Practicing until I can't get it wrong!

[rsa-otc]

I don't know how often I will post to this thread but let's see how it goes.


Just back from a day and a half of working and shooting the S. Jersey IDPA classifier match. I had 5 goals in mind when I started the match.

1. Enjoy the great weather and the company of my good freinds @ SJIDPA: Check

2. Significantly Improve over last years scores in the 2 Divisions I shot last year: Check

3. Make Expert in the 3 divisions I was shooting this year:

Stock Service Revolver (SSR): Check
Stock Service Pistol (SSP): Check
Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP): While I saw a large improvment, Unfortunately wasn't to be, missed by 9.5 seconds. Drop the stupid 3 second procedural penalty on Stage 1/String 6 (miss counted the number of rounds and didn't go to slide lock for the reload after the first 3 shots OOOYYYYY). While I saw I big improvement on stage 3 it was late on day 2 and I was too tired to do my best. If I had shot my SSR stage three score (SSR 48.37 compared to the CDP 61.12) - Goal accomplished

4. Win the divisions, while being one of the most accurate shooters in each division I was competing in: SSR & CDP I'm thinking, we have to wait and see for SSP.

5. Not get sunburned to a crisp: Can you say Lobster.

Great time all in all!

So whats next.

Pick up the 9.5 Seconds I need to make Expert in CDP (this should be an easy one by shooting the classifier when I'm not tired and get my head out of you know where and drop the procedureal penalty); 11.17 Seconds needed for Master in SSR & 17 Seconds for Master in SSP by next years classifier at the latest.

[rsa-otc]

Other than 18 rounds fired last weekend to try my new shooting glasses yesterday was the first time I got to do any live fire training since the Classifier match. During over the last couple of weeks I've been dryfiring my duty revolver right before work, 2 to 3 time per week.

I started yesterdays session after teaching a class for 4 hours. It was a day of highs and lows. We'll start with the highs first:

6 - 8 inch plates at 10 yards, ran cold (only rounds fired previously were 12 demoing an execize in class):

686 revolver, with my duty rig: Previous Best Time 4.86
4.92
4.61
4.73

M&P 45: Previous Best Time 4.09
4.18
4.49
3.99
3.87 Miss 1 Plate
3.87 Miss 1 Plate
Took one last run at the end of the practice session to burn up the last 6 rounds - 4.9 Clean
While I posted my best time to date, the wheels came off when I tried to push beyond 3.99

Bill Drills with the M&P 45 7 yards an a IALEFI - Q Target
2.53
2.46
2.49
All rounds within and centered in the 8 inch circle. There was some vertical stringing as to be expected.
These were my best times to date.

When I shot the Classifier I thought my weak hand only string was weak in SSR @ 3.88
With my 686:
2.97 down 1
3.17
3.10

As previously stated my goal for this year is to make Master in SSR, when I analyze the score from the classifier 2 areas jump out at me where I can improve on. Both versions of the El Pres were sadly lackluster, and stage 3 on a whole needs some polish.

So I worked String 5 of stage 1 Weak hand only with the revolver, Classifier time was: 3.88
2.97
3.17
3.10

Then String 6 of Stage 1 with the revolver, Classifier time was: 9.50
8.37
8.17

Moving on to the 20 yard strings of stage 3, this is where my frustration sets in. I made my bones when shooting PPC in the long distance stages, and yet now this is my down fall in IDPA.

SSR -Classifier time for string one stage 3 was 18.51 and I was down 4 points on the stage as a whole:
Yesterdays runs:
20.02 -7
19.06 -5
19.35 -8

My time was longer and I dropped more points in the string than I did the entire stage 3 in the classifier.

Moving on to my CDP Gun

CDP -Classifier time for string one stage 3 was 20.38 and I was down 24 points on the stage as a whole:
22.57 -10
24.62 -6
Again longer times dropping about the same number of points as I did two weeks ago. UUHHGG.

When I look at the targets my accuracy problems for both guns revolve around the further most target around the barricade (right most target around the left side and the left most target around the right side of the barrricade). The middle targets, all shots where dead center of the down zero area. It seems that the shots on the easiest targets (right target from around the right & left target around the left side of the barricade) were center punches as well.

Note to self, continue to work on WHO and El Prez. Develope drills to improve shooting around barricades at targets furthest left or right.

[rsa-otc]

I’ve been extremely busy as of late this is the first time I have had a free moment to sit down and post. Since my last post I have shot a local IDPA club match and have had 2 live fire practice sessions. I would really like to say I have been dry firing but there wasn’t time for that.

At the local match I did well shooting SSR and CDP. I was the most accurate of the match with my SSR gun and fell into mid pack overall with it as well. The makeup of the stages were such that it required 2 add’l reloads with a revolver vs. an auto. With the CDP gun only the nationally ranked shooters beat me. One of these is a 5 time national champ sponsored by S&W. Over the last 3 years I have been keeping track of how I compare to him and I am happy to say I continue to SLOOOWWLY close the gap.

5/19 Practice session:
6 - 8” plates at 10 yards:
SSR – 686: Posted my best time to date at 4.5 clean
CDP – M&P45: Again posted best score to date at 3.85 clean. What I really liked was that this was the first run of the day. My 4 other runs were under 4 seconds as well, 2 were clean and 2 had one miss.

Bill Drill:
686: 2.25 Clean – personal best
M&P: 2.26 Clean – personal best

Also did some work on Stage 3 String 1 of the classifier. As discussed before, the reach around targets (left target when shooting from the right and right target when shooting from the left) were problematic when I last shot the classifier. I did some work on that as well. Unfortunately I did not keep records of my runs.

Worked on Stage 1 – ½ El Prez. String and Stage 2 - Full El Prez. since I have targeted them for improvement as well. Didn’t record the times here as well shame on me.

5/26 Practice session:
6 - 8” plates at 10 yards:
686: 4.5 clean no improvement- 4 runs 3 of them clean
M&P: 4.13 1 miss, I couldn’t get a clean run to save my life. Not tracking the front sight like I can/should.
SHO: M&P 5.80 clean; 686 6.18 clean
WHO: M&P 6.66 2 misses; 686 7.36 1 miss

Bill Drill:
Only had time & ammo to run it with the 686 : 2.20 clean

Stage 3, String 1:
686 –

• 17.51 down 1
• 17.90 down 2

M&P45 -

• 17.19 down 6
• 17.14 down 10

½ El Prez:
686 – 8.38 down 0; M&P – 7.94 down 0

Full El Prez
686 – 10.95 down 2; M&P – 10.33 down 3

[OrigamiAK]

One of these is a 5 time national champ sponsored by S&W. Over the last 3 years I have been keeping track of how I compare to him and I am happy to say I continue to SLOOOWWLY close the gap.

5/19 Practice session:
6 - 8” plates at 10 yards:
SSR – 686: Posted my best time to date at 4.5 clean
CDP – M&P45: Again posted best score to date at 3.85 clean. What I really liked was that this was the first run of the day. My 4 other runs were under 4 seconds as well, 2 were clean and 2 had one miss.

Sounds like you are doing very well!

What's the start position when running the plate racks?

I couldn't tell if your journal is Open or Closed; if you do not want other people posting, we can ask a Mod to delete this post.

Thanks!

[rsa-otc]

Sounds like you are doing very well!

What's the start position when running the plate racks?

I couldn't tell if your journal is Open or Closed; if you do not want other people posting, we can ask a Mod to delete this post.

Thanks!

No problems with other observations and thanks for the compliment. Plate racks were run from an IDPA open top holster not cover garment.

[rsa-otc]

Plate Rack 6 - 8" plates @ 10 Yards from the Holster:

SSR - S&W 686
Total Time - 1st Shot - Misses
4.70 - 1.78 - 2
4.35 - 1.68 - 1
4.27 - 1.53 - 0 PERSONAL BEST

CDP M&P 45
Total Time - 1st Shot - Misses
4.41 - 1.56 - 0
4.11 - 1.50 - 0
4.11 - 1.44 - 0

Observation - When I push for speed until I feel out of control I'm slower and less accurate, but if I stay within myself I'm speedy and deadly.

Plates SHO:
686 - 6.29 - 2.19 - 0
M&P - 5.51 - 1.89 - 2

Plates WHO
686 - 5.9 - 1.41 - 1
M&P - 7.36 - 1.63 - 2

Classifier Strings:
1/2 El Prez @ 7 yrds:
686
Total Time - 1st Shot - Pts Down
9.03 - ???? - 1
M&P
6.66 - 1.69 - 1

Full El Prez @ 10 yrds:
Total Time - 1st Shot - Pts Down
686
11.77 - 1.97 - 1
M&P
9.81 - 1.96 - 3

Stage 3 String One
Run # Total Time - 1st Shot - Pts Down - Score
686
1 - 16.73 - 2.08 - 3 - 18.23
2 - 15.62 - 2.34 - 3 - 17.15
M&P
1 - 17.51 - 1.99 - 8 - 21.51
2 - 17.85 - 2.35 - 6 - 20.85

[rsa-otc]

I have made the decision to put away the M&P 45 and concentrate on the revolver for the remainder of the year or until I make SSR master. As I stated after the last classifier I had set a personal goal to make SSR Master by next year’s S. Jersey classifier match. While I see improvement in my performance, I think the difference in the trigger between a revolver and the M&P is slowing my improvement down. So we'll see how it goes.

06/23: Spent an enjoyable afternoon shooting with TGS & BaiHu, no performance recorded but I will say shooting man on man against another person significantly messed with my Mojo. In most matches as in practice you shoot only against yourself. Having another person stand alongside you and actively shooting against you can really move you out of your comfort zone.

7/7: Hottest day of the year 100 plus degrees and 44% humidity. Practice session after spending the morning teaching a class. I don't recommend it.

Kit for the day - S&W 686 OWB open top holster Comp II & III speedloaders - Dedicated Prescription Shooting Glasses.

6 - 8" Plates @ 10 Yards:
Free style (2 Hands)
Run Total Time 1st Shot Misses
1 4.62 1.88 0
2 4.94 2.04 0
3 4.77 1.96 0

Strong Hand Only:
Run Total Time 1st Shot Misses
1 6.04 2.22 0
2 6.06 1.87 1

Weak Hand Only
Run Total Time 1st Shot Misses
1 8.63 2.09 0
2 6.49 1.58 1

Then I did what I'm calling 80 in 4 - 80 Shots in a 4" circle broken down as follows:
7 yards 1 shot from draw 11 Times 11
7 yards 3 shots from draw 10 Times 30
7 yards 1 reload 2 10 Times 30
15 Yards 3 shots from draw 3 Times 9

Scored 76 - 3 of the misses were at 7 yards

1/2 El Prez - 7 yards 1 to each of 3 target RL and repeat:
Total 1st Shot Pts Down
8.02 1.86 0.00 - Personal Best

Full El Prez:
Total 1st Shot Pts Down
12.05 1.72 -1
10.86 1.72 -3

IDPA Classifier Stage 3 String 1:
Total 1st shot Pts Down
18.40 2.83 -4
17.34 2.52 -4
18.20 2.36 -4
Consistant SOB aren't I.


I don't know if it was the heat or what but with the exception of both versions of the El Prez I was slower than usual on the draw, posted slower times.

[rsa-otc]

7/14 Shot the Phillipsburg IDPA match.
SSR Division Win & Most Accurate, 3rd overall.

And yes you can miss fast enough to win. 1st over all shot SSP and was 77 points down to my 16. Even accounting for the 6 additional reloads needed by running SSR vs SSP I got smoked time wise. That’s considering I was the 3rd fastest at the match as well.

[rsa-otc]

7/21 - Practice after teaching a class:

Unless otherwise noted Kit was S&W 686, OWB open top holster, Comp II & III speedloaders - Dedicated Prescription Shooting Glasses.

6 - 8" Plates @ 10 Yards:
Free Style:
Total - 1st Shot - Misses
4.44 1.74 0
4.18 1.60 0 - Personal Best

SHO:
Total - 1st Shot - Misses
5.96 2.07 0
5.84 2.04 0 - Personal Best
Duty Gun (Mdl 10 pencil nose), Duty Holster, with everyday glasses
6.58 NR 0
WHO
Total - 1st Shot - Misses
5.40 1.29 0 - Personal Best
5.55 1.40 -2
5.50 1.28 0

80 in 4 Drill described in previous post:
Shot using my Duty Gun, Holster and everyday Glasses
Score - 70 out of 80
All misses during 7 yard phases - More difficult picking up the front sight at speed using my everyday glasses. Impossible to get a hard focus on the sight.

IDPA Classifier Strings:
Stage 1 Strings 1 thru 3:
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
2.45 - 1.56 - 0
2.33 - 1.46 - 0
2.31 - 1.48 - 0

1/2 El Prez:
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
9.17 - 2.08 - 0 - Vaguely remember doing this run SHO
8.72 - 1.77 - 1

Full El Prez:
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
10.66 - 1.81 - 0
10.15 - 1.72 - 0 - Personal Best

Stage 3 String 1
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
17.97 - NR -4
17.71 - 2.49 -5

Stage 3 String 2
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
22.15 - 2.46 -7.00
21.53 - 2.57 -3.00

Stage 3 String 3
Total - 1st Shot - Pts Down
7.72 - 2.74 - 0
7.01 - 2.75 - 0

It seems that I have my best times during matches - Example: With the exception of the El Prez strings, my match time beat my practice times for the IDPA classifier. To date my best FAST time by far was during a match in February when it was freezing out, and on top of that the 8" circle was coved by a T shirt. I pulled a 5.01 clean that day. Go Figure.

[rsa-otc]

08/04/12
Practice after teaching for 4 hours, another brutally hot day. Accu weather claimed 85 degrees with 74% Humidity, real feel adjustment 111 degrees. Although I saw bank temp readings in the mid 90's on the way home.

6 – 8” plates @ 10 yards:
Freestyle
Total – 1st Shot – Misses
5.93 – 2.32 – 0
4.87 – 1.96 – 0
4.70 – 1.81 – 1

SHO:
Total – 1st Shot – Misses
6.02 – 2.17 – 0
5.79 – 2.04 – 0

WHO
Total – 1st Shot – Misses
6.89 – 1.98 – 1

Decided to run the IDPA Classifier to gauge my progress toward intended goal of SSR Master.

Stage 1
String – Time – Points Down
1 – 2.72 – 0
2 – 2.64 – 0
3 – 2.78 – 0
4 – 5.94 – 0
5 – 3.65 – 0
6 – 10.03 – 0
7 – 5.38 – 0
Total – 33.14 – Down Zero for score of 33.14
Previously – 31.55 – down 3 for score of 33.05

Stage 2
String – Time – Points Down
1 – 4.72 - 0
2 – 4.37 - 1
3 – 12.31 - 0
4 – 6.56 – 3
Total - 27.96 – down 4 for score of 29.96
Previously – 28.10 – down 8 for score of 32.10

Stage 3
String – Time – Points Down
1 – 20.61 - 4
2 - 20.25 – 3
3 – 7.52 – 2
Total – 48.38 – Down 9 for score of 52.88
Previously 46.37 – Down 4 for Score of 48.37

COF Score – 115.98 down 11
Previously - 113.52 down 15

Pretty happy with the results, although my score was 2.46 higher than my last official score, it still is solidly EXPERT on the most miserable day of the year. I'll take it. At the end of the classifier I had a hard time seeing the sights because of the sweat in my eyes.

One thing I have noticed looking over my journal is that when it's extremely hot out my time from draw to the first shot suffers. Anyone else notice this as well?