We’ve all done it. Moving along through life and everything is going our way and suddenly we are landing on the ground not really sure how we got there. All well and good, usually, with nothing more than our pride bruised or maybe a minor scrape. But what if this happens at a match, during a stage, and we are the shooter? DQ? Let’s step back from the dust cloud and look the situation over.
[Read more…] about Timber!!!Circlestack? What the heck?
Revolvers get referred to by a lot of names. Circlestack, Wheelgun, and more. The revolver, typically in a .38 variant or .45 ACP and the 1911, generally in .45 ACP although .38 Super was around as well, were the foundation firearms of our sport going back to the very early days before double stack magazines, comps and, optics. At that point the 1911s were using surplus magazines so were 7+1 vs. 6 rounds in the revolver so there was not that much disparity. As revolvers were still the duty guns for most law enforcement agencies at the time they were very popular in the sport and readily available. Now, they are a rarity in our sport, especially USPSA, and it is not uncommon to run across ROs that aren’t “Revolver Aware”. They are a bit different from a rules standpoint so let’s stroll through the book and take a deeper look.
[Read more…] about Circlestack? What the heck?Compassion in the Shooting Sports
It either has happened already or will happen sooner or later to all of us. Either we get injured and/or we get older; and our ability to be agile and speedy in our sports of choice diminishes. Should we just give up, start playing checkers in the park, and go away or soldier on? Let’s cogitate on that.
[Read more…] about Compassion in the Shooting SportsMatch Staff – What Does it Really Cost?
I don’t think anyone that has been involved in Major Match administration will argue that the single largest cost to any match is the staff and related expenses. Let’s dig in to something that is rarely considered by looking at it from the other way round and see what working a match costs our staff.
[Read more…] about Match Staff – What Does it Really Cost?Stage Design – Details…details…details
Most of us have some particular features we put into the stage during the design process that we want to be there for whatever reason. Be it the design of target arrays, arrangement of targets around the bay, or just about anything else. We designed it a particular way and we want it set up that way mostly because it is “ours”. But what REALLY happens and, maybe more importantly, what SHOULD happen during the transfer from the paper design to reality? Let’s dive in…
[Read more…] about Stage Design – Details…details…detailsSo, YOU Get to be the RM today
Ask anyone, especially those that have earned their RM card but also a lot of CRO level folks and they can tell you the story of their first time working as the RM at a match. And, if you stick in the sport long enough, stay abreast of the rules, and help run matches at your local club(s) then it is probably going to happen to you. Here are some tips and some advice to help you in that journey.
[Read more…] about So, YOU Get to be the RM todayCaveat Emptor
More often than any RM would like, we run into competitors, especially newer competitors or those who have decided to campaign in a new division, whose equipment has run afoul of the rules. The oft heard phrase of “But the advertising said it was USPSA legal” or “my buddy said it was legal” is uttered usually followed by someone saying “Welcome to Open”, if they are lucky. But should you believe everything you see in advertising, on websites, on packaging or hear from others? Read on…
[Read more…] about Caveat EmptorWhen Nature Calls
It is a fact of life, everyone needs to perform certain bodily functions. In fact, if you aren’t having to perform one of them during the course of a match, it can be a bad sign. At a recent class, we ended up having a rather interesting discussion about this which has inspired this post. So let’s examine the finer points.
[Read more…] about When Nature Calls