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We all know he's a pretty low key, stealthy and very tactical kind of guy who lets his shooting do the talking for him. But boys and girls, he absolutely waxed the competition down at the Kansas State IDPA state shoot, held near Topeka this past Saturday.
Match champion!
We had a small contingent of Nebraskans there and we were all in the same squad. A great time was had by all. It was a well run shoot and we had great weather on Saturday. A little muddy here n' there, but overall nothing to complain about. The 10 stages presented a wide variety of challenges. The SO's were all righteous dudes.
Also a big thanks goes out to Zebra, who was our "Squad Mom". She kept us all headed in the same direction the entire day. Thanks again!!!
I should also note our very own Bullit missed 1st place in ESP by less than a second. A stubborn pepper popper refused to fall over for him even though it was readily apparent it was hit well. Calibration was tested with a .375 H&H and it passed, so it was scored as a "miss." :(
The Jayhawks were gracious hosts and again, I thought it was a very well run shoot.
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...he absolutely waxed the competition...
Whoa..whoa...WHOA! What you talk'n bout Willis? Thomas shoots mostly USPSA. In fact, if you ran the stats, he has probably shot IDPA less than one-half of one percent (<0.5%) of all the matches. Considering these FACTS...
1) IDPA's purpose is to re-enforce proper self-defense skills
2) USPSA will get you killed in real life
Therefore, there is no WAY that Thomas could have done well in an IDPA match. Let alone a State level match. Did he even wear a "shoot me first" vest? If not, that is even further proof that there is something amiss.
So I am demanding a recount because something is obviously wrong.
Fly
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You mean our very own peep slayer?
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Whoa..whoa...WHOA! What you talk'n bout Willis? Thomas shoots mostly USPSA. In fact, if you ran the stats, he has probably shot IDPA less than one-half of one percent (<0.5%) of all the matches. Considering these FACTS...
1) IDPA's purpose is to re-enforce proper self-defense skills
2) USPSA will get you killed in real life
Therefore, there is no WAY that Thomas could have done well in an IDPA match. Let alone a State level match. Did he even wear a "shoot me first" vest? If not, that is even further proof that there is something amiss.
So I am demanding a recount because something is obviously wrong.
Fly
Actually I believe BOTH will get you killed IRL. There were stages I thought the proper response would have been to run away, screaming like a little girl. :) Incoming fire has the right of way and is very unforgiving.
When a scenario has you open a door to face several armed hostiles, and you have the option NOT to open the door to get out of the building, why open the door? Just get out! :)
It's a game and a fun one at that. The object, after all, is to shoot in this game. No points for running away awarded. Thomas made the whole thing look easy.
Everybody was wearing a vest. It's a fashion statement. And the pros starch theirs.
Some guys wear an orange one though. ::)
And shooting out of the cab of a pickup truck, even with no windows in it, is loud.
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You mean our very own peep slayer?
No peeps to be found anywhere. Just mud. :)
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Fly.... have no fear.... Thomas was wearing his skin tight "brand" shirt ala USPSA ...... He was outstanding though to say the least. The Scotsman (McSheehy) was dead on most of the day too .....
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Congratulations, Tom.
And all that while shooting outside of your usual USPSA venue.........
Looks like you practice what you teach. [That Skip-Step will give a shooter the edge. But first, you gotta master it. Looks like you've got it down..]
sfg
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Gamer.
;D
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Gamer.
;D
EXACTLY! That's what one IDPA guy calls me. I think it drives him crazy when I beat him. ;D
Fly
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I can tell I've been on facebook way too much - there is no "like" button to be found here!
I know Thomas appreciates the kind words, but he is rather modest and would never admit publicly that HE ROCKS! I'm not surprised at all that he won; he's talented, dedicated, and he does practice what he teaches. It is awesome to see others recognize it in him. He can't hear how awesome he is only from his wife. :)
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Fly.... have no fear.... Thomas was wearing his skin tight "brand" shirt ala USPSA
Skin tight? Hey now, I don't wear spandex!
And yes, I WAS wearing a vest. And looked quite fashionably tactical, thank-you-very-much. :)
It is probably no secret that I like USPSA better than IDPA. That's not anything against IDPA---I just like the puzzle-solving aspects of USPSA. For me, that's one of the things that makes it fun, and takes us one further step away from bullseye shooting. (Cue the complaints from people who like bullseye. [sigh] Nothing wrong with it, I just personally don't get amped to practice by that.)
To my way of thinking, having to think critically and make decisions on my own based on my particular skillset, and then after that manage the gun correctly, is not only a good test of shooting skills, but also just FUN. IDPA doesn't require the decision-making that USPSA does, as the stages are (mostly) far more scripted in what you have to do.
That being said, IDPA is also fun, and I enjoy that too.
I must admit, I had sorta "meh" expectations of what this particular match would be like, for reasons that aren't particularly important. I am happy to report that I had a great time. Seriously, it was a blast. The stages were short but fun, the weather was pretty much excellent, the staff were good folks (couple of occasions of needing-to-know-the-rules-better, but mostly pretty good), and the squad I shot with was fantastic. Shooting with the Nebraska folks was of course fun (and we gave each other plenty of commentary to "help"), and the rest of the squad was good people.
It was fun. If next year's match is possible for me, I'll plan on going again. We should bring a larger contingent of Nebraska folks, though...
(And maybe we'll have convinced Zebra to shoot IDPA by that time. And Julie too, though every time I mention IDPA to her she asks if she can use her Open gun... We can try, at least!)
Got my match video together---it was interesting to watch, from an outside perspective. I was really hesitant in my movement especially at first (nervous about how they were going to do cover calls, lots of galumphing backwards on stage 3), and after I cranked my back on the 8th stage (man that hurt!), I apparently forgot how to shoot because my 9th and 10th stages were by far the worst of the match.
Matter of fact, of the 34 points down I had for the match, almost a third of them all occurred on the last stage! (11 down on one stage. Ouch.)
But yeah, I was the SSP Division Champion, and the Match Champion (which is an unofficial thing---they don't officially recognize that, though everyone looks to see who it was, just like in USPSA), but I also will get a match classification bump out of it---so once the scores get sent to IDPA, I'll be Master class.
Not too shabby for my first major IDPA match, and my 6th ever IDPA match. :)
Here's my match video, in case anyone wants to see what the stages looked like:
http://youtu.be/m4jdSzpW2h4 (http://youtu.be/m4jdSzpW2h4)
Official scores were posted here: http://www.capitalcitygunclub.com/idpa/scores/2014-10-11.htm (http://www.capitalcitygunclub.com/idpa/scores/2014-10-11.htm)
...I'll note that since I went to a state-level IDPA match, that means you IDPA shooters need to come to our state-level USPSA match next year! :)
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...I'll note that since I went to a state-level IDPA match, that means you IDPA shooters need to come to our state-level USPSA match next year! :)
The short, sweet and very simple IDPA stages already overwhelm me. Maybe my ability to plan stages and execute will improve with experience but I'm dealing with limited CPU capacity. It's a sad story. :)
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Congratulations on the victory & thanks for sharing the video.... #domination
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Good job Thomas.
Greg58
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Congrats on the win!
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Thanks, folks. :)
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The short, sweet and very simple IDPA stages already overwhelm me. Maybe my ability to plan stages and execute will improve with experience but I'm dealing with limited CPU capacity.
And you know the only way to get better at it is to practice more. Thus----USPSA! :)
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The short, sweet and very simple IDPA stages already overwhelm me. Maybe my ability to plan stages and execute will improve with experience but I'm dealing with limited CPU capacity. It's a sad story. :)
This used to be a major weakness of mine too. Now, unless it's a very complicated stage (or memory stage), I usually have a plan that's about as good as the better shooters. I still make bad calls sometimes but it's always a learning process. You start to learn how to properly analyze a stage for success the more you do it. The hard part is to learn to trust your own instincts over others. Especially when you make big mistakes!
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But back on topic, congratulations to my friend and mentor, Thomas. I'm not at all surprised you did very well at the IDPA match, you've always been a great shooter! There's a reason I've taken more classes with you than any other instructor.
Now hurry up and make USPSA GM and Distinguished Master in IDPA. :)
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But back on topic, congratulations to my friend and mentor, Thomas.
I'm a mentor? Oh lord, are you in trouble....
Now hurry up and make USPSA GM and Distinguished Master in IDPA. :)
Oddly enough, I think it far more likely that I make USPSA GM than IDPA DM. You can only make DM by placing within 5% of the winner at an IDPA Nationals, and I doubt I'll ever go. (Unless I win the lottery. If I do that, I'll do LOTS of new things...) USPSA GM I could do by simply learning how to shoot correctly, and doing it fast enough (consistently) during the classifiers we have every other month here at ENGC.
Of course, "shooting correctly" is a lot harder to do than to say. {sigh}
...as I demonstrated on the last stage of the IDPA match, actually. Boy, did I screw up that one... (One-fifth of my stage score was from penalties due to lack of accuracy. Yeek.)
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Good work.
Having shot matches with Thomas, taken a class with Thomas, and also taken classes from Thomas I am not at all surprised. The gent is a true maven.
So was it a Hawaiian Print shirt or vest? :laugh:
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So was it a Hawaiian Print shirt or vest? :laugh:
Hm. I wonder if I could get Julie to make me one of these? (Needs to be a little longer, but it'll work, right?)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/JaoAAOSwRLZUKLbr/$_35.JPG)
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Thomas you might on to something with a vest styled like that ......I'd buy one .... :)
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I keep sayin' someone should wear one of these as a concealment garment...
(http://www.ocostumes.com/htc/1620758.jpg)
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Or a Matrix-style duster.
(http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3398091_f260.jpg)
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Or a Matrix-style duster.
You know, we could ALL go to a match one day wearing trenchcoats....
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You know, we could ALL go to a match one day wearing trenchcoats....
That would be amusing. Unfortunately, IDPA rules don't allow us to carry 10 guns under our trenchcoats and throw down empty guns instead of reloading.
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IDPA rules don't allow us to carry 10 guns under our trenchcoats and throw down empty guns instead of reloading.
Where does it say that in the rule book?
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Where does it say that in the rule book?
USPSA has that rule, darn it. No Boston reloads. (Like a New York reload, but BETTER.)
In IDPA, they might argue 1.3.2.8: In any single contest, a shooter must use the same firearm on all stages unless the firearm becomes unserviceable.
I'm thinking that simply means we can even duel-wield as long as we do it through ON EVERY STAGE. We can certainly use multiple guns one at a time, as long as we use the same set in the match.
I LOVE THIS IDEA. No more standing reloads!
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I'm going to dress up like Il Duce in Boondock Saints.
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I'm going to dress up like Il Duce in Boondock Saints.
Get in line, copycat!
(http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100622140311/theboondocksaints/images/4/43/Boondock_1.jpg)
(This is where the term "Boston Reload" came from, by the way.)
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Where does it say that in the rule book?
Is there seriously no rule about abandoning or dropping guns? Cuz I'm gonna say there MUST be.
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Is there seriously no rule about abandoning or dropping guns? Cuz I'm gonna say there MUST be.
Drop/abandon---not allowed. Reholster while drawing another----doesn't seem to be covered. :)
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Drop/abandon---not allowed. Reholster while drawing another----doesn't seem to be covered. :)
Well it's official then. Next IDPA match I'm wearing a trench coat and dual wielding for the whole stage.
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You are all WRONG! A Clint Eastwood poncho is the only way to be cool while concealing.
Fly
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You are all WRONG! A Clint Eastwood poncho is the only way to be cool while concealing.
Fly
(http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nodding_clint_eastwood.gif)
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good job!
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...and now it is official. Guess I should probably renew my membership for another year. :)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/14925916714_b2afedc021_o.gif)
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The Nebraska group (5 of 100 shooters, including those with DQs): 8)
MATCH SCORE:
Thomas Howard – SSP Expert – 160.63 (1st of 12 SSP Expert; SSP Champion; Overall Match Champion)
Sean McSheehy – ESP Sharpshooter – 214.42 (4th of 11 ESP Sharpshooter; 22nd overall)
Cliff Leffingwell – ESP Marksman – 227.51 (2nd of 7 ESP Marksman; 30th overall)
Ron Attanasio – SSP Marksman – 282.22 (11th of 22 SSP Marksman; 65th overall)
Tim Matthews – CDP Marksman – 303.99 (2nd of 5 CDP Marksman; 74th overall)
POINTS DOWN:
Cliff Leffingwell – 26 (tied for 11th overall)
Thomas Howard – 34 (25th overall)
Ron Attanasio – 37 (tied for 30th overall)
Sean McSheehy – 45 (49th overall)
Tim Matthews – 51 (tied for 57th overall)
NON-THREATS HIT/PROCEDURES/FTN:
Thomas Howard – 0/0/0 (22 of 100 shooters had perfect run)
Ron Attanasio – 0/0/0 (22 of 100 shooters had perfect run)
Sean McSheehy – 0/1/0
Cliff Leffingwell – 0/1/1
Tim Matthews – 1/2/1
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So Aldo---when's our next local match? We need to get a group all practicing to go down to Kansas next year!
....and in a future point in time, have a Nebraska State IDPA match. :)
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So Aldo---when's our next local match? We need to get a group all practicing to go down to Kansas next year!
....and in a future point in time, have a Nebraska State IDPA match. :)
Thank you for asking! :laugh: Next IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match (and you've heard it here first, folks...not even posted on IDPA Nebraska yet) 8) Saturday, November 8, 9:00am-11:30am, Thunder Alley Indoor Shooting Range, Lincoln... more details to follow.
Plus, a BONUS announcement: an IDPA Nebraska BUG Match...coming soon :o ...perhaps even the December IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match!!!!
Oh, my Lamb!! (no not you, Greg) ;)
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Thank you for asking! :laugh: Next IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match (and you've heard it here first, folks...not even posted on IDPA Nebraska yet) 8) Saturday, November 8, 9:00am-11:30am, Thunder Alley Indoor Shooting Range, Lincoln... more details to follow.
On the calendar. :)
Plus, a BONUS announcement: an IDPA Nebraska BUG Match...coming soon :o ...perhaps even the December IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match!!!!
Ooh, that'll be different.
Can I mention here how happy I am that my G26 counts as a BUG? :)
....hm. Now I just have to find a non-AIWB holster for it. Well, maybe for once I'll wear an IWB. (Bleh.) Nope! Never mind, got a paddle holster that'll work for it!
Since BUG stages can only be five rounds max per string, are we going to shoehorn 3 stages into the range? :)
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Thank you for asking! :laugh: Next IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match (and you've heard it here first, folks...not even posted on IDPA Nebraska yet) 8) Saturday, November 8, 9:00am-11:30am, Thunder Alley Indoor Shooting Range, Lincoln... more details to follow.
Plus, a BONUS announcement: an IDPA Nebraska BUG Match...coming soon :o ...perhaps even the December IDPA Nebraska Indoor Match!!!!
Oh, my Lamb!! (no not you, Greg) ;)
COOL!
I just read the BUG rules and it sounds like my CZ82 is legal for this. Might have to shoot that.
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I just read the BUG rules and it sounds like my CZ82 is legal for this. Might have to shoot that.
For those who don't have the rules handy, here you go....
8.2.6.2.1. Handguns permitted for use in BUG matches must:
8.2.6.2.1.1. Be single action, double action, double action only, or striker fired.
8.2.6.2.1.2. Be either semi-automatic or revolver.
8.2.6.2.1.3. Be a center fire caliber
8.2.6.2.1.4. Barrel length:
8.2.6.2.1.5. Semi-automatic: 3.8” or less.
8.2.6.2.1.6. Revolver: 3” or less.
IDPA Rules: http://members.idpa.com/Content/Rules/g0hunysc.eoc.pdf (http://members.idpa.com/Content/Rules/g0hunysc.eoc.pdf)
The BUG rules are the 8.2.6 set, for those who want to look up more...
I need to go practice with my G26 from a non-appendix holster suddenly. :)
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Since BUG stages can only be five rounds max per string, are we going to shoehorn 3 stages into the range? :)
I am going to try to be very, very creative with the space limitations :blank: ....am thinking outside the box ::)
Should be a very fun match. I know that there have been a number of folks interested in wanting to have one. The IDPA Nebraska email has been "ringing off the hook", so to speak. :laugh:
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Have to start practicing with the 442 again. It's not particularly pleasant to shoot. ????
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Hey look, my M&P9c qualifies. :laugh:
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Hey look, my M&P9c qualifies. :laugh:
::)
...hey Aldo, can we shoot twice? It would be hilarious if I tried to shoot this with a j-frame---and I'd kinda like to try. But my first choice will always be my actual backup gun, so I'm definitely going to shoot my G26.
SeanN---if Aldo says we can shoot two guns, I'll also shoot a j-frame if YOU also shoot a j-frame.
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hmm....I have a jframe also...
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I, uh, don't own a single wheelgun...
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hmm....I have a jframe also...
Doesn't everyone have one SOMEWHERE? (Even if they never shoot it? I'm in that category. I think that between Julie and I we have three of them that we never shoot.)
SeanN doesn't have one? What kind of gun owner are you?!
....you can borrow one of mine. Bring a box of .38s, and you'll be good. Of course, you'll be drawing from a pocket holster, because I think that's all I've got... (That's what I'll be using, too.)
C'mon Aldo, you should let us shoot two guns---and everyone can compare j-frame capabilities*... :)
*(or in my case, lack thereof)
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Shucks, sold my j-frame :(
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Hm. It occurs to me that I don't think I can USE a pocket holster for a j-frame in a BUG match. Let me check...
According to IDPA:
8.5.1.18. Not Permitted:
8.5.1.18.1. Cross-draw carry
8.5.1.18.2. Shoulder holsters
8.5.1.18.3. Small of the back carry
8.5.1.18.4. Appendix carry
8.5.1.18.5. Pocket carry
Hm. I wonder if I have a holster that will work for this? (Wanders off muttering "where's my bucket of holsters...?")
...unless Aldo is having an entire BUG match with start positions with the gun in hand, on a table, etc.
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Ssssooooooooooo many questions...... :P :P :P
(http://)