#117: Stepping Stone Matches

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I discuss the differences between level one matches that are run as a stepping stone to shooting bigger matches as compared to ones that are the destination. To subscribe to the podcast, search “Short Course” in your podcast app, or add https://berryshooting.com/short-course.xml by URL.

#104: Outlaw Lessons, Part 2

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I continue the discussion from last week about lessons learned from the past two years of running a monthly outlaw match a local indoor range. To subscribe to the podcast, search “Short Course” in your podcast app, or add https://berryshooting.com/short-course.xml by URL. #uspsa #ipscshooting #ncsection #area6 Links:– Triangle Action Pistol match video from May 2023

#94: Matches Filling Up

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I talk about the 2021 rules changes to Production and Carry Optics, and discuss the fact that the temporary lull in match attendance in the last two years is ending, and the need for USPSA to take the shortage of club match slots seriously for the health of the sport. To subscribe to the podcast, search “Short Course” in your podcast app, or add https://berryshooting.com/short-course.xml by URL.

#93: Rule Changes (2023)

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I cover all the rules in the March 2023 changes that you might run into at a match, as well as cover the interview that Scott Arnburg did 24 hours after attending his first board meeting. To subscribe to the podcast, search “Short Course” in your podcast app, or add https://berryshooting.com/short-course.xml by URL.

True North USPSA – May 2022

Ben BerryBlog

This was my first time back to True North in Oxford since last August, and the match was true to their usual style: almost every target partialed, tight shooting positions, and a seated start in the shoot house. I honestly wonder what the goal of such difficult target presentations is, since it definitely does not make the match a crowd pleaser, and attendance is usually pretty sparse. (A lot of folks were scared off by the threat of rain during the match and there were only 18 shooters split between two squads.) I ran “Production Optics” style, shooting my Stock … Read More

Sir Walter November 2021 Wrapup – “Production Optics”

Ben BerryBlog

This month, I decided to take out the Stock 2 with the red dot on an EGW plate and shoot a match with it. It’d been running well in practice, and I thought it would be interesting to take it to a pretty tough local match. As I discuss at the end of the match video, I decided to shoot it with 15 round magazines, following on from last month’s match in “Production 15” (aka IPSC Production). In part because I was curious: there’s a lot of discussion about what the future of the US Carry Optics division should be, … Read More

#76: Tyler Turner on Participation vs Development

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I had Tyler Turner on to continue the discussion from last time about what the goals of the sport should be: shooters developing and getting better, or just more warm bodies in matches? Here is an automated transcript of our discussion: Ben: Tyler Turner. Welcome to Short Course. Tyler: Thank you. Thank you. I’m happy to be here. Ben: People who’ve listened to the previous episode, know that you are the one who kind of kicked off a discussion. And this was shortly after the vote to remove Mike Foley and the discussion started to … Read More

Sir Walter October 2021 Wrapup

Ben BerryBlog

Now that the NC Section is done, I got to picking up my Tanfoglio Stock 2s that had been gathering dust while I spent some time with the Glock 17 in Carry Optics. (Don’t worry, I have a post coming with my thoughts on the experience and how it changed my game even coming back to the iron sight guns.) You might think I was itching to go back to the heavy steel guns after the punishing 9mm recoil in a twenty-something ounce Glock. But the reality is, the main thing I noticed coming back was just how much more … Read More

#75: Mason Lane on Participation vs Development

Ben BerryPodcast

This is a lightly-edited transcript of the episode. Welcome to Short Course, Episode 75 for September 22nd, 2021. I’m your host, Ben Berry. I know this podcast has been a little sparse recently. I’ve been taking all the content that normally would be these solo episodes and writing them up as blog posts, which has been a generally a good thing. It’s been working out. And I see that continuing. But as we’re in an interesting chapter for the sport, I thought it might be an interesting chance to take the podcast and turn it into something a little bit … Read More

True North August 2021 USPSA Wrapup

Ben BerryBlog

This was my second USPSA match in CO. I didn’t have any live fire since the last match, just dry fire with specific cues on getting a good grip on the Glock in the holster, getting a good wrap with my left hand on the front of the gun, staying low when moving, and pulling the trigger without moving the dot. In other words, basic field course skills. No work on high speed gun handling, which showed on the classifier at this match. Stage 5 This was an 18-round stage, so I made sure at Make Ready to get a … Read More

Sir Walter August 2021 Wrapup

Ben BerryBlog

Back in May, at Production Nationals, I picked up a Romeo 3 XL dot off the prize table, at first thinking I would just flip it for cash. But the idea started to grow, and here we are a few months later and this was my first USPSA match in CO. I had 3 practice sessions to get used to the Glock and the dot, which honestly hasn’t been as much of an adjustment as I was expecting. The best comparison I can make right now is that the dot is like going from a DA/SA or striker trigger to … Read More

Sir Walter June 2021 Wrapup

Ben BerryBlog

This was a very tough match for me. It’s tempting to blame having a kid in January for lack of dry fire, or the ongoing primer shortages for lack of live fire. But if I’m honest with myself, neither of those things really are at play. I have the best setup I’ve ever had in terms of dry fire: a two car garage, with concrete floors and plenty of space to move around. No more slippery hardwood floors or carpet. 20 feet of space to put up targets, more if I go diagonal. But I haven’t done it. I also … Read More

Polymer Offseason 2020

Ben BerryBlog

Back in the dim mists of 2012 and 2013, I spent the offseason shooting a 1911 in Single Stack and CDP. When November 2014 rolled around and I took a Steve Anderson class, I was motivated to just keep dry firing through the winter and shooting Production, which I’ve continued to do every year since then. I might take some time off from practice when it’s cold out, but I haven’t shot a match with a different gun than my main once since. At the time, it was an M&P Pro, then in the 2016-2017 winter I switched to a … Read More

Match Video: Sir Walter, January 2021

Ben BerryBlog, Match Debrief

It was a good day out at the range with friends, and surprisingly warm if a little muddy in places. SC Section, Area 6, and Production Nationals are all coming up fast, so this is the first match of my 2021 season and it’s a good start. Scores are here. Since the last two matches, when I was shooting my M&P Pro, I had taken a few weeks off over Christmas and gotten back into dry fire with the Stock 2, putting in two sessions the week before this match. For the most part, it all came right back, although … Read More

#69: Improving Local Matches

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I talk about the April 19th GoShoot USPSA match, and some things that I think they do differently that are worth emulating.

#68: No Such Thing As A Perfect Match

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I talk about the idea that there is no such thing as a perfect match. First, as a competitor: you’ll never have a match without flaws, and that’s fine. Second, as a match attendee: there will always be something imperfect about the match, and all you can do is let it go and shoot the challenge in front of you.

#67: Offseason

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I talk about shooting my first match in two months, and how moderate expectations led to a good performance. I also go into why I think an offseason isn’t that important early in your shooting career, and becomes more valuable the more you practice.

#54: Match Recap

Ben BerryPodcast

This week I recap the stages I shot at a few local matches and try to draw some lessons learned from them.

#51: Mental Game

Ben BerryPodcast

This week on the podcast, I talk about mindset changes going forward into this season to take stages more seriously and shoot closer to my theoretical skill. I also talk about some of my new goals going forward in both club matches and major matches.