Yes, because the dot could move out of the window as you move around. Especially if you're in firing positions that you're not accustomed to. A hard lean, urban prone. Weak hand only.
Competitive Shooting - Ask Me Anything
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I just use the biggest window I can and forget about index entirely.
But I close my eyes when I shoot anyway.
"Fired up"? Haha sure bud. I am hanging onto every post you make, now that I know you exist and how important you are.
I thought your creative interpretation of Gloom's smart and reasonable answer to be utterly hilarious. Nicely done.
Yes and no. I'd rely on practice to find the dot, but the larger window provides more margin for error, especially when learning. If I can at least find the dot in the edge of the larger window I could more quickly learn to center the dot automatically.
Is the challenge to shoot the target or who uses the smallest optic?
That gave me an idea. Like occluding the front of the optic to learn to keep both eyes open, what about training with a small hole in a piece of tape on the BACK of the optic?
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I recently bought a cover for the front of mine. That would be a cool experiment on the blocking off the back with a hole. I think it would make you present the gun correctly.
Yeah, there's benefit to training with a smaller window. I have a Fastfire 3 for that!
I also have a 507C with the Vulcan reticle. I don't use the outer ring much, but it's a nice training feature. The ring does pull more power.
In any remotely "normal" position you should have a solid index and not be finding the dot, looking for it is very slow.
In the real world there may be times when things don't or can't happen perfect. Awkward leans, weird angles through ports, whatever and a bigger window may give you a dot.
That said, I used a viper and later a holosun 507C? the original, to pretty good effect and never felt the window size held me back. If I was less cheap I may've upgraded but not with any expectation of significant gains.
I have been a clay target shooter for many years, including skeet and trap, but mostly sporting clays until the past few years. I am wondering about shotgun competitions for me, like the shotgun portion of 3-gun. Are there shoots like that within a reasonable drive of Raleigh?
Woody's had an awesome match like that. Remington Versamax Challenge or something like that. Was huge. Super fun.
But that was years ago and I haven't seen one since.
I think they did do a few of those last year.
Looked it on on PS;
Zoo City Armory Outlaw Falling Steel @CGGR March 9
Can be found on Practiscore @dmarbell.There is a shotgun division. Will be awesome reloading pratice!
Speaking of shotguns, what is a common minimum/maximum round count at the start of a stage?
Just based on having a 26" barrel and about 12" of unused space, I'm thinking a +5 mag extension would match up nicely. At this time my reloading is at a no-skill level and no modifications have been made to make it any easier, unless the upgraded bolt release counts. I'm tempted to do some filing just based on doing standard loading.
Just based on having a 26" barrel and about 12" of unused space, I'm thinking a +5 mag extension would match up nicely. At this time my reloading is at a no-skill level and no modifications have been made to make it any easier, unless the upgraded bolt release counts. I'm tempted to do some filing just based on doing standard loading.
Yikes, though. The falling steel shoot is time plus with 25 pieces of steel per stage. You'd have to reload a 9+1 shotgun like a Mossberg 940 JM Pro twice per stage.
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That's when dual or quad loading comes in! I wish I could do it! I saw a technique for doing singles while holding multiple shells in the same hand which might be more my speed. It's the first method shown here:
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Not sure about falling steel, but I think you can start that with a full tube and one in chamber.
In 3gun, it is usually one in chamber and 8 in tube to start if I am not mistaken. Or just 8 in tube for unloaded start. So a tube that holds 9 allows you to load it full and chamber a round to be ready.
An 8 round tube and you have to Barney load one shell sometimes.
For a 26" gun you could get a tube that allows at least 12. That way you can load 3 quad loads. Ot two quads if you aren't sure if you have 1-2 shells left in tube.
This is ideal, imo.
But some shooters much better than me (Tommy Smith from fuquay for example) always used a shorter 8 round tube and was just more economical about when and where he loaded in a stage. He said he liked the handier feel of the gun and also felt it was easier to dump in barrels and to retrieve, etc.
Any of you fellas is welcome to try mine. Has a 12 round tube. Feels ridiculous but you get used to it and it's manageable. I wouldn't hesitate to go shoot with an 8 round tube. And you can get pretty fast pretty quickly just doing dual loading of the shells. It's much easier than quads.
Duals is easy. One day of practice and you'll have it.
Needing all the help I could get, I might do a ghost load (one on the lifter) and attach two matchsavers. heh
What does that mean, like in English?
Those times were tough, but this is probably the funnest matches around. Some stages are sorta stand and shoot, most are 3-gun/USPSA style. There's nothing but bragging rights on the line and very minimal rule/hit/whatever disputes. I squadded with a fella with a Suppressed pump SBS one match. If you can get a group of friends to join you on a squad it's even better.
A matchsaver is a holder for a single shell that can be loaded quickly. Usually mounted on the ejection port side, but you could put one on the opposite side. It's generally meant to be used if you run out of ammo just before the final shot!
This is an example of ghost loading which provides +2:
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I think it depends on gun, and I am not really sure..
I believe my Remington had an 8 round tube that was flush at 22".
So, should I decide to try this, I guess I'd be ok starting with duals and not try quads until I practiced - a lot? I'll have to try the strong hand and weak hand versions of duals and quads. I messed with it a little yesterday with my Beretta A400 (not a competition gun, certainly) and the Lena-version of strong hand was difficult because my wrists are so inflexible I can't rotate the gun to see the port or follower without adjusting my grip. She is loading with the port at about 90 degrees to vertical, so maybe I was trying to rotate too far. The weak hand dual load looks doable with a little practice, with possibly half the rounds hitting the ground when shooting at speed in a stage LOL.
I've seen card magicians with less hand coordination than Keith Garcia at about 3:40 in the Taran video above. Taran's no slouch either.
Somebody asked about the magazine lengths. Here is a gun I'm contemplating, JM Pro with 9+1.
By the way, you all didn't understand how my "plea for intervention" was supposed to work. You were supposed to say, "stay at home in your recliner, Grandpa, and save your money."
maven
10MM is best MM
The shotgun division for Zoo City Falling steel co-mingles Open and Modified/TacOps shotguns. Starting number of rounds in the gun is only limited to how many your gun can hold. These days it is common for Modified/TacOps guns to hold 12+1 when full. 12+1+1 if your specific model can ghost load. Most tube gun guys get through it with two load 8s or less as there are many targets that present as doubles for the shotgun.
If you haven't learned how to load a shotgun yet i highly recommend just learning how to weak hand load. strong hand loading is awkward and not as fast as weak hand loading, imo.
If you haven't learned how to load a shotgun yet i highly recommend just learning how to weak hand load. strong hand loading is awkward and not as fast as weak hand loading, imo.
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Keith Garcia is a freak.
Checkout the ShottyCam where he snags the two birds.
But yes absolutely load duals and use that gun. 9+1 is great. It's perfectly fine and is exactly how me and 90% of everyone started and many still load duals and no quads. Duals can be very fast and if you pick the right spots to load it won't make a huge difference to be honest.
For example, if Matt Martini were forced to shoot against me and only allowed to load duals on a long shotgun stage (or even short lol) the results would be equally humbling. But if he were shooting against Keith Garcia he'd better use quads and do it fast!
Like Maven, I found the weak hand load to suit me best. Just roll gun over with strong and schling them in. The problem I had with the strong hand reload is the gun gets dang hot and that barrel can get you when you roll it over, and it just never felt right to me.
I have two 12 shell caddies coming, and will practice dual loads. I have a 12 gauge Mec and plan on making some dummy loads, just so I don't shoot my foot off trying to speed load and then unload my JM Pro.
I have everything I need now to try the falling steel shoot at CGGR. It might be a while before I can get there, but it'll be fun I'm sure. Thanks for all the guidance and encouragement.
I emailed the info guy at CGGR but haven't heard back. What type of 12 gauge load is required to make steel fall in the falling steel shoot? Shoot description shows 1350 or less shells with #6 or smaller shot. The ranges look pretty short, so I'm guessing 7.5s or 8s in normal sporting loads will drop the steel. Am I wrong?
I have everything I need now to try the falling steel shoot at CGGR. It might be a while before I can get there, but it'll be fun I'm sure. Thanks for all the guidance and encouragement.
I emailed the info guy at CGGR but haven't heard back. What type of 12 gauge load is required to make steel fall in the falling steel shoot? Shoot description shows 1350 or less shells with #6 or smaller shot. The ranges look pretty short, so I'm guessing 7.5s or 8s in normal sporting loads will drop the steel. Am I wrong?
Awesome dude. I have a chest/belly rig that holds 20. It's nice to have for big stages. Let me know if you want to borrow it for a match. Just hangs here in the gun room.
As far as what knocks what over: Depends on barrel length and choke. Mostly cheap 1145 birdshot works. I think I end up using light modified most of the time, but sometimes they will stretch that steel out to the edge of where there think most people will be failing to knock over.
I'd say stick with something and just see how it goes. Ideally, you get a few knock-over plates and set them up and test you choke pattern and distances. I generally use a light mod choke for 90% or everything.
EDIT: I found that my stock magazine spring with a 5-round capacity is only 5" beyond the end of the tube, and it ejects the last shell with authority.
I was just reading that a shotgun magazine spring should extend 12-16" beyond the end of the tube. Is that common for speed loading? I guess I should pull my spring out and check it for reference. In this video a 12" spring is used and a method for testing the tension is shown.
I was just reading that a shotgun magazine spring should extend 12-16" beyond the end of the tube. Is that common for speed loading? I guess I should pull my spring out and check it for reference. In this video a 12" spring is used and a method for testing the tension is shown.
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I bought my tube from MOA Precision and it came with a spring and follower (side note: don't buy there). But I think I did have to cut the spring to 12" for my particular tube length (he sends extra long spring) if my memory serves.
Your spring may be fine, but when you start loading full tubes a bunch it may slump a little and start giving you problems after a while.
I'd say try it out and see how it feels. Personally I'd order a long spring in the meantime just in case.
Becky knows her stuff. She also raised 2-3 boys who are 3gunners. Whole family shoots, and shoots well. Probably bought a lot of springs!
Show up to a match and get smoked by a couple boy scouts and their mom, lol.
I should note that I think MOA just sold Nordic tubes and whatnot.
nordiccomp.com
MXT Shotgun Magazine Extension Tube Kit, 12ga. - Nordic Components Inc.
Looking for a shotgun magazine extension to add capacity? Nordic Components has you covered, with a magazine extension for almost any 12 gauge shotgun.
nordiccomp.com
See edit. I don't even know what I don't got and do got as of now. LOL
Anyone have experience with the GoShoot USPSA matches?
Looking to shoot my first match, but was wondering if it's any more hardcore than the other Raleigh area matches.
Their description made it sound like it might be -
This tournament is specifically designed to train you for events like USA National and world wide events with a challenge in all skills that practical shooting requires like swingers/ movers, strong/ weak hand, close speed targets, tight far targets, moving while shooting, prone/ low ports and mental challenges.
Looking to shoot my first match, but was wondering if it's any more hardcore than the other Raleigh area matches.
Their description made it sound like it might be -
This tournament is specifically designed to train you for events like USA National and world wide events with a challenge in all skills that practical shooting requires like swingers/ movers, strong/ weak hand, close speed targets, tight far targets, moving while shooting, prone/ low ports and mental challenges.