Matt in TN

Let's get this party started. If you've never been to Rockcastle and don't recognize any of these locations, don't panic - a map will be released well before the match and the course will be marked. However, there will be no flashing neon signs, and "orienteering" (following a simple map - not actual bearings and distances) is part of the challenge. People do miss turns and get off course every single match of this kind I've seen though, sometimes adding miles to their run. Pay attention, follow the map, and follow the signs. Even when you're cold/hot/wet/muddy/frustrated/mad/happy/thrilled/exhausted/elated. That being said, here's Stage 1: Begin at the Lodge Overhang. Run to Doe Valley, go down the hill to the left, through three consecutive mud pits, and climb up inside one of the two corrugated tubes. There will be barbed wire strung over at least one of the mud pits – low enough to force you to submerge most of your gear, but high enough that you COULD hold your rifle above the water/mud if you’re careful. I highly recommend closed bolts and condoms over the muzzle as an added precaution to keep anything from obstructing your bore. Bypassing the obstacle gives you a ZERO for your entire run time. Begin Stage 1. (0.4 miles) Stage 1: Start With The Basics Location: Doe Valley Begin behind the center of the barricade. On the buzzer, load your rifle and hit an AC-zone steel target at 50 yards once from right-handed standing, once from left-handed kneeling, once from right-handed kneeling, and once from left handed standing around the appropriate sides of the barricade. Carry weighted 50 cal ammo can to the next firing position. Make 5 hits on each target from 4 different firing positions with rifle.

No big deal - I'll bring slugs just in case. I take it this means you get a break this month?

100 rounds for each gun, but bring 200 to account for all the misses? Any slugs this time? Wait. Does "2 gun" mean rifle/pistol all day, or that only two out of three guns will be used on that stage? I'm so confused...

I'm in. Stage 3 looks extra tough! ;-)

My current stage plan has about 40 mandatory rifle hits and 30 mandatory pistol hits, but that's a bit fluid at this point and could change before March. I'd highly recommend carrying AT LEAST twice that amount, as there will be no going back to your car for resupply if you run out!

You already know what I use - I'm a cheap-a$$ and use all Condor stuff! Now on to other things: I will need 17 total Range Officers to run this match well, and I only have 6 picked out so far. So I'm putting out an open call for volunteers. The biggest benefit to being an RO is you can guarantee you get a slot in the match. The ONLY WAY I can promise you'll get to shoot this match, is if you agree to work for me. Please look at all the requirements and put some thought into this before you volunteer - this will be a hard match to work and a lot will be asked of you. First, the bad: RO's will shoot on Friday, so you need to be there early enough on Friday to shoot as well as run a stage or two for your fellow RO's. You will be stuck on a single stage ALL DAY LONG on Saturday. Lunch will be provided and delivered to you, but bring anything else you might need to last the day in the field (chairs, extra food, binoculars to spot rifle hits, LOTS OF WATER, sunscreen, hat, jacket, etc.). There will be three RO's on each stage, so one of you can rotate off for a short period if you need a bathroom break or something - but keep it a SHORT break as the others will be depending on you. You will have to tell people "NO" and/or "Sorry, I can't help you" frequently. You will need to keep competitors doing NOTHING during their wait time but standing there waiting, exactly as they ran up - they cannot take off or rearrange gear, sit in the shade, drink water or eat, meditate, etc. You will have to keep a close eye on tired people, and may have to physically put hands on them if their muzzle is moving toward an unsafe direction. Verifying everyone's rifle is unloaded as they arrive and leave your stage is YOUR responsibility, and is of the utmost importance. You may have to DQ a competitor if they show up to your stage with a round in their chamber. If a competitor shows up to the stage AFTER yours with a round in their chamber - I'm going to DQ that competitor, and then immediately call YOU to find out how you let a shooter leave your stage with a loaded rifle. You'll need to read a short "script" to each competitor right before they shoot that gives a brief stage description, and point out the targets. If they have questions you can stand there and talk as long as they want, but since the stage description will be part of their run time we need to keep it as short and CONSISTENT from shooter to shooter as much as possible. Now, the good: You will be guaranteed a slot at the match, and will not have to fight in the bloodbath that will occur the minute registration opens! Your registration fee is $0.00. Lunch on Saturday will be provided and delivered to your stage. You will receive a 50% discount on a room at the lodge. Rooms are double-occupancy, so if you want to share a room with another RO you can both stay for free. Or you can have your own room at half-price. You don't need a special "RO Certification" to work this match, but since it will be a tough match to work I'll need folks who are extra squared-away. Preference will be given in the following order: 1. If I know you personally and know I can count on you 2. If you've RO'd a Run N Gun before 3. If you've RO'd at Rockcastle before (or have completed their RO course) 4. If you've RO'd any 3-gun or action pistol/rifle match before If you're interested, please send me an email at mstennett@twlakes.net and tell me a little about yourself and your experience. I will talk it over with some locals if I don't know you personally, make a decision on who will be best suited to work this first match, and then notify both those who are accepted and those who will be put on a waiting list if some of the "first string" have to cancel. If this first match goes as well as I hope it will, we will need even MORE RO's next year when we come back and do this again (but even bigger and better!). Please have patience with me as I figure this out, and PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ROing. Responses here on Facebook are hard to organize and keep track of, and make for difficult direct contacts. Thank you in advance for your help and understanding in pulling off what is sure to be a herculean task of putting on a match like this!

Wow - way to go Coop!

We got our first match sponsor today: 300 Below (http://www.300below.com/) is donating several certificates for a free cryo treatment for your rifle, along with some other stuff. They did a FAL for me a couple years ago, and I was so happy with it that I'm sending them another one. If you have a wandering zero issue and you've tried everything else you should give them a call. Be sure to thank them for their support and generosity! If anyone else wants to get involved as a sponsor, please contact me at mstennett@twlakes.net for details. We have several levels of sponsorship available that can fit every budget.

But I should add that many people solved this problem in many different ways, and it's all about figuring out what works for your body style with your gear. Half the point of this match is giving everyone a chance to test their gear and see what works and what doesn't. You never really KNOW how it'll work until you get out there and put it through a real test. And I guarantee this match will give your gear (and you!) a good test. :-)

The first year I carried a G17 with G18 mags (using the MP5 mag pouches in front of my pistol). That worked well, but I was embarassed to be seen with a 9mm, so I switched to .45ACP after that. ;-)

Here's some pics of the setup from my first 10k. Since then I've swapped out the double-stack rifle mag pouches for single-stack. For a 5k I probably won't carry any water, but I'm doing a 20k in January that I'll probably lose the water bottle and replace it with a 3L Camelback.

Sure - I went with the cheap Condor stuff, and it has done surprisingly well for me. I use a battle belt and h-harness as I hate trying to shoot prone with a vest (and prefer to distribute the weight around my hips instead of all on my front). The single stack mag carriers are much better to run with than the double stack (I've run both), as they flop around a lot less while running, but that means it takes more belt space to carry the same number of mags. Everything's a trade off!

I missed the other half of this earlier - pistol AR (PCC) would not be allowed, or give you any advantage. Pistols must shoot pistol calibers, and rifles must shoot rifle calibers. It doesn't sound like you were leaning that way anyway, but I figured I'd better post this in case anyone else wonders about PCC.

Getting people off the couch is the exact reason for putting on this match!

Rifle targets will be no smaller than 4 MOA, and will be "hit/no hit". There will be some pistol targets that will be IDPA type targets, with 1 or 3 seconds added to your shoot time if you don't hit the A-zone.

I run with a weighted vest for most of my training. I live in the country and used to run in full LBE with no issues, but it put a lot of extra wear on my LBE. The vest is simpler and they're pretty cheap. I'll release a full course of fire and round count as we get closer to match day, but to give you an idea my standard load out is 40lbs of guns, ammo, and gear. I shoot a .308 and a .45 though - .223 and 9mm guys can get away with less (but will get appropriately mocked by us idiots who carry more!). We'll have 5 shooting stages over 3.5 miles. They won't be exactly evenly spread along the course, but they're not too far from it.

Good deal - we'd love to have you!

Glad somebody got it!

Running on your hands is perfectly acceptable, but you'd better have good retention on your mag pouches and holster! ;/)

0-300 yds. SBR could give you a weight advantage.

I'll need quite a few extra-squared away RO's to pull this off. You definitely qualify - you interested?

Rule of thumb for metric conversions is to double it and add 30. So a 5k = 40 metric beers. Surely 40 beers is a good reason to run a measly 3.5 miles??? ;-)

I realize this isn't "technically" in TN, so I understand if the moderators want to axe it from the Tennessee Forum - but I am in Tennessee, so surely that gets some consideration??? The Rockcastle Run-N-Gun is a centerfire biathlon – competitors will complete a 5K run combined with a shooting competition. The event is a test of man and equipment alike. It is intended to give participants an idea of how being hot, cold, exhausted, and challenged by the environment affects their shooting, and to test the effectiveness of their gear under field conditions. This event is not intended for inexperienced shooters – all participants are expected to be familiar with the operation of their firearms, and to observe basic principles of firearm safety at all times. With the exception of emergencies, Range Officers (ROs) are not allowed to help participants in any way. Good attitudes are a must. If you are the type of person who gets upset when minor changes are made to a plan or when you don’t always get your way, this is not the event for you. More details can be found here: Rockcastle Run N Gun 5k:  March 18, 2017

I'll start a new thread, but THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING!!! Details here: Rockcastle Run N Gun 5k, March 18, 2017

Dang - I would LOVE to do this, but I'd have all my stuff piled on the lawn when I got home if I did. Surely somebody will be along soon to take you up on this awesome offer!