Is it June 8th or July? The PHA newsletter is contradicting this post and the fb post.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm also not clear on why we're moving it to the same day as the CCGC 2-gun and the Rowan USPSA matches. If there's a good reason for it, then okay, but it should be explained.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJSYv1oG46BS94pKVy3idgIm really curious how the shotgun portion will run. I have a basic M2000 Stoeger that I'd love to shoot more and would try it.
I'll say this - Im really looking forward to taking the HK SBR out to a match!
It sounds fun and challenging, and educational, but I only have a handgun, so I'm out. (I'm also a newbie to matches, but maybe in a couple of years I might be ready. I like something that pushes me out of the comfort zone!)The match is different than what most of us are used too for sure, I’ve shot the Alphas match a good bit over the past several years and I’ve shot PHA and CCGC with a lot of you folks, I’d hope that those that have met and shot with me know me well enough to know that I’d be the first to tell you if a match is garbage or not, if it isn’t safe, fun & challenging I sure as hell wouldn’t waste my time let alone try to drag anyone else along with me.
The image that a lot of people get in their minds about the match format is that it’s a hose fest that doesn’t require any skill, it really isn’t, the match is designed to cover a wide range of ages, fitness levels, shooting abilities and skill sets, some new shooters may find things too complex and seasoned 2/3 gun shooters may find things to be too remedial, but the folks that are advanced enough shooters can make things much more challenging for themselves, you can decide to make all headshots, shoot strong hand or offhand as you choose, you can limit the amount of rounds you have in your mags, you can add more reloads etc.
Remember that this is not a ranked match that costs $150-$200 in entry fees and there are no prizes on the line, this match offers people the ability to test their shooting abilities in ways that most ranges won’t allow, the whole point is to put rounds on target as fast as you can and you have to think about engagement protocols such as target order, the number of rounds for which targets, shooting order just like any other match, believe me when I say that just because your not striving for all “As” doesn’t mean you’ll be banging on the trigger as fast as you can and be bored out of your mind, the whole mentality of the match format has a different vibe and you will still gain experience and learn plenty about what you’re doing or not doing well behind the gun.
The shotgun portion of the stages are normally fairly short and too the point, you won’t be stacking 4-6 shells doing monster reloads while chasing down 20-30 targets, you might see anywhere from 2 to 8 shotgun targets, you can only load as many shells as their are targets (unless the stage calls for something specific), if you miss a target you’ll combat reload until you knock it down or run out of shells, pretty straight forward.
The classes are primarily for people that want to “kit up” in full tactical gear and shoot in “operator”, be a “zombie hunter” and carry a big ass knife around or if you want to throw on a WW 2 OD green uniform and shoot your M1 carbine, the classes are there to offer another layer to the match, the guys that run the match are either former or current Cowboy Action shooters, if putting on an outfit isn’t your thing just wear what you would normally wear at any other match and shoot “High Speed, Low Drag” which is the class 90% of people end up being in, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I wear shorts and a t-shirt when I shoot the match.
As to the weekend change for the match, I believe it is because the folks that will be running the PHA match already run their match on the 4th Saturday of the month and it would be rough running matches 2 weekends in a row, I also try to shoot the CCGC match in Burlington on the second Saturday of the month but between the weather and my “on call” schedule one or more of my match weekends gets hosed, for me personally I’ll try to shoot the CCGC match on the second Saturday and shoot the Rowan Alphas match on the 4th Saturday, the schedule isn’t as ideal as it was having CCGC the 2nd Saturday, PHA the 3rd and Rowan the 4th but now I’ll be able to try and catch one of the two Alphas matches every month and hopefully be able to catch the pistol match at PHA more often.
I hope people choose to give the new match a chance and go in with an open mind, there are a bunch of great people that shoot the Alphas 3 gun at Rowan and the guys that run the match are sand up folks that do their very best to support the shooting community, they know the match won’t be for everyone and that’s ok too, but I am of the opinion that anything we can do to support a match that draws new people into the sport is a damn good thing, even if you end up finding that this particular style of match isn’t up to your skill level or liking for one reason or another, I do not think you will find a better match to introduce new shooters too.
I'm a little confused by the change in direction. Granted, 1) this is just 1 mans opinion and 2) while I've shot the PHA 2 gun match over 20 times starting in 2013, I have been gravitating more towards pistol shooting the last 1.5 years so I haven't shot it since Aug 2017, and 3) I have shot 3G a few times but I am not an avid 3G shooter.
Also, I know it is a lot of work (and in some cases, thankless) to be a Match Director - so I think it's fantastic someone is going to pick up the torch and provide an offering for shooters to enjoy.
So, with those caveats, here are my concerns:
- Diminished focus on accuracy - I don't see a benefit in going to hits/misses. It was always great to see people learn about height over bore (ha) and to figure out their brake pedal was just as important as the gas. This will be eroded
- Divisions focused on dress - I don't recall anyone every appearing self-conscious if they chose to gear up at the 2G. I don't see why you would choose to segment shooters this way
- Inclusion of shotgun - PHA 2G was popular because it wasn't a 3G, of which there are multiple options if you like 3G shooting. Just my opinion, but shotgun in 3G is 2G with a shotgun loading contest. Blasting poppers at 10Y with bird shot is not a challenge (quick shotgun reloading is the differentiator, which can be a money game).
I think you guys had the right formula with the spirit and intent of the 2Gun. This feels like a pivot from a challenging, unique tactical carbine match - to hoser stages that look good on YouTube.
Perhaps, though - I am wrong and these are welcome changes. In which case, I am open to correction.
In the long run this will build participation. Dress up and be John Wick like SASS figured out, They Will Come.In a nutshell, imagine a Cowboy action match with ARs, AKs and semi auto handguns, the classes are setup around the type of gear people want to run, for instance if you have a complete set of camo, plates & carrier and ballistic helmet you can shoot in the “operator” class, if you lack a helmet but have everything else you can shoot in the contractor class, if your not into dressing up or think all that stuff is silly or stupid, just run your normal match gear like I do and wear shorts & t-shirt, holster, mag carriers etc and shoot in “High speed, low drag”
It sounds fun and challenging, and educational, but I only have a handgun, so I'm out. (I'm also a newbie to matches, but maybe in a couple of years I might be ready. I like something that pushes me out of the comfort zone!)
Thanks for the offer. By then it will probably be too hot for me, though. But I never know from one day to the next what I might do!I’m just seeing this Millie.
I can assure you that if you show up to a match and lack anything, someone will take you under their wing and get you what you need to shoot, if you know for a fact you’ll make the trip, let me know and I’ll bring some extra gear and get you on a squad, you’re more than welcome to shoot anything I have, I normally shoot “low recoil” or “light field loads” at this match so if you haven’t shot a 12ga much or ever, it won’t beat the snot out of you, I can make sure you’re on my squad so you’ll have access to the guns you need.
The above goes for anyone, I can loan out an AR and handgun if you end up on another squad, I only own one shotgun so if you need to shoot it you’ll have to be on the same squad as me, but keep in mind I’m not rich, all I ask is people to bring their own factory loaded ammo, I’ve got one AR that I only shoot brass cased ammo out of and one that you can shoot steel out of, I don’t shoot steel out of my handguns but aluminum is fine, my shotgun needs brass 12ga though because my 870 is the bottom of the line cheapest 870 tactical that Remington makes and the aluminum “low brass” based shells cause the action to stick, when fired the low case aluminum bases expands too much and racking the slide can be a bitch sometimes, the cheap low actual brass field/target # 8 shot loads run flawlessly (high brass shells and magnum 00 buck and slugs never cause issues, but you can’t shoot those in a match, not that you’d want too).
I normally bring an extra Glock holster, mag carrier and extra ammo with me as well, I’ve walked out of the house more than once and left ammo, guns, hearing protection, eye protection and pretty much any other item you might need for a match sitting on a table and people have always stepped up and loaned me anything I need, so now I try to be “that guy” and have extras with me to get someone through the match, hell we’ve had people show up to just watch an Alphas match and end up wishing they brought their gear so we tell them to go pay the match director and loan them everything needed To shoot, as I’ve said before, you honestly won’t find a much nicer group of people at a match.
Thanks for the offer. By then it will probably be too hot for me, though. But I never know from one day to the next what I might do!
I've never even seen a shotgun outside of a gun shop, and I'm kind of afraid to shoot one. I do plan to get my hands on one at some point, but in a match might not be the best time to learn about it! Lol.
I'll let you know if I get a crazy idea to do this, though.
I'll keep that in mind for the cooler months....I'm basically just pining for winter now! Lol.Keep in mind you can shoot in the 2 gun division and skip shotgun altogether to get started.
Thanks for traveling deeply into the belly of the beast and returning with info @GridlockH8.
And I was just about to get full sleeves and was working on a sick nickname.
@Tarowah you know I’d be happy to shoot with you anytime! Just didn’t want to have to get gear to do so. Already have too much shooting crap!
I know it’s a haul for you man but since you’ve made the trek before I hope you’ll make it back out and give it a try.
I seriously need to hit some of the matches out your way to see if I can pick up some of that mojo you’ve got going these days, we used to be fairly close at these things but you stepped up your game big time and crush me, I definitely need to get on your match rotation for a few matches!
GridlockH8, glad you made it! I was the the one in the bright lime green shirt! It was fun, kinda hot, but not too bad. I thought the stages were pretty fun, good amounts of movement.
A little update for our upcoming match. I was able to get 6 STS shotgun targets that used to be used for the PHA Cowboy matches. I have also purchased an additional 6 STS style shotgun targets from a local craftsman. He has three more partially finished. So we have 12, good, shotgun targets. These are great targets, consistent and easily reset. Hope to see you guys in a couple weeks.
BTW, who was the guy with the BAR?