deerslayer

LOL, the buzzer has exposed many an "expert."

match scores are posted, along with an explanation: http://www.idpa.com/matchresults/2008/2008_Tri_Sta_Reg.pdf

Sure, magazine disconnects have been around forever (see the Browning High Power), but, until recently, nobody ever insisted that all guns must have them in order to pass some firearms-ignorant lawyer's safety litmus test.

If I am struggling with a thug, the last thing I am going to worry about is bumping my mag release in order to disable my gun. The typical argument is that cops can do this when knuckling with a thug, but I submit that A. most cops are right-handed B. many LE guns have a mag release on the left side C. most cop retention holsters securely cover the trigger guard/mag release area D. The cop bumping the mag release to prevent the thug from using his gun is a bit far-fetched. I've never heard or read of it happening (except maybe in movies). Even if I did have the presence of mind to do so, I wouldn't like my chances of hitting such a small target with the tip of my finger while fighting off a bad guy. I think the odds of gouging his eyes or ripping off his nuts would be much better. I suppose the nut dimensions correlate to the success rate of removal.

Mars says that line of reasoning is baloney and he's NEVER wrong.

Hmmm...Glock 19 with more rounded edges, maybe multiple grip backstraps, something a little stronger than the Fisher-Price sights, a dovetailed front sight, with the rear of the trigger guard trimmed down a little. No manual safety required for me.

The last three NDs I heard of were XD, SIG, and M&P in that order. Three designs which I would feel perfectly safe carrying, BTW.

It always amuses me when people mention GT as a place for mindless Glock worshipping. That site has some of the most irrational anti-Glock rants I've ever read. They even put some of you to shame.

I have a curious feeling that some of the "heavy hitters" are glad that the monsoon skewed the match results.

Well… back in “the old days†when most everyone that carried all the time was carrying S&W or Colt revolvers, Model 39’s & 59’s or 1911’s there were AD/ND’s (whichever name you like best) but they were few and far between. When you had someone at gun point you had your finger on the trigger without worry that your weapon would discharge. Enter Glock….. Now AD/ND’s are common place, they are almost always Glocks and the Glocksters claim that is because all those people are not properly trained or they put their finger on the trigger. You are not really claiming that it's safer to point a 1911 at someone with your finger on the trigger than it is a Glock, are you? You have to do your homework and make your own decisions. I don’t know how many times I have seen someone post that magazine disconnects are in the same “lawyer gun†category as internal locks. Clueless…. They are absolutely clueless. But that doesn’t keep them from offering their opinions. When Sarah Brady and her crowd insist that laws be passed requiring that all guns require these features, I consider them "lawyer guns." Not picking a fight, just my respectful .02.

Since the match was incomplete, I doubt there will be any scores posted. There really is no way to post accurate comparisons--no two division/classifications were scored on the same stages. I'm ready to move to the desert.

So what? If you're shoving the gun back in a holster, your hand will have the grip safety disengaged. Grip safeties are so overrated.

No, there is no stop button--the timer simply listens for shots; your time ends when you fire your last shot.

So true.

Thanks. I still get smoked routinely, though.

IDPA is only a game, and many treat it as nothing more. However, I think it's great practice to shoot a match with your carry gear. It's often an eye-opener--being on the clock, the competition aspect, having several things to think about and remember, and doing it all in front of an audience add some stress to the shooter, and many learn that their techniques need some honing. Weaknesses are exposed. This is why I have (so far) shot with only that thumb break holster and a compact Glock (and sometimes a subcompact)--I like to practice, train, and compete with what I carry. I am badly in the minority, though.

Here's some more footage of the thumb-break slowing me down [ame]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8036190474015494956&q=idpa+mssa&total=29&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2[/ame] [ame]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3420904309391339604&q=idpa+mssa&total=29&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0[/ame] and some fun with a 9mm AR: [ame] [/ame]

That's too funny--I often make the same observations about 1911s, and get stoned (by others) for doing so. It's reality, though. 1911s are sweet running guns, if you can ever get one to run. I also see people racking the slide after a tac-load. Just a brainfart, I guess, but I see some pretty experienced guys doing it occasionally. I'm with ya--I think tac-loads are overemphasized. No idea how long I've practiced--I've had the holster maybe a year and a half? and been shooting IDPA about a year. I just bump the strap on my way to grabbing the gun (not really an added step). It also helps attain a proper grip--if I miss the strap, (extrememly rare) it's because my grip is all out of whack, usually way low on the gun. It has been my sole carry holster for as long as I've owned it, until recently. I recently picked up a CTAC, for when deep, no-BS concealment is a top priority, and weapon accesibility is secondary. The thumb break (a Bianchi Model 5, BTW) easily conceals compact or sub-compact Glocks under an untucked polo (my most common method of carry). I get lectured all the time about how I need to ditch the leather and get some kydex--it will cut .25 off my draw. I like the retention because I can roundhouse kick somebody without worrying about my gun flying loose, and, if someone grabs it in a fight or from behind, it MAY give me a half second or so warning before they get the gun.

What's wrong with retention straps? I use one in IDPA, and don't have any problems. I'm no speed demon with it, but I can hold my own. One friend is so impressed that my first shot is faster than his that he put me on youtube: [ame] [/ame]

Yeah, I forgot about that "1911 w/ the safety off" comment not too long ago...

He probably has no idea.

Definitely true. That's why I'm not a big fan of holstering without looking.

I helped run stage 4 (the one where you get out of bed and shoot the bad guy to the left). Yep, you could say that the weather became a problem. Over at the pavilion, I heard a few people comment that we should have gone ahead and finished the match. I don't think they went back to stages 1-9 and saw what happened. We could have hosted a fishing tournament on a couple of those stages. They were all slick, and there was still intermittent thunder and lightning. I felt like I did lousy, but I did take third in SSP-EX--I guess everybody else was lousy, too. I did learn that SOs who shoot on Friday do not have an advantage (unless, maybe the bottom falls out on the Saturday shooters). My overall match score was 267, and those prison bars and handcuffs WERE awful!