Course design

[DesertMarine]

Surprising what a person that knows his handgun can do with it.  When we got a new batch of recruits, we would show of what a 2 1/2" Model 19 could do.  Could constantly hit a man size target at 75 to 100 yards.  Our course of fire included man size target at 50 yards with same gun.  Not hard to put all rounds in center of mass.  This is when the revolver was the handgun used by just about everybody.  Sure most good autos can do the same now.  We shot PPC style courses.

[Ksail101]

You know of all the drills the most important one I think would be the Cirillo Drill. I just think that drill is closest to what most will face in this day and age of walking into a store or being somewhere when an attack goes down. But that range sounds awesome. i was just throwing out my favorite and what a range I disign would have to have.

[m25operator]

You guys have given some great comments, I hope no one took my long distance stage to mean I did it every match, I would always throw in an accuracy stage, now 100 yards is an accuracy stage, but so is a head shot at 20-25 yards with a no shoot right beside it, or half a head shot, due to hard cover etc.... The idea is to have faced this kind of shot before and know your limitations and strengths, but not confronted with something you have no idea about. If you can't make a head shot at 25, is it your equipment, or marksmanship or both? Better to find out on the square range, than while your filling your tank and something go's down across the street at the caddy corner 7-11, 50-60 yards easy on a 4 lane street intersection.

I also ran shotgun matches, and my instructor showed us about holding off on targets due to issue ammunition maybe not patterning well in the issue shotgun. This really opened my eyes as to what a shotgun is capable of. He showed us patterns using issue buckshot of 3 of the top makers, in a cylinder bore 18" barrel, at 15 yards, 18 is the normal greatest range, you can guarantee all shots will impact the torso. He demonstrated that you could do headshots, with a no shoot next to the shoot target, and if you had less than desirable ammo, Hold off to the side and impact 2-3 pellets into the shoot target without hitting the no shoot.

So, I incorporated that into my shotgun matches, and again, lots of gnashing of teeth, but I guarantee, my competitors are better prepared than others, and know more about what their shotgun will do at a given distance.

My matches have always been built around the most common denominator, not the least or the best. Shotgun stages are built around 5 shot guns, because that's what our local constabulary carry, and most of the home owners for SD. The stage might be 20 rounds, but it will dosed out in 5 shot increments, and there will be mandatory reloads, regardless of how many rounds
your gun holds. It's about building skill sets, not an equipment race. 

Something I've always been famous for, is I like a disaster factor in my stages,  a stage designed so if you shoot perfect your cool, but if you need extra rounds it's gonna cost ya, or no shoots that swing in front of shoot targets, or reaction targets that only give you a very short time to engage them, before they disappear.

More comments are welcome.

[Ksail101]

M25- That sounds awesome. I think what you have is first class all the way. A long distance accuracy shot is a good idea too. So no I personally didnt take that as what you want to do all the time. I think that some people never practice long distance cause they dont think they need it, but you never know. Also it gives you confidence. I say to yourself I just a 75 yard shot so I know I can nail a 15.

The shotgun idea of knowing when to hold on pulling the trigger is a good idea, and a stage I would like to see and shoot myself to test myself. If what you have in your hand is a shot gun and you have hostage in front of you and a bad guy you gotta know what your pattern is and where is going to hit and who.

[CZShooter]

Great thread. You guys have given me some ideas. I'm the IDPA match director at my club, and am always looking for fresh ideas. A lot of the stages I come up with are things I see in the news...or life experiences.

A couple of days ago, my wife sent me to the gas station to get drinks for everyone. As I walked out the door with both hands full of fountain drinks...I was approached by an unsavory looking character. The first thought that went through my mind was "could I get to my gun if needed". This guy claimed to be from out-of-town and was looking for directions...and our conversation ended uneventful. But, I had already played out 4 or 5 scenarios in my head and how I would react to each. Needless to say, guess what one of the stages is going to be at my next match (start position with drink cups in both hand...).

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

you know one thing I've always wanted to see at a match( and it would not be that hard to rig up) is moving cover.  We have moving targets, why not cover? 

[tombogan03884]

you know one thing I've always wanted to see at a match( and it would not be that hard to rig up) is moving cover.  We have moving targets, why not cover? 

Like moving vehicles on a street or parking lot ? Also, a target that pops up for a very short time INCHES away from the shooter, like an assailant coming out of an alley or doorway as you walk on the side walk or hallway

[TAB]

Like moving vehicles on a street or parking lot ?

thats exactly what I was thinking.  you know a cardboard cut out in the generic shape of a car.( smaller of corse, but the general shape)

[Trevor]

Your stages or courses are good.  I like the way you have built them around personal defense scenarios.  As for long shots, 50 yards is the longest practical distance for a pistol, but there is nothing wrong with seeing what can be done out to 100.  Keep up the good work.  Your club is fortunate to have you contributing to its matches.

[tombogan03884]

Your stages or courses are good.  I like the way you have built them around personal defense scenarios.  As for long shots, 50 yards is the longest practical distance for a pistol, but there is nothing wrong with seeing what can be done out to 100.  Keep up the good work.  Your club is fortunate to have you contributing to its matches.

Watch the D.R. Middlebrook Fistfire video