Video from today's "outlaw" action pistol match at the ShooterReady.biz outdoor action pistol range in Canyon, TX. This match was a combination of USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge, which made it an absolute blast to shoot! I placed 2nd out of 10 total. I was shooting my EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match with the 9mm top end.
I've been a little frustrated with my performance at the IDPA action pistol matches that I attend when compared to my performance at USPSA matches. Early on, I decided I would compete in the IDPA matches using my true-to-life everyday concealed carry style gear (a .45 ACP 1911 in an IWB holster and an un-tucked T-shirt for a concealment garment), but I recently realized that I am hindering myself too much by doing this. Afterall, IDPA is a game, and you've got to have the right gear if you want to perform well. So, I made some changes. :-) I'm now using my EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Limited Pro in 9mm (in ESP Division) with a Blade-Tech kydex OWB holster, a 5.11 Tactical concealment vest, and a pair of Salomon Speedcross3 trail running shoes.
The Limited Pro in 9mm gives me several advantages over a .45 ACP 1911. The 9mm has much less recoil than .45 ACP, which allows for faster follow up shots. The Limited Pro is a double-stack platform, so the magazine well is wider for faster reloads and the use of an extended magwell is also allowed in the ESP Division. ESP also allows you to load your magazines to 10 rounds each versus only 8 rounds each for a .45 ACP 1911. Another advantage of this gun is when it goes to slide lock from an empty magazine, the slide goes forward automatically about 98% of the time when you slam in a new loaded magazine. I don't think the gun is specifically designed to do this, but it sure is a nice inadvertent side effect when tenths of a second make a difference in this game.
The Blade-Tech OWB holster combined with the 5.11 Tactical vest (seemingly purpose built for IDPA) allows for a much quicker draw once the timer beeps as well as faster access to the extra magazines during reloads, and the Salomon shoes give me maximum traction on the dirt/gravel surfaces at outdoor matches.
The video below is from Saturday's IDPA action pistol match at the ShooterReady.biz outdoor action pistol range in Canyon, TX. Unfortunately, I had a brain fart on the 5th stage and lost count of my shots on the first target (it required 6), and forgot that the following three targets required 3 shots each instead of the standard 2 shots. I realized this and made up the shots, but still got two procedural penalties (one for the incorrect shot counts and one for not using cover properly when making up the shots). This hurt my overall placement for the day (placed 4th out of 8 total), but I was extremely happy with my performance with the new gear. Unfortunately, the best gear in the world won't prevent brain farts! :-)
Video from Saturday's USPSA action pistol match. I had a couple of misses on the 1st and 5th stages (my shots were on the target, but in the black area, which counts as a miss), so I only came in 4th out of 7 total. :-( The last stage in the video was for a side match, with a separate entry fee. The winner of the side match received all the entry fees for the side match as a prize. Although I initially thought that I had blown the stage (I got distracted by the empty mag not dropping free from the gun on my second reload), it turns out that I was 2 seconds faster than everyone else! It was only a $21 prize, but it was still awesome to win it. :-)
This was our last weekend at the track for 2014. We were at Eagles Canyon Raceway near Decatur, TX with Ridesmart Motorcycle School. Monica was only able to ride on Saturday, and the track photographer was only there on Sunday, so there aren't any photos of her. She persuaded me to use her Honda CBR 600RR for a couple of sessions on Sunday since she wasn't riding, and I'm glad I did. I recorded video footage of me on each bike and put them together for a two lap clip. The Honda was so much smoother and easier to ride, and it was much faster in the straights. I think I'm going to have to upgrade to a Honda for a track bike for next season! :-)
Video from today's USPSA action pistol match. I was using my EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match, but with the .40 S&W top end from my Witness Elite Limited Pro that I recently purchased so that I could shoot major power factor in the Limited Division. Major power factor allows for better scoring for shots on anything not in the "A" zone. I was really happy with my performance at this match (placed 1st out of 10), and I'm really enjoying shooting this gun in USPSA!
Here's my video footage from today's IDPA action pistol match at Amarillo Rifle and Pistol Club (only three of the four stages were recorded). If it wasn't for all the damn procedural penalties that I received, I might have placed decent at this event (only placed 9th out of 11). :-( Next month's "Panhandle Classic" event is a larger match with more stages to give us local guys a feel for how an area match is run. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend because I'll be at Eagles Canyon Raceway that weekend for two days on the Ducati. I hate to miss it, but riding a motorcycle around a race track as fast as I can takes priority over killing cardboard. :-)
We had an awesome time at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX with RideSmart Motorcycle School. This track is a multi-billion dollar Formula 1 and MotoGP race track that is an absolutely top notch facility to do a track day. My day unfortunately ended a little early though. I was running some really good laps (for me) during my 5th session, but my right hand got a little numb which caused me to make a major mistake while braking for turn 11. The bike wasn't slowing down as fast as I thought it should, so I panicked and grabbed my front brake too hard which caused the front tire to wash out. I should've gone down, but I stuck my leg out and it hit the ground, snapped back and hit my foot peg, which instantly popped the bike back up straight. Very lucky for sure. Needless to say, my day was done after this. The back of my leg was a little sore the next day, but I'm still in one piece and the bike is fine as well. :-) Below is video of my last lap and a half when I went off the track.
Monica was doing really good for her first time at this track. She was getting faster and faster with each session, and was able to keep up with me. I am really proud of her! :-)
