Jamie Jackson

Thanks to John and Don! Brad and I shot the Classifier last evening. Darn those distance shots! I need to definitely work some 20-30 yards shooting to get dialed in on my XS Big Dot sights...and occasionally actually use them. I appreciate John and Don taking the time out to run us through the Classifier. Great guys and I enjoyed shooting the breeze as much with 'em. Anyway. I got Marksman...and I won't be able to make another IDPA Match until January because of my work schedule. You guys save me a place in line. Later, J

I plan on shooting this match. It'll be my first USPSA match since the late '90's and I'm looking forward to it. The stages look great. I don't understand some of the "gadget" terminology...but figure I'll learn. Thanks Alpha.

Good job sschrick! My Buddy Brad and I will be shooting the Classifier next week. I've shot once before...but around '97. I know it's the same, but I haven't shot it since...nor IDPA until recently... Maybe I'm naive, but shouldn't the Classifier represent what you can shoot cold, on demand? Which of course means I'll shoot lousy, but it'll hopefully motivate me to get out and practice more. And Distance shooting and Movement shooting are 2 areas I already know I need to work on. I am looking forward to it and will post back when I have an actual tale to tell. J.

When I came to East TN on a Travel assignment in the beginning of '06 I carried on a Florida Non-Resident permit. I came from MS and let the State permit I had from MS expire (I'd had it since 1990). Florida, at that time simply had better coverage / reciprocity. Once we made the decision to stay in TN and make it our home, I took the State approved course and got my TN permit. I checked with the AG's office and MS-DPS in MS prior to letting my MS permit expire in lieu of the Florida permit...I did the same with the TN AG's office and THP regarding carrying on my Florida Permit until I got TN Permit...just wanting to stay legal. So they (non-resident permits) can have a use. TN's reciprocity has grown a good bit in those few years and I personally don't see a need to have any other than my TN permit. The AG's and HP's have been good resources for me in the past, and I'm sure they'd remain so if folks have a question. Of Course I think we shouldn't have to request a privilege when we have a Right. It's a nest we collectively made over the last few generations. It's not comfortable to lay in. But it's what we have. At least for now.

It's a great group isn't Brother? I'm sure gonna try to make the USPSA match, and I'll try and bring Brad along as well...he just needs to buy his wife some flowers or chocolate or something shiny. I counting on you being there Buddy...remember...chocolate/flowers/shiny...

Thanks for the vid Jeremy. I really appreciate the alternate views on the stages. You did well Buddy...working all night and then shooting all day ain't a walk in the park.

Thanks for all the great info folks. I most definitely agree that Marlin's Microgroove Barrels by Glen E. Fryxell is an excellent read which is why I linked it earlier. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/ is a wealth of info as well, and I'm a member there. Good folks. But we have have a wealth of info here on TGO as well...And I like the "home town" feeling here. Thanks again friends. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Raised beds are a great alternative, imho. Without them we couldn't realistically garden in our little patch of suburbia...At least I couldn't if I wanted to stay married. It sounds like yours has been quite productive USMC. Good work! Congrats on the planned purchase of the Berkey. Excellent system. edit: to add: This past week I did the 4 to 8 modification to an old Norinco SKS I picked up back in the late '80's. (I just barely broke the radius btw) It worked like a charm and now I have reliable feeding from 5 & 10 round detachable mags. I plan to try it out on white tail deer this fall. I planted beets, carrots, mustard, collards, and turnips...watered them every other day (since it obviously didn't want to rain any...until today) and they are already starting to break ground. I picked and blanched 5 quarts of asparagus beans and got them in the freezer this morning. Asparagus bean link: http://www.localharv...d-organic-C3705 I have to cut the okra at least once a day or it gets too large and starts to toughen. I hope to pickle some my next day off work. I shot an IDPA Match this weekend and learned where I need to focus my practice. I also picked up some Berry's bullets and did some reloading today. edit yet again: OH yeah... I ordered a couple of books that look great. I listened to an interview with the author a couple of weeks ago. You guys might want to look into these. Links below. Books: "299 Days". Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/299-Days-Preparation-Glen-Tate/dp/0615680682 Interview on The Survival Podcast with Jack Spirko: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/glen-tate-on-299-days

Thanks for posting the video. Well done Sir. It was a fun, albeit challenging match for me. I just couldn't seem to keep my head straight on it. Getting old is not for the fainthearted. I thoroughly enjoyed the match and it was great to see the good people I've met before, and meet and shoot with new (to me) folks. Thanks to the SO's (Les was ours, unless I'm screwing up his name, if so my apologies...Great Guy) and Mike for putting on such quality matches.

I'm an old fart and wear bifocals. and Yes, "Youth is wasted on the young". I know what you mean. Life throws us a challenge every now and then. The scenario you describe is a good example. I still just focus on my front sight, with the target being pretty fuzzy at distances. I make sure my sight is centered on the distant targets, at what I perceive as a line drawn across from axilla(armpit) to axilla, for IDPA targets just a bit lower (that's where they put the scoring ring...) We have some 15-18 yard shots at my local club as well. Even when I used my G17 with Big Dot sights last month I didn't have any problem getting my hits...except that one pesky hostage that stepped in front of the badguy that time. Like you mentioned...at closer ranges, only use as much sight as you need. Maintain a good straight back trigger press and it should put the rounds where they need to go...at least the majority of the time. Good Luck Buddy.

I'm glad to hear you fared well Dirtshooter. Yer Right. The Good Lord takes care of us...every day my Friend. 5 miles outta Myrick? It's definitely a small world.

Glad you got the work Buddy. But hate you'll miss the match. Be Safe Spiff.

Thanks Brother! Looks like fun! Good Lord Willin' I'll see you there.

Who me? LOL Jonnin I think you most probably hit the nail on the head. No Doubt that I have been guilty of that quite a few times my friend. Thanks for the excellent info and input from all. I'll work up a variety of loads and even try my hand at paper patching and gas checks. I gotta learn sometime. I appreciate the info and welcome further input or experiences.

Thank you dlm. The bullets I purchased don't have gaschecks. From what I've read it's the escaping gases around the bullet that increases the leading potential, that and the bullet hardness, but to a lesser degree than escaping gases.... Hence my concerns about the bullet diameter and velocity/pressure. To my understanding...and this is just from reading and not first hand experience...as long as I have a good seal, maybe by using gaschecks or paper patching and keeping the velocity at a reasonable level...around 1300 fps...I should be OK with these lead bullets in my Marlin. Is this what you mean by the effects of temperature Sir? I apologize for my ignorance...I'm comfortable with my handloads for my pistols, revolvers and jacketed rounds for my rifles and carbines. This is my first venture into lead rifle bullets and I just want to mitigate the effects of my aforementioned ignorance. But experience will conquer ignorance...it'll just take me some time.

Good suggestion. Thanks!

Below is a link to some interesting (to me) info on Ballard and micro-groove rifling. The article mentions that the micro-groove bore prefers a lead bullet of at least .310 diameter. Mine are .309. Obviously i should have done more research prior to ordering the bullets. Do you guys think i should obtain some gas checks and apply them first? or do you think my bullets would work for practice rounds as long as I keep the velocities low (1300 fps or so)? TIA link: http://www.leverguns...ove-barrels.htm ETA for clarification: the above link is referenced a couple of times below...Thank you including it folks...it's the link to: "Marlin's Microgroove Barrels by Glen E. Fryxell"

I was concerned about the rifling, and I was hoping for some insight from you Caster. Much obliged Good Sir.

I forgot to mention. My .30-30 is a Marlin 336C I've had since around 1969. It's in excellent condition, tight and more accurate than I am.

I know I've come to the right folks. And I certainly know I need to start casting my own...it's on my "To Do" list. I've read through a good bit of threads on using lead bullets for .30-30 reloads and understand that I can drive the bullets faster using gas checks. But to get started in using lead reloads, and to just make some affordable practice rounds, I picked up a box of 250 Whitetail 165 gr. RNFP bullets from Missouri Bullet Company. MBC lists the Brinell Hardness at 18 and states "optimized for .30-30 lever guns". I was thinking about using Red Dot or perhaps Unique powders. It is my understanding that I should keep the velocity around or just under 1400 fps. Any thoughts, suggestions, pet loads, cautions and past experiences would be greatly appreciated folks. Thanks is advance TGO. As an aside, the MBC website has some pretty decent info, and their FAQ's is a hoot to read. http://www.missourib...m/technical.php

Welcome Mac. The majority of my family is from the "Free State of Jones". My MIL and 2 BIL's live in the Myrick community. Glad to have you here...even if it's just virtually for now. How'd you guys fare with the weather Issac kicked in? Well I hope.

Welcome aboard Sir and Thanks for being a sponsor. While I live in K-Town, I am over to Nashville every couple of weeks. I'm adding your address to my Garmin!

Welcome Rob. There's getting to be quite a few of us Knoxvillians around here. And that's a Good Thing! A buddy of mine got his permit after just a couple of weeks as well. Good for you for exercising your God Given Constitutionally Protected Right.

Welcome aboard polecat. I used to kick around Paulden and Prescott...but it's been awhile. I hope you enjoy East TN and TGO. Great folks all around.

Welcome aboard Doug. I'm a transplant here as well...albeit going on 7 years now. Below are a couple of links to Oak Ridge Sportsman's shooting range and some events going on out there. There's tons of good info and lots of helpful folks here at TGO. http://orsaonline.org/ http://orsaap.com/