I've had about a week to think about the sole Match DQ at last weekend's ARPC Club Match, and I'm still not sure what happened.
I mean ... I was there. I was watching the guy, and when I say it happen I said to him: "What are you DOING?"
What he was doing at the time was to violate the single simple rule of competition, which is to NOT handle your gun except (a) at the safety table or (b) under the direct supervision of a Range Officer.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: BACKGROUND
This was the second stage of the match, which I guess was Stage 4. The starting position was (as nearly as I recall ... ignore the quotation marks) "Sitting at the table, with your gun flat on the table, unloaded, slide forward, hammer down".
Basically, the gun was to be in the same state as it would be during the match when you were not competing, except that it was on the table: safe.
We all are aware that we need to be immediately available when it's our turn to shoot. And the competitor was obviously aware that he could only handle his handgun at the safety table, or on the line under the direct supervision of a Range Officer.
It was his second match after his certification training; he had been told that, and he understood that.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: IMMEDIATE
When it was his turn to shoot, he quite confidently moved to the starting box, pulled his pistol from the holster, placed it on the table and assumed his pistol in the chair. His arms were crossed, he was confident and secure in his confidence that he had done exactly what the Stage Procedure Document stipulated. (This was the point at which I said: "What are you DOING?")
Unfortunately, he forgot one small detail: the Range Officer had his back turned and the competitor was not under the "direct control of the Range Officer". That is; the "Make Ready" command had not been given.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: ULTMATELY
When the RO turned around, saw that the competitor was more-or-less in the starting position, he said: "I am DQ-ing you".
The RO, a trainer and a long-time competitor, knew EXACTLY what the competitor had done, as soon as he saw the pistol on the table. Making unfounded assumptions (considering the lack of RO guidance), the competitor had assumed the "ready" condition, which unfortunately required him to handle his pistol. His understanding, I assume, was that it was okay for him to place his pistol on the table at his convenience ... not under the "direct control of the Range Officer".
The competitor is a helluva nice guy, we all knew that he was just trying to make the match run faster. It did not occur to him that he was performing an Unsafe Act. He know that nobody was downrange, and in his mind there was nothing wrong with performing exactly the same actions as he would have done when the RO turned to him and said: "Make Ready".
But he forgot that SAFETY is the most important component of IPSC/USPSA competition; and that "direct control of the Range Officer" isn't just A Good Idea, it's The Law.
COMPETITION VS "JUST FOOLING AROUND
This is a mind set which I usually see immediately after a class.
For instance: immediately after a class I was talking about guns to a student at the safety table, trying to explain to her the difference in controls (if I remember it correctly ... but it doesn't matter) between the controls of a 1911 and a "safe action" pistol such as a Glock. She had her pistol in her hand at the time, and it was pointed at the safe backstop behind the Safety Table. During her response, she casually turned to face me ... and rotated the pistol until it was pointed at my belly. (Not the first time this has happened after a class, by the way.) I mentioned that she was pointing her gun at me. She blushed, turned around and bagged her pistol. I never saw her again. Sometimes embarrassment can serve as to filter out the people who think "Safety" is only important during a match, vs those who understand that "Safety" is important ANY time a firearm is present.
The conversation is incidental; safety is paramount, all the time, every time. That's what I try to teach, but it doesn't always take. (Note to self: I do need to stress this point in future classes!)
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
This is not something which typically happens with people who are entirely new to pistol shooting.
It happens with people who have been shooting for a while, but their experience has usually been in a more casual circumstance. They are accustomed to coming to the range, and everyone is on their own; at their leisure, they un-bag their guns and lay the pistols on the counter which separates the "shooting area" from the "downrange area". It is ASSUMED that they are safe, because .. hey, there's nobody downrange from them. No problem!
The concept of a Range Officer ... of "oversight" ... is not common to their experience. And at first, "Range Safety" is a casual, interpretive, unimportant concept. They are with friends, or alone, and there are no rules, really.
They're not "Bad", but in the context of the character in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" ... they're just drawn that way.
And so, when they feel most comfortable and relaxed ... they are at their most vulnerable moment; and most likely to BE unsafe because they FEEL MOST SAFE.
...
I'm not going to denigrate new shooters because of their prior experiences have taught them to be lackadaisical in their approach to firearm safety. They don't know any better, and sooner or later they are bound to act as if it's just an afternoon at the range with their friends.
After all, haven't they all been taught that? I know I'm guilty as much as anyone, because that's the way I feel at a match.
But, until the concept of SAFETY is fully ingrained by experience, it constitutes a disservice to our New Friends to allow them to thing that ... just because the timer is not running at a match ... they can ease off on the Safety Regulations.
(SIGH)
It's impossible to cover all possible ways of "Doing Wrong" in a three hour class; and nobody would stand still for it, it's so negative!
Ultimately, the only way to gain experience in a potentially dangerous high-stress competitive environment is to tell the new practitioners what they must and must not do, and then allow their friends to serve as bad examples, for the edification of the others.
I'm not happy with that "solution". I think that every new shooter should have the experience that experienced shooters have; that is a conundrum, I admit, and it bothers me that I can't teach them EVERY way that they can .. well, "screw up".
It's a balancing act. As a trainer, if make the training too tough, I lose the potential of new shooters who are interested, but are discouraged by the negative tenor of the class.
If I'm too "nice", I lose the value of the Safety Training; I graduate people who don't understand how easy it is to be unsafe/how important it is to achieve the discipline to be always safe in a "running gun" situation.
On the other hand, if I'm too "tough", I dissuade people who have the potential to be safe, EXPERIENCED competitors who understand that ... "Hey, we want you to come shoot with us, but we will hold you to a 'higher standard' which flies in the face of all the practices you have experienced in a less stressful environment" ... your experience is unsafe, and we will not tolerate a lower level of safety."
(more sighs)
SUMMARY:
This is a very long and convoluted post, and I apologize for imposing my "angst" on you. I'm not really trying to apologize for my inability to be a perfect trainer. What I'm looking for is some s
suggestions from other trainers about how to achieve the perfect balance of "tough" and "attractive" in a three-hour training session. Ideally, each student would be given individual instruction, and ideally the training session would continue until the student had learned all that he or she needed to know.
Practically speaking, that is impossible. Even under the most ideally perfect situation ... it ain't going to happen. It's beyond the realm of human endeavor to cover every possibility; the best we can do is to hit the high points and hope for the best .... and in the actual event, to monitor the performance of each New Shooter very closely ... without making him or her feel so self-conscious that he/she has no possibility of performing "satisfactorily".
The only thing that I can suggest is a concept which I have only recently realized is a viable goal: That they perform "right" rather than "well".
In the early stages of a new shooter's career, they should not attempt to "perform well" (to be competitive); they should only attempt to "perform right" (to be safe).
I'm not sure that's a conceptual differentiation which will be acceptable to every new shooter, but it's a goal which may perhaps be achievable.
And it may prevent them from DQ'ing because they tried too hard, too early.
x
x
Friday, March 16, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Desecration on UK Commonwealth World War Cemetery in Benghazi - YouTube
Desecration on UK Commonwealth World War Cemetery in Benghazi - YouTube
I've tried to say this so many times, and I've never had the guts ... or had the exact/specific example to say what I wanted to say. Perhaps today, given this example, I can say it.
I BELIEVE .... all cultures produce their fair share of idiots; most often, among their young.
I BELIEVE .... each generation is driven to discount the values of their fathers, at least when appreciation for the contribution of a foreign culture is concerned. And probably in all other circumstances, especially if the new generation has been "brainwashed" by the radicals of the previous generation.
I BELIEVE .... that this sort of disrespect for their history is not limited to the Muslim population ... but it is here presented precisely that way.
I BELIEVE .... that the presentation of Muslim or Islamic ill-behavior is often presented precisely to denigrate their culture (ignoring that "Young Boys Behaving Badly" is not limited to any specific culture). Note that English "YOBS" have been found to desecrate World War memorials, as well.
SEE BELOW!
I BELIEVE .... that this specific culture is currently more susceptible to bad influences from their elders than are other cultures. Specifically, many Islaamics consider themselves personally "At War" against the West because of the recent incursions against the East from the West, for political reasons which are not generally accepted by these Eastern influential persons.
Or are they?
I BELIEVE .... that any religion may be confused with cultural influences; because of the specific belief system which is Islam, there is a history (including, admittedly, "The Crusades") which encourages the dichotomy between the 15th Century "history" and the 20th century.
On the other hand ... is the influence religious or cultural?
I BELIEVE .... that the recent migration between Islamic lands and European lands has encouraged Islamics to rebel against their perceived anti-bias. That is, the migratory Islamics feel persecuted because they THINK they are persecuted against.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that this persecution is not without basis; however, the dichotomy of "I am a foreigner, thus I am treated as an alien" among immigrants is not primarily generated by the host country (s) as much as by the immigrant's unfulfilled expectations.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that this fulfillment has less to do with what the immigrants had been led to be believed, than with what they chose to believe .. often with little or no encouragement from their host country.
I BELIEVE .... that when young men find their dreams unfulfilled, they tend to react against those peoples who they expected to provide the fulfillment; their own actions seem, to them, to be entirely reasonable.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that Socialism is one of the factors in the disillusionment of immigration. New "citizens" reasonably expect that they will receive "Cradle to the Grave" support from their new host countries. When that level of support is not ("automatically") provided to them, they react negatively; and their friends and relatives from their country of origin mirror that disappointment, even if/when they are not directly affected.
I BELIEVE .... that the guy in the video who climbs a ladder and begins to hammer against the Christian cross with the obvious expectation that he can thus dislodge it... is a prototypical exemplar of people who have unrealistic expectations. In a word; he is an idiot.
I BELIEVE .... that the guys in the video who begin whacking vigorously at the base of the cross-pillar reflect at the guy pounding at the cross itself; they probably don't REALLY expect to take down the Christian symbol, they only wish to register their own personal protest. The RESULTS are unimportant; the EFFORT only serves to display their displeasure. (Note that the video ultimately does not extend to display any meaningful results, but tipping over gravestones is so instantly gratifying!)
I BELIEVE .... that this video is an ultimately embarrassing null-effort by the perpetrators. They are only expressing their frustration, and probably not dissing the brave men who gave their lives for their benefits. It's sad that they have no more productive manner of expression, just as it is sad that that they are so willing to denigrate the efforts of perfect strangers who died for their freedom to desecrate their graves.
I BELIEVE .... these kids are a bunch of Useful Idiots who someone will take advantage of, in order to make a political point.
I BELIEVE .... that I have just done that.
I wonder if they will be proud, or embarassed, that a Westerner will use their vandalism to show how shallow is their character?
OR ....
will we remember the November 05, 2005 incident when Muslim graves were desecrated in a British graveyard?
We're real big about decrying the desecration of British graves by Muslim youths .... but why don't we notice the similarly despicable action against Muslim graves by British youths?
(Note that this reference was at least 100 levels down in a Google Search! Sure, it took place 7 years ago .... but why did it take such research in depth to find it? Could it be because we are so quick to condemn others for the things that we do ourselves?)
I've tried to say this so many times, and I've never had the guts ... or had the exact/specific example to say what I wanted to say. Perhaps today, given this example, I can say it.
I BELIEVE .... all cultures produce their fair share of idiots; most often, among their young.
I BELIEVE .... each generation is driven to discount the values of their fathers, at least when appreciation for the contribution of a foreign culture is concerned. And probably in all other circumstances, especially if the new generation has been "brainwashed" by the radicals of the previous generation.
I BELIEVE .... that this sort of disrespect for their history is not limited to the Muslim population ... but it is here presented precisely that way.
I BELIEVE .... that the presentation of Muslim or Islamic ill-behavior is often presented precisely to denigrate their culture (ignoring that "Young Boys Behaving Badly" is not limited to any specific culture). Note that English "YOBS" have been found to desecrate World War memorials, as well.
SEE BELOW!
I BELIEVE .... that this specific culture is currently more susceptible to bad influences from their elders than are other cultures. Specifically, many Islaamics consider themselves personally "At War" against the West because of the recent incursions against the East from the West, for political reasons which are not generally accepted by these Eastern influential persons.
Or are they?
I BELIEVE .... that any religion may be confused with cultural influences; because of the specific belief system which is Islam, there is a history (including, admittedly, "The Crusades") which encourages the dichotomy between the 15th Century "history" and the 20th century.
On the other hand ... is the influence religious or cultural?
I BELIEVE .... that the recent migration between Islamic lands and European lands has encouraged Islamics to rebel against their perceived anti-bias. That is, the migratory Islamics feel persecuted because they THINK they are persecuted against.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that this persecution is not without basis; however, the dichotomy of "I am a foreigner, thus I am treated as an alien" among immigrants is not primarily generated by the host country (s) as much as by the immigrant's unfulfilled expectations.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that this fulfillment has less to do with what the immigrants had been led to be believed, than with what they chose to believe .. often with little or no encouragement from their host country.
I BELIEVE .... that when young men find their dreams unfulfilled, they tend to react against those peoples who they expected to provide the fulfillment; their own actions seem, to them, to be entirely reasonable.
However, they may be right.
I BELIEVE .... that Socialism is one of the factors in the disillusionment of immigration. New "citizens" reasonably expect that they will receive "Cradle to the Grave" support from their new host countries. When that level of support is not ("automatically") provided to them, they react negatively; and their friends and relatives from their country of origin mirror that disappointment, even if/when they are not directly affected.
I BELIEVE .... that the guy in the video who climbs a ladder and begins to hammer against the Christian cross with the obvious expectation that he can thus dislodge it... is a prototypical exemplar of people who have unrealistic expectations. In a word; he is an idiot.
I BELIEVE .... that the guys in the video who begin whacking vigorously at the base of the cross-pillar reflect at the guy pounding at the cross itself; they probably don't REALLY expect to take down the Christian symbol, they only wish to register their own personal protest. The RESULTS are unimportant; the EFFORT only serves to display their displeasure. (Note that the video ultimately does not extend to display any meaningful results, but tipping over gravestones is so instantly gratifying!)
I BELIEVE .... that this video is an ultimately embarrassing null-effort by the perpetrators. They are only expressing their frustration, and probably not dissing the brave men who gave their lives for their benefits. It's sad that they have no more productive manner of expression, just as it is sad that that they are so willing to denigrate the efforts of perfect strangers who died for their freedom to desecrate their graves.
I BELIEVE .... these kids are a bunch of Useful Idiots who someone will take advantage of, in order to make a political point.
I BELIEVE .... that I have just done that.
I wonder if they will be proud, or embarassed, that a Westerner will use their vandalism to show how shallow is their character?
OR ....
will we remember the November 05, 2005 incident when Muslim graves were desecrated in a British graveyard?
Hundreds of police officers were drafted on to the streets of Birmingham last night after dozens of Muslim grave headstones were damaged at a city cemetery, triggering concerns about fresh race riots.
The desecration was discovered yesterday morning by relatives visiting the Muslim part of Handsworth Cemetery in Birmingham.
Leaflets were also scattered among the grave stones with insults against Muslims which were attributed to a unknown group calling themselves Black Nation. Up to 45 headstones were smashed or pushed over.
We're real big about decrying the desecration of British graves by Muslim youths .... but why don't we notice the similarly despicable action against Muslim graves by British youths?
(Note that this reference was at least 100 levels down in a Google Search! Sure, it took place 7 years ago .... but why did it take such research in depth to find it? Could it be because we are so quick to condemn others for the things that we do ourselves?)
Saturday, March 03, 2012
USPSA Intro Class: March, 2012
There are some fairly interesting things going on with new shooters who are just starting out in the USPSA competition business, and it's fascinating to me how the program is expanding radically from the original concept.
Which is a much kinder, gentler way of saying that I'm learning as much from my students as they are learning from me.
Essentially, I'm not being as "kind and gentle" as I would have hoped to be; as it turns out, it's not doing any favor to the students if I'm quite as relaxed and easy going as I would prefer to be.
Maybe I should be more clear here. Previously, I've tried to give my students a 'break' when they do something unsafe. Previously, I've pointed out their error, and gently reminded them that they just can not DO this in "A Real Match". I found out last month (when a student made the SAME errors as during the class ... and I had to DQ the student) that criticism without reinforcement just doesn't work.
Student "W" and Student "M" both trained in August, and did fine. They couldn't either get to a Classification Match until February, so they both showed up at the February class for a refresher. (I don't mind accommodating students, and I was impressed that both "W" and "M" wanted to refresh their learned skills before attending the match."
While "W" did fine, "M" got the classic Match Jitters and forgot about the "keep the finger off the trigger when loading, unloading, or clearing a malfunction" Safety Rule. When that happened during the class, I just leaned over and quietly said: "By the way, you are DQ'd because you can't keep your finger off the trigger". Nothing much more was said, except that this did NOT mean "M" had to leave the class. In other words, no real penalty was applied. No lesson was learned!
During the pressure of Match Day in February, though, "M" made the same mistakes; I was obliged to Match DQ the student. I had no choice, one of the primary rules had been broken.
"M" was more embarassed than angry .. and perhaps a little self-disappointed.
So I was pleased when both "M" and "W" asked to go through the new student class again this month; that showed real determination, and I was impressed by the dedication of both to "beat this thing"; that is to provide mutual support and learn to deal with Match Jitters.
Also present today were three entirely new students: Jason, Mike and Rob.
The first thing I did was to declare that "M" ... who had DQ'd last month, would be my Demonstrator for class. This established some pressure which, while perhaps not as intense as might be experienced in an actually match, insured that this single student would ALWAYS be the first shooter .. with everyone watching.
(I don't know about you, but I've always felt at least mildly uncomfortable being the first shooter on a stage. It's not so bad now, since I'm so old and feeble that nobody expects much from me, and my memory is reduced to such almost-Alzheimer status that I've almost forgotten what it's like to be embarassed by screwing up on a stage.)
But I know (I can remember that far back) that it can be, for a new shooter, as if everyone is watching and being critical EVERY TIME you get up to shoot.
With "M" as my demonstrator, and "W" shooting last (if only to provide comic relief ... I can say that 'cause we are both personable and likeable) we had a solid shooting order.
Then the fun started.
It's not that "M" had problems ... on the contrary. We just witnessed mechanically perfect performance on every stage. No attempts to push the envelope; "M had a self-assigned role to provide a textbook perfect form as an example to the others, with NO violations of safety rules.
And it worked out just fine.
"W" performed as well, always looking smooth; it looked fast, too, which reinforced our mantra that "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast".
We had some ammunition problems, though.
Mike had a squib in the last exercise, which was personally disconcerting because I (as RO) never caught it. It's just that ... his gun suddenly refused to go into battery. Of course that happened when we played "El Presedente". Gun problems always happen on a speed stage, it seems. Still, I did not notice a difference in the volume of the report.
When he got the squib worked out, and switched to a 1911, he had high score on the exercise ... which provided us with an example to explain how every shooter's stage score was based on their relative 'raw' score to determine relative placement within a stage (This iss omething that we don't get to as often as we should ... and I think the class should include at least one stage where we 'do the math' so the competitors understand how placement works for each stage, and for the match. More on this at the end of this article.)
Jason had a crap holster, some kind of soft thing with a strap and he got REALLY tired of fastening the strap. Of course, his shirt kept trying to get between the gun and the holster, so it took him forever both to holster his loaded picture. He had this monstrous big 9mm pistol that looked like Tom Selleck's in the movie "Runaway" where Selleck portrayed a government agent tasked with killing Robots. We found ourselves in the advantageous position where we could make "ROBOT" jokes every time Jason came up in the rotational shooting order.
Jason had some other, more serious, problems related to his unfamiliarity of using his pistol in a competitive environment. This wasn't obvious until halfway through the live-fire exercise, when he shifted his grip slightly and ended with his off-hand thumb dangerously near the recoiling slide. I stopped him immediately, and then attempted to explain why.
It wasn't because he had violated a safety rule, I said, or because he was violating ANY kind of rule ... but because I feared for his safety. I went on to explain that if he shifted his grip an eighth of an inch it might result in the recoiling slide catching his thumbnail ... which could rip his nail loose from his hand. Worse, if he shifted his grip much more, it might result in a broken thumb. I counseled him to try another grip.
He (quite reasonably) asked if I would suggest another grip. I quickly demonstrated the thumb-over-thumb grip (left thumb holds the right thumb down) and the "High Grip" which necessarily puts one thumb on the safety (his gun didn't have one, but the de-cocker might serve) and the other thumb under it. He tried these grips ... and immediately began to 'tank' his shots into the low-C-zone and often the low-D-zone.
This illustrated the problems with this kind of instruction. The assumption is that the students are thoroughly familiar with their pistols, and the basics of safe gun-handling need not be addressed. In this case, Jason needed some personal coaching. As it was late in the day, it was impossible to provide him with the personal coaching he needed. The "old" grip he was using ... and which he adjusted (not to his advantage) during a stage, obviously wasn't working, and was dangerous. The new grips which he tried were not accurate, as they caused him to jerk the trigger. I'm hopeful that he can work with this at home to get past the problem of dunking his shots, but I'm concerned that he doesn't have time between the class and the match to work on it.
I'll see if I can contact him between now and then, so we can work "one on one" to develop a grip he can use.
The final student, Rob, was so boring. He had no problems. He was shooting a true 1911, which fact I may here be seen present as an unfair suggestion that 1911's solve all shooter problems. (In the spirit of "Full Disclosure", I note that I have seen a plethora of students who could not safely handle a 1911 frame. On the other hand, my own son can't drive a stick shift ..... )
Still, I was impressed with his performance if only because it was relatively problem free.
This should not be interpreted to suggest that the other students universally encountered problems. I DQ'd more than one shooter, and I deliberately stood the shooters down and had them reshoot the problematic exercises after everyone else had finished the problem. I had told the class before we began the Live Fire exercise that they would be embarrassed during the class. When I asked one shooter (who had been 'rewarded' with less-than-exemplary comments) whether I had embarassed him, he said: "Yes, but I get that all the time at home".
I considered that as a sane, reasonable response indicative of a mature response to criticism; they weren't ignoring the criticism, but didn't find it so uncomfortable that they were so uncomfortable with the training environment that they would not feel comfortable shooting in competition. That was the goal in this newer approach.
FOOTNOTE:
After Mike had problems with his pistol, he switched to the 1911 which Rob had been using. IF the results are worth evaluating, he "won" the competition for the "El Presente" stage with his 1911, a fact which I mentioned earlier.
All of the students fired the "El Presente" stage under conditions which I attempted to be as difficult, and "judgemental", as they might expect to find in "an actual match". I made it clear that their scores would be recorded, and that their performances would be evaluated to determine the "winner" of the stage. (I'm not certain that I made that as clear as it sounds, but I'll work harder in my subsequent classes to apply the formula so as to impose as much pressure to perform as they might find in a match.)
I've computed the the scores for that wrap-up stage ... and I am sorry that this format doesn't provide non-proportional type so I can present the results in columnar format. Still, here's how the students raw performance worked out:
EL PRESIDENTE:
Mike:
Raw points: 55 Time: 11.59 Raw Score: 4.74 Percent: 100 Final Stage Score: 60.0000 Points
"W":
Raw points: 52 Time: 12.15 Raw Score: 4.27 Percent: 99.3468 Final Stage Score: 59.7468 points
Rob:
Raw points: 57 Time: 15.06 Raw Score: 3.78 Percent: 79.7468 Final Stage Score: 47.8481 points
"M":
Raw points: 52 Time: 18.07 Raw Score: 2.87 Percent: 60.5848 Final Stage Score: 36.3291 points
Jason:
Raw points: 42 Time: 27.56 Raw Score: 1.52 Percent: 32.8675 Final Stage Score: 19.2405 points
JUSTIFICATION:
Raw score is points / time
Percent is raw score divided INTO raw score of highest scoring shooter (Mike)
Final Stage Score is Percent x maximum possible score for the stage (60 points)
Again: this is the kind of example which should be provided (class time being available) to all of the students in future classes. Everybody wants to know where they finished ... and especially how they got there!
Which is a much kinder, gentler way of saying that I'm learning as much from my students as they are learning from me.
Essentially, I'm not being as "kind and gentle" as I would have hoped to be; as it turns out, it's not doing any favor to the students if I'm quite as relaxed and easy going as I would prefer to be.
Maybe I should be more clear here. Previously, I've tried to give my students a 'break' when they do something unsafe. Previously, I've pointed out their error, and gently reminded them that they just can not DO this in "A Real Match". I found out last month (when a student made the SAME errors as during the class ... and I had to DQ the student) that criticism without reinforcement just doesn't work.
Student "W" and Student "M" both trained in August, and did fine. They couldn't either get to a Classification Match until February, so they both showed up at the February class for a refresher. (I don't mind accommodating students, and I was impressed that both "W" and "M" wanted to refresh their learned skills before attending the match."
While "W" did fine, "M" got the classic Match Jitters and forgot about the "keep the finger off the trigger when loading, unloading, or clearing a malfunction" Safety Rule. When that happened during the class, I just leaned over and quietly said: "By the way, you are DQ'd because you can't keep your finger off the trigger". Nothing much more was said, except that this did NOT mean "M" had to leave the class. In other words, no real penalty was applied. No lesson was learned!
During the pressure of Match Day in February, though, "M" made the same mistakes; I was obliged to Match DQ the student. I had no choice, one of the primary rules had been broken.
"M" was more embarassed than angry .. and perhaps a little self-disappointed.
So I was pleased when both "M" and "W" asked to go through the new student class again this month; that showed real determination, and I was impressed by the dedication of both to "beat this thing"; that is to provide mutual support and learn to deal with Match Jitters.
Also present today were three entirely new students: Jason, Mike and Rob.
The first thing I did was to declare that "M" ... who had DQ'd last month, would be my Demonstrator for class. This established some pressure which, while perhaps not as intense as might be experienced in an actually match, insured that this single student would ALWAYS be the first shooter .. with everyone watching.
(I don't know about you, but I've always felt at least mildly uncomfortable being the first shooter on a stage. It's not so bad now, since I'm so old and feeble that nobody expects much from me, and my memory is reduced to such almost-Alzheimer status that I've almost forgotten what it's like to be embarassed by screwing up on a stage.)
But I know (I can remember that far back) that it can be, for a new shooter, as if everyone is watching and being critical EVERY TIME you get up to shoot.
With "M" as my demonstrator, and "W" shooting last (if only to provide comic relief ... I can say that 'cause we are both personable and likeable) we had a solid shooting order.
Then the fun started.
It's not that "M" had problems ... on the contrary. We just witnessed mechanically perfect performance on every stage. No attempts to push the envelope; "M had a self-assigned role to provide a textbook perfect form as an example to the others, with NO violations of safety rules.
And it worked out just fine.
"W" performed as well, always looking smooth; it looked fast, too, which reinforced our mantra that "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast".
We had some ammunition problems, though.
Mike had a squib in the last exercise, which was personally disconcerting because I (as RO) never caught it. It's just that ... his gun suddenly refused to go into battery. Of course that happened when we played "El Presedente". Gun problems always happen on a speed stage, it seems. Still, I did not notice a difference in the volume of the report.
When he got the squib worked out, and switched to a 1911, he had high score on the exercise ... which provided us with an example to explain how every shooter's stage score was based on their relative 'raw' score to determine relative placement within a stage (This iss omething that we don't get to as often as we should ... and I think the class should include at least one stage where we 'do the math' so the competitors understand how placement works for each stage, and for the match. More on this at the end of this article.)
Jason had a crap holster, some kind of soft thing with a strap and he got REALLY tired of fastening the strap. Of course, his shirt kept trying to get between the gun and the holster, so it took him forever both to holster his loaded picture. He had this monstrous big 9mm pistol that looked like Tom Selleck's in the movie "Runaway" where Selleck portrayed a government agent tasked with killing Robots. We found ourselves in the advantageous position where we could make "ROBOT" jokes every time Jason came up in the rotational shooting order.
Jason had some other, more serious, problems related to his unfamiliarity of using his pistol in a competitive environment. This wasn't obvious until halfway through the live-fire exercise, when he shifted his grip slightly and ended with his off-hand thumb dangerously near the recoiling slide. I stopped him immediately, and then attempted to explain why.
It wasn't because he had violated a safety rule, I said, or because he was violating ANY kind of rule ... but because I feared for his safety. I went on to explain that if he shifted his grip an eighth of an inch it might result in the recoiling slide catching his thumbnail ... which could rip his nail loose from his hand. Worse, if he shifted his grip much more, it might result in a broken thumb. I counseled him to try another grip.
He (quite reasonably) asked if I would suggest another grip. I quickly demonstrated the thumb-over-thumb grip (left thumb holds the right thumb down) and the "High Grip" which necessarily puts one thumb on the safety (his gun didn't have one, but the de-cocker might serve) and the other thumb under it. He tried these grips ... and immediately began to 'tank' his shots into the low-C-zone and often the low-D-zone.
This illustrated the problems with this kind of instruction. The assumption is that the students are thoroughly familiar with their pistols, and the basics of safe gun-handling need not be addressed. In this case, Jason needed some personal coaching. As it was late in the day, it was impossible to provide him with the personal coaching he needed. The "old" grip he was using ... and which he adjusted (not to his advantage) during a stage, obviously wasn't working, and was dangerous. The new grips which he tried were not accurate, as they caused him to jerk the trigger. I'm hopeful that he can work with this at home to get past the problem of dunking his shots, but I'm concerned that he doesn't have time between the class and the match to work on it.
I'll see if I can contact him between now and then, so we can work "one on one" to develop a grip he can use.
The final student, Rob, was so boring. He had no problems. He was shooting a true 1911, which fact I may here be seen present as an unfair suggestion that 1911's solve all shooter problems. (In the spirit of "Full Disclosure", I note that I have seen a plethora of students who could not safely handle a 1911 frame. On the other hand, my own son can't drive a stick shift ..... )
Still, I was impressed with his performance if only because it was relatively problem free.
This should not be interpreted to suggest that the other students universally encountered problems. I DQ'd more than one shooter, and I deliberately stood the shooters down and had them reshoot the problematic exercises after everyone else had finished the problem. I had told the class before we began the Live Fire exercise that they would be embarrassed during the class. When I asked one shooter (who had been 'rewarded' with less-than-exemplary comments) whether I had embarassed him, he said: "Yes, but I get that all the time at home".
I considered that as a sane, reasonable response indicative of a mature response to criticism; they weren't ignoring the criticism, but didn't find it so uncomfortable that they were so uncomfortable with the training environment that they would not feel comfortable shooting in competition. That was the goal in this newer approach.
FOOTNOTE:
After Mike had problems with his pistol, he switched to the 1911 which Rob had been using. IF the results are worth evaluating, he "won" the competition for the "El Presente" stage with his 1911, a fact which I mentioned earlier.
All of the students fired the "El Presente" stage under conditions which I attempted to be as difficult, and "judgemental", as they might expect to find in "an actual match". I made it clear that their scores would be recorded, and that their performances would be evaluated to determine the "winner" of the stage. (I'm not certain that I made that as clear as it sounds, but I'll work harder in my subsequent classes to apply the formula so as to impose as much pressure to perform as they might find in a match.)
I've computed the the scores for that wrap-up stage ... and I am sorry that this format doesn't provide non-proportional type so I can present the results in columnar format. Still, here's how the students raw performance worked out:
EL PRESIDENTE:
Mike:
Raw points: 55 Time: 11.59 Raw Score: 4.74 Percent: 100 Final Stage Score: 60.0000 Points
"W":
Raw points: 52 Time: 12.15 Raw Score: 4.27 Percent: 99.3468 Final Stage Score: 59.7468 points
Rob:
Raw points: 57 Time: 15.06 Raw Score: 3.78 Percent: 79.7468 Final Stage Score: 47.8481 points
"M":
Raw points: 52 Time: 18.07 Raw Score: 2.87 Percent: 60.5848 Final Stage Score: 36.3291 points
Jason:
Raw points: 42 Time: 27.56 Raw Score: 1.52 Percent: 32.8675 Final Stage Score: 19.2405 points
JUSTIFICATION:
Raw score is points / time
Percent is raw score divided INTO raw score of highest scoring shooter (Mike)
Final Stage Score is Percent x maximum possible score for the stage (60 points)
Again: this is the kind of example which should be provided (class time being available) to all of the students in future classes. Everybody wants to know where they finished ... and especially how they got there!
Hacker Attacks - Everybody's Doing It
(Koff Koff!)
Last month I got an email from my ex-wife, offering to give me the low-down on a GREAT money-making opportunity working at home!
After I quit laughing, I emailed my ex. She replied that she hadn't sent it to me, and didn't know anything about it. So I deleted the email, and quit worrying about it.
A few days later I received an email from a high-school friend, offering to give me the low-down on ... yep. You guessed it, another GREAT money-making opportunity working at home. So I deleted the email.
Two days ago I received an email from my daughter, with the heading "blessedday". The email contained absolutely NO content! So I wrote to her (did NOT replay to the email) and said "No content? What's with this?"
This afternoon when I got back to the range I found a reply from my daughter. She said it was news to her, she had scanned her computer and found no virus or bugs, but she did change her password and hoped that would clear up the problem.
I wrote back to say her mother had a problem lately too with her email address book being used to send bogus emails (one of which was sent to me), and concluded with the smug assurance that "... you didn't get that from MY side of the family!"
Smug didn't live long. The very next email I read was from a utility vendor informing me that the credit card I used to pay my bill was due to expire next month and I should change my payment information in order to continue uninterrupted service.
I don't pay that account with a credit card, and even if I did, it wouldn't be expiring. SO I contacted the vendor directly (via email ... not by replying to the original email) forwarding the 'bogus' email and asked them to please investigate and LET ME KNOW whether they had screwed up or whether this was just another "Phishing" attempt.
(Look up the term "Phishing" if you're not sure, but generally speaking it means someone is trying to get me to reply to the EMAIL rather than directly to the vendor ... who can NOT be reached using the email address provided. The hope is that I will provide private information including credit card account number, etc.)
What does this mean to you?
In case you haven't been attacked before, please be aware that there are naughty people out there who would LOVE for you to reply directly to their emails. Always verify the source of dubious emails even if they seem to come from a friend or family member.
Oh, and I checked my AntiVirus provider (Symantic) and they have no reference to a virus identified as "blessedday". Doesn't mean there isn't one ... just means it hasn't been identified as a "virus". That is, there is no software embedded in the email by that name. This should NOT be taken to mean that there's not someone out there sending apparently innocuous messages which, if YOU reply to it directly, will consider this a confirmation of your email address as an "active and legitimate" email address and continue to send you unsolicited messages ... or send you an email message which DOES have a virus.
As Sgt. Phil Esterhaus use to say in almost every episode of Hill Street Blues:
"Let's be careful out there!"
(Sigh!)
Last month I got an email from my ex-wife, offering to give me the low-down on a GREAT money-making opportunity working at home!
After I quit laughing, I emailed my ex. She replied that she hadn't sent it to me, and didn't know anything about it. So I deleted the email, and quit worrying about it.
A few days later I received an email from a high-school friend, offering to give me the low-down on ... yep. You guessed it, another GREAT money-making opportunity working at home. So I deleted the email.
Two days ago I received an email from my daughter, with the heading "blessedday". The email contained absolutely NO content! So I wrote to her (did NOT replay to the email) and said "No content? What's with this?"
This afternoon when I got back to the range I found a reply from my daughter. She said it was news to her, she had scanned her computer and found no virus or bugs, but she did change her password and hoped that would clear up the problem.
I wrote back to say her mother had a problem lately too with her email address book being used to send bogus emails (one of which was sent to me), and concluded with the smug assurance that "... you didn't get that from MY side of the family!"
Smug didn't live long. The very next email I read was from a utility vendor informing me that the credit card I used to pay my bill was due to expire next month and I should change my payment information in order to continue uninterrupted service.
I don't pay that account with a credit card, and even if I did, it wouldn't be expiring. SO I contacted the vendor directly (via email ... not by replying to the original email) forwarding the 'bogus' email and asked them to please investigate and LET ME KNOW whether they had screwed up or whether this was just another "Phishing" attempt.
(Look up the term "Phishing" if you're not sure, but generally speaking it means someone is trying to get me to reply to the EMAIL rather than directly to the vendor ... who can NOT be reached using the email address provided. The hope is that I will provide private information including credit card account number, etc.)
What does this mean to you?
In case you haven't been attacked before, please be aware that there are naughty people out there who would LOVE for you to reply directly to their emails. Always verify the source of dubious emails even if they seem to come from a friend or family member.
Oh, and I checked my AntiVirus provider (Symantic) and they have no reference to a virus identified as "blessedday". Doesn't mean there isn't one ... just means it hasn't been identified as a "virus". That is, there is no software embedded in the email by that name. This should NOT be taken to mean that there's not someone out there sending apparently innocuous messages which, if YOU reply to it directly, will consider this a confirmation of your email address as an "active and legitimate" email address and continue to send you unsolicited messages ... or send you an email message which DOES have a virus.
As Sgt. Phil Esterhaus use to say in almost every episode of Hill Street Blues:
"Let's be careful out there!"
(Sigh!)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Try Shotgunning shoot down an airplane?
The Smallest Minority: THIS Might Make Me Want to Try Shotgunning
Kevin at TSM presented a truly different kind of shotgun sport. I'm impressed!
I'd go to that kind of a shoot even though I doubt I could "do well" with it.
That looks like a LOT of fun! I haven't seen that many shooters laugh since ..... well, since my last USPSA Match!
Kevin at TSM presented a truly different kind of shotgun sport. I'm impressed!
I'd go to that kind of a shoot even though I doubt I could "do well" with it.
That looks like a LOT of fun! I haven't seen that many shooters laugh since ..... well, since my last USPSA Match!
Truth in the Blogosphere?
This is sort of off-topic, in this venue.
I happen to subscribe to PJTV (www.pjtv.com) which presents conservative political viewpoints on the current American political scene.
Last month I noticed that two of my favorite commentators .... Sonya Schmidt and Andrew Klaven, who present their opinions and observation with good humor (if a little ascerbic) ... were no longer currently presenting (Mr. Klaven) as individuals, or not presenting at ALL (ms. Schmidt who no longer even appears on the blogroll, so her archives are not available, either).
So I sent a question to PJTV's Help Room.
I asked them to explain why these two excellent commentators were no longer presenting.
In the space of a few minutes, I received the following candid reply:
[Emphasis Added]
I'm thinking there's a story behind this. But as long as their HELP ROOM people are still honest, I'll probably continue my $5/month subscription to PJTV, "anyway".
Not that it doesn't piss me off ....
I happen to subscribe to PJTV (www.pjtv.com) which presents conservative political viewpoints on the current American political scene.
Last month I noticed that two of my favorite commentators .... Sonya Schmidt and Andrew Klaven, who present their opinions and observation with good humor (if a little ascerbic) ... were no longer currently presenting (Mr. Klaven) as individuals, or not presenting at ALL (ms. Schmidt who no longer even appears on the blogroll, so her archives are not available, either).
So I sent a question to PJTV's Help Room.
I asked them to explain why these two excellent commentators were no longer presenting.
In the space of a few minutes, I received the following candid reply:
Nature of Request: Website:Other
Brief Description: So what happened to Sonya Schmidt?
I can't
Thank you for your interest and taking your time to contact Pajamas TV. Should further action be required our Support staff will respond, via email, within the next 24 - 48 hours.
Once again, thank you for contacting PJTV.
PajamasTV Support Team
www.pjtv.com
[Emphasis Added]
I'm thinking there's a story behind this. But as long as their HELP ROOM people are still honest, I'll probably continue my $5/month subscription to PJTV, "anyway".
Not that it doesn't piss me off ....
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Too Much Information
Today was suppose to be the day I loaded 10mm in preparation to a match at Dundee.
Unfortunately, I got hit by the Stomach Flu this morning. I know that's not much of an excuse, but I'm out of Large Primers. I don't dare get that far away from the house to go buy any.
The reason why the match was so important to me is that I was hoping to catch up with my old friend "Randomly Hitten' Witten". Randy and Sandie and I use to squad together a lot, but he gave up USPSA for shotgunning and other shooting sports so we haven't seen much of him lately. We enjoyed visiting with him and Donna when The Usual Suspects gathered at their house once or twice a year for barbeque and BS. We haven't done that since the birth of my second grandchild .... I now have seven of them.
Catch up is important though. I may just go up with the ammo that I have, shoot until I run dry, then stand around and take pictures the rest of the day.
Oh ... that's always assuming I'm not still sticking close to The Big Telephone by Saturday.
I know, nothing anybody wanted to hear.
Still, I was hoping I could find the photo of Randomly Hitten' when he completely destroyed a disappearing target by splitting it ... edge on, several time. It was his proudest moment.
Unfortunately, I got hit by the Stomach Flu this morning. I know that's not much of an excuse, but I'm out of Large Primers. I don't dare get that far away from the house to go buy any.
The reason why the match was so important to me is that I was hoping to catch up with my old friend "Randomly Hitten' Witten". Randy and Sandie and I use to squad together a lot, but he gave up USPSA for shotgunning and other shooting sports so we haven't seen much of him lately. We enjoyed visiting with him and Donna when The Usual Suspects gathered at their house once or twice a year for barbeque and BS. We haven't done that since the birth of my second grandchild .... I now have seven of them.
Catch up is important though. I may just go up with the ammo that I have, shoot until I run dry, then stand around and take pictures the rest of the day.
Oh ... that's always assuming I'm not still sticking close to The Big Telephone by Saturday.
I know, nothing anybody wanted to hear.
Still, I was hoping I could find the photo of Randomly Hitten' when he completely destroyed a disappearing target by splitting it ... edge on, several time. It was his proudest moment.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Notes From The Squid
I got a phone call from my son today.
If you haven't heard me rave about My Son The Squid, he's in the Navy. He's a "Master At Arms", whichapparently is kind of like a military cop, except it's a Military Occupational Specialty whose member duties include instant "police" reaction to terrorist attacks and otherwise guarding naval installations and ships.
I don't know all the details, but I do know that he has had some really exciting training, including automobile evasive maneuvers and just recently, Sniper School at some place near D.C.
Anyway, he's through with that part, and now he's doing some kind of qualification testing. I was impressed by the very high standards.
On the surface, the trial is very simple. For Level 1 (or Category 1 .. I admit I didn't listen as carefully as I should have), they have to start standing with hands above the waist, draw their pistol (a Beretta 92 ... the crappiest trigger-pull in the world!) and hit an 8" plate at seven yards within 1.9 seconds.(The old standard was to hit the plate in that time frame at 3 yards.)
I can't do that reliably. It's all I can do to hit an IPSC Metric target ... anywhere ... at that range and in that time. I've been shooting competitively for over 25 years; if he can do it he's a much better gun-handler than I am.
There are levels (or categories) of qualification. For Category 4 certification, they have to hit the plate within 1.3 seconds.
!
I've teased "The Kid" about his Navy training for years, but now I'm beginning to think that he's really getting the martial training he needs to do his job. He's going for Category 4 certification. I think he might just make up.
For sure, if he does, nobody's going to steal the San Diego Naval base or Coronado while he's on the job!
PS: No, I do not approve of him shooting without eye protection. On the other hand, I don't approve of him patrolling without serious bullet-proof vest protection, either.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tribute to Military Pilots
Military airplanes, and the heroes who flew them.
(Available in the full-screen version)
A single video (duration: 6.5 minutes) ... if you admire Military airplanes and the heroes who fly them, you will enjoy this.
Hat Trick to G-man.
(Available in the full-screen version)
A single video (duration: 6.5 minutes) ... if you admire Military airplanes and the heroes who fly them, you will enjoy this.
Hat Trick to G-man.
Guess Who Went To A Match
That's right, I haven't competed in six months, but I shot the ARPC match on Saturday and it was terrific. I got to say hello to a lot of friends I haven't seen much of lately, and the weather even cooperated .... temperature in the mid-forties, but the sun was shining most of the time so you didn't need much more bundling up than a jacket. ( I was overdressed, and was too warm toward the end of the match.)
Match Director Mike McCarter and his assistant "Yawn" built some challenging stages. As sometimes happens, that caused problems for some of us.
We had several new shooters who were attempting to complete their USPSA Certification Process by successfully completing an actual match. I'm afraid a few found the challenge was more than their experience level could meet. They ... and we ... were disappointed that they were DQ'd. In my squad alone, we lost one shooter due to "finger on the trigger while clearing a jam", and two because they broke the 180; those two lost it on the same stage. Even more experienced shooters had to concentrate on their perception of just where the 180 was; moving to or from a port, to or from downrange. The close-quarters drill was based upon a structure with walls in a direction about 30 degrees from the zero-degree angle of downrange, and we do tend to rely on the props to orient our understanding of just where that 180 line is.
(Click on the image to view it in full size.)
I shot poorly overall, which was no surprise to me after such a prolonged hiatus from competition. Fresh air, light exercise, good friends and about 130 rounds of shooting all combined to focus my attention on the immediately important things in life.
The classifier stage was 03-06, "Pepper Poppers".
---
Many of us learned something that we didn't realize until we were reminded by the MD. The staged named "4 By 6" was a virginia count stage with three Bianchi barricades and three metric targets. Two strings, movement between barricade A and B with mandatory reload, engage all 3 targets with 2 shots each freestyle from A and strong hand only from B was string one. String two was freestyle engagement from B and mandatory reload moving to C, with weak hand engagement from C. Barricades were staggered center/right/left, moving downrange between shooting positions.
The problem was that several shooters used the barricades as a support when not shooting freestyle. As I recall the rule is 10.2.8.3 ... even leaning against props is support, and results in a per-shot penalty.
I didn't quite fall into that trap, but my shooting was so poor that I got a lot misses out of the 24 shots, and an extremely low A-count. No idea how many folks got dinged, but I know there were more than a few who just plain forgot about it .... even though that rule was WRITTEN IN PEN ON THE STAGE PROCEDURES by the time we got to it.
The good news, two of the new shooters from last week's "Introduction to USPSA" class beat my scores in LIMITED division ... congratulations Will and Carol. I've heard that there's a problem when the student becomes more proficient than the teacher, but of course there's no problem here. I never much liked them anyway.
---
Tonite, I had the first-time opportunity to appreciate the new features of the USPSA website. I had signed up for match results to be sent to me, and that was pretty kewl when I looked at them. Here are some match results from USPSA: the match results are here, and the results for the classifier (03-05 / Pepper Poppers) in LIMITED division are here (including individual competitor scores)
PHILOSOPHY:
I'm pretty sure that somewhere in time, someone has defined SUCCESS as " .... meeting your own expectations". If true, I had a successful day if only because I had low expectations. I just wanted to enjoy the moment, and shoot safely.
PS:
I had bought a new camera recently, and I brought it to the match so I could take some pictures. Unfortunately, the battery had run down after being fully charged, then riding for two weeks in my coat pocket. Be very wary of Sony Cyber-Shot camera; it has a convenient slim pocket design, good lenses, lots of neat features and 14.1MP resolution --- but the battery runs down whether you use it or not. And it appears impossible to get extra or replacement batteries, either in a small town or through AMAZON.COM (who sent me the battery I ordered ... but not the battery I needed).
Match Director Mike McCarter and his assistant "Yawn" built some challenging stages. As sometimes happens, that caused problems for some of us.
We had several new shooters who were attempting to complete their USPSA Certification Process by successfully completing an actual match. I'm afraid a few found the challenge was more than their experience level could meet. They ... and we ... were disappointed that they were DQ'd. In my squad alone, we lost one shooter due to "finger on the trigger while clearing a jam", and two because they broke the 180; those two lost it on the same stage. Even more experienced shooters had to concentrate on their perception of just where the 180 was; moving to or from a port, to or from downrange. The close-quarters drill was based upon a structure with walls in a direction about 30 degrees from the zero-degree angle of downrange, and we do tend to rely on the props to orient our understanding of just where that 180 line is.
(Click on the image to view it in full size.)
I shot poorly overall, which was no surprise to me after such a prolonged hiatus from competition. Fresh air, light exercise, good friends and about 130 rounds of shooting all combined to focus my attention on the immediately important things in life.
The classifier stage was 03-06, "Pepper Poppers".
---
Many of us learned something that we didn't realize until we were reminded by the MD. The staged named "4 By 6" was a virginia count stage with three Bianchi barricades and three metric targets. Two strings, movement between barricade A and B with mandatory reload, engage all 3 targets with 2 shots each freestyle from A and strong hand only from B was string one. String two was freestyle engagement from B and mandatory reload moving to C, with weak hand engagement from C. Barricades were staggered center/right/left, moving downrange between shooting positions.
The problem was that several shooters used the barricades as a support when not shooting freestyle. As I recall the rule is 10.2.8.3 ... even leaning against props is support, and results in a per-shot penalty.
I didn't quite fall into that trap, but my shooting was so poor that I got a lot misses out of the 24 shots, and an extremely low A-count. No idea how many folks got dinged, but I know there were more than a few who just plain forgot about it .... even though that rule was WRITTEN IN PEN ON THE STAGE PROCEDURES by the time we got to it.
The good news, two of the new shooters from last week's "Introduction to USPSA" class beat my scores in LIMITED division ... congratulations Will and Carol. I've heard that there's a problem when the student becomes more proficient than the teacher, but of course there's no problem here. I never much liked them anyway.
---
Tonite, I had the first-time opportunity to appreciate the new features of the USPSA website. I had signed up for match results to be sent to me, and that was pretty kewl when I looked at them. Here are some match results from USPSA: the match results are here, and the results for the classifier (03-05 / Pepper Poppers) in LIMITED division are here (including individual competitor scores)
PHILOSOPHY:
I'm pretty sure that somewhere in time, someone has defined SUCCESS as " .... meeting your own expectations". If true, I had a successful day if only because I had low expectations. I just wanted to enjoy the moment, and shoot safely.
PS:
I had bought a new camera recently, and I brought it to the match so I could take some pictures. Unfortunately, the battery had run down after being fully charged, then riding for two weeks in my coat pocket. Be very wary of Sony Cyber-Shot camera; it has a convenient slim pocket design, good lenses, lots of neat features and 14.1MP resolution --- but the battery runs down whether you use it or not. And it appears impossible to get extra or replacement batteries, either in a small town or through AMAZON.COM (who sent me the battery I ordered ... but not the battery I needed).
Whitney Houston
Investigators seek answers to Houston's death | Music | Comcast
I just learned of the death of Whitney Houston, at age 48. Cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy has been schedule.
Her music was only 'background' to me until I saw her in the 1992 Kevin Costner movie "The Bodyguard". She was 28 years old at the time, and from the moment she started singing, I was just a little bit in love with her.
A beautiful lady with a magnificent vocal talent. Though the years I heard from time to time of her struggles with substance abuse. I bought the DVD of the movie several years ago, and sometimes when I was blue I would watch the movie. It always made me feel better, if only because it took my mind off my own problems.
Now she is gone, and my heart is sad. But I'll write some more, and later tonite I'll go watch the movie again.
You can see her singing her signature song "I Will Always Love You" (by Dolly Parton) here. I apologize for the poor video quality, but the sound is the song of an angel.
I just learned of the death of Whitney Houston, at age 48. Cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy has been schedule.
Her music was only 'background' to me until I saw her in the 1992 Kevin Costner movie "The Bodyguard". She was 28 years old at the time, and from the moment she started singing, I was just a little bit in love with her.
A beautiful lady with a magnificent vocal talent. Though the years I heard from time to time of her struggles with substance abuse. I bought the DVD of the movie several years ago, and sometimes when I was blue I would watch the movie. It always made me feel better, if only because it took my mind off my own problems.
Now she is gone, and my heart is sad. But I'll write some more, and later tonite I'll go watch the movie again.
You can see her singing her signature song "I Will Always Love You" (by Dolly Parton) here. I apologize for the poor video quality, but the sound is the song of an angel.
Friday, February 10, 2012
"I Shoot Guns"
[The following is stolen shamelessly from the February 9, 2012, version of "The Shooting Wire". It is presented here because it so completely illustrates that which those of us who regularly compete in USPSA (or IPSC) matches so often contend: Practical Pistol Shooting is not only NOT a demonstration of a negative attitude toward the sanctity of human life, but the joy of competition can be a positive energy even when the rest of your life may be personally challenging; it can and probably will be one of the best things you can do for yourself. I believe that this article may be an excellent illustration of this concept.
On a personal level, when I learned that my Significant Other and Best Friend (and shooting partner for the previous ten years) "SWMBO", had been diagnosed with incurable cancer, I didn't want to be anywhere with her. She convinced me that I needed to continue my interest, for the sake of my own health. And indeed I learned that the friends we had made there ... in matches around the state and around the country ... were supportive rather than morbidly curious.
Since her death in November, 2010, it has been difficult for me to be around people; but through my continuing (if sometimes minimal) activity in the sport, I've learned that outside activities are important for "survivors". And every month I'm becoming more acceptive to "having a life".
I don't know about you, but I found Stacy Maillet's story to be not only uplifting, but she has helped me to understand that it's okay for me to spend a weekend with my friends and to enjoy my life in the activities which are familiar and even comforting to me.
I need this stuff. Apparently, Stacy does too. I completely understand what she is saying in the accompanying article, and I'm so pleased for her that she has been willing to "indulge" herself, to find meaning in her life outside of her family and the difficulties with her son, and to rediscover herself through a sporting activity which some people may not understand because of their own inability to comprehend that we cannot live our lives through our family members.
We need to continue to live.
I want to live my life. We all need to get all the goodness from our lives that we can.
Please read Stacy's story from The Shooting Wire, and I hope you find it as uplifting as I did.]
________________________________________
Today's feature by Stacy Maillet first appeared on the WomenOfUSPSA.com blog.
 Photo by P. Erhardt |
I shared a few laughs and some tears. I shared the story of my journey with my son to a room of complete strangers. I explained that right now their lives may feel turned upside down, but they would find the strength to do whatever needed to be done for their child. They would make it through this trying time and learn to embrace their child for every morsel of who they are.
I told the mothers how important it would become for them to have an outlet; to find something that they love to do, something that will bring them moments of peace and a timeout from their crazy world. I assured them this this would be the most important thing they could do for their child and themselves.
A few moments later it was time for Q&A. The moms all went around and started telling each other about what their outlets were. Most said "yoga" or "meditation", a few said "running". Then it happened - I was still standing at the podium and a mother asked me, "What do you do for an outlet?". I was all prepared to say something "normal" like all the other mothers, but then I just blurted it out; "I shoot guns," I said. You could have heard a pin drop in that room as I stepped down from the podium. The look of disbelief and shock was enough to make me want to crawl under a chair.
 Photo by P. Erhardt |
I felt they needed an explanation as to this bizarre hobby of mine. So this is what I said...
"Everything in my life after my son's diagnosis had been spiraling out of control. I felt like a victim of Autism! I felt like Autism was holding my son hostage with no intent on letting go, and everyday I embarked on a never ending journey with my son. Don't get me wrong, the rewards are endless. My son has taught me more about life, patience, acceptance and strength than I could ever teach him. I wouldn't change one thing about my life or my son! But there are times when I feel like I can't even breathe.
Shooting makes me feel in control, it makes me breath, it makes me clear my head of everything other than the gun in my hand and the target that stands down range. From the moment I step on that range I forget about Autism. It's my moment!"
I told them I shoot a sport called USPSA. I explained that it's a difficult task, that you have to be focused, you have to map out a plan, be accurate, very fast, and have complete control over your mind and body - much like the yoga they speak of.
 Photo courtesy of Stacy Maillet |
I told them my hope to be a top competitor someday.
I also told them my dream: That one day my son will also enjoy this sport that I love so much.
I told them how shooting also helped my marriage. My husband Marc and I do this hobby together, and we are even pretty competitive with each other. Our date night once a week is Wednesday night practice at our Gun Club, and any Sunday we can find a babysitter you will find us at a local match! The people we shoot with are some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. They have rallied around my husband and me and offer a great reprieve from our hectic life.
So yes, some would say the way I choose to unwind is far from typical, but nothing about my life is typical.
 Photo by P. Erhardt |
I went on to answer many questions from the mothers in that room about my hobby. I even exchanged phone numbers with some who were interested in hearing more.
I felt GREAT when I left. Not only did I educate these moms about Autism, I also enlightened them about guns! Win, win!
- Stacy Maillet
Facebook Is The Devil?
Last week I exchanged some emails with my Favorite Daughter-In-Law (FDAL).
Fully disclosure; I have only one DAL, but I'm certain that "A" would be my favorite if I had more than one son. The lady is a keeper.
My Son, "B", is in the Navy. He's a "Master at Arms" (kind of like an "MP", only full time), and for the last couple of weeks he has been taking Sniper training out-of-state.
Last week she sent me some pictures of her children ... she has five ... and I was teasing her about not sending me more photographs, more often. They live over 1,000 miles away, so it's difficult for me to see any of them more than once a year.
She informed me that she posts photos regularly on her FaceBook account, and in the process gently suggested that if I would only open a FaceBook account, I could see more pictures and she wouldn't have to double post them to a photo-gallery account as well.
In the process, she mentioned that my son is convinced that "Facebook Is The Devil".
I'm always had a good opinion of my son's judgement.
And of course, I responded immediately with a terse, but meaningful, four-word reply:
FaceBook Is The Devil!
Fully disclosure; I have only one DAL, but I'm certain that "A" would be my favorite if I had more than one son. The lady is a keeper.
My Son, "B", is in the Navy. He's a "Master at Arms" (kind of like an "MP", only full time), and for the last couple of weeks he has been taking Sniper training out-of-state.
Last week she sent me some pictures of her children ... she has five ... and I was teasing her about not sending me more photographs, more often. They live over 1,000 miles away, so it's difficult for me to see any of them more than once a year.
She informed me that she posts photos regularly on her FaceBook account, and in the process gently suggested that if I would only open a FaceBook account, I could see more pictures and she wouldn't have to double post them to a photo-gallery account as well.
In the process, she mentioned that my son is convinced that "Facebook Is The Devil".
I'm always had a good opinion of my son's judgement.
And of course, I responded immediately with a terse, but meaningful, four-word reply:
FaceBook Is The Devil!
Comments
Curiously, the vendor who provides the comments software seems to have lost track of who I am. Some regular readers have mentioned that they cannot add comments without providing a code. I have no idea what that's all about.
Also, when I post a reply, I'm listed as "Guest" instead of being identified as my manly broadchested and charming raconteur host-self.
There are few conditions so likely to render an author humble as being unrecognized by his own website. Shucks, if I wanted to be humbled, I'd go out and shoot a match with the Mighty 10mm.
So ... I'll do that this weekend. I just loaded 100 rounds of 10mm, only took me a couple of hours on the RELIABLE 20-year old Lee Turret Press. (No, I still haven't got the Dillon XL 650 working right ... it will NOT index so I can prime the cases!)
I actually bought another 1,000 rounds of Starline brass from Dillon this week, at a final cost (including shipping) of 17.3 cents per round. As The Hobo Brasser so kindly pointed out in a earlier comment, The Mighty Ten throws brass into the next county, so it's not the most economic competetitive option available. But the pistols shoots better than I do, and if nothing else I may serve as a good example to poor shooting skills ... as usual.
(I would shoot .38 super in Open, but the dot sights don't work without a 'good' 2L76 battery, and those I've bought on the overseas market won't work. I don't know if they're too short to maintain a good contact, or they're just undercharged when I get them, but the dot keeps going out on me during a stage. It's a great alibi for poor shooting, but it's frustrating. And no, they are NOT available locally any more ... don't ask me why.)
I have to admit, I've missed shooting; but I also miss reliable equipment. What I do NOT miss is the slow, laborious process of reloading on what is, essentially, a single-stage press; great for rifle rounds, but not so kewl when I would prefer to shoot three matches a month at an average rate of 150+ rounds per month.
And yes, I could always send my XL650 back to Dillon to be rebuilt. I've done that twice in the past three years, though, and it comes back working perfectly, until I drop a piece of brass onto the baseplate. Somehow, that seems to slow down the rotational speed of the baseplate JUST enough that it doesn not properly index, and it takes the better part of a minute to manually rotate the baseplate so it lines up with the primer feed mechanism.
But I digress; here I am ranting about my inability to operate machinery, when I started out ranting about my inability to reliably manage comments here.
BTW, I've received some very kind comments from several folks with whom I sometimes squad in competition, and I hope you know how much I appreciate your encouragement.
I owe you all a big hug. Well, Elinor, I owe you a hug. I'm not so sure about Abbie-Normal and The Hobo Brasser.
Also, when I post a reply, I'm listed as "Guest" instead of being identified as my manly broadchested and charming raconteur host-self.
There are few conditions so likely to render an author humble as being unrecognized by his own website. Shucks, if I wanted to be humbled, I'd go out and shoot a match with the Mighty 10mm.
So ... I'll do that this weekend. I just loaded 100 rounds of 10mm, only took me a couple of hours on the RELIABLE 20-year old Lee Turret Press. (No, I still haven't got the Dillon XL 650 working right ... it will NOT index so I can prime the cases!)
I actually bought another 1,000 rounds of Starline brass from Dillon this week, at a final cost (including shipping) of 17.3 cents per round. As The Hobo Brasser so kindly pointed out in a earlier comment, The Mighty Ten throws brass into the next county, so it's not the most economic competetitive option available. But the pistols shoots better than I do, and if nothing else I may serve as a good example to poor shooting skills ... as usual.
(I would shoot .38 super in Open, but the dot sights don't work without a 'good' 2L76 battery, and those I've bought on the overseas market won't work. I don't know if they're too short to maintain a good contact, or they're just undercharged when I get them, but the dot keeps going out on me during a stage. It's a great alibi for poor shooting, but it's frustrating. And no, they are NOT available locally any more ... don't ask me why.)
I have to admit, I've missed shooting; but I also miss reliable equipment. What I do NOT miss is the slow, laborious process of reloading on what is, essentially, a single-stage press; great for rifle rounds, but not so kewl when I would prefer to shoot three matches a month at an average rate of 150+ rounds per month.
And yes, I could always send my XL650 back to Dillon to be rebuilt. I've done that twice in the past three years, though, and it comes back working perfectly, until I drop a piece of brass onto the baseplate. Somehow, that seems to slow down the rotational speed of the baseplate JUST enough that it doesn not properly index, and it takes the better part of a minute to manually rotate the baseplate so it lines up with the primer feed mechanism.
But I digress; here I am ranting about my inability to operate machinery, when I started out ranting about my inability to reliably manage comments here.
BTW, I've received some very kind comments from several folks with whom I sometimes squad in competition, and I hope you know how much I appreciate your encouragement.
I owe you all a big hug. Well, Elinor, I owe you a hug. I'm not so sure about Abbie-Normal and The Hobo Brasser.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
SHOOT!
I received my copy of Julie Golob's book, "SHOOT" (" ... Your guide to Shooting and Competition" $16.95 list price, considerably cheaper from AMAZON.COM at $11.53)
This book has a lot to offer for people who shoot in competition, and for people who want to shoot in competition, and even for people who maybe want to shoot in competition, but aren't sure what flavor or what they may be getting into.
No, it doesn't talk about hunting. It's strictly about competition. However, there are chapters (especially the one specifically discussing SAFETY) which might be of interest to the non-competitive shooter.
And that sets the theme for this book. It provides enough information about safety and other gun-handling topics that it will be a boon for anyone who wants to try the 'shooting sports'.
Also, there are sections in the book which will prove helpful for someone who may perhaps already be shooting competitively, but whose interests might expand to other shooting competition forms as well. For example, I've been shooting competitively for 50+ years, starting in Gallery Rifle when I was under 15 ... but I wish this information had been available to me in such a convenient book form when I was thinking about starting IPSC-style Action Pistol shooting in 1983!
Interested in Sporting Clays? There's a section on it! SAS? Yup, partner, it's there ... even Mounted SAS is briefly described in Chapter 10 ("Nostalgia Shooting Sports") on page 147.
I haven't gone through the whole book yet; it's the kind of book that you read the parts you know about first, to check for accuracy; then you check the 'generic' chapters (chapters 11 thru 13) to see how well the basics, fundamentals, advanced etc are covered). Then when you can't stand it any longer, you start reading about the sports which always sounded bizarre to you ... but curiously attractive.
Although I'm pretty sure I'll never try Biathalon (cross-country skiing combined with rifle shooting), I found out how the game is played, what the basic rules are, and it firmed my resolve to never to cross-country ski 20 kilometers with a rifle strapped on my back.
IPSC
Since this blog is nominally about IPSC competition in America, I paid special attention to "extreme" sports of IPSC, USPSA, Bianchi Cup, IDPA etc. (Chapter 8) and Multigun (Chapter 9). Ms Golob, ("... An eight-year veteran of the elite U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit .... more than 115 championships titles ...") got it right in everything that I've read so far.
Safety
I was especially impressed with her chapter on safety (and also on gun-handling skills). In fact, I am so impressed that I will be taking her book with me when I teach my monthly "Introduction to USPSA" classes, and strongly encouraging the students to buy and read the book. I think that hearing the same information from a more established source would help them to understand that EVERYBODY employs the same practices, and plays by the same rules.
I can tell folks what they should and should not do, and I can clearly define the reasons for the rules and the penalty for violating a safety rule. But what do I know? I'm just a washed up old B-class shooter, and everyone knows that "B-class is the Elephant's Graveyard for Mediocre Shooters".
When people read the same cautionary notes as written by a champion, it has a lot more impact. More, this book doesn't place so much emphasis on the negative side (Match Disqualification) of violating safety rules. Instead, it clearly defines the rules of safe gun handling and makes a simple but eloquent case for why all competitors must be aware of, and always follow these rules.
It's not just the law; it's a good idea!
Praising with 'Faint Damns':
There are a couple of awkwardly worded passages in the book; the one which caught my attention was her advice on foot placement when shooting 'weak hand' vs 'strong hand', but I think that was because she used several terms interchangeably, and the copy editor didn't catch it. I know that Ms Golob knows the difference, because I've seen her shoot and nobody with her wide range of competitive experience doesn't know how to shoot weak-hand!
Also, although she manages to keep her rules descriptions generic and simple, there are a couple of places where she cites specific numbers. This can't be ignored in defining, as she does, the difference between Major Power and Minor Power; That Major Power factor has been down-graded at least twice in my memory. I have to carry a cheat sheet so I can remember that Major Power no longer requires a Power Factor of 175. If this book goes into reprints, which I expect it may, it may require an edit of the specific numbers if IPSC or USPSA changes the power factors. (Or you can just check the current rule book for IPSC at www.ipsc.org or for USPSA at www.uspsa.org)
The above two paragraphs are included for the sake of establishing that I have critically read the book. It doesn't mean that I understand all the nuances of the sports with which I am not familiar, of course. And if I don't say anything critical, you might think I'm saying nice things about the author only because I have watched her career performances for a few years, and I'm really impressed. But if you buy and read the book, you just might enjoy trying out one or two of the competitive shooting sports you learn about.
Oh, just buy the book. If you don't like it, I'll buy it back from you and hand it out to new shooters here in Oregon.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Rabbits of the Purple Sage
My father loved hunting Jack Rabbits.
He worked (variously) as a welder, a mechanic, a Millright ... and worked hard all of his life. And in his free time, he was a Stock Maker. He made beautiful stocks for a lot of rifles, and (with his brother "Shorty" built a lot of beautiful rifles to go with them. I still have a couple of those excellent rifles, and when I die my son will get them; I will never sell them.
These rifles were for hunting: sometimes, deer and elk, later in his life Antelope, and always Varmint Hunting.
He hunted Jack Rabbits because, according to him, they were excellent practice for hunting Deer and Antelope. And he was right; if you can hit a running Jack with a deer rifle, the smaller game animals were not that much of a challenge.
The difference is, except for rare occasions, we didn't hunt deer in Sage Brush.
Sage Brush is a whole different thing.
I recall the occasion, when I was about 10 years old, when my father, a friend of his, my mother and the friends wife took me on a Jack Hunt. Pop found a butte, or a mesa (a flat-topped butte?) in the Umatilla County area of Oregon where he most liked to hunt. It was less than an hour's drive along the Columbia River valley, and there was non-arable land in plenty full of sage brush and Jack.
Where you find Sage, there be Jacks!
On this occasion, I tired early. Pop realized I was too small and weak for the climb, so he pointed to me the direction to the car, and sent me back, while the two adult males climbed the mesa and sat down to watch the surrounding area.
Although we were only 200 yards from the car, I soon discovered that I was lost. Although at the time I was probably within 100 yards of either the mesa or the car, the sagebrush was over my head and all I could see was ... sometimes ... the mesa. I recall distinctly the impression of the two sitting men, with their rifles propped up against their knees, looking like two capital A's and I stopped to shout back at them, asking for directions. My father made a dismissive pushing-away gesture, as if to say "keep going the same way, away from here".
I tried, but I was entirely disoriented and had no idea of the distance required to the car, and I was unsure of the direction. The brush grew thicker, I felt a sense of vertigo. I was lost, and nobody would come and find me?
Ten year old me started crying, then sobbing, and it took a bit of serious wailing before my mother became aware of my predicament and followed the whiney-noises back to her whiney son. I felt no shame at the time; I was so grateful that I had been rescued from the Sea of Sage.
Damn! I really hated the sage!
---
After a couple of years, I grew much taller and learned not to fear the disorientation; indeed, there came a point where I always knew the way back to the car! (This was a talent, or gift, which served me well in Viet Nam some years later. I always knew my way back to the nearest point of the Red-Line, although the promised trucks/choppers were not always where we had been lead to expect.)
Hunting Jack Rabbits with full-power hunting rifles turned out to be excellent training for fast-moving deer and antelope. I may not have got a clean kill on all the deer and antelope I shot, because I had learned to take the challenging shots ... but I always put them down, and they weren't often difficult to find DRT (Dead Right There).
In fact, the most awkward kills were those at less than 100 yards ... which is why I no longer hunt. Right after I got back from Viet Nam, I shot an antelope standing still LOOKING at me at a range of 88 yards ... and missed him. He disappeared into the Eastern Oregon Sage, through which I chased him; then when he ran through a clearing in the sage I took an ill-advised shot at him quartering away, and broke his right rear leg. After I followed the trail and found him down and panting in fear and panic, I finished him off. And then I wept again, for I had made such an egregiously bad shot and caused such pain.
I would have taken an earlier follow up shot, but for the Sage, which instantly obscured him. It took me 20 minutes to track him, and finish him off.
My father watched me as I had watched the fine buck antelope die, and he said only: "That's all right; I have no use for a man who can't weep over a wounded animal". This was one of the most shameful moments of my life; I went on ONE more hunt, when my father was too old to hunt; I took the only antelope ... it was doe season, and I took my only doe ... and then I quit forever. There was no sage brush on that Wyoming hillside, and when I hit her she was dead before she hit the ground. I field dressed her, carried her 85 pound back to the truck and back to camp. We loaded up and went back to Oregon .. and stayed there.
---
Somewhere in the middle of all this (rather earlier, probably closer to one of my first "armed" Jack Rabbit hunts) my father dug out a sage brush and took it home, where he planted it along the white picket fence which delimited the Southern border of our suburban lot. Mom thought it was ugly .. so did I, by now ... but my father was adamant. He loved the Sage, and in fact it grew to be an impressive five feet tall. Healthy and bushy, if nothing else it served to block the view from my eyes to my neighbors (who didn't like it either).
There were times when I would walk by the Sage just to inhale its powerfully pungent aroma. At least it never attracted any of the Killer Hummingbirds, who loved the Sage as a base for their nests, and would attack any intruder (read: "Jack Hunter") who inadvertently ventured near.
And I never neared that particular sage only to jump backwards in fear ["two feet up, six feet back" as my father described one of my formidable encounters with a Western RattleSnake curled at the base of a Sage Brush"].
Yes, I killed every rattler I met in the Purple Sage. And it's true, if you point the barrel of a rifle or a shotgun at them, they WILL align themselves with the muzzle. Note: You will never find more than a bit of spine of a Rattler hit with a 12 gauge shotgun; and you will not find that much of a Rattler hit with a .25-06.
There came a time when my parents moved away from their home in Pendleton; they had sold the Old Home Place to a guy who probably couldn't afford it anyway, and one of the first things the new owner did was to rip out that Sage Brush.
My father was slightly heartbroken; I guess he had hoped that the new owner would appreciate this taste of the wild.
I thought: "Good riddance to the damned old thing"; I need never feel "lost" again.
And I have never hunted Jack, or Antelope again.
Now, if they just moved the Jacks and the Antelope onto golf courses, I would consider it a good use of otherwise wasted terrain.
He worked (variously) as a welder, a mechanic, a Millright ... and worked hard all of his life. And in his free time, he was a Stock Maker. He made beautiful stocks for a lot of rifles, and (with his brother "Shorty" built a lot of beautiful rifles to go with them. I still have a couple of those excellent rifles, and when I die my son will get them; I will never sell them.
These rifles were for hunting: sometimes, deer and elk, later in his life Antelope, and always Varmint Hunting.
He hunted Jack Rabbits because, according to him, they were excellent practice for hunting Deer and Antelope. And he was right; if you can hit a running Jack with a deer rifle, the smaller game animals were not that much of a challenge.
The difference is, except for rare occasions, we didn't hunt deer in Sage Brush.
Sage Brush is a whole different thing.
I recall the occasion, when I was about 10 years old, when my father, a friend of his, my mother and the friends wife took me on a Jack Hunt. Pop found a butte, or a mesa (a flat-topped butte?) in the Umatilla County area of Oregon where he most liked to hunt. It was less than an hour's drive along the Columbia River valley, and there was non-arable land in plenty full of sage brush and Jack.
Where you find Sage, there be Jacks!
On this occasion, I tired early. Pop realized I was too small and weak for the climb, so he pointed to me the direction to the car, and sent me back, while the two adult males climbed the mesa and sat down to watch the surrounding area.
Although we were only 200 yards from the car, I soon discovered that I was lost. Although at the time I was probably within 100 yards of either the mesa or the car, the sagebrush was over my head and all I could see was ... sometimes ... the mesa. I recall distinctly the impression of the two sitting men, with their rifles propped up against their knees, looking like two capital A's and I stopped to shout back at them, asking for directions. My father made a dismissive pushing-away gesture, as if to say "keep going the same way, away from here".
I tried, but I was entirely disoriented and had no idea of the distance required to the car, and I was unsure of the direction. The brush grew thicker, I felt a sense of vertigo. I was lost, and nobody would come and find me?
Ten year old me started crying, then sobbing, and it took a bit of serious wailing before my mother became aware of my predicament and followed the whiney-noises back to her whiney son. I felt no shame at the time; I was so grateful that I had been rescued from the Sea of Sage.
Damn! I really hated the sage!
---
After a couple of years, I grew much taller and learned not to fear the disorientation; indeed, there came a point where I always knew the way back to the car! (This was a talent, or gift, which served me well in Viet Nam some years later. I always knew my way back to the nearest point of the Red-Line, although the promised trucks/choppers were not always where we had been lead to expect.)
Hunting Jack Rabbits with full-power hunting rifles turned out to be excellent training for fast-moving deer and antelope. I may not have got a clean kill on all the deer and antelope I shot, because I had learned to take the challenging shots ... but I always put them down, and they weren't often difficult to find DRT (Dead Right There).
In fact, the most awkward kills were those at less than 100 yards ... which is why I no longer hunt. Right after I got back from Viet Nam, I shot an antelope standing still LOOKING at me at a range of 88 yards ... and missed him. He disappeared into the Eastern Oregon Sage, through which I chased him; then when he ran through a clearing in the sage I took an ill-advised shot at him quartering away, and broke his right rear leg. After I followed the trail and found him down and panting in fear and panic, I finished him off. And then I wept again, for I had made such an egregiously bad shot and caused such pain.
I would have taken an earlier follow up shot, but for the Sage, which instantly obscured him. It took me 20 minutes to track him, and finish him off.
My father watched me as I had watched the fine buck antelope die, and he said only: "That's all right; I have no use for a man who can't weep over a wounded animal". This was one of the most shameful moments of my life; I went on ONE more hunt, when my father was too old to hunt; I took the only antelope ... it was doe season, and I took my only doe ... and then I quit forever. There was no sage brush on that Wyoming hillside, and when I hit her she was dead before she hit the ground. I field dressed her, carried her 85 pound back to the truck and back to camp. We loaded up and went back to Oregon .. and stayed there.
---
Somewhere in the middle of all this (rather earlier, probably closer to one of my first "armed" Jack Rabbit hunts) my father dug out a sage brush and took it home, where he planted it along the white picket fence which delimited the Southern border of our suburban lot. Mom thought it was ugly .. so did I, by now ... but my father was adamant. He loved the Sage, and in fact it grew to be an impressive five feet tall. Healthy and bushy, if nothing else it served to block the view from my eyes to my neighbors (who didn't like it either).
There were times when I would walk by the Sage just to inhale its powerfully pungent aroma. At least it never attracted any of the Killer Hummingbirds, who loved the Sage as a base for their nests, and would attack any intruder (read: "Jack Hunter") who inadvertently ventured near.
And I never neared that particular sage only to jump backwards in fear ["two feet up, six feet back" as my father described one of my formidable encounters with a Western RattleSnake curled at the base of a Sage Brush"].
Yes, I killed every rattler I met in the Purple Sage. And it's true, if you point the barrel of a rifle or a shotgun at them, they WILL align themselves with the muzzle. Note: You will never find more than a bit of spine of a Rattler hit with a 12 gauge shotgun; and you will not find that much of a Rattler hit with a .25-06.
There came a time when my parents moved away from their home in Pendleton; they had sold the Old Home Place to a guy who probably couldn't afford it anyway, and one of the first things the new owner did was to rip out that Sage Brush.
My father was slightly heartbroken; I guess he had hoped that the new owner would appreciate this taste of the wild.
I thought: "Good riddance to the damned old thing"; I need never feel "lost" again.
And I have never hunted Jack, or Antelope again.
Now, if they just moved the Jacks and the Antelope onto golf courses, I would consider it a good use of otherwise wasted terrain.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Words To The Wise
(Hat Tip to The Hobo Brasser):
* I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough. ~ Clarie Sargent , Arizona senatorial candidate
* The problem with political jokes is they get elected. ~Henry Cate, VII
* We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. ~Aesop
* If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these acceptance speeches there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven. ~Will Rogers
* Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
* Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. ~Nikita Khrushchev
* When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow
* Why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you. ~Author Unknown
* If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates. ~Jay Leno
* Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. ~John Quinton
* Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. ~Oscar Ameringer
* The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it.~P.J. O'Rourke
* I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them. ~Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952
* A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. ~Texas Guinan
* Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so. ~Gore Vidal
* I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. ~Charles de Gaulle
* Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. ~Doug Larson
* Don't vote, it only encourages them. ~Author Unknown
* There ought to be one day - just one – when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Blogging will continue: official notice
Retirement from the work force has had a negative effect on my blogging volume ... and in the content of the few articles I DO write, and the interest generated by those few articles.
New resolution:
I either need to rediscover my interest in ranting, or to close this morbid website so my few frequent readers don't waste their time stopping by from time to time to see if I'm awake. Or alive.
This blog was started in December of 2004. During the past seven years, I've often presented boring or incomprehensible trash, but there have been some themes which were actually interesting to many readers.
Not recently.
Since my retirement I've lost interest in the "outside world". Not to put too fine a point on it; I've become bored. And I've become boring.
During the past year I've spend a huge amount of time reading, and very little time writing. The reading has not sparked my interest in anything controversial. It has been a waste of my time.
And this blog has become a waste of your time.
I'll give it a month to see if I can reconnect with the outside world, and take an interest in the many things which I find interesting. Where lately I've read and said "Hey, this would make a great (or interesting, or at least 'not boring') article" without following through --- I'm going to see if I can get that spark back and rediscover the fire which originally forced me to find an outlet.
When I retired, The Hobo Brasser told me that I would wonder how I managed to get so much done with all the free time I now had. That I haven't experienced this wonder leads me to wonder whether I am an essentially lazy man, or I have outlived my sense of wonder.
I'm not sure which I hope to find, but I know that over the past couple of years a lot of blogs which I once eagerly anticipated on a daily basis have just ... folded. The wonder I felt then was "Why did these terrific writers quit writing? I LOVED his stuff!"
Time for me to rediscover my "stuff".
New resolution:
I either need to rediscover my interest in ranting, or to close this morbid website so my few frequent readers don't waste their time stopping by from time to time to see if I'm awake. Or alive.
This blog was started in December of 2004. During the past seven years, I've often presented boring or incomprehensible trash, but there have been some themes which were actually interesting to many readers.
Not recently.
Since my retirement I've lost interest in the "outside world". Not to put too fine a point on it; I've become bored. And I've become boring.
During the past year I've spend a huge amount of time reading, and very little time writing. The reading has not sparked my interest in anything controversial. It has been a waste of my time.
And this blog has become a waste of your time.
I'll give it a month to see if I can reconnect with the outside world, and take an interest in the many things which I find interesting. Where lately I've read and said "Hey, this would make a great (or interesting, or at least 'not boring') article" without following through --- I'm going to see if I can get that spark back and rediscover the fire which originally forced me to find an outlet.
When I retired, The Hobo Brasser told me that I would wonder how I managed to get so much done with all the free time I now had. That I haven't experienced this wonder leads me to wonder whether I am an essentially lazy man, or I have outlived my sense of wonder.
I'm not sure which I hope to find, but I know that over the past couple of years a lot of blogs which I once eagerly anticipated on a daily basis have just ... folded. The wonder I felt then was "Why did these terrific writers quit writing? I LOVED his stuff!"
Time for me to rediscover my "stuff".
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Kahr Notes
I submit this in the most exposed candid mode possible; it is an email which I received recently, and I offer it here with NO expectation about its veracity. I have neither requested, nor received, permission to quote it directly. My expectation is that it has become 'generally available' across the internet by the time it reached me. And you.
I've included as much of the source data as has been made available to me. If you have information which conflicts wit that which is here presented, I hope you will do me the courtesy of providing the information in the COMMENTS section and reserving any condemnation for the original source.
I don't know if this is true; You'll have to work that out for yourself. (Imagine, a blog which asks you to think for yourself!)
With respect and appreciation to the G-Man!
I've included as much of the source data as has been made available to me. If you have information which conflicts wit that which is here presented, I hope you will do me the courtesy of providing the information in the COMMENTS section and reserving any condemnation for the original source.
I don't know if this is true; You'll have to work that out for yourself. (Imagine, a blog which asks you to think for yourself!)
Subject: [Dtiquips] Watch These Experts!
12 Dec 11
Impossible Demand?
NYPD, after requesting of Kahr Arms that they dramatically increase the trigger pull-weight of their Kahr-9 Pistol (a nominal seven pounds to thirteen pounds!), is now ordering its officers not to carry Kahr Pistols.
This all came about as a result of a number of recent NDs (no fatalities, but some resulting in personal injury, mostly self-inflicted) on the part of NYPD officers with Kahr pistols.
The Kahr-9 is an extremely popular concealed-carry/backup pistol, because of its high quality, reliability, and compactness. For regular concealed carry, it is hard to beat. I own and habitually carry several. Like most modern pistols, Kahrs are drop-safe.
But, as with all guns, you have to keep fingers off the trigger during those times when you don't want it to discharge!
A thirteen-pound trigger on a pistol that small would make it virtually impossible to use for any serious purpose by many officers, particularly those with small hands and limited hand-strength.
In general gun-commerce, Kahr could not give away such a pistol!
Once again, personal carelessness and poor training are being excused/covered-up by shifting blame to gun manufacturers.
Once again, truth is the first casualty when embarrassing events take place within police departments!
Once again, the Second Amendment is blamed by politicians and the media for all the ills to which flesh is heir!
"Same routine- same results! Loosely translated: 'When you keep doing the same old thing, you'll keep getting the same old results!'"
Dave O'Young
/John
_______________________________________________
Dtiquips mailing list
Dtiquips@clouds.com
Copyright 2011 by DTI, Inc. All rights reserved.
With respect and appreciation to the G-Man!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Son of Bob
Stephen Hunter has got another hit with his latest 'Sniper' book, "Soft Target".
His latest action hero, Ray Cruz (son of Bob The Nailer") is trapped in a mega-mall with a group of Somali terrorists armed with AK74s. The entire complex is in lock-down, local and federal LE forces are unable to make entry to rescue the 1,000+ American Christmas shoppers. His wife and her family members are among the actual and/or potential hostages, and Ray doesn't even have a gun.
To make things worse, when Ray starts scouting the mall, FBI HRT snipers try to kill him.
The action is fast, the tension rises, and Hunter introduces a Crisis Commander who is a literary analogue of an inexperienced, irresolute American President ... named "Obobo".
Buy this book. Read it now.
His latest action hero, Ray Cruz (son of Bob The Nailer") is trapped in a mega-mall with a group of Somali terrorists armed with AK74s. The entire complex is in lock-down, local and federal LE forces are unable to make entry to rescue the 1,000+ American Christmas shoppers. His wife and her family members are among the actual and/or potential hostages, and Ray doesn't even have a gun.
To make things worse, when Ray starts scouting the mall, FBI HRT snipers try to kill him.
The action is fast, the tension rises, and Hunter introduces a Crisis Commander who is a literary analogue of an inexperienced, irresolute American President ... named "Obobo".
Buy this book. Read it now.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Deer Season?
This is the consequence of retailers starting their Christmas Season Sales before the end of Deer Season.
For some of us, it's just all so COMPLICATED!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Forty Short & Wimpy: Still kaBOOMing, after all these years
My Friend Gary the T-Man has started out sending (with permission) quotes from a highly respected firearms training facility.
This is one of the latest (November 23, 2011) "quips":
I've been bad-mouthing both the .40 Short and Wimpy cartridge, and Glock pistols, for years. (Search this website for the keyword "Kaboom".) Perhaps I have been overly critical.
On the other hand, in the past 10 years most of the "KaBOOM!" events I have witnessed, either directly or immediately thereafter, have involved either a Glock or a .40 S&W cartridge .. usually both, in combination.
A couple of years ago I conceded that this destructive malfunctions, perhaps caused by this combination, have greatly diminished; most probably because Glock incorporated better barrels (Fully supported) in their .40S&W chambered barrels.
Apparently, this has not yet been entirely successful in totally eliminating the "KaBoom!" factor.
History:
Two of the primary reasons for the alarming amount of explosions of .40S&W ammunition have been (a) competitors reloading ammunition with very fast-burning powder, which reaches a peak pressure exceeding the ammunition design, and (b) using competition-loaded ammunition in pistols without fully supported chambers.
Relatively recent design/production changes, which incorporated fully-supported chambers in GLOCK barrels, supposedly "eliminated" these problems. It now appears that it has reduced, but not entirely eliminated, that problem.
This "KaBoom!" factor is the primary reason why, when I ordered an STI Edge in 2000, I specified 10mm caliber rather than .40 S&W. The Mighty Ten has a much stronger case than the .40 S&W, especially in the region near the base ... where most "KaBOOM!" events occur because the unsupported case AND the relatively weak case design usually result in explosive detonation.
In ten years of competition, I have never experienced a "KaBOOM!" detonation using a 10mm pistol/case, with a fully supported chamber, after thousands of rounds of major-power ammunition with USED ammunition, loading Vihti Vourhi N320 powder behind 200gr Montana Gold bullets.
Glock and Reloaded Ammunition:
Glock has, as the article specifies, ALWAYS warned owners against the use of 'reloaded" ammunition. This article demonstrates why that is a prudent precaution.
Unfortunately, when one is competing with ammunition which can cost approximately $16 per box of 50 (and up!), and expecting to use 'about' 150 rounds of ammunition in a match ... the $45+ cost of ammunition (plus the match fees, travel, etc.) places the cost of competition outside the range of fiscal ability for most of us, except for perhaps one match per month.
Most pistol ammunition is reloadable for $7 to $10 per box of 50 (assuming reasonable retrieval of expended brass), which is sufficient to allow TWO club matches a month, for the same or less price of using factory ammunition. (Probably less for 9mm.)
But Glock says "Do not use reloaded ammunition" for ALL of its products, even the Glock 17.
I agree, the cost of using factory ammunition is FAR less than the cost of replacing a pistol .. or worse, the pain and expense of hospital bills in the worst cases.
Still .... why shouldn't I accept both safety AND economy, if it's available in a different pistol/caliber combination?
This is one of the latest (November 23, 2011) "quips":
Subject: [Dtiquips] No Free Lunch!
23 Nov 11
No free lunch! This from a Range Officer with a big department:
"We ruined one of our department's G35 pistols (40S&W) last week.
During a range exercise, one of our Deputies experienced catastrophic
splitting of the pistol's frame, along with ballistic ejection of the
magazine. No significant injury, but the pistol itself is toast!
We found the offending case. It was split its entire length.
We started reloading our own training ammunition a year ago, due to the exponentially-increasing cost of new ammunition. Since, we're had a few incidents, this being the worst.
It seems, with high-pressure cartridges like the 40S&W, expansion during the firing process weakens brass cases far more than is the case with lower-pressure cartridges, and the phenomenon is not confined to Glocks. I suspect this is one reason Glock recommends against using reloaded ammunition, for any purpose!
In any event, we've reluctantly concluded that using 40S&W reloads, even for practice, represents false economy."
Comment: My friend is right! I, along with Glock, strongly recommend
against reloading 40S&W, 357SIG, and 45GAP cases, even once. Ruined guns, and personal injury, will quickly negate any savings in ammunition cost.
/John
_______________________________________________
Dtiquips mailing list
Dtiquips@clouds.com
Copyright 2011 by DTI, Inc. All rights reserved.
I've been bad-mouthing both the .40 Short and Wimpy cartridge, and Glock pistols, for years. (Search this website for the keyword "Kaboom".) Perhaps I have been overly critical.
On the other hand, in the past 10 years most of the "KaBOOM!" events I have witnessed, either directly or immediately thereafter, have involved either a Glock or a .40 S&W cartridge .. usually both, in combination.
A couple of years ago I conceded that this destructive malfunctions, perhaps caused by this combination, have greatly diminished; most probably because Glock incorporated better barrels (Fully supported) in their .40S&W chambered barrels.
Apparently, this has not yet been entirely successful in totally eliminating the "KaBoom!" factor.
History:
Two of the primary reasons for the alarming amount of explosions of .40S&W ammunition have been (a) competitors reloading ammunition with very fast-burning powder, which reaches a peak pressure exceeding the ammunition design, and (b) using competition-loaded ammunition in pistols without fully supported chambers.
Relatively recent design/production changes, which incorporated fully-supported chambers in GLOCK barrels, supposedly "eliminated" these problems. It now appears that it has reduced, but not entirely eliminated, that problem.
This "KaBoom!" factor is the primary reason why, when I ordered an STI Edge in 2000, I specified 10mm caliber rather than .40 S&W. The Mighty Ten has a much stronger case than the .40 S&W, especially in the region near the base ... where most "KaBOOM!" events occur because the unsupported case AND the relatively weak case design usually result in explosive detonation.
In ten years of competition, I have never experienced a "KaBOOM!" detonation using a 10mm pistol/case, with a fully supported chamber, after thousands of rounds of major-power ammunition with USED ammunition, loading Vihti Vourhi N320 powder behind 200gr Montana Gold bullets.
Glock and Reloaded Ammunition:
Glock has, as the article specifies, ALWAYS warned owners against the use of 'reloaded" ammunition. This article demonstrates why that is a prudent precaution.
Unfortunately, when one is competing with ammunition which can cost approximately $16 per box of 50 (and up!), and expecting to use 'about' 150 rounds of ammunition in a match ... the $45+ cost of ammunition (plus the match fees, travel, etc.) places the cost of competition outside the range of fiscal ability for most of us, except for perhaps one match per month.
Most pistol ammunition is reloadable for $7 to $10 per box of 50 (assuming reasonable retrieval of expended brass), which is sufficient to allow TWO club matches a month, for the same or less price of using factory ammunition. (Probably less for 9mm.)
But Glock says "Do not use reloaded ammunition" for ALL of its products, even the Glock 17.
I agree, the cost of using factory ammunition is FAR less than the cost of replacing a pistol .. or worse, the pain and expense of hospital bills in the worst cases.
Still .... why shouldn't I accept both safety AND economy, if it's available in a different pistol/caliber combination?
Christmas, already?
Do you remember when the Christmas Season started ... well, around Christmas?
Me, too.
No more ...
(H/T: Gary T-man)
Me, too.
No more ...
(H/T: Gary T-man)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)