This week on the podcast, I talk about shooting my first match, and my early shooting career in IDPA, including my initial novice classification. I talk about how I made the jump to USPSA (initial classification C), and the class I took that connected all the dots and put me on the path to today.
#12: Stoeger Class
This week on the podcast I talk about the Ben Stoeger Skill & Drills class that I took recently. I discuss some of the things I learned, how I tried to take notes better than past years, and how my shooting has improved since last year. I also answer a listener question about the value of shooting on the move in Production.
#11: Peak
This week on the podcast, I talk about the book Peak by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool. I talk through some of the lessons learned from decades studying the science of expertise, including the 10,000 Hour Rule, and how to apply some of the ideas to practical shooting. You can see this book and a list of other books that I’ve found helpful on my reading list.
#10: Match Debrief: SWGC March 2018
This week on the podcast, I talk about the March 2018 USPSA match at Sir Walter Gun Club in Creedmoor, NC. I talk about some of the stages and what I liked about them, and review my own performance on some of the stages. Here’s the match video on YouTube, if you want to see the stages I’m talking about.
#9: 2018 Production Changes
This week on the podcast, I talk about the series of events leading up to the changes to the USPSA Production rules that take effect in May 2018. I talk about some of the things that changed and why I see this as a positive step forward for the sport.
#8: The Value of Outlaw Matches
This week on Short Course, I give some thoughts about pistol matches using rules other than USPSA, and why that’s a good thing. I talk about why it’s good for the hobby of practical shooting and good as a competitor to have a variety of matches that aren’t all exactly the same.
#7: Flying to Nationals & Purpose of Big Matches
This week on Short Course, I talk about my experience flying to the USPSA Nationals in 2017, particularly my mistake of trying to fly with my ammo. I also discuss what I look to get out of a big match like a Level 2, and what isn’t all that important to me.
#6: Visualizing Stages in More Detail
This week on Short Course, I talk about learning to visualize in more detail after a few bad exerpeinces at recent matches. I also discuss using the right range commands, and an example of a higher round count stage being less complex than a shorter stage.
#5: Lessons Learned in Practice
This week on Short Course, I talk about a new USPSA podcast that just started called the Shoot Fast Podcast. I cover some ideas that the hosts gave me about improving my own practice and a few things I discovered on my own during my recent practice session. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#4: Planning Your Major Match Schedule
This week on Short Course, I talk about how I look at the different types of matches, based on the level of competition they offer and the resources required to shoot them. I outline a plan to decide which matches to shoot in a give year based on where you are as a shooter and where you can make the most useful progress. As an illustration, I apply this idea to my own 2018 match schedule. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#3: Gear Changes in 2017
On this episode of Short Course, I talk about a few gear changes I made in 2017, what I liked and disliked about the old gear, and what pushed me over the edge to change to something else. The items covered include my magazine pouches, Tanfoglio grip panels, bullet weight and profile, hat camera, and the biggest change of the year: switching guns. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#2: IPSC Nationals
On this episode of Short Course, I talk about shooting IPSC Nationals in 2017: why I wanted to go, some of the changes I had to make to prepare for it, and the experience of shooting. I talk about an interesting experience at the equipment check, and a shooter using video evidence to get a controversial call overturned, which IPSC allows. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#1: Intro & Setting Goals
On the first episode of Short Course, I briefly introduce myself as a shooter, and kick things off with a discussion of goals. I talk about setting a goal to make GM in 2017, failing to meet the goal, what I learned from it, and how I think about goals today. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
Flying To A Match With Guns
I flew to Iron Sights Nationals in St. George, Utah this year, and it was the second time I’d ever flow with guns. Nobody ever talks about the hassles of flying with competition guns and enough ammo to shoot a 417-round match (it’s a lot more than 417 rounds), so I wanted to talk about my experience while it was fresh. First off, ship your ammo. It is somewhat expensive, but well, well worth it. Compared to the $25 for another checked bag or $100 for an overweight bag, not to mention match fees, plane ticket, and so on, shipping … Read More
Thoughts on IPSC Nationals 2017
Two weeks ago, I shot the 2017 US IPSC Nationals the biggest (and only) match in the US under IPSC rules, the international version of USPSA. The rules of the two are mostly the same, but the small variations can make key differences. For example, the IPSC rules about walking the stages the day before you actually shoot the match are the same, but are enforced differently. Where the US defaults to allowing competitors to walk stages any time the range is open and there’s not a squad on the stage, IPSC goes the other way: competitors are not allowed … Read More