2008 Croc Match Stages

Thanks to Evil Bill ("I am but a lowly stage designer, trying my best to provide some sort of shooting challenge"), we have the stage designs for the 2008 Labor Day Weekend "Another Day in Paradise " High Round-Count match at Dundee, Oregon.

This match is scheduled for Auguste 30-31, 2008. That's Saturday and Sunday. If you haven't already signed up, be sure to get to the match early. You can find sign-up information here.

You can download the stage designs and procedures at the marked links. File sizes are marked on each stage. Although I don't plan to compete in this match (don't have ammo loaded, etc.), after a look at the stages I may show up just to take pictures. Maybe even some video. (See Below #1)

Stage Bay: 1
Title/Link: The Long and Short of It [59 kb]
Designer: Keith Tyler
Round-count: 54/270 points
Targets: 24 IPSC, 6 plates
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: Box activates 2 swingers, shoot from the box. Lots of vision barriers.


Stage Bay: 2
Title/Link: Shooting Paradise [391 kb]
Designer: Eric Falkner
Round-count: 55 /275 Points
Targets: 24 IPSC, 2 PP, 5 Plates
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: The "5 plates" are on a Texas Star/ Narrow bay, trees are probably hard-cover, shooting through ports and around vision barriers ... including especially the Texas Star. Four shooting positions, plus a bottle-neck 'free fire zone' in the middle; watch your 180 there!


Stage Bay: 3
Title/Link: Over the TipTop [71 kb]
Designer: Mike McCarter
Round-count: 48/240 points
Targets: 18 IPSC, 12 USP
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: The USP (U.S. Poppers) are in 4 groups of 3, stacked in front of each other. A Lateral COF, with 3 ports between vision barriers plus shooting around the ends of the vision barriers ... all shooting from "Box A Only". Use of the term "Field Course" here is incorrect, of course, because of the "shoot from the box only" restriction. As is typical of a Croc Match, this stage defies being categorized. Just ... do what you have to do. Note that the IPSC targets are arranged in six arrays, glued on top of each other with limited access to 2/3 of the targets. This will be an Accuracy-intense stage. Good news? This is decidedly NOT Revolver-Friendly. (Okay, I was kidding about the "Good News" thingie.)


Stage Bay: 4
Title/Link: Darn Popper [151 kb]
Designer: Trevor Ott
Round-count: 51/255 Points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 1 PP
Description: Comstock Field Course, although all rounds must be fired "from within fault lines and Box A", and an irregular hexagon fully enclosed by 'fault lines' as of this writing. Again, defies categorization in this respect.
Comments: The single Steel Target (a Pepper Popper which appears to be partially hidden behind a (low?) vision barrier on the far end of the bay must be engaged from within the starting Box A. Note that "Still will flip up T11 and T12, which are also behind the "low(?) vision barrier". As a further complication, there appears to be a vision barrier within the fault-lines, running from uprange to downrange; it seems to be intended to force the shooter not to engage all targets from a single point. It may not survive Stage Construction. The stage design features many barrels between shooting position and targets. The stage procedure does not specify whether the barrels constitute hard-cover or soft-cover, but Croc Matches typically define them as soft-cover. This is because time available does not allow for complex Range Officer decisions about whether a shot is a legal hit or not because there is a hole in the barrel.

Stage Bay: 5
Title/Link: Paradise Island [105 kb]
Designer: Paul Meier
Round-count: 59/295 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 7 USP, 2 Pepper Poppers
Description: Comstock, shooting from with fully-enclosed fault-lines and from atop a platform.
Comments: Start sitting in a chair, unloaded pistol on a table, ammo on person. At least two moving targets (swingers?) activated apparently by shooting either USP or Pepper Poppers. This is probably presented in the "Punch Bowl" bay; very close shooting, a lot of walking up and down the hill to score, tape and reset the targets. Again, another slow stage. Bay is in the hot sun, you'll get tired of walking up and down the hill for a minute's rest in the shade of the Rifle Bench-rest area. Bring lots of water and sun block. (See Below #2.)


Stage Bay: 6
Title/Link: Just Another Set of Standards [69 kb]
Designer: Brad Sitton
Round-count: 48/240 Points
Targets: 6 IPSC
Description: Fixed Time
Comments: Six strings, 6 seconds per string. From different distances, with different stances and grips (kneeling, freestyle, strong hand, weak hand, mandatory reload). This will be a very time-consuming stage. Prediction: it will slow up the match, their will be penalties for following the wrong procedures from at least one distance/shooting position/array; this will be the most hated stage in the match.

Stage Bay: Croc Bay
Title/Link: Freestyle Paradise [438 kb]
Designer: "Evil" Bill Marrs
Round-count: 66/330 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 4 Pepper Popper, 2 USP, 10 Plates
Description: Comstock, legal shooting area defined by fault lines. Starting position is of interest: "Any body position, any hand position, any safe "gun ready" condition and position that complies with the rules. You can not start a stage touching the gun or ammo! (rule 8.2.3)"
Comments: "All props are soft cover -- except the barrels." Note that this stage features the "Evil Oregon Star". Note that this stage features at least 4 IPSC targets which seem to be activated by hitting steel plates. There have been issues with this arrangement ... what if you hit the plate and it doesn't bring up the IPSC target? What if the 'head' of the IPSC target is bent to the point of inaccessibility by the repeated action of being rapidly moved from a prone to a vertical position? Look for this stage design to be changed before the start of the match; there are some potential administrative problems associated with the stage design as I have interpreted it, so don't take this as fact. This is the biggest stage of the match (in terms of number of targets and points available.) Still, it looks like the most fun stage of all. I want to shoot this stage!

* See Below #1:
I may show up for the match, and I hope to take pictures and films some videos.
Heck, I would love to shoot the match. But, as I have frequently mentioned here, considering the dramatically increased cost of components, I don't feel that I can afford to shoot a "Lost Brass Match".

This match is not publicized as a "Lost Brass Match". However, there are so many rounds fired on each stage, the shooting positions are so far apart, and the pace of the match is so fast, there is no time to do much brassing. Even after a stage is completed, you just want to get off the stage and on to the next one.

Folks, this is not intended as a criticism of the match. On the contrary, this is the most exciting and downright FUN match in the country today. I'm describing a personal decision here, and it probably doesn't apply to you. Don't assume that I'm trying to talk you out of shooting this match, because I wouldn't want anyone to miss it because of something I have said.

* See Below #2
Friends, if you're not accustomed to shooting matches in Oregon, there's some things you should know.

First: During the month of August, the weather is hot hot HOT! Bring lots of water, sun-block (pf 25 should be a minimum, and refresh it every 2 hours), wear light clothing.


Second: After Labor Day, the weather changes dramatically. We get rain, and sometimes it turns into a real drizzle. Prepare for it by bringing Rain Gear, hats, towels, and anything else which you expect to need to continue to compete during a downpour.

Third: Sometimes, the Weather doesn't understand the calendar so well. Expect to encounter the First conditions. Prepare yourself so that if the Second conditions prevail, you will not be uncomfortable in the rain.

Here's the weather report. Doesn't look like rain to me. (Click to see full size.)

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Oh, yeah.

You want to know what a Croc Match stage looks like, when it's Done Right?

Once again, here's Stage Winner Yong Lee on Stage 5: The Doors.

This is the 2005 Croc Match.