Another Glock?

In addition to the exciting stages in a well-run match, the Maryland State IDPA Championship features an extensive prize table. This year, fourteen guns were given away by random drawing. During that portion of the post-match awards ceremony, I was standing in the back of the crowd enjoying a cigar with some other smokers. Admittedly, I wasn't paying close attention to the names being called. With 184 registered shooters, I wasn't expecting to hear my name.

And then I did. I made my way to the front and was awarded a certificate for a free Glock pistol, courtesy of GLOCK, Inc. That makes two Glocks won by this SIG Sauer fan in less than year. 

I only recently received the Glock 19 I selected with the certificate I won at the IDPA National Championship. It's not even come out of the box yet. At least I have over a year to decide what to do with this certificate. 

Don't get me wrong. I would never complain about a free gun. However, the irony is not lost on me.

A Glock for the SIG Guy?

I was surprised to get this letter the other day informing me I had won a certificate for a Glock pistol at the IDPA Nationals.

I've never owned a Glock. I've never fired a Glock. But a free gun is a free gun! I have a few months to decide what I'd like. A big .45? Or a compact 9mm perhaps? Maybe I'll build a PCC from it.

That's two guns won now. In both cases, the prizes were outside my normal interests. At least that's a good way to try new things.

Thanks to GLOCK, Inc. for their support of IDPA.

Gun Raffle Schadenfreude

After my inglorious introduction to the Mossberg M590 Shockwave during the Chesapeake Cup last month, I commented that it didn't interest me as a defensive weapon. I prefer a shotgun I can aim. Admittedly I knew little about the gun or how to shoot it reliably, having only a few seconds to dry fire it before the stage.

Shortly after I posted my experiences at the match I received an email from the match director regarding the post-match gun drawing. In an ironic twist of fate, it turns out I was the lucky winner of a new Mossberg Shockwave.

My prize arrived this week. Since being alerted about my luck, I've watched many videos and online reviews. I have a better idea on how the gun is to be shot, and aimed. I am actually looking forward to the chance to take it to the range, once I figure where I can shoot it.

He Would Not Be Deterred From The Pub

Getting hit by the proverbial bus wasn't enough to keep Simon Smith from his destination.

Smith gets thrown 20 feet, dusts himself off and continues his quest.

More info on the lucky Smith here.

Hold My Beer

There's an old adage that the scariest phrase you can hear a drunk say is "Hold my beer." It's usually followed by "Watch this." But a Serbian tourist in Egypt has taken the phrase, or warning, to a whole new level.

"Dragan climbed on the jumping board, told me to hold his beer and simply ran to jump. There was no time for me to react or to try to stop him, he just went for it"..."Dragan jumped high and plunged down to the sea, but didn't make as much splash as we thought he would"... 

The reason could be because Dragan Stevic ended up jumping straight on the shark which was lurking near the beach, probably looking for its next victim. Dragan had nailed it right in the head, killing it instantly. The Egyptian police found the shark washed out on the beach that morning. 

At the moment, the fearless hero is in a hospital recovering from alcohol poisoning. After Dragan gets well, he will get a chance to have some more drinks as the resort had awarded the Serb tourist with a free vacation for his heroic deed.

The shark had already killed one person and injured four others. From my reading of the story, the fearless drunk is probably an accidental hero, not realizing the shark was there. But I wonder if he'll be purchasing any lottery tickets in the future.

See "Drunk Man Kills Shark By Jumping On Head" for more.