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Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 7:33 pm
by TSiWRX
^ Thank you! :)

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 9:23 am
by jeep45238
Snagged up a .22LR LCR to augment the 9mm LCR. I'm noticing improvements in my DA shot on the draw with my P226, probably due to practice with the LCR.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 8:40 am
by jeep45238
Just got my LCR holster from Dark Star Gear. First looks are deceitful- it looks like a simple piece of kydex that got sent out the door ASAP.

It isn’t. Easily the most comfortable holster for the LCR that I’ve put on to date. Hides very well with no hot spots.

Ordered the soft loop as that has been my preference for a while. I decided to put the clip on since that’s what it has been designed with originally to the best of my knowledge, and man, it’s great.

Even with no belt, it is secure as hell but still offers a fast draw, even with little boot grips. I highly recommend this.

There’s a reason why tested, refined, vetted holsters cost a solid $90 - but it also means I don’t have 3 crappy unused holsters floating around taking up space.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:47 pm
by jeep45238
Man this needs updating:

04-25-2018
Went to the first IDPA match of the year this weekend. Man, it was ugly. I forgot my 3rd mag, which limited my ability to take makeup shots.
First stage had a piece of tape over the 3rd target as a 'belt' and you had to shoot below it, stage was mirror imaged on the right and left. I blasted the center of the targets and set the stage for my performance with 34 points down right out of the gate. Yikes.
On one stage, I tried to keep count to 10 and did a reload on the move - I counted wrong and there was still a round in the mag, so I got hit with a procedural on that one.
Next stage had freestyle/strong/weak shooting, and it was apparent that I have neglected strong and weakhand shooting. 1 non-threat hit, and a disgusting 21 points down.
Part of this was the lack of live-fire training and the limited dryfire that I've done. Part of it was mentally allowing past mistakes to impact the present events. All of it was exposing the rust that needs to get worked on.

05-11-2019
Well, lots of life changes resulted in a clearance sale of everything. More life changes have resulted in things coming back, which means shooting again. Keep in mind I literally haven't touched a firearm since the last update.
Ordered a Dan Wesson Valor commander, 9mm, stianless - was flawless until 500 rounds, then it went south. Their warranty department is not very good in terms of communications and making things happen - my FFL is handling it due to my schedule, but it took him about a month to get the thing to Dan Wesson. Asked for the failures to extract to get fixed, fit with a standard profile slide stop, and verify POI. Have a legitimate backpack full of mags, and can't wait for it to return.
Snagged a S.A. 1911 - the range officer elite target in .45ACP. Marketing for a Govt. 1911 with fiber optic front sight, thin G10 grips, 'match' barrel. Mine is used with a magwell. I haven't had/shot a .45 for almost 12 years. Disconcerting that the extractor body extends literally 1/4 inch past the slide, but it passes the 10-8 test like a champ and runs great, so I'll take that ugly duckling for the price I paid happily. Very happily. Came with 2 47D mags, ordered 8 more and slung 100 rounds downrange today with it. It locks up tight - like they used too long of a barrel link to get better engagement with the slide for the 'match' part. Have no intentions of changing that until it or the barrel give up the ghost and then I'll have things done the right way.
Grabbed a basic 442 no-hole as well. Functional it seems pretty good - man are they jacking the barrels HARD into the receiver these days. The finish is damaged from that at the mount, but timing is good and so is lockup, barrel doesn't look canted, so fudge it, ugly guns get used more than pretty ones. Slung 50 LSWC through it today as well. Due to the nature of my job with harnesses, rigging, and the amount of time I have commuting, this bugger will get carried FAR more than a semi auto in various situations. No more aquatic work, so no more worries about gunking up the internals to the point of non-functioning.
Also snagged a GSG 1911 .22LR for cheap plinking with some sort of commonality. 5 mags total for it, man this thing is fun. I'll be putting a flat mainspring on it eventually to match the other 1911's.
The Caldwell reactionary target/ball thing is a freaking hoot. Beats the snot out of setting up stakes/targets and covering holes for general shooting. Won't replaced those materials for drills, but a head-size target that moves and bops around with immediate feedback is a helluva great idea, especially for the price.
https://youtu.be/u72JRFa-YQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dark Star Gear got the nod for the J frame appendix holster, with JM Custom Kydex getting the nod for an OWB and AIWB holster for the 1911's. Currently I've got the cheapest hardbody holster I could find as a place holder, a serpa (I'll sit in the corner in shame), and that's going goodbye as soon as JM's ships. It's not going to be used for draw practice or competitions for obvious reasons, but for keeping the pistol 'there' it's kinda doing the job.
I'll need to get on the magazine holder bandwagon here in a month or so, both for competitive shoots and carry.

11-10-2019
Have gotten to the point where I can reload again and shoot more often. Did Dot Torture Saturday night at 6 yards, 47/50, one incredible snatch at the trigger, the rest getting into it. The Valor eats everything and is a freaking great gun - the SA has such a tight chamber that it refuses to chamber anything besides factory fresh 115 grain (that'll get fixed soon).
Ran my first IDPA in a while today, found out one of the RSO's is a manager at a local range and they host IDPA 2 times a month. Good guy - pushing for STI locally, might wind up working for him on the weekends.
Today's IDPA went much, much better than I thought. Kept calm, didn't rush anything, focused on smooth motions, and being smart in my ideas (cardboard x2 shots, big steel popper, other cardboardx2, 2 smaller poppers behind the big one as an example). Put out a $1 bet, winner takes the pool for head shots only on a stage - lost to a PCC by 3 seconds and a DAMN good pistol shooter by 2 seconds, all of us being clean.
it feels good - selling off my .45's, planning on running an LWC9mm, my valor, and a 2011 for the foreseeable future. Life's getting back on my track.

11-30-2019
I get to shoot in 3 matches a month until the end of the year versus my one.
Physically I've been fighting some dull to sharp pain in the base of my left thumb, depending on how I grab something, due to over-use of swinging a maddox/pickaxe for 6+ hours a day for a few weeks due to work. Working on addressing that with hand stretches/exercise/etc.Cardio is happening on a limited basis again, and mountain biking has helped a lot with that. Strength training is body-weight only and what I develop at work right now.
Firearm wise I'm going to consolidate my semi-auto's to 9mm commander 1911's with the possibility of an optic mount STI and 2 .22LR's. Being honest about the K frame and how little I've shot it as well, so that may go on the chopping block soonish.

Probably the biggest commitments I've given myself are mental. I just got a 2020 planner, and I've put in training events I'd like to attend that are realistic for travel and price, and the projected IDPA/USPSA matches in the area. I began a basic daily dry-fire and draw practice before bed/before work.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:12 pm
by jeep45238
A little bit of draw practice from appendix, 1.7 par cold. Would love any feedback provided.

https://youtu.be/FcTGYf-A7hw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:39 pm
by Brian D.
Maybe another video with more, heavier clothing layers to deal with? As I said elsewhere just now, it was certainly part of my AIWB learning curve.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 6:58 pm
by jeep45238
Brian D. wrote:Maybe another video with more, heavier clothing layers to deal with? As I said elsewhere just now, it was certainly part of my AIWB learning curve.
Sure, I can do that.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 7:17 pm
by jeep45238
Got Steve Anderson's dry fire Refienement+Repetition book, read it through a few times and started some work tonight for the last hour or so. I like the idea that he's not trying to implement how to breakdown the technique, but rather put things in context with reputations @ and above/below par times, and what his par time is as an open-class grand master in USPSA with occasional modifications for production class. Think of it more like a fitness schedule with a personal trainer counting out reps at a local gym, to keep things honest. It is not like attending a olympic weight lifting class for refinement of the technique.

Lightswitch ranging MOA layout for me from across the room:
Face~99x163 MOA
Switch~10x27MOA
Screw~8MOA

A zone/-0 down MOA sizing
IDPA MOA @10 yards 76 Chest; 38 head @20 yards 38 chest; 19 head @30 yards 25 chest; 12 head
USPSA MOA@10 57x105 Chest; 38x19 head @20 yards 28x52 chest; 19x9 head @30 yards 19x35 chest; 12x6 head

This means the switch is a good proxy for a chest shot @ 20 yards, the screw a head shot @30, and the faceplate is close enough for a 10 yard A zone for width.

The below drills are using the switch as the target (10x27MOA), OWB non-concealment:
1- Sight confirmation - par 1.2 - easy
2-10 yard index - par 1.2, easy
3-10 yard surrender index - par 1.2, easy
4- Turn and draw - par 1.4, easy
5- Strong hand index - par 1.2, easy
6- Weak hand index - par 1.7, smoothness of transition needs work (preventing strong hand from getting 'clamped' by support hand). Not pushing for par on this one, especially since I don't have an ambi safety.
7- Burkett reloads - par 1.0 went smooth until the .2 below baseline ones. Fumbled those a lot.

Fitness wise, pudgy at 23% body fat, decently strong, 200lbs. Wore a heart rate monitor for a day at work (chest style) and found my heart rate resting is 55, climbed up to 175 when I was spiking up a tree and having to chuck chunks clear of a deck - went fine until a spike slipped out on me when the saw was running and my heart rate jumped to 175 :shock:

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:16 pm
by jeep45238
Been keeping with basic dry fire in the morning, kept falling asleep when I got home from work, so that suffered. Holosun 407C showed up today and put it on the 22/45, should help dial in the draw/index a bit. If I wind up liking it I'll mount it on a 9mm government model via the rear sight adapter to trial it before having anything machined. My reason for wanting to try an optic pistol was the general feedback I've seen regarding how shooting a dot helps your iron sight shooting, but not vice versa, and how it provides a huge amount of feedback especially with your recoil management and index.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:52 am
by jeep45238
Zero'd the 407C on the 22/45 Lite yesterday - the dot doesn't look like a massive blob from my astigmatism. There's a decent mechanical offset, just a fact of life from using the stock rail. The feedback it offered for shot calling is incredible, enough so that I'm going to ream the chamber of my government model and mount the 407C to a dovetail mount and try it for carry optics. Watching the dot go places besides up/down, even from a .22LR, showed me I have a lot of work to do on my grip/recoil management that will only get magnified with a centerfire cartridge. I'll be holding off on milling my current carry pistol for a red dot until my skillset is much better with that setup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpR6UkR9Tw4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scott Jedlinski really lays out some of the problems people have had transitioning to red dots on pistols, and some of the benefits in a couple minutes.

Started to stockpile ammo for an appendix/red dot 3 day class that is coming close to where I live.
https://modern-samurai-project.myshopif ... y-1-3-2020" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Practicing my AIWB draw in winter clothes, versus just a tshirt. I'm not a fan of the tactical-hobo look of hoodies 3 sizes too big, and I'm finding snap vs. zipper fronts, etc., have their own unique deals to consider.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:39 am
by jeep45238
First attempt at 25 yard, free style shooting on a B8 repair center in a long time - noticed my front sight wasn't crisp as it could have been midway through, put the pistol down and refocused on it for a really hard focus. Scored 75/100 with 1 completely missing the paper, 10 rounds loaded to start.

A 6'oclock hold was used, 9mm 124grain 1911 commander.

Image

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:26 pm
by jeep45238
Brian D. wrote:Maybe another video with more, heavier clothing layers to deal with? As I said elsewhere just now, it was certainly part of my AIWB learning curve.
Stiff barn jacket : https://youtu.be/b4UOF_G3Ls0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tight hoodie : https://youtu.be/sEy6IAfAYks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thick hoodie : https://youtu.be/afBD-uV2jlo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:48 am
by Mr. Glock
It is interesting to me that you are working on the red dot, as I just embarked on that journey. I was holding off, but my 25 yards groups started to turn into patterns (i.e. shotgun patterns) due to aging eyes. I happened to listen to a Primary & Secondary podcast on red dots, so decided to follow their advice for a starter rig....Glock G19 MOS, CHPW base plate and Holosun 407c. The only thing I ever liked about the old Eotech stuff was the dot in donut, so the 507c works in that same fashion (although you can cycle between 3 options). I added a set of Dawson Precision RMR height sights, in plain black as I don't want a lot of confusion with bright colors in the window. Since I'm a Gen 3 fan, I picked up a Gen 4 MOS, but the grip is a little different, adding it's own complexity in my first outing.

I've recently shot 400 rounds in two range sessions, and here are my observations so far: BTW: On purpose, I have yet to do any detailed research about making the switch, I did want to try it out cold first, collect my observations and then do some additional research. Jeep, I'll hit your links above at some point. I zeroed at 10 yards.

Accuracy: Yes, big benefit. My 25 yards groups have never been tighter. My 50 yard groups look like my old 25 non-RD groups now too.

Speed: No problem at longer ranges, even on the clock, where you need to normally take the time to align the sights properly. I'm looking for the dot, not looking at sights and then the dot. With correct presentation, the dot is right there. But, under about 5 yards, I am still slower. I'm used to really moving quickly in that yardage, and, with the distance, accept some presentation slop with irons as I look over them to some extent at the target. That doesn't work so well with the red dot. Of course, under 5 yards, the target tends to fill up the whole window, so straight speed rounds still impact on a torso target, but just not as accurate as irons at the same speed. If I run low-ready 5 rounds x 5 yards x 5 inch circle, and if, for example, I could shoot 2.75 with irons, then red dot is 3.25 for same accuracy. Being higher above the bore, it also seems I have to offset a little more on the target close up, but that could just be me letting the gun move too much. Seems about a half second longer, which is initial alignment and not allowing the gun to move around so much.

Training Tool: I haven't been shooting as much pistol this year, and a bunch of it has been on steel or larger cardboard at closer distances at higher speeds. I've become sloppy with allowing the gun to move around, and riding that movement. The red dot certainly shows why my precision at speed has suffered, which impacts longer distance-faster shots. I found that a great benefit, and my groups have tightened back up with both irons and red dot. Its also helped with one-handed shooting too, but that comes mostly from gripping the gun harder to keep the dot visible.

I need to spend some time learning about close up-faster shooting, for sure. And I need new holsters (OWB to start, those Dawson sights are big/stepped and don't work well with most holsters). As I suspected, I'll be re-equipping to support RD-equipment. But, RDs seem to be helpful and worth the expenditure at this early stage.

Any input- positive or negative - on the above is welcome. I'm sharing to further conversation and learning. I'm obviously in the early stages of this project.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:15 pm
by Brian D.
jeep45238 wrote:
Brian D. wrote:Maybe another video with more, heavier clothing layers to deal with? As I said elsewhere just now, it was certainly part of my AIWB learning curve.
Stiff barn jacket : https://youtu.be/b4UOF_G3Ls0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tight hoodie : https://youtu.be/sEy6IAfAYks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thick hoodie : https://youtu.be/afBD-uV2jlo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My quick thought? Tuck in the shirt so you're only moving one layer out of the way, instead of two.

Even with conventional strong side carry, my group has always tried to deal with just one garment whenever possible. The core guys literally have two centuries plus of combined carry experience. They should chisel this stuff out on stone tablets or something. :mrgreen:

Thanks for doing the videos..and, you're welcome for any lessons learned.

Re: Jeep's getting back into the groove - a training journey

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 8:30 pm
by jeep45238
Brian D. wrote:
jeep45238 wrote:
Brian D. wrote:Maybe another video with more, heavier clothing layers to deal with? As I said elsewhere just now, it was certainly part of my AIWB learning curve.
Stiff barn jacket : https://youtu.be/b4UOF_G3Ls0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tight hoodie : https://youtu.be/sEy6IAfAYks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thick hoodie : https://youtu.be/afBD-uV2jlo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My quick thought? Tuck in the shirt so you're only moving one layer out of the way, instead of two.

Even with conventional strong side carry, my group has always tried to deal with just one garment whenever possible. The core guys literally have two centuries plus of combined carry experience. They should chisel this stuff out on stone tablets or something. :mrgreen:

Thanks for doing the videos..and, you're welcome for any lessons learned.
Tucking in would make it easier. I'm just acknowledging the reality that I don't put on a garment in public, tuck my t-shirt behind the pistol, and then finish closing my garment. I appreciate the heads up - and FYI, Tom Givens wrote a book that just started shipping, as a heads up.