10-06-2012 WOUNDED WARRIOR ACTION PISTOL MATCH

[bofe954]

Copied from the MNUSPSA, thought the MNguntalk folks who don't go there might be interested...

On 10-06-2012 there will be a Wounded Warrior Action Pistol Match at Minnetonka Game and Fish, sponsored by Freeman Training Consultants, Minnetonka Game and Fish, and the Boy Scouts of America.

All shooters are welcome whether they are used to shooting USPSA, IPSC, IDPA, or other shooting disciplines. Again all shooters whether beginner, experienced competitive shooters, or Wounded Warrior are welcome to compete. The proceeds from the $20 entry fee will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation to help with providing activity opportunities for wounded veterans.

The match will be in the USPSA format and I have made the stages so that they are on an equal playing field whether you have a physical need or are able bodied as the stages are fired from a chair and the magazines and firearm will be on a barrel in front of the shooter.

There are no field courses in order to make the stages more accessible for shooters with needed equipment and in order to make the stages more inviting for the first time shooter.

So far I have several people who have volunteered to help with the match.

The Boy Scouts will be helping with setting up stages and pasting targets. They will also be conducting the Pledge of Allegiance and acting as Color Guard during the shooter’s meeting.

Legacy Christian Academy will be having their concert choir perform the Star Spangled Banner during the shooter’s meeting.

Long Rangers Youth Rifle Team will be providing food for purchase as a fund raiser for their team and may be helping with caddying firearms if necessary.

Set up will start at 07:30. Shooter’s meeting at 09:30 with shooting to start at 10:00.

At this time, I need help with supervising set up starting at 07:30 and helping to direct the Boy Scouts with setup. I also need people who are willing to help as coaches ( I have had several brand new shooters contact me about the match) to help with new shooters. I would also like to have two people who can meet competitors and take them to a safe unloading area to make sure that there are no loaded guns coming into the match.

If you are able to help or have any questions please contact me at greg@freemantrainingconsultants.com or call me at 612-919-8069.

Come out and have a good time for a great cause.

Thanks.

Greg Freeman

[JoeH]

Thanks for doing this, Greg. I'm committed to another volunteer activity that day. Otherwise, I'd be there. Good luck!


Joe

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm just learning about Wounded Warrior Project -- seems like a good organization and a great cause.

To be clear, all stages will be shot from a sitting position?

[jackson1911]

Ron from my understanding that is correct. I shoot Wed. nites with Greg and that is what he was talking about. Should be a good time. I have a prior commitment as well so wont be able to make it. Would have loved to come and help out with this.

Jack

[selurcspi]

I'm in for this!

[srtolly]

I'm trying to get that day off. If I can I'll try to help out. This is a great cause and they do some great things.

[Doc Harvey]

I'm in! Pretty confused after trying to wade through the USPSA rule book, so I hope there'll be someone to help out!

[bofe954]

Just to be clear, I'm not Greg. I don't think he's a member here so I copied the info from MNUSPSA. If you have questions, contact him.

I'm not sure if being seated is really a requirement, but my understanding is that the courses will be possible from a chair.

I'm also guessing the match may not strictly adhere to USPSA rules, but again if you have questions, give Greg a shout.

[rugersol]

I ain't Greg, neither ... but I wouldn't get bent outta shape 'bout the USPSA rules ... most any kinda match runs on basic USPSA rules ... here's an edited portion of what I used to do for USPSA orientation ... big thing is, gun can ONLY be uncased/unholstered in the SAFE AREA (this is an actual physical location on the range ... may be more than one ... should be clearly marked) ... if ya got no holster, I'd guess ya could carry the CASED pistol to each start position, and WHEN DIRECTED BY THE RO, uncase (make SURE muzzle's pointed downrange, BEFORE ya open the case!) ...

• do NOT show up with a loaded gun ... prior to leaving home (or, if the host range allows it, your vehicle) make certain your gun has NO magazine ... AND, that the chamber is clear! (if you're uncomfortable with clearing the gun in/around your vehicle, or the host range doesn't allow it, leave it in your vehicle, find an RO, explain the situation, and ask the RO to direct you to clear it, at a suitable berm ... NOT in the safe area)

• before the match, you can un-case your gun ONLY in the SAFE AREA ... keep your gun pointed in a safe direction ... and holster it prior to leaving the SAFE AREA ... once you leave the SAFE AREA, your gun must remain holstered (until otherwise directed by an RO) ... at the end of the match, you may re-case your gun ONLY in the SAFE AREA

• NO ammo is allowed into the SAFE AREA ... if you handle ammo in the SAFE AREA, you will be DQ'd (disqualified) ... you may load your mags anywhere, at any time ... EXCEPT in the SAFE AREA

• when you pay your match fee, copy your name and shooter no. onto your scoresheet ... once you've shot a course with a squad, do NOT leave that squad

• if you are new, plan to move very slowly ... your goal is to NOT get DQ'd ... a good way to go is to watch your gun all the way, and draw it slowly ... and try to shoot all A's on every target ... a good way to get DQ'd, is to try to do everything quickly, and try to impress everyone ... as your turn approaches, make sure you have sufficiently loaded mags on your belt ... just as the shooter ahead of you finishes firing, you should be at the start position waiting for the RO

• the RO should call the range "HOT!" and then instruct you to "make ready" ... face downrange, and load a mag into your gun, and cycle the slide to chamber a round ... if your gun has a manual safety or decocker, you must engage either (if it has both, and you're shooting Production, use the decocker) ... then re-holster your gun ... this is your last chance to ask questions ... better to get them answered long before it's your turn to shoot

• after you've loaded and made ready, the RO will ask "are you ready?" ... shake your head, if you're not ... no response is considered affirmative ... the RO will then say "stand by", which means the next sound you hear should be the start signal of the timer ... upon the start signal, draw your gun and begin firing ... upon the start signal, you will experience an extreme rush of adrenaline which will severely impair your cognitive skills ... this is why it's important to go very slow

• when you've finished shooting at all the targets, simply stop, make sure your muzzle is pointed downrange and your finger is outside the trigger-guard ... the RO will then ask "if you are finished, unload and show clear" ... eject your mag and hold the slide back so the RO may see into the chamber ... keep holding the slide back until the RO says "if clear" ... release the slide ... the RO will then say "hammer down" ... aim at the back berm, not the ground in front of you, and pull the trigger (fully expect it to go off, sometimes it does) ... the RO will then say "holster" ... re-holster your gun, engage any retention devices, and take your hand off it ... the RO will then announce "range is clear!"

• if an RO stops you, FREEZE, make sure your muzzle is pointed downrange, and your finger is outside the trigger-guard ... then do NOTHING else ... wait for instructions from the RO ... an RO may stop you for something other than being DQ'd ... like if the timer malfunctioned and you need to start over ... do NOT panic if you are stopped ... people sometimes get DQ'd AFTER they are stopped ... if you are DQ'd, do NOT take it personally

• if you are DQ'd, the RO will instruct you to "unload and show clear" ... once the "range is clear", go to the SAFE AREA and re-case your gun ... you may watch, and help, but not shoot, the rest of the day ... unless otherwise instructed, you are welcome to come shoot the next match

• the 180 refers to an imaginary line, both vertically, as well as horizontally, between the targets and everyone else ... if your muzzle crosses, or approaches, the 180, you will be DQ'd

• the ONLY time your finger may be inside the trigger-guard is when you're actually firing your gun AT a scoring TARGET ... ANY other time (particularly drawing, holstering, loading, unloading, and/or taking more than one step), you will be DQ'd (if the RO isn't sure, he may simply yell "FINGER!" as a warning) ... when not inside the trigger-guard, it's best to have your finger straight, and along the bbl

• if your gun fires, but not clearly and intentionally, AT at scoring TARGET (any shot fired during loading/unloading and/or remedial handling is automatically an "AD"), you will be DQ'd for an AD (accidental discharge)

• holstering a cocked gun, without one of a safety or decocker engaged (if so equipped) will result in DQ ... holstering any cocked revolver, will result in DQ

• whether your gun is loaded or not, if after "make ready", and before "range is clear", your hands are relieved of your gun, you will be DQ'd (if your gun falls out of your holster at any other time, you must have an RO pick it up, and reholster it, for you, or you will be DQ'd)

• if the muzzle of your gun points at any part of your (or anyone else's) body, you will be DQ'd ... unless your finger is outside the trigger-guard and you are drawing or reholstering and you only sweep your OWN body, BELOW your belt

Aside from the "HOT!" command, these are all 100% outta the USPSA rulebook! Technique, and tips/tricks to avoid DQing aside (too many to list, and worthless w/o video), I'd guess these make up 'bout 99% of what ya need to know, to shoot most any USPSA-style match, w/o getting DQ'd!

Getting DQ'd is not fun! ... it's not 'sposed to be!

This is a nice pistol case that's almost impossible to open, with the muzzle pointing in the wrong direction ... http://www.midwayusa.com/product/944187740/ ...

[sgruenhagen44]

So the only gun I have ever used in any kind of match was a 1911. Now I'm going to start shooting my SR9C next year. After I drop my mag and show clear, do I have to pull the trigger without the mag in the gun even if it's a striker fired gun? Yea I Know, proabably a stupid question.

[rugersol]

So the only gun I have ever used in any kind of match was a 1911. Now I'm going to start shooting my SR9C next year. After I drop my mag and show clear, do I have to pull the trigger without the mag in the gun even if it's a striker fired gun? Yea I Know, proabably a stupid question.

Not at all! ... the short answer, is yes, ya hafta pull the trigger! ... it really is amazing when TWO guys (shooter and RO) can look at the same exact gun, at the same time ... say it's "empty", and when the trigger's pulled, it still goes "BANG!"

Some guns have a mag-safety (fire-controls won't engage, w/o a mag in the gun) ... 1. I'd get a hold of the gunsmith at Bill's Robbinsdale and inquire as to its deactivation ... 2. make sure to have an empty mag on you, when you're done shooting ... at "hammer down", show the RO the empty mag and indicate the gun has a "mag-safety" ... insert the empty mag into the gun ... do NOT rack the slide ... aim at the berm, pull the trigger ... eject the mag, and "holster"!

That #2 (above) ... I don't recall ever seeing it in the USPSA rulebook ... it's what I've always advised, though ... never had anyone come back and say I was wrong ... don't mean I ain't!

[xd ED]

So the only gun I have ever used in any kind of match was a 1911. Now I'm going to start shooting my SR9C next year. After I drop my mag and show clear, do I have to pull the trigger without the mag in the gun even if it's a striker fired gun? Yea I Know, proabably a stupid question.

Not at all! ... the short answer, is yes, ya hafta pull the trigger! ... it really is amazing when TWO guys (shooter and RO) can look at the same exact gun, at the same time ... say it's "empty", and when the trigger's pulled, it still goes "[b]BANG![/b]"

That really happens??!
(serious question)

[rugersol]

So the only gun I have ever used in any kind of match was a 1911. Now I'm going to start shooting my SR9C next year. After I drop my mag and show clear, do I have to pull the trigger without the mag in the gun even if it's a striker fired gun? Yea I Know, proabably a stupid question.

Not at all! ... the short answer, is yes, ya hafta pull the trigger! ... it really is amazing when TWO guys (shooter and RO) can look at the same exact gun, at the same time ... say it's "empty", and when the trigger's pulled, it still goes "[b]BANG![/b]"

That really happens??!
(serious question)

I've never seen it ... but the one time my buddy got DQ'd, according to him, that's precisely what occurred!

Bear in mind, some guys get purdy quick/lazy about holding the slide open for the RO ... some RO's don't make 'em re-open it! ... not sayin' that's what happened in this case ... but there's no reason it couldn't!

More likely scenario is the gun's held at angle such that the top of the mag is not visible, the mag is left in the gun, pulling back the slide only ejects the previously chambered round!

Point of fact, the old official command was "unload and show clear" ... followed by "hammer down" ... the new command is "if clear, hammer down" ... supposedly this was done to distinguish that it is NOT the RO's responsibility if the gun weren't actually clear! IOW, a shooter would follow the RO's commands, the gun'd fire, and the shooter'd claim he couldn't be DQ'd 'cause it was the RO's fault the gun weren't clear!

[sgruenhagen44]

i see. Yea, the reason i ask is because my owners manual says I shouldn't dry fire without a mag in my gun. But I suppose only doing it at matches will not affect it.

[rugersol]

i see. Yea, the reason i ask is because my owners manual says I shouldn't dry fire without a mag in my gun. But I suppose only doing it at matches will not affect it.

I'd guess it has a mag-safety ... otherwise there'd be no reason at all not to dry-fire a centerfire pistol made in this century ('er even most of the last) ... in fact, it's VERY good (fer the money! ) practice!