[want2race]

I guess a slump was bound to happen. Been shooting this sport for less than 2 years and last month I hit a little speed bump. My mental game was in the toilet. I had more mental errors in one match than I had since I started. I started to look at specifics. What had caused a change, what was different.

I started reading one of Saul's books and realized that I had been doing a lot of things right. Many things in that book I had been doing already, regarding the mental aspects. That is, until recently. I realize now that I had been too complacent with my local match. I was taking myself too seriously and ended up putting stress on myself to do well/have fun. Then it hit me that those two things DO go together, when they are the other way around. If I have fun, I do well not the other way around. I had fun at the Pro/Am because I didn't put any stress on myself or preset any expectations. I just shot.

I'm a recreationalist. I'm competitive by nature, but know that my allotted time and money will limit my success in shooting. What IS, however, limitless is enjoyment.

Last month I had two terrible matches, one IDPA and one USPSA. I did a little thinking, a little reading, a little dry firing and today shot a good match. I had fun. Although I could have done better (faster/better hits) I didn't make any major mental errors that led to self destruction. I did do something mentioned in the book though. I was the first shooter, made my plan but quickly changed it to a more aggressive plan. Made ready. Beep. Shot my first plan. It went ok, but my old plan (the one shot for score) proved to be 2.5 seconds slower. After the match I shot the plan I "wanted" to shoot and proved that it was indeed faster. No real biggie but something I can work on for sure.

I know that shooting on the move is faster. I can, and do, shoot on the move. This was my first plan:


This one was fun too. Pretty basic but I put my SS magwell to good use.

[steel1212]

What we proved was that your first run, the one scored, was 4 seconds faster than the rest of us SSers and the one we did after the match was a reload slower than the limited guys!

[steel1212]

The idea is to use it.....

[want2race]

"It" meaning the diary? Not much to say yet. I'm going back to shooting limited very soon. I really like shooting SS but I need to get back to Limited before the Pro-am. I can't remember the last time I shot my Limited gun. Ok, I can. The last time I shot it, it didn't run 100%. Didn't like a 12.5 pound spring and .402 lead bullets. That's been fixed.

[steel1212]

want2race, on Oct 28 2008, 08:22 AM, said:

"It" meaning the diary? Not much to say yet. I'm going back to shooting limited very soon. I really like shooting SS but I need to get back to Limited before the Pro-am. I can't remember the last time I shot my Limited gun. Ok, I can. The last time I shot it, it didn't run 100%. Didn't like a 12.5 pound spring and .402 lead bullets. That's been fixed.

LOL, yeah I'm going to do the same thing here soon. I've got about twice as many classifiers this year in SS as limited....I still would like to get 1.7% in SS before I go back though

[want2race]

Not much to report. Well, other than my first open classifier will post as an 89% and my Ltd percentage is up to 83%. Getting pretty close. My classifiers have been steadily rising ever since I quite caring about them. I care, but I shoot the classifier just like any other stage. I used to shoot them hail mary style. That doesn't work.

I built the open gun out of mostly spare parts. .40 caliber. Tube optic mounted very low. It's very easy to switch back and forth to Limited. I loaded up an Open specific load, 135gr over 7.4gr of Universal Clays. Should be good for 1275 fps and it works the comp MUCH better than my 180gr limited load that I was shooting. It's very fun to shoot.

Here are some pics of some under-appreciated work. Did the work for a coworker who never even looked at it before throwing into his holster, then into the tool box. Undercut and hand checkered front strap. Blended and hand checkered MS housing, also rounded the butt. Opened up mag opening. Straightened all the jacked up lines on the frame from poor machining. Trigger job. Flushed and countersunk the slide stop pin. Hand serrated the raised rib on the slide 30 LPI (it was rough cast, not even machined from Colt). Cleaned up the beavertail safety install. Tightened the slide on the frame (was incredibly loose). Cut front dovetail for FO front sight. Blasted and parked for a non glare, matte finish.

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This post has been edited by want2race: 17 April 2009 - 12:40 PM

[want2race]

The Franken Open:

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[want2race]

I will be blasting the open gun at a classifier match in Ohio next weekend in preperation for the Open division at the IN state match and the ProAM.
A new, custom comp is in the works too.

[recon215]

Nice looking open gun there. What comp is on it and where can I get 1? Does it work good, maybe not since you are getting a custom comp huh? Already have a barrel here I could use, need a comp for a bushing barrel.

want2race, on Apr 17 2009, 03:43 PM, said:

I will be blasting the open gun at a classifier match in Ohio next weekend in preperation for the Open division at the IN state match and the ProAM.
A new, custom comp is in the works too.

[want2race]

Comp is an EGW. It works ok, I just have some ideas I want to try. Always thinking of the better mousetrap.

[want2race]

It's been awhile since I've posted.

Pro-Am: 4th master, 8th overall in Limited. Had to shoot master since I had won A class the year prior. A bad mag early on set me a drift. Thought it was the extractor, made a change, gun ran worse, changed it back to get it to run, installed wrong firing pin (not an extended one), had light strikes, figured out I had a bad mag, threw magazine away, tried to salvage.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=iH53IZWd8lM

Local match: Just having fun. I'm the second shooter shown, then the last two are me as well. The first couple are with the skinny gun, last one was limited (second run).
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=BM9_9physCA

5th sunday match, SSvsProd: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=NCKHBslx540
Mostly pretty good, 1st stage excluded.

Circleville, OH montly match over labor day. This was supposed to be their big match but that got moved to coincide with the IPSC nationals.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=BVj8EDwqAX4

Local match: BGSL in Wilmore. Single stack in the AM, Ltd in the PM. Had an FTE with the skinny gun, been a long time since I've had one of those. Lesson learned, K.I.S.S. My mag fell over when grabbing the gun during the classifier (Mini Mart). Not going to count.
In Limited, had a pretty good run. Hammer follow 3 times, weird. Can't get it to repeat dry, only happens with ammo. More on that later.
Classifier: Mini Mart. 4.81 seconds, down one. 100%. My first. That means I get a new card in the mail after the next update. Master class.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=QnvvoDhQvQw

The hammer follow may have been due to the disconnector. Sear was recently touched up and not worn. Sprung to 2.25lbs. I worked it tonight. Changed the disconnector to one with a larger diameter (at the top). Removed a strange line in the disconnector notch in the slide. It wasn't big, but combined with the old disconnector the trigger had a 'click' just after the take up. Now it's smooth, no click but I need to test it before the TN sectional.

[Surge]

want2race, on Oct 5 2009, 11:50 PM, said:

Classifier: Mini Mart. 4.81 seconds, down one. 100%. My first. That means I get a new card in the mail after the next update. Master class.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=QnvvoDhQvQw

[steel1212]

I tell you what, that is one master class camera operator/editor/guy

Nice shooting as always.

You need to work on your movement though....

[fomeister]

Congratulations buddy, now you are playing in the deep end. I knew you would make it. I suppose we cannot call you bagger anymore. Way to go.

[want2race]

On Caves II (all targets under cover), it showed that I'm not comfortable pushing the split times faster while moving. I played it safe and I should have pushed it harder after the first two partials. Unfortunately, that's something that can only be drilled with live fire.

On the flip side it is perfect example of the cadence drill we teach.

[want2race]

Last match before the USPSA update. TN Sectional. As much as I love SS, this reminded me why I love Limited division. Although I STILL forgot to reload a couple times...ugh.

The washing machine stage was probably my best. The rain stage (in the house) was by far the worst, with the slippery (wobbly) bridge as a close second. Shooting it dry turned out to be a HUGE advantage. Well DUH! We tried to mention it but it fell on deaf (wet) ears. That's how it goes sometimes.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wNRnwH6QmvQ

No penalties. No Mikes. 10 D's. Not happy with the D count, but I am happy I went penalty free all day. The last stage, I needed that make up shot over the car. My first shot skipped off the roof. I didn't know it at the time, I just knew I didn't like my first sight picture.

[steel1212]

want2race, on Oct 11 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

Last match before the USPSA update. TN Sectional. As much as I love SS, this reminded me why I love Limited division. Although I STILL forgot to reload a couple times...ugh.

The washing machine stage was probably my best. The rain stage (in the house) was by far the worst, with the slippery (wobbly) bridge as a close second. Shooting it dry turned out to be a HUGE advantage. Well DUH! We tried to mention it but it fell on deaf (wet) ears. That's how it goes sometimes.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wNRnwH6QmvQ

No penalties. No Mikes. 10 D's. Not happy with the D count, but I am happy I went penalty free all day. The last stage, I needed that make up shot over the car. My first shot skipped off the roof. I didn't know it at the time, I just knew I didn't like my first sight picture.

Last match for you sandbaggin in A class

[want2race]

Hey...you too in Single Stack!

[bkeeler]

Congrats on your A Class Limited win!



BK

[want2race]

I was going to post this on a thread in the 1911 side but feel it is better posted here.


Last week I decided to test out some different settings. One of which was going up 1.5# in the recoil spring to see if I could get what I wanted in slide speed. I noticed an increase in muzzle rise. I was tracking the front sight the whole time and had two called A's. The difference for me, in my gun, was that the front sight went higher between shots. I put the original spring back in to confirm and the gun was flatter which gave me better visibility. I've run as high as 18lbs and down to 12.5. I've tried GI guide rods and FLGR's. Angle cut and radiused FP stops. 17 and 19lbs main springs. What I've found for me is there is most definitely a sweet spot. The trouble is, that sweet spot changes as skill levels change. That's why I tinker.

(that was my original post)

And to continue...
In my quest for 5" performance from a 6" slide:
Before plunking down cash for a bushing barrel and wasting numerous hours on how to modify an EGW bushing to stay in a slide that will never see a standard spring plug (see pics), I decided to just remove more weight from the bull barrel.

What I'm left with is a 5" barrel (effective length) that fits in a 6 inch slide. My eyes do indeed need the extra sight radius, which is unfortunate because I really like way 5 inch guns feel and shoot.

Anyway, more testing to follow. Need to weigh the barrel and bench rest the pistol.

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