3G4V Run N Gun, Presented by Rockcastle: March 18, 2017

[Matt in TN]

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.  :-)

[10Kilr]

6 hours ago, Matt in TN said:

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.  ;-)

 

 

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. Thinking my chest rig will put too much weight up front for running.

[Matt in TN]

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.

[ehull20000]

This looks effing awesome.  If I'm around I'm doing this.  And I'm gonna see if anyone else from work wants to join in. 

[Vindicare]

Can anyone suggest any other options for a belt based carrier for this event? I was thinking that a belt rig might be best for running.


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[ehull20000]

I'm sure my belt will work good for this, but that's because I have ran in it.  Any decent belt setup should work.  I use a stiff duty belt with a padded cover that as PALs webbing sewn on it.  To the belt I attach ammo pouches on the left, holster on the right, dump pouch in the center back, IFAK on the back right, and hydration upper back.  My belt also has padded suspenders.  That setup works pretty good for me, but without more information about the course I wouldn't say it is absolutely the way to go.  

[Vindicare]

Any brands or retailers you could suggest? I don't currently have any of this type of gear.


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[gjohnsoniv]

I'm buying an HSGI inner belt and Volund Gearworks outer to replace my previous belt system. Thinking that plus a minimalist chest rig will be the way to go. 

[ehull20000]

My setup is a frankenstein of sorts.  It's all Multicam so that I can use it at work with the exception of my M9 holster which is still tan.  If I ever get issued a new M9 that has a light rail I'll upgrade my holster.  I've got the following pieces from the following manufacturers:  

Tactical Tailor Fight Light 4-Point Battle Belt Harness

ATS War Belt

ATS tear away IFAK pouch

SOE gear 2" duty belt

HSGI tacos for M4/AR15 as well as M9/G17

Blue Force Gear dump pouch

Safariland ALS holster for a M9 with an offset drop mount adapter that also comes from Safariland.  This lowers the holster from the belt and 

extends it out from my hip just a tad.  

Safariland ALS holster for a Glock that mounts to the same offset drop adapter.  

Warrior Assault Systems small hydration carrier

Camelback 50 oz Antidote reservoir 

 

If I had to do it all over again I would probably make the same choices in gear.  I wouldn't pay a premium for any of it though.  I bought as much as I could after seeing it in person so that I could touch it, smell it, taste it, and generally get a good feeling for it before laying down my cash for it.  For the 5K I think you could get away with a stiff belt, some mag pouches, a holster, a tourniquet holder, and a sling.   

 

 

 

[Matt in TN]

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!

[LawVol]

I have an ATS war belt set up, along with some suspenders.  It would probably be what I'd grab in a "bug out" scenario, but I guess I won't know if it will be sufficient for this match until we have a better idea of ammo requirements.

[Vindicare]

Yeah. I'd like to know the round/ target count as well.


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[Matt in TN]

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!

Edited November 11, 2016 by Matt in TN

[ehull20000]

https://www.talkable.com/x/5ObXrc

Allegedly that link has a way to get 25% off on SOE gear.  I found it in my email today, almost deleted it as spam and then thought of this thread.  I have no idea if it's legit, but I got it today and wanted to share.  Good luck.  

[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.

[Vindicare]

Am I counting right? Is that 24 rifle hits on this stage?


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[Matt in TN]

1 hour ago, Vindicare said:

Am I counting right? Is that 24 rifle hits on this stage?


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Yep.  There might be some rifle misses on this stage too.  Other stages I expect will have fewer hits and more misses.  ;-)

[Matt in TN]

I should also add here - all of the RO slots are full now, and we have a long waiting list if any of those should back out.  THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered, whether you made the cut or not.  We could not make this happen without your generous gift of time and hard work.

[Matt in TN]

I am thrilled to announce that Eddie Gunks from www.bulletguy.com has stepped up to sponsor ALL of the STAFF t-shirts. Please check out his website and give him a big THANK YOU when you see him in March! 

And to keep my "trickling it out" pattern alive, here's Stage 2:
Leave Doe Valley, run back up Park Mammoth Rd, and turn right on Slave Cave Rd. Turn right on the old railroad bed, and climb over the obstacles before returning to Slave Cave Rd. Bypassing the obstacles gives you a ZERO for your entire run time. Turn left onto Cowboy Town Rd, and begin Stage 2. (1.2 miles)

Stage 2: Know Your Enemy
Location: Cowboy Town

This stage starts with a "battlefield pick-up" AK pattern rifle than you "find" on the ground. You have no idea the status of the rifle, how it's zeroed, or how many/what kind of ammo is in the magazine. The AK pattern rifle is the most prolific rifle in the world, and you need to be able to pick it up and make it work, one way or another. The RO can NOT help you in any way, and will only stop you if you are doing something unsafe.

On the buzzer, retrieve empty AK from the ground, load and make 5 hits on the 50 yd target. Clear AK, and leave EMPTY AK on ground pointed downrange (RO will not let you proceed until the AK is empty). Drag your “buddy” (150lb dummy) to safety behind cover. Advance to VTAC board, making up any 50yd hits you missed along the way, and put two rounds on the 100yd target through each of four marked ports.

Edited September 15, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

Stage 3:  Tunnel Rat, Sponsored by 300 Below (http://www.300below.com/)

Leave Cowboy Town down shooting lane and along old railroad bed.  Follow signs and flags along rough trail and parts of road to Stage 3. (0.5 miles)

Leave your empty rifle (and ruck, if needed) outside, and enter the cave with only the run clock going (the shooting clock has not begun yet).  You will have to climb down, crawl over rocks, and through tight spaces to enter the cave and get to the staging area.  You may need a light to navigate parts of this portion, and you cannot draw your pistol until the RO gives you the “Fire” command and you enter the shooting portion of the course.  If you only have a weapon-mounted light you must navigate this portion of the cave by feel in some places.  DRAWING YOUR WEAPON BEFORE BEING INSTRUCTED TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE MATCH DQ, as you will end up pointing a loaded pistol at your ROs and possibly fellow competitors.  If there are several shooters backed up here, ROs may elect to have a staging area outside as well as inside the cave – but either way your time entering and exiting the cave itself will be a part of your total run time.

On the buzzer, move forward and engage ten IPDA targets as you find them.  If you shoot so close to the target you blow pasters off, you will be scored based on your two WORST hits.  Any hits outside the "-0" zone will add either 1 or 3 seconds to your shoot time, depending on the zone hit.  A miss will add 5 seconds to your shoot time.  Failing to engage a target will add 10 seconds to your shoot time.  If you do not have a light on your person when you arrive you will be given a DNF (Zero score) for the stage and not allowed to shoot.  Shooters are NOT allowed to share or borrow lights – you can only use what you carry for the entire course.  If your light fails in the middle of the stage and you don’t have a back-up light, the RO will stop you wherever you are, escort you out with his light, and your stage will be scored as-is.  Night vision will not be allowed unless you bring enough for the RO too.

Edited September 29, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

Time for Stage 4 - this one is deceptively simple...if you can make your hits!

Leave cave and run south along gravel road to Stage 4. (0.7 miles)

Stage 4: The Rifleman
Location: Powerline Cut

On the buzzer, get two hits on the 100yd target from standing, two hits on the 200yd target from kneeling or sitting, and two hits on the 300yd target from prone.

[Matt in TN]

Leave the powerline cut and run south on Club House Rd.  Turn right onto Park Mammoth Rd, run past the pistol bays, and climb over the tire obstacle.  Bypassing the obstacle will zero your entire run score.  Then begin Stage 5 (0.3 miles).

Stage 5:  Make The Shot When It Counts
Location:  Pistol Bays

A bad guy is holding your spouse hostage, and only his head is exposed from behind your spouse (a white "no shoot" target).  Shoot the bad guy once in the head.  Run to the next bay and shoot the plate rack strong-hand only.  Run to the next bay and shoot the plate rack weak-hand only.  If you hit your spouse you ZERO the stage, but still have to finish the rest of the shooting with that failure on your mind.  In real life you cannot stop just because bad things happen.  Yes, the penalty for a no shoot is stiff.  What would the penalty be if you really shot your spouse???

Leave pistol bays on Park Mammoth Rd, turn right into Lodge parking lot, and finish at the Lodge overhang. (0.3 miles - 3.5 miles in total)
 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

Here's the full course map to give everyone a better idea of where they're going. The red line is the 5k course you'll be following. The other color coding is just to give you an idea of what kind of surfaces you'll be running on:

 

[Matt in TN]

This match is not about beating other people, it’s about beating yourself. And your Self is the toughest opponent you will ever face.

Start training. If you sign up, show up, and just START the match you’re ahead of every other “internet couch warrior” out there. If you FINISH the match, no matter how long it takes you, you win. One thing I can promise you – is that NO ONE will make fun of you for getting out there and trying. You will only hear words of encouragement and support*, pushing you to keep going and finish this thing.

*Marines and Army Drill Instructors have their own special way of giving encouragement and support, and I have a few as RO’s. If they yell at you, know it’s because they love you. They are the only exemptions from this statement. If some lone douchebag tries to prove me wrong on this and makes fun of you for struggling, being too fat, too old, or too slow - give them a swift buttstroke to the side of the head with your rifle and just keep going.  As you trample over their crying body, tell them "Matt says hi".

[Matt in TN]

It's time. Registration will open on Practiscore two weeks from today, on Saturday December 17th at 10:00am Central Time. I've expanded this to 60 total competitor slots. Please only register if you are very serious about attending. Registration is extremely limited and if you register and don't attend you'll be taking a slot from someone else who really wants to go.

Here's the link: https://practiscore.com/rockcastle-r...-2017/register

I'm not sure why it says "registration will open in one week" - the date is set for December 17th. RO's and sponsored shooters will be preregistered by me, and you will receive a notification email from Practiscore probably this week.

We still have some sponsorship opportunities available - if you're interested in sponsoring an obstacle, a stage, or the match please email me at mstennett@twlakes.net for details.