Defensive Pistol Match (9/9/23)
After 5 years of no matches, I returned and shot this match today at the Crosse Creek Rifle and Pistol Club in Hope Mills. I had a great time and plan to shoot again next month.
I used my Boresight Solutions Glock 19 frame(with Apex Trigger) but swapped my slide onto it that has my Holosun SCS. I swapped the Gadget from my Boresight slide onto my SCS slide. I had my SCS on the circle(32 MOA), which I like, but for little steel poppers, and dueling trees the circle didn't work well. The circle worked well on the people-sized targets. I switched to the dot(2 MOA) for the third stage. So, the question is, do I use the circle and learn where to aim, or just use the dot? I don't know. I like the circle for "fast" acquisition but the dot was better for my "precise" shots. I thought I didn't need a Gadget. Thankfully, I trusted P-F and, once again, I'm glad I did. While on the range, in the heat, with sweaty hands, and trying to reholster safely with eleven people standing behind you it was good to know my thumb on the Gadget was reassurance I wasn't engaging the trigger. I used my Phlster Engima but adjusted it up for better access to the grip. I carry very low in my waistband on a normal basis. I will not win any quick-draw contest and hopefully, my situation awareness will allow me to be prepared. Plus, avoiding stupid people and places helps.
Speaking of "fast", I wasn't, I was last. I failed to engage one target, which added 20 seconds to my time, but even if I had hit it, I'd still be last. Call me "Jason Molasses", John Wick's third cousin. :D
I'm slow on everything—drawing, aiming, reloading, acquiring my dot, transitions, moving, walking, running, you name it, I was slow. My excuse? No excuse. I've been lazy. I could have been dry-firing more, walking or exercising, and strengthening my grip while sitting and watching television. I could have been doing something to improve every aspect of being slow. I have a month to improve so I'm not last again. I had fun, which was important, and I was able to test out the gear I want to carry, which is also important but I need to be faster next time.
Here's a quick video of stage 1(not me in the video):
https://youtu.be/nkPYq9mBrBc
The little piece of steel I failed to engage:
https://i.imgur.com/s2fnzPc.jpg
Defensive Pistol Match (3/9/24)
Yesterday was a rainy day for shooting and I almost didn't go, plus I had a busy work week, and for a few days, I didn't feel well. I'm glad I went. I'll talk about it but first I want to mention what I learned from a few matches I attended in the last few months but didn't post about.
One hand shooting with my Glock 26 I sometimes cause a misfeed/jam. Once I realized I was the issue(in the October and December matches) and not a magazine I tried to make sure to grip my G26 when shooting SHO/WHO. It still happened in the next matches(January/February) so I have started using the many grip strengthening devices I own. I have one in my car, my work van, by my bed and living room chair. I try to use them every so often, but due to health issues, I have to go easy because it can cause pain that lingers in my bones.
We had a night shoot in January and I need more practice with a light and gun. I carry a Malkoff Bodyguard, but with my SCS and the Roger techniques I couldn't make out the SCS(I think the sensors were overwhelmed?). I switched to the FBI technique and it worked better except aiming the light was the issue. I'll try the Harris technique next time.
The short grip of the Danny Devito Glock worried me during dry-fire practice. I don't feel like I'm getting a good grip and I'll drop it. I have never dropped it and didn't during the last few matches, but it still is a concern to me that under a high stress . I switched to a 12 round magazine a few weeks ago(after the February match) and prefer it for quick grip grabbing. I lose the concealability of the 10 round magazine but I gain a little confidence I won't drop/fumble my gun. I am thinking about trying the Milspin Beef Jones base plate(don't need a weighted base pad), the Springer Precision Tactical Basepad(.375" longer),Henning Group Pro Series base pad(7/16" longer), the Dawson Precision base plate(which comes in three heights), or none of them and keep using the 12 round magazine. I like the extra grip of the 12 round magazine but not the extra length. I just need a little extra pinky grip at the front. If anyone has any experience with any of those base pads, let me know. I'll search the forum to see any have been mentioned.
What I learned from yesterday's match: If I take my time, aim, and concentrate on the target with both eyes open I can shoot a clean match! :D I had no errors and no missed shots. Everything in the A zone, and all steel hit with one shot. Today was the best I have ever done, and I was 4th in the optics division. Only 8 of us used red dots, but in the last few matches, I have been last or near the bottom of the list(usually 13-15 people shoot optics). I had no issues with the rain and my SCS but it was a light rain at the beginning of the day, then stopped and started again on the last stage. I think in a real rain shower my SCS would have been useless and would have possibly kept me from using my sights. Maybe Holosun will make a Glock MOS enclosed SCS, or I may need to switch to an enclosed model. But that doesn't help me with the basics; I need more work on transitions and aiming quickly. I need to practice my draw, I could be faster drawing. I missed third place by .92 of a second, not that I want to be a gamer, but I do want to be faster on the draw and I will be. :)
My plan is to shoot the match each month this year. I'll work on draw speed over the next few weeks. Slow and steady over and over again so my draw is faster and smoother. We'll see if I can shoot a clean match next month and be a smidgen faster.
Defensive Pistol Match (4/12/24)
I've tried 3 times to write about the match on Saturday. We'll see if I get it typed before something interferes. :)
It was a beautiful day for a match. Temperatures were around 55 degrees at 8:30AM and warmed to about 67 degrees by 11AM. It was sunny and no wind. The week previously the match directly had sent an email saying only 10 people had signed up, so I figured I'd shoot twice: optics(G26 MOS with SCS) and irons(P365).
One stage we had a plate rack at 20 yards and started with only 6 bullets. Optic I missed all but 1 and took the penalty and moved on. I need to verify my zero on my SCS. At that stage I did better with my P365.
https://i.imgur.com/tIAs5o0.jpg
I thought I had shot better with my P365 but my time for both was close. My G26 I was drawing from AWIB. The P365 was OWB. Neither time was great but I wasn't last in either category. I felt I was drawing faster this match compared to previous matches so the dry fire is helping. Also, the 12 round magazines helped me get my grip established without feeling like I was juggling the gun.
I modified my Grip Force EBP to work with my G26. I still like the EBP for my reload. It's a smidgen longer than a regular 15 round magazine but easier to grab.
https://i.imgur.com/hghAMvh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rStLic3.jpg
My P365 has the regular Sig sights and I like them and had no problem finding them on such a sunny day. Low light might be a different story. To me, I seemed to find the iron sights faster than my dot. I need more dot practice.
Running two guns was fun but I paid the price because of health issues. I am still hurting today but am moving better.
I will shoot a handgun only in the Memorial 3 Gun Benefit Match on the 27th. I haven't decided whether to shoot my G26 from AWIB or use my competition holster.
There was one disqualification and a slight delay at Saturday's match. One gentleman shot his leg in a negligent discharge. He was fortunate because it only grazed him. His safety wasn't on; he was holstering his gun and did not remove his finger from the trigger.
Now some fun news: my 74 year old mother accompanied me and watched the match. I told her she could shoot a match, she has a Glock 19, we just need to get her a holster. She kept saying she couldn't see herself running the stages and I'd tell her that's fine, you just walk them. So maybe I'll be able to get my mother out there in the next few months. Oh, I was also able to spread the good word about the Striker Control Device to a gentleman who recently bought a G43x.