2022 Competition Schedule

[alfsauve]

So many matches so little ammo.

Sort of made up my 2022 shooting schedule.  Obviously subject to change.

GSSF River Bend match 3/19.  Second largest one the they hold.   Got my new LPA fiber optic sights.
USPSA LoCap Nats in May.  I think they're calling it Classic match.   Revolver of course at Talledega.
SIG EDC if possible in August
USPSA GA state match in Covington GA (South River Gun Club)
IDPA GA state match at River Bend.   I haven't shot IDPA outdoors in forever.  I'll need to do some local matches.
Finally IRC in Nov down at Volusia County.

And as I posted elsewhere, this weekend local USPSA match will include KC Esubio, Justin Johnson (from Federal), Jessie Harrison and other big name shooters.  Should be fun day.  But a long day.  7 stages with 14 shooters/squad.

[alfsauve]

Have classified (C class) in 8 Steel Challenge divisions (RFRI, RFRO, RFPI, RFPO, ISR, OSR, Prod & SS).  Next up will be Ltd, followed by Open and CO.  Then I'll have to get a PCC to finish the last 2 divisions.

It was down to 17f when we started shooting at 9amEDT on Sunday.  Half the registered competitor dropped out before hand and 3 were no shows.  We had 40 people.  Did 5 stage w/ 5 squads of 8ea.  Laid back, no hurry and we still finished and put away by 11:30.

Had this old fellow, Corky show up thinking it was the GSSF match, which isn't till next weekend.  So he shot with us.  He'd brought the wrong holster and only 3 mags.  Signed up for Prod.  Our squad decided, cause he wasn't the steadiest of characters to let he start from a low ready.  Well about 3rd stage his gun jammed up pretty tight.  He was blaming the Federal ammo.  The RO was able to bang on it and get it cleared so Corky could finish the stage.  Next stage, same thing.  Jammed up just out of battery.  They took it to the safe area and were able to pound it into battery, then fired it  (yeah, yeah, he should have fired it into the berm, but we let that pass too).  Turns out the G34 was coming off it's rails.  Huh.  Almost perfect I guess.  He, amazingly, had a G17 backup, so he did a reshoot and finished the other stages.   

SO MANY RULES violated.   

I on the other hand shot my '70 Mk IV reasonably well.  The loading drill, Barney round, remove mag, put in 8 rounder, remember to put the safety on or it's a DQ, draw, safety off is still awkward to me. Only sent 2 over the target because I shot too early.  Did manage to do C class on all stages.   I'm just not as comfortable with the manual of arms of the 1911 as I am with the revolver or even striker fired where you don't need a Barny mag.  Since I really don't plan on pursuing any more SS or CDP division entries, that'll probably be it for the 1911.  Maybe an occasional trip to the range for the fun of it.

I did say it was 17f when we started?   So on the FB page for the match I posted my version of the Marlow (who wrote under the pen name Shakespeare) St Crispin speech (band of brothers) from Henry V.   Remember we shot this on 3/13.  I kind of like it.

And 13 of 3 shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
For ye today that shot steel with me
Shall be my brother, be ye ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle ye condition:
And gentlefolk in GA now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their adulthood cheap whiles any speaks
That shot with us upon 13 of 3

[Rastus]

CGSSF match...that's one I'll likely never make.  Good guns....but butt ugly to me.  A thing of beauty to some.   However, you guys seem to have been really nice to him. 

So the G34 choked?  What's up with that? 

Also my ham antennas are in disarray right now.  I'm planning on rejuvenation of them this week.  The big 80 meter loop lost one of the tie downs on top.  We had a big wind and the rope parted....which was strange.  It was the rope holding the pulley that allows the antenna support to move without fraying the rope....  The 20 meter loop has lost insulation from rubbing in a tree and needs replacement.  The 6 meter dipole lost the support line for the balun.  All of which was really from neglect.

[alfsauve]

The RO said the slide was coming off the rails.  Not sure exactly what he meant or how that would happen.  All I know is the gun wouldn't function. 

Several .22lr on my squad had issues with the cold weather.  Shooter blamed the ammo, but funny by the time we got the the 5th stage, and things had warmed up, their ammo was working just fine.   My Colt 1911 ran flawlessly with S&B factory ammo. 

Rastus, you missed the WSB radio 100yr celebration.  The Atlanta Radio Club had a special operation from the studios as well as from the antenna farm.  I snagged an FT8 contact and mailed in a QSL card.   They operated as W5B.   Everyone thinks the stations phonetics are Welcome South Brother, but I know it's Whisky Scotch and Bourbon.
 

[Rastus]

Nice Alf.  I gotta get out and have some fun.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

GSSF 2022, River Bend Gun Club, Dawnsonville, GA

It was the second largest of the GSSF matches behind their annual match, but times are tough, instead of 250-300 in Am/Civ it was 108 this past weekend. 

I got their real early so I could pick up my entries and get on the stage listings.  It is the most unorganized I've seen GSSF.  Last year they were handing out entries by 8:15.  This year they didn't start registration until 8:45 and some of the bays weren't set up yet.  We did start shooting at 9am as advertised so it al worked out.   I got to shoot immediately on 5byGlock and only 8 entries ahead of me on Glock M and no wait on plates.  I did get to sit in on the volunteer briefing and got a volunteer rule book.   They're using the new GSSF target.  It's basically just a rectangular buff target with the two scoring rings.   Same rings as the NRA D-1.  To make scoring easier they're marked 0, 1 & 3 like IDPA does with their targets.  That's how many seconds you're down.   Electronic scoring is coming soon I'm told.  Don't know if they paid Practiscore or went out on their own.  Nobody seemed to know.

I shot poorly with a 77.98.  I hadn't practice plates in 6 months and it showed.  Last year I did 59.94 and was 10th place.  It typically takes lower than 60 to win.    So I went home a little dejected.  .  Well was I surprised when the preliminary scores were posted.   3rd place overall and top Super Senior.    I'M IN THE MONEY.  Should be $75 for 3rd and $75 for super senior.

Evidently everybody had an off day.  Top score for Am/Civ was 64.37. Wow.

[alfsauve]

What a good week.


Sunday, the River Bend club didn't have it's normal IDPA match because all the movers and shakers were at the TN State match.  However they held a classifier only.  Seven of us showed up.  In the Revolver division I moved from Marksman to Sharpshooter.  I now feel Expert it within reach.  More practice, more practice.


Got the final Glock scores from River Bend (Dawsonville).  3rd Amateur and 1st Super Senior.  $75 cash prize for each.
I'm sure the 4th place shooter is kicking himself.  He did so well in the plates, but blew in the other two stages.

[alfsauve]

Got #9 Division in Steel Challenge.   Limited.   Actually won the division. 1st of 3 Ltd competitors.   I'm sure they were probably firing a gun more a tuned to the division than my striker fired X5 Legend.  I'll take it Class C qualification.  High 40s%. 

I like Sig.  I like the P320 better than the S&W M&Ps and the SA XDs.   But as I have said, every company has its "nits" and I just found one of Sigs.

So I've fired the X5 Legend in Production and Limited Division.   This challenge, shooting all 13 divisions, is just for fun.  For Open and Carry Optics division, I'm not buying a special gun.  I'm just putting my Romeo 1 on the X5 and use it for both red dot divisions. 

Easy Peasy right?  EXCEPT.   The X5 has a removable rear sight that fills the notch already cut and drilled for optics.  Take out the rear sight.  No sweat.  Get my Romeo 1 out along with the mounting kit.  (I'd previously used it with its rail mount for my 22/45.)   I turned the Sig adapter plated this way and that way but it didn't fit.  Okay, so maybe the Romeo 1 mounts directly.  Ah, the holes do line up.  But the screws are loose. Hmm.  Did I strip the screws when I mount it to the rail adapter?  Oh well, just screws.  Looked in my spare parts and found 2 M4x0.7 screws, tried them in the holes on top of the slide, perfect fit.   BUT GUESS WHAT.  Turns out the holes in the Romeo 1 are 3.5mm.  Turns out I didn't strip the original Sig screws they're just a 1/2mm smaller than the holes.  Given all the fine electronics and wires I don't dare try to drill out the holes.

So I go on-line and discover that  Sig made the Romeo 1 with proprietary mounting arrangement.  Since then Sig has made all the gun mounts standardize with the other red-dot manufacturers AND they made a new Romeo 1 called the Romeo 1 Pro which used M4 instead of M3.5 screws.  AGAIN NO PROBLEM, though irritated,.....WRONG.   Sig states on their web site that they do NOT make an adapter for the Romeo 1 original to go on the X5 Legend.  BUMMER. Springer Precision does though and fortunately they were in stock and shipped same day, but that puts my practice schedule back a week.   At least it was fixable. 

Trying to get in as much revolver time as I can before the LoCap nationals next month.  Did an indoor IDPA last week where we had a drill that you hosed one target with 5, reloaded, then hosed the second target with 5.   I really let go.  Those new timers not only upload time to the tablet but splits as well.  The last 4 splits?  About 0.12.  Wow.  The whole squad was standing there with their mouths open.  ZERO Down btw.  I was pumped.  Beat a number of CO and some PCC shooters on that one.

[alfsauve]

Springer Precision shipped same day and as quick as USPS could get it from OR to GA, I got the X5 adapter plate.  Fits perfectly. 

In the process I order a set (250) M4 socket screws, varying lengths.  I needed M4x6mm to mount my 2m radio in the car.  Something I haven't had in over 10 years.  Kinda neat having it back in for when I drive up to Dawnsonville.

Glock check should arrive today. 

[alfsauve]

Yes, here I am in beautiful Taledega.  And while I'm actually staying in Pell City, I did drive downtown to the actual city of Taledega.  Something I doubt many competitors or NASCAR fans have done.  Sad rural town.  Lots of shuttered stores.

The 2022 Ruger USPSA Classic National sponsored by Federal.  L-10, SS & Revolver.  This should be interesting. 91+ today with bright sun. Rain and storms tomorrow.  Got cart, high chair, & fan for today. Poncho, umbrella and towels for tomorrow.  I don't mind being wet, or having my guns wet.  Don't like it but I don't let it bother me.  Hoping my positive attitude will help my score relative to others.

Had to sit through the CMP video for the 5th time.  I'm actually starting to remember some of it.  Must qual on 100yds before you shoot 200 & 300.  Must qual at pistol range 4 before going to 50yd range 3.  I think after so many I get a year off.

Got $150 GSSF check.

Didn't shoot Steel in May because it was Mother's Day.  Did shoot outdoor IDPA for the first time in 5 years.  Love how River Bend runs their match.  Had a great time.