden on December 01, 2011, 12:30:32 PM
I was a Safety Officer for this match too, so I got to peer over a lot of shooter's shoulders as they loaded up and unloaded.  Some had TFO's just installed and I could pick them up just fine.

But there was at least one shooter I remember SO'ing....he drew his pistola, had the gun up level like normal, but he really, REALLY was swirling the muzzle around like he was fishing for the front sight's glow in the dark dot.  It was painfully slow.

My point is or was that practice and experience with the gun during lit conditions gives your body, your muscle memory an "index" to base off even if you can't see your sights.  I think that alone would let you hit a man size target accurately enough at across the room or down the hallway distances.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: fightingquaker13 on December 01, 2011, 12:36:49 PM
Agreed completly. Think of it as a very small shot gun and just POINT the thing. All you're looking for is getting it "on paper". As for the rest, that's why you have a hi-cap magazine.
FQ13

PS I have fading night sights on a G-19. I don't plan on replacing them. If I were to spend the C note I'd put it towards a guide rod mounted laser or just leave it alone.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: les snyder on December 01, 2011, 03:01:27 PM
if you shoot a weak thumb forward grip, there is a technique where you can attach a large split key ring to a SureFire 6P/G2 size light with a plastic cable tie....insert weak index finger thru ring, and grasp light between index and middle finger... take regular grip with pistol.. button activated by pulling pressure against the strong middle finger below the trigger guard... if I have my 6P, I shoot Harries technique as the ring is on the textured G2

I think that there is utility in a different front sight color or the stacked "8" for tritium sights... I have to elevate the muzzle slightly to determine  the correct dot, and then shoot with non dominate eye closed...(same if I shoot through narrow slats) when I shoot a night match.. tritium works best when your eyes are dialated..
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: Tyler Durden on December 01, 2011, 06:19:46 PM
I have a Surefire E2D Defender.

It looks like this:
(http://www.tactical-life.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/e2dled_large2.gif)

I took a dremel with a cutoff wheel and buzzed off the rear prongs so that the switch on the end would be more accessible.


actually, I think the flashlight I have is just the regular E2D Defender not the LED version.  The light it puts out is more yellow-ish.

I have the silver version of the Coleman flashlight pictured here:
(http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/65/01/23/0007650123083_500X500.jpg)

It has LED's so the light it puts out has a blue-ish cast to it, but it just seems brighter or crisper for some reason.

I used the Surefire flashlight for the match because it has a pocket clip to it.  I just clipped it inside my left front pants pocket with enough of the light sticking out that I could grab it quickly.

For the start of each stage, the flashlight had to be stowed.




Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: Tyler Durden on December 01, 2011, 06:25:05 PM
I'll be looking for ways to mount a flashlight to one Remington 1100 shotgun.  I also be looking at ways to attach more rail to the gas blocks of my AR's.

Do you guys have any suggestions for that?
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: tombogan03884 on December 01, 2011, 09:22:55 PM
Midway and Brownells  carry a clamp that fits on the Mag tube and holds a light, or if you want to spend more money there is the SureFire fore end.
Title: Re: shot an IDPA night match....
Post by: fightingquaker13 on December 01, 2011, 10:44:24 PM
I'll be looking for ways to mount a flashlight to one Remington 1100 shotgun.  I also be looking at ways to attach more rail to the gas blocks of my AR's.

Do you guys have any suggestions for that?

I'll get back to you next month. I just got my first ever Midway paper catalog when the Big Brown Truck of Happiness showed up with my order. I never ordered from them before, so I said "Sure, send me a catalog".  Let me just say "Damn"! It was like the old Sears catalogs of my youth. I mean honestly, I reached down to grab the small box and very nearly dropped it because the thing weighed three times what I was expecting. The catalog is as thick as my town's white pages. ;D I'm sure they have everything you and everyone you've ever met wants in there somewhere.  As far as your rails go, what I ordered was an MOE hand guard for my AR from Magpul. I haven't tried to install it yet, and I'm hoping I can doing it solo without a Delta wrench. But what I will say is that uninstalled, it is a slick little grip. Forget price ($28), it seems to be more solid than any GI issue grip I've ever held, and it has plenty of rail mount options. Now the proof is in the pudding of course, but my out of the box assessment is positive. Plus, well to be shallow, it just looks cool. Assuming it goes on the gun ok and doesn't rattle like Marley's ghost, I'd consider it if all you want is a place to hang a light. I'll update when I get time to mess around with it.
FQ13