A Lizard, a Legend, and Saint Gabriel Possenti

Today, February 27, is the Feast Day of St. Gabriel Possenti, also known as St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Gabriel Possenti was a Catholic seminarian in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy. According to tradition, in 1860 Gabriel used his marksmanship to save the town from a band of marauding soldiers. As the story goes, he seized revolvers from two soldiers and boldly confronted the intruders. When the soldiers mocked the seminarian, he silenced them by taking aim and shooting a lizard scurrying across the road with remarkable accuracy. Impressed — and perhaps intimidated — the marauders left the town peacefully, escorted by the seminarian who had become an unlikely hero.

Like many saints, the line between historical fact and legend in Gabriel’s story can be difficult to discern. However, this tale of courage and skill has earned him the unofficial title of Patron Saint of Handgunners. The St. Gabriel Possenti Society was even founded to promote his legacy and to advocate for the moral and theological principles underlying self-defense. Unfortunately, the society became inactive following the death of its founder in 2017.

Many years ago, our parish was blessed with a relic of St. Gabriel Possenti under his title, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. I vividly remember the excitement of seeing the announcement in the weekly bulletin. When our new church was completed a few years ago, a relic of St. Gabriel was among several placed in the altar — a lasting reminder of his presence and intercession.

The intercession of St. Gabriel Possenti is needed today, especially in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Content to ignore the Bill of Rights, as well as numerous decisions from both state and federal courts, Virginia’s leftist leadership is hard at work to strip Second Amendment rights from law-abiding citizens. The history of socialism and communism is rife with governments that first stripped away gun ownership before attacking and limiting other freedoms. Our current governor and legislature seem determined to imitate the oppressors of the past.

St. Gabriel Possenti’s life and legend inspire us to stand firmly in defense of what is right and just, trusting in the guidance of God. Whether we see him as a hero of faith, a protector of the innocent, or both, his story resonates with the courage needed to face the challenges of our own times.

St. Gabriel Possenti ora pro nobis!

A Post-Christmas IDPA Match

I’m not getting to the range nearly as often as I’d like. Even so, deciding to shoot the Cavalier IDPA match just two days after Christmas wasn’t an easy call. With family visiting for the holidays, it would have been easy to stay home — but instead I headed out early Saturday morning to spend the day shooting with friends.

Realizing I hadn’t fired a single live round since October’s IDPA match gave me some pause. A sore back, creaky knees, and “old man eyes” don’t help either. Still, the point is really the fun of the sport and the camaraderie — not the score. That was the mantra I repeated to myself during the morning drive.

Our squad was on the large side, and the match staff clearly set out to increase the round count. Four of the five stages featured multiple strings, which naturally extended the time required to complete each course of fire.

The first stage we shot was a straightforward “stand and shoot” skills test. Eight paper targets and four steel were arranged symmetrically. One string had us engage four paper and two steel on one side, followed by a second, separately timed string on the opposite side. As a twist, starting magazines for each string were downloaded to just five rounds.

The next challenge was the dreaded two-string, one-handed shooting stage. Standing in a shooting box, we completed the first string shooting strong-hand only (SHO), engaging four targets. The second string required weak-hand-only (WHO) shooting. One of the four targets was hung upside down, which caught more than a few shooters — myself included — sending rounds a bit too high for the -0 circle.

A not-quite-traditional IDPA stage followed. Six targets were positioned around barrel stacks — two on each side and two in the center — with three tables placed across the stage. All magazines were downloaded to just four rounds, with a maximum of four magazines allowed. One magazine was placed on each table, with the final table allowing an optional fourth. The firearm started empty and holstered.

This stage was also shot in two strings and felt distinctly USPSA-inspired. Starting a few feet behind the first table, we loaded at the table, engaged the associated target array, then moved to the center table to reload and engage the center targets, repeating the process at the final table. The second string reversed the direction of travel. The unconventional format brought plenty of smiles, laughter, and good-natured ribbing — especially as shooters hurriedly reloaded magazines off the clock between strings.

The next-to-last stage was a “sit and shoot” course. The loaded firearm and all magazines were placed on a table and all shots were from a seated position. A tall table and low chair made for some awkward positioning. Again shot in two strings, the first required engaging four targets with two body shots each. The second string required one head shot on each of five targets. A couple of overlaid non-threats added an extra layer of difficulty.

My final stage of the day was a full movement course. Fourteen targets were arranged along a curving path behind a mix of low and upright walls. All targets were oriented sideways, representing a pack of attacking animals. They presented varying amounts of exposed head and body, with occasional non-threats mixed in. Unfortunately, I neglected to grab a photo of the setup.

The stage brief required each target to be neutralized with either one head shot or two body shots — shooter’s choice. I opted for the body-shot option, reasoning that more rounds but faster shooting would benefit in the end, though a fair number of shooters chose the 14-shot head-only route. I really enjoyed this stage, particularly the opportunity to shoot on the move.

Overall, I was pleased with how I shot. Though I no longer consider myself competitive, I still enjoy the activity. I had a few misses, but I’ll gladly take the small victories: no non-threat hits and no procedural errors. Best of all, I got to reconnect with some old friends, including a few I hadn’t seen or chatted with in many years.

Normally, this is where I’d say I’m already looking forward to the next match. Unfortunately, the host club announced that the monthly match is moving to a different weekend, one that conflicts with another long-standing commitment. As a result, opportunities to shoot this particular match will likely be few and far between.

Though longer-than-expected, the day was thoroughly enjoyable. Despite a late-afternoon return home, there was still time for dinner, a couple of football games on the TV, and the continuation of holiday time with family. All in all, it was a good way to spend a winter Saturday.

Cheers!

Two Years Later, Back to Shooting Competition

After a break of twenty-two months, I finally made it back to an IDPA match this weekend. To say I was excited would be an understatement — and to say I was nervous would be entirely accurate. Recovering from my back issues was a long, hard-fought battle, and except for a few instances of dry-fire practice, I hadn’t handled a gun in that time until just a few months ago.

It was a cool, sunny morning when I checked in at the range. Greeting friends I hadn’t seen in nearly two years filled the time before shooting began, with more catching up throughout the morning. When it was my turn to step up to the line — in this case, sit in the chair — I felt surprisingly relaxed. 

The first stage had me seated at a table with my firearm and magazines in front of me. Downrange were seven targets, each with sections painted as “hard cover.” All were engaged while seated. An eighth target was hidden behind a column, to be engaged after running toward the chain in front. I dropped a few points on most of the targets but finished with a smile. The “first stage jitters” were behind me.

The next scenario placed us in the bed of a pickup truck. A couple of targets on either side were shot while standing. Then we knelt to engage a few more and bent even lower to hit a pair below a wall. I thought, This looks fun. When the shooting order was called, I was up first.

And indeed, it was a fun stage. The trickiest part was navigating the small ladder to climb in and out of the truck bed — and that low crouch for the final shots.

By the third stage, I felt relaxed; it almost seemed like the long absence had never happened. I wasn’t overthinking strategy or stage planning, just focusing on shooting each target. I was squadded with some very skilled shooters and tried, mostly successfully, to ignore their speed and game plans. I kept reminding myself: Just don’t skip any targets.

Next came a standards stage. Once again, the gun and all magazines started on the table. Nine targets — a mix of full and partials — were arranged in three rows and shot in priority. One target required a single head shot; the rest got two hits each. The narrow shooting area and a couple of non-threats made careful aim and some leaning necessary. One non-threat had so many pasted holes from earlier squads it almost looked like a valid target! Two of the closest targets were placed so that a shot could easily pass through into a penalty target. I figured a careful head shot was safer than the easier body shot.

I managed a clean -0 on all scoring targets, but one round still passed through to a non-threat despite my best effort at angle control. Even so, I was pleased with my accuracy.

The next stage was a classic field course — a maze of walls and fault lines. An added twist had the gun and a downloaded magazine on one table, while the other magazines were staged in a separate “room.” Every target required a single head shot.

On the final course of the day we had the option to start on either side of the symmetrical stage layout.  There was a door in the center with a through which a couple of targets were shot. Passing through the door we encountered to surprise targets in the open before advancing to an array of four final targets engaged over a low wall. The stage allowed for shooting on the move and finished with a fast string of close-up shots. I had my best run of the day here — a great way to end the match.

I shot neither fast nor with perfect accuracy, but I drove home with a grin on my face, already thinking about the next match. I couldn’t feel bad about any part of the day — not my performance, not my score. Hardly anyone seems to shoot Stock Service Pistol (SSP) anymore; Carry Optics dominates the field. But within that small SSP crowd, I finished 4th out of 8 shooters.

Blue skies, friends, and the sound of gunfire made for a fantastic morning, capped off with lunch at a local restaurant with a friend.

I’ve missed the shooting sports deeply over the past couple of years and at times wondered if I’d ever get back to competition. As I write these notes the next day, the excitement is still there. I’m already looking forward to the next match — after a bit more dry fire and range time, of course.

Cheers!

Range Time Under a Blue Morning Sky

Morning arrived sunny and cool — perfect weather for a trip to the range. I usually head out in the early afternoon to avoid the morning “rush,” but other plans meant trying an earlier time. After my morning coffee, I loaded up the gear and headed out. There was some activity at the park, but I found an open pistol bay.

The sky was a clear, bright blue with just enough breeze to keep things comfortable. I started with 25-yard shooting, working through both the DA and SA trigger pulls on the SIG P226. Out of 45 rounds, about half landed in the -0 circle, most of the rest in -1, with six drifting into -3, and just one miss. Considering the target is little more than a blurry blob to me at that distance, I was pleased with the results — even if the shooting was slow.

Next came 95 rounds from the 15-yard line. I mixed DA and SA trigger pulls with some head shots, firing faster than I had at 25 yards. Even limited to two-shot pairs by range rules, with no movement allowed, it still felt like progress. I wrapped up the session with slow, strong-hand and weak-hand-only shooting at 10 yards.

It was an extremely enjoyable morning — beautiful weather, relaxing time on the range, and satisfying practice. I’m still not sure when I’ll jump back into a local IDPA match, but for now, I’m appreciating every bit of trigger time I can get.

Cheers!

An Afternoon Well Spent at the Range

It’s a joy to finally be back at the range with some regularity — even if “regular” right now means three weeks in a row. There was a time when I practiced nearly every week and shot one to three matches a month. I don’t expect, or even want, to return to that pace, but a match every month or so, if only for the social side of it, would be a welcome addition.

For this session, I brought along some paper IDPA practice targets. They aren’t my favorite since the dark scoring lines are more obvious than the subtle perforations on the official version, but they get the job done.

I set up at the 15-yard line and focused on two-shot strings: DA/SA and SA/SA sequences, mostly from the holster, with the occasional start from high ready. Everything was fired at a controlled pace from a stationary position, since range rules prohibit shooting on the move.

To mix things up, I worked in some SHO (strong hand only) and WHO (weak hand only) shooting, which actually went better than expected. A few strings at 25 yards added a bit of extra challenge, and it seems my regular dry-fire sessions are beginning to show results.

For a touch of fun, I took aim at a 4” rubber ball target someone had left hanging from a rope. Landing a few solid hits on that moving target was a satisfying change of pace.

I’d loaded 100 rounds into magazines, planning on a short outing. But when I “discovered” an extra box of 50 tucked in my bag, well — it only made sense to run through those too. 😀

Cheers!

Dry Fire, Live Fire, and Small Steps Forward

After last week’s long-awaited visit to the range, I was eager for a return trip. With intermittent rain predicted throughout this week, I resolved to head out at the first clear opportunity. The skies were gray after lunch on Monday, but both of the weather apps on my phone promised no rain until evening — good enough for me.

This time I decided to shoot from 10 yards only. I’m still working on re-learning the DA/SA trigger, and shooting from multiple distances also means more bending over to collect brass afterward. One step at a time.

I began with slow, deliberate DA shots and was satisfied with the results. My goal was to stay within the upper body of the silhouette, in line with the standard IDPA target layout — though I really do need to order more of those cardboard targets. SA follow-ups landed well too. (The range rule caps strings at two shots; anything more brings a stern letter from the range master.) Adding draws from the holster for two-shot pairs added some speed, though I caught myself flinching on about one in five DA shots. Not acceptable — but I've doing more dry fire to hopefully steady that long trigger pull.

Even with poor distance vision making the target details a blur, careful sight alignment still produced solid hits in both DA and SA when aiming for more precise hits.

I wrapped up after my planned 100 rounds, satisfied with the session. Thankfully, I had brought along a brass-catching mat, which made cleanup much easier. As I was gathering my gear, the rain finally arrived. I snatched up the mat, hustled the brass under cover, and bagged it just as the shower hit — perfect timing.

I glanced over the local IDPA match schedule online, but decided I need more trigger time first, both live and dry fire. Still, I’m pleased with my shooting “recovery” so far.

Cheers!

Diagnosing “Gun Derangement Syndrome”

I recently received a tongue-in-cheek message from the Virginia Citizens Defense League. While humorous, it also carries more than a little truth, so I thought it worth sharing in full.

Do you know someone suffering from Gun Derangement Syndrome?

Gun Derangement Syndrome, or GDS, is a severe mental disorder characterized by irrational beliefs and behaviors despite objective evidence. There is no age, sex, race, or other demographic characteristics that predispose someone to this disorder. This insidious disorder can affect anyone. However, individual susceptibility can occur with other irrational beliefs such as: criminals are the victims, the police cause crime, the First Amendment includes government censorship, or disarming someone makes them safer.

To receive a diagnosis of GDS one must meet 3 of the following diagnostic criteria for at least 21 days. 

1. A belief that merely owning a gun can turn any good, honest person into a deranged killer.
   
   
2. A belief that a gun can plan a crime and carry it out by walking to a victim’s location, aiming itself, and pulling its own trigger.
   
   
3. An obsession with firearms such that they use a gun-centric vocabulary. For example, if they use “gun violence,” but not machete violence, beating violence, or strangling violence. Or they use “gunman,” but not macheteman, beatingman, or stranglingman.
   
   
4. A belief that the gun, and not the criminal holding the gun, is responsible for shooting someone, while also believing that a police officer, and not his gun, is responsible for shooting someone.
   
   
5. A belief that all gun owners are “gun nuts.” 
   
   
6. A belief that guns are so easily obtained that guns are found lying in the street. Or they believe that guns are easier to obtain than a book. Or they believe that guns are only designed to kill humans as fast as possible.
   
   
7. Having anger-management issues and falsely projecting that character flaw onto peaceful gun-owners.
   
   
8. Knowing absolutely nothing about guns, including how they work, but claim to be an expert on “gun safety.” They usually believe that guns “just go off” on their own. They often call for a ban on “assault weapons” or “barrel shrouds”, but they can’t give you a definition of either one. They use gun word-salads, like banning “high-velocity magazine clips,” to attempt to hide their ignorance.
   
   
9. Stating that an openly carried gun makes them afraid but then say that a gun carried concealed makes them afraid.
   
   
10. Holding innocent gun owners to blame for the misuse of guns by criminals, while not holding themself to blame for owning a car, which drunk drivers use to create horrible carnage on our roads.
    
    
11. Stating a magazine limitation of “X” rounds is safe, but they are unable to explain how having “X+1” rounds would be dangerous.
    
    
12. Complaining about the loud noise coming from a neighbor’s shooting range but stating that suppressors should be outlawed because they make guns quieter.
    
    

Additional Note: This diagnosis may coincide with other personality disorders and maladaptive personality traits. Individuals meeting the diagnosis of Gun Derangement Syndrome may be strongly influenced by other irrational sub-cultural beliefs. Resistance may be very strong during treatment.

The good news is that GDS is not necessarily a lifetime disorder!  A person with GDS can cure themself by getting to know a few gun owners, getting educated on guns and gun safety, and making a trip to the range!  Alternatively, you can reach out to someone with GDS to help free them from GDS’s grip.

GDS is also commonly referred to as “Hoplophobia.”

For more information on the VCDL, and the good work they do for Virginia gun owners, visit the organization's web site at vcdl.org.

Cheers!

From Back Surgery to Back on the Range

It had been far too long since I’d made it to the range. After 18 months of battling back issues and recovering from surgery, I’d occasionally wondered if it was time to drop “shooting sports” from this blog’s tagline. But I held on to hope — and this week, that hope paid off with a long-awaited trip to the range.

In addition to the simple joy of shooting again, I’d been itching to revisit my old SIG Sauer P226. That pistol had served me well in many USPSA and IDPA matches before I moved on to the striker-fired P320. A couple of weeks ago, I started dry-firing the P226 and decided it needed an upgrade. I swapped the stock sights for the same Dawson Precision setup I use on my P320s, installing them just last week in anticipation of this trip.

I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive setting up at the range. Physical therapy has rebuilt muscles that were long neglected, but they haven’t been stress-tested much. I hadn’t fired a shot in 18 months, and aside from 30 rounds in 2023, the P226 hadn’t left the safe since mid-2017. Would I still remember the nuances of a double-action/single-action trigger?

I kept all my shooting at the 7-yard line — partly for focus, partly because I wanted my brass landing in one general area to avoid excessive bending when picking it up later. The first shot felt good. It took a bit to reacquaint myself with the long, smooth double-action pull and the short single-action follow-ups. There were a few fliers, but overall, the groups looked solid. The new sights seemed well-installed, and while the trigger feel was different, the sight picture was comfortingly familiar.

The first 15 rounds grouped nicely, most of them fired in pairs after drawing from the holster. I’d planned to stick with draw-and-shoot drills, but couldn’t resist trying some strong-hand-only shots as I finished up the last magazine. From 7 yards, I hit the head area every time — a pleasant surprise after so long away.

After 100 rounds, I called it a day. The brass pickup went smoothly enough, despite some stiffness in my back. I might have been nervous on the way there, but I drove home with a grin on my face.

I’m not sure yet when I’ll be ready for a match, but it feels like the long shooting drought may finally be breaking.

Cheers!

The Patron of Handgunners: St. Gabriel Possenti’s Remarkable Story

Today, February 27, is the Feast Day of St. Gabriel Possenti, also known as St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Gabriel Possenti was a Catholic seminarian in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy. According to tradition, in 1860, Gabriel used his marksmanship to save the town from a band of marauding soldiers. As the story goes, he seized revolvers from two soldiers and boldly confronted the intruders. When the soldiers mocked the seminarian, he silenced them by taking aim and shooting a lizard scurrying across the road with remarkable accuracy. Impressed and intimidated, the marauders left the town peacefully, escorted by the seminarian who had become an unlikely hero.

Like many Saints, the line between historical fact and legend in Gabriel’s story can be difficult to discern. However, this tale of courage and skill has earned him the unofficial title of Patron Saint of Handgunners. The St. Gabriel Possenti Society was even founded to promote his legacy and advocate for the moral and theological principles underlying self-defense. Unfortunately, the society became inactive following the death of its founder in 2017.

Many years ago, our parish was blessed with a relic of St. Gabriel Possenti under his title St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. I vividly remember the excitement of seeing the announcement in the weekly bulletin. Since then, I’ve enjoyed sharing his story with fellow parishioners, especially those who are also handgun enthusiasts.

When our new church was completed a few years ago, a relic of St. Gabriel was among several placed in the altar, a lasting reminder of his presence and intercession.

St. Gabriel Possenti’s life and legend inspire us to stand firmly in defense of what is right and just, trusting in the guidance of God. Whether we see him as a hero of faith, a protector of the innocent, or both, his story resonates with the courage needed to face the challenges of our own times.

St. Gabriel Possenti ora pro nobis!

Celebrating 17 Years of Musings

Today marks the 17th anniversary of this blog. It all began on a lazy afternoon, experimenting with Blogger. I was looking for a place to share my thoughts—and, occasionally, my rants—about the growing “craft beer” scene, especially in my local area and across the state. At the time, I traveled frequently to Denver, CO, where small breweries were thriving far more than in Virginia. But I had a feeling Virginia would soon catch up. The original title, Musings Over a Pint, caught the attention of fellow enthusiasts and small breweries alike.

Of course, no one lives by beer alone. Over time, my other interests found their way into the blog. Topics like shooting sports, and even faith and politics, began to sneak in. Unsurprisingly, that led to some hate mail, and I even earned a brief ban on Facebook—for reasons that were never fully explained. In 2008, as the blog evolved, the title shifted to Musings Over a Barrel to reflect the broader scope, including whiskey and cigars.

Nowadays, most of my posts focus on cigar and beverage pairings—usually whiskey or beer. Although cigars and bourbon appeared in earlier years, I’ve had more time and resources lately to dive deeper into those passions. Unfortunately, various factors have kept me from visiting the shooting range as often as I’d like, so that topic has taken a back seat for now. I’m hopeful that will change in the coming year.

The blog doesn’t have the readership it once did. I suspect part of that is the decline in personal blogs overall, along with the more niche and personal nature of my posts. The topics I cover can be polarizing, especially in today’s hyper-sensitive climate. I even had some cigar content removed by Blogger recently—though it was restored after an appeal—for allegedly violating their “Regulated Goods and Services policy.”

So, what’s next? Honestly, I write for myself more than anything. I enjoy looking back and revisiting the experiences recorded here. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. If others enjoy what they read, all the better. Not every experience becomes a full blog post, though; for more frequent updates, feel free to check out my mini-blog on Instagram.

Seventeen years is a long time, and so much has changed—not just with this blog, but with the world and life in general. While the frequency of my posts may vary depending on time and activities, I have no plans to stop sharing my musings anytime soon, for my enjoyment—and hopefully yours too.

Happy Blog Birthday to me!

Cheers!

The Feast of Saint Gabriel Possenti

Today, February 27, is the Feast Day of St. Gabriel Possenti.

Legend holds that Gabriel Possenti was a Catholic seminarian in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy. In 1860 he is said to have used his skills with the pistol to drive off a band of marauding soldiers who were terrorizing the town. Possenti faced the troublemakers after grabbing revolvers from two soldiers. As they laughed at the young student, he took aim and accurately shot a lizard that was running across the road. Impressed, the soldiers left the town, escorted by the seminarian, who had become the hero of the town.

Like many Saints, there's an unclear line between the facts of the Saint's life and the tradition associated with him. However, this story about Gabriel Possenti has led to him being promoted as the Patron Saint of Handgunners. The St. Gabriel Possenti Society was created for the purpose of promoting the Saint's cause. The society promoted the study of the historical, philosophical and theological bases for the doctrine of self-defense. Sadly, the founder of the group died in 2017 and it appears the organization is no longer active.

A few years ago, our parish was presented with a relic of St. Gabriel Possenti, under the title St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. It was an exciting moment when I saw the blurb announcing the displayed relic in our weekly bulletin. Since then, I've enjoyed sharing the story of Gabriel Possenti with many parishioners. I dare say most of our Catholic friends who also enjoy the shooting sports are now familiar with the Saint and his story.

In another interesting "coincidence," my Virginia Concealed Handgun permit was originally issued on February 27, the Feast Day of the Patron Saint of Handgunners!

St. Gabriel Possenti ora pro nobis!

Today would be a great day to hit the range. If that's not possible, perhaps I'll buy some extra ammo instead, if I can find any for sale at a reasonable price.

Cheers!

Last IDPA Match of the Year

I was happy to close out the year, and kick off my Christmas vacation, with a morning of IDPA with friends at Cavalier range.

Leaving the house on Saturday morning I questioned my sanity as the car thermometer started out showing 30°, which I watched tick down to 27° as I drove on. Fortunately, when I arrived at the range, with the sun doing its work, the temperature was up to 37°. The day would at least creep up to the low 40° range. 

The crowd was smaller than usual, and we were divided into two squads of around 16. For this match I again shot my Compact SIG P320. In deference to the cold, and simply for practice, I used my winter carry setup of OWB carry holster and a winter jacket, instead of the competition holster and vest.

Our first stage was a fun field course that started with two close targets in the open. Moving through the course of fire we engaged targets at varying distances. 

The second stage our squad shot was also a field course. This time the unloaded firearm and all magazines were placed on a table. This was my second best stage with just two points down. 

The next bay we entered held two short standards stages. The first had three close head shot-only targets, a target that required a wide swing to the left, followed by swinging back right and engaging a target downrange partially hidden by barrels. All targets required a minimum of one hit. Despite taking two shots at the far target I managed to hit the barrel with both. 

The other short course involved just three close targets. One, a head shot with a non-threat over the rest of the target required one shot first, followed by two shots to each of the others. This is one of those stages that can tempt you to go too fast. To my delight, I came up shooting fast and smooth, completing the challenge -0 and finished 10th of the 33 shooters in all divisions.

This next stage created a bit of confusion during the stage briefing. It was, in the end quite simple, but the directions given complicated the matter I thought. From a seated position, there was an array of five targets with non-threats and vision barriers obscuring much of the target area. There were also four targets to the sides, located near and far. Due to the rules of priority, both of the outer two closer targets had to be engaged prior to engaging the rear two. The line of targets in the center could be engaged anytime. Most shooters simply went left to right across the front and middle, finishing with the two back targets on either side. 

Our squad ended with a minimally Christmas themed stage, where our magazines started in a wrapped box. Our firearm was holstered and unloaded. Copious fault lines through the course fire gave us plenty of movement to multiple positions of cover. It also gave me the opportunity to completely skip engaging one target and earning both two misses and a procedural error. Sadly, being the last stage I didn't get to wipe that from my memory by shooting another stage.

All in all, it was a fun match and I was happy to have the chance to get to the range, shoot a bit, and visit with friends. I finished way down in the overall standings, but was generally happy with how I shot, barring some mental errors with the game part of the sport. Any day on the range is a good day. Besides, I was on vacation and there were good cigars and drinks ahead.

Cheers!

Lunch Hour Range Visit

It's that time of the year when the daytime temperatures can vary by 25° or more from one day to the next. I took advantage of one of the higher end of the spectrum on a recent afternoon to scoot over to the range for some brief trigger time. I only took 100 rounds of ammo with me, a choice I quickly regretted.

During some recent home purging activities, a full box of cardboard USPSA targets was discovered in the basement. I've been out of the IDPA version for some time so this was a fortuitous find. Grabbing one of my metal target bases completed the target supply needs. Using the stand-alone target setup turned out to be a good choice as the breeze at the range would have played havoc with the usual target hung from a rope.

As switch from the usual routine, I skipped the OWB range holster and stuck with my IWB holster for the SIG P320 Compact. Current events illustrate that these are good times to stay fresh on the EDC weapons. 

I spent most of the time simply drawing from under a t-shirt and shooting the target set at 15 yards. Shooting various head/body combinations ate through the 100 rounds pretty quickly. Nonetheless, it was an extremely relaxing time amongst the fall colors in the trees. Not a bad way to spend a "lunch hour."

Cheers!

Weekend Pistol Shooting

After a few months of missing out, I was happy to have the opportunity to shoot an IDPA match with friends last weekend. It was an especially pleasant morning as the October temps rose into the mid-80's over the weekend. I decided to shoot my Compact Sig P320 instead of the Full Size model I'd used most of the year. That gun had not been out since the Spring, and gets carried more in the winter, so it was time.

The match organizers had six interesting stages prepared for us. The first stage we shot was a "Standards" stage with two shooting boxes. The directions were to start with six rounds loaded in the gun. We had to fire one shot at each of six targets, before moving to the opposite box and reengaging the targets with six more rounds. It was a good way to warm up, though I did manage to have one hit on the center non-threat. The same edge of the same target was tagged by about 6 other people on our squad, so it seems it a well-placed challenge!

Next up was a more typical field course stage starting with a couple of close targets. After that we maneuvered around the walls engaging targets as they became visible. The short field courses, still with lots of movement are always enjoyable.

Then we had the stage called "Also a Standard," consisting of just four targets. One of those targets was paced off at about 24 yards. Starting with our hands touching the wall, we first engaged a target across the bay to our left, before turning our attention to the one barely visible "way down there." Then there were two more targets, both partially blocked by non-threats. One was directly to our right behind the wall, the other we backed uprange to shoot around the other end of the wall. I was extra pleased to shoot this one only -1; that one low shot being on the far target.

That fun stage was followed by another fun field course. That one had us seated at the start with our firearms and loading devices on a table a few yards distant. It presented a good mix of target engagements.

The next stage presented the challenge of head shot only targets. There was an array of four targets to the front, along with lone targets to the right and left of the start position. In a nod to the upcoming Halloween festivities, we started the course of fire with our hands resting on a "bloody" bandage, presumably a wounded companion. Nature provided an additional challenge -- the sunlight showing brightly through the pasted holes on the left target, made it nearly impossible to distinguish between your hits and ones from previous shooters. I managed to shoot just two down for the course.

For the last stage we hiked up to a distant bay where there was a large arrangement of walls set up. The layout was used at the previous weekend's USPSA match, and is modified and reused often. We didn't make use of the entire setup. The course included a mix of close and long distant targets. The final position required engaging targets from low cover while kneeling. On top of shooting a little too fast on the long targets and racking up points down, I shot the last two targets out of order and earned a PE. Not the best way to wrap up the match, but the stage was enjoyable nonetheless.

I actually felt pretty good about my shooting overall. For all intents and purposes, I was accurate enough, but my legs don't move as fast or my eyes focus as quickly as they once did. The weather certainly was a treat, with the unseasonably warm temperatures. The social aspect is always great at the matches. And I got to shoot? What's not to like?

Cheers!

Weekly Range Practice

After a period of wildfire smoke filled skies, which was followed by days of high temperatures, we've finally enjoyed a few days of temperatures in the low to mid 80's. That made this week's practice outing at the range all the more pleasant.

Tbe setup looked much the same as previously, but the drills were directed a bit differently. I started right off shooting from 15 yards. Hanging both an IDPA practice target and the color and shapes target, I started out shooting a series of single and double shots to the center -0 zone. The focus was on acquiring sights quickly with minimal gun adjustment and bouncing. Then repeat the same routine using the slightly small diamond and square shapes. All strings started from the draw. I shot accurately, but still desire to make less correction when acquiring that first sight picture.

Following that fresh paper was hung and the two targets were spread further apart in order to practice transitions. Several magazines were expended going from a smaller color zone on the first target over to the IDPA. I then reversed the process going from the larger -0 zone to a smaller spot on the other paper. Body to head transitions on the IDPA target followed. Trying to repeat some bits often seen in matches, double shots to the head were worked on.

Remembering I just have to "do it," I finished the practice with SHO and WHO shooting.

It felt good to do more directed skill-building drills, within the context of the two-shot range restrictions. I have a notebook of nearly 100 different pistol skill building drills that I will look through for more ideas too add more variety.

I've been fortunate to have been able to get out to the range to practice regulate the past couple months. After months of few matches, and no practice, I was seeing the effects. Just shooting with some regularity benefits both the act of shooting and increases the motivation to do it even more. That all leads to enjoying more.

Cheers!

I Got In Some Range Time

After last weekend's disappointing performance at the Cavalier IDPA match, I was anxious to get to the range and sort out some issues. To that end, I was able to get in some quality trigger time.

It was a sunny and warm day as I raised the red range flag to claim my spot. The smaller of the two pistol bays was occupied so I ended up in the larger, but less muddy bay. This bay is wide and deep, but is mostly grass over the gravel which makes finding brass difficult. 

I started out shooting at 10 yards, with the usual mix of body only shots, head shots, and body/head transition pairs, all in sets of 10. I wasn't seeing shots go wide left, but did notice a few starting to drift to the left side of the -0 circle. I put all my focus on that front sight, and also concentrated on my support hand grip. I could see how I was possibly getting a bit sloppy there. and dropping focus as the trigger was pulled. I put up a fresh target and stepped back to 15 hards to repeat the same drills. Again good results, though a few shots were wide or low, but overall satisfactory. 

I decided to test my concentration further by next shooting from 20 yards. I still had a used target up, but was really only concerned with any hits outside the -0 zone. To my delight, no wayward left shots. Of thirty rounds fired, mostly pairs from the draw, 6 fell outside the -0, and those were center but low. I was happy to see better results.

I also forced myself to do some strong hand only shooting. I've been working on that just about every range trip as it comes up frequently in matches. I did not try support hand shooting this time.

About midway through my practice session, a truck pulled up as I was reloading magazines. I figured I'd give up the range for the new arrival. Then I saw the range officer badge, and immediately wondered what I had done wrong! I had heard the person in the other bay shooting faster, with longer strings of fire than I had been doing. It didn't seem overly fast to me, but there's no actual defined standard. Then I realized this was that same person. Well, the rules do state that the definition of rapid fire is up to the range officer on duty. Turns out the gentleman just wanted to chat. We did so for awhile, which gave me a short break anyway.

As I often state, range practice can help, but is no indicator of match performance. I need walls, barrels, and other obstacles, as well as movement. All forbidden here. Nonetheless, I'll hopefully get back to the range another time or two before the next match. Knowing that the capability is still there can only be a boost. Some regular practice can't hurt either.

Cheers!

July IDPA at Cavalier

This is something not often seen late July in Virginia . . . low humidity and low temperatures. 

Perhaps the cool weather was the impetus behind the larger than normal crowd for this month's IDPA match at Cavalier Rifle & Pistol Club -- our squad consisted of 18 shooters. 

Most of the stages this day featured plenty of movement, including several that involved backing up while shooting, and most presented many options for shooting. That often also meant lots of discussion during and after the stage brief before shooting the stage. Discussions the went on for too long at times in my opinion. Combined with the larger crowd, it made for a long day, with prolonged interludes between actual shooting.

Stage 1 began with the unloaded firearm on a table mid-stage, and all spare magazines on an adjacent table. After engaging the three open targets in front, the next fault line was slightly back and to the left. The shooter then turned and moved further up range to shoot another target. Advancing from there, two more shooting positions were encountered for a total of eight targets. I finished my first stage 0 points down, getting off to a good start.

Stage 2 had us seated facing up range, with the loaded firearm placed on a barrel at the first shooting position. All spare loading devices were left on another barrel at the next fault line. After retrieving the firearm we engaged the visible targets and moved down range to retrieve any needed magazines and engage the targets as they became visible. Alas, not a lot of joy for me here, with 12 points down and a hit on a non-threat. Sadly, that trend would be repeated at several more stages.

The next course of fire had a simple setup consisting of a long fault line and four targets, two open and two partially blocked by barrels. The first target was shot up close and from retention. After engaging the close target, the partial exposed to the left of the barrel, then the head shot only target, I moved down the line midway to get the tuxedo target behind the right side of the barrel. Four or five shots fired, and most of them sounded like they were hitting a barrel! Despite making both the head shots, I still was 10 points down. I was not shooting very accurately at all, and the fun of shooting was being overtaken by frustration.

Okay, let's try this again. Moving on to Stage 4 we saw a rather complex setup that left a lot of shooters confused. The layout seemed to be a closed course of barrels, walls, and chains with no apparent access to several of the targets. The stage briefing explained that we would need to back out and go around the wall to the up range side of the course stage where we saw the final targets. Even after the explanation there was a frustratingly extended period of discussions on "gaming" the stage.

The brief was actually pretty straightforward once read. The loaded firearm was placed on one barrel with the spare magazines on the nearby barrel, and the shooter was seated on a bench a couple yards back. There was an open target with a non-threat directly on front, and most of the remaining targets were visible with small adjustments from the start point, while some could optionally be shot from the final positions. For two of the final targets minimally the shooter needed to make the circuitous route around the back of the bench and around the wall to the right then advance to a chained off area to shoot the remaining targets. Those last two targets, and any unengaged targets were then shot. The biggest caveat was "muzzle awareness" when making the loop. I shot it with only a slightly better result and heard "down 10" for this stage.

Frustration was still on my mind. In looking at my hits, and as was pointed out by the SO, whatever I was "seeing" had my shots falling directly to the left, in tights groups. I wasn't jerking the trigger to shoot low and left, but it looked like I was sighting to the left.

Stage 5 was another standards type stage. Five targets and three non-threats were lined up 10 yards distant with each requiring one hit. I shot the stage without any makeup shots and was -1. Obviously the issue I've been having is not the gun. Seems to be "the Indian not the arrow" as the expression goes.

To finish the day we made the hike up "the hill" for Stage 6. This was another "running" stage, with lots of walls and many ways to go through the course. Depending on how you went through it different targets had to be shot from different positions due to the shooter being exposed to them. There was again a fair amount of discussion before we actually got to the shooting. And yet again I was 10 points down for the nine targets. 

It was a long but fun day of shooting with good friends. After starting a little after 9:00 AM I was finally in the car to head home at 2:45 PM. I was happy that the temperature never even hit 80° until I was on the way home. While it was not an extraordinary long day, it was longer than typical -- and the ride home was another hour and 20 minutes. 

I was disappointed to have shot so many -1 hits throughout the match. That frustration can easily detract from the fun. Upon review I feel like a lack of applicable practice with few matches to put it into practice doesn't help. I struggled with many of the shots leaning around walls, and was probably thinking too much about the next target. This recent aberration of shooting to the left is frustrating for sure. At least these days, it's just about the fun of shooting and spending the day with good people. Still, better shooting will add to the pleasure. It seems the best solution is to shoot more!

Cheers!

Another Quick Range Trip

I managed to get a late morning escape to the range on Friday. I typically try for mid-week outings, but it didn't work out this week. I timed it just right since as soon as I parked a stream of cars drove in -- 5 minutes later and I would have been shut out.

My plan for the morning was simple draw and shoot -- as required by the range rules. But figured I might as well work on getting that shot, or two, off quickly. I also wanted to try out the new Talon Grips I had put on the gun. The rubber Talon grip previously in place was getting worn and ineffective when my hands were very sweaty at the last match. This time I went with their Pro version which combines the more aggressive granulate texture with the rubber. It seems very secure, but not overly uncomfortable. We'll see next time the match conditions create a suitable test.

My first 60 rounds were done at the 15 yard line. Draw and shoot one or two carefully aimed shots. Repeat. And repeat again. Everything else was shot from 10 yards, drawing and getting off two accurate shots as quickly as possible. Sadly, my shot timer has died so I couldn't take advantage of the random beep start nor record any times. Body only, head only, and body to head transitions, repeated five times for each drill. On the bright side, I fully called those two missed heads shots when they happened.

I finished the quick session with some 10 yard strong hand only shots, followed by support hand only from seven. I wasn't quite as successful as last time, but still hitting about 80% -0 for each while shooting quickly.

Time was limited so I called it a day. Barely had time to break a sweat but it was still enjoyable and a welcome break.

Cheers!

Range Outing

Whenever I drive over to the range it's a bit of a gamble if at least one of the two pistol bays will be open. Last week I was shut out when I got there, and other factors prevented a return attempt. This week my luck was much better. 

This outing was not all that different than previous ones in activity. The 'stand and shoot two shots' rule limit the variety of drills beyond varying distance and aim point. However, there's always the joy of the simple diversion of shooting so it's not all bad. Coincidently I happened to see a video of me shooting at last weekend's IDPA match and, among other faults, noticed a proclivity to not having my gun up and aiming when I arrive at a shooting position. I'll have to work on fixing that in a dry fire movement rather than at the range.

I fired the majority of my shots from the 10 yard line. My intent was concentrating on trigger press, and ease in gathering brass at the end. Various combinations of head and body shots from the draw used up the first 80 rounds fired.

I only load a 2 or 3 magazines with just 10 rounds at a time in order to slow down consumption, and to not fatigue my finger too quickly. Despite that, I started noticing some drift after a bit. So I moved to extra slow drills. I had told myself last weekend I wanted to do bit of practice at longer distance so I hung a fresh target at 35 yards. I only fired 10 rounds at that distance since I was walking down range every 2 shots to check the results. There's still work be done, but all shots made the -1 zone at worse.

Back to 10 yards for a 10 shot round shooting strong hand only. That was followed by 10 weak hand only shots at 7 yards.  

The results were better than I had actually expected. Certainly nothing I generally see in matches, although my SHO shooting has admittedly improved in recent months. A few more outings like this would be a confidence booster at least.

Too soon the fun was over and it was time to pick up brass and return to my day job. Now I begin looking forward to the next outing.

Cheers!

Cavalier IDPA June Match

All the week prior to Saturday's IDPA match at Cavalier, the weekend weather forecast was looking ominous. It was expected to be a rainy weekend the followed a rainy week. As luck would have it, the weather on Saturday morning was quite pleasant, if even a bit warm. I squadded with the usual group enjoyed the camaraderie as usual.

Our shooting started with all targets engaged from low cover, which means at least one knee on the ground while shooting. With my well-worn knees, that meant two knees on the ground. The kindly stage designer provided padding for the ground. We faced six targets place around walls and non-threats. The more limber and "long" shooters were able to get by with just some good hard leans, but being less limber than in my younger days, I did resort to a bit of shuffling. Despite that, I was pleased, shocked actually, to finish 8th out of the 39 shooters on that opening stage.

On stage 2 we started facing a single target in the open, and shot it while backing to the first position of cover. Moving across the bay we passed a surprise target exposed around the barrels. After engaging a couple targets through a narrow opening, the shooter retreated up range to shoot from the end of a wall, before advancing to find the final target via a hard lean around the wall. I only dropped one point while shooting on the move past the surprise target. I saw that -1 hole but kept moving, figuring it would take more time to back up and make it up.

The next stage was a quick standards drill with just two targets shot in two strings. String 1 was two shots on a single target, freestyle. The second string required two shots on the other target, using strong hand only. The stage pretty much mirrored the two-shot string shooting I am allowed at my local range. I ended up dropping one point on the SHO shooting for a shot I called as breaking the perf, but the SO deemed outside the perf. Such is the game.

Stage 4 was a moderately simple stage, but one that seemed to inspire a lot of "strategic planning." There were just six targets spread across a mirrored layout on either side. The shooter started at either of the two front fault lines. The basic plan started with engaging two targets before moving downrange. Moving forward there were two more targets found by pieing around the end of a wall. Then by stepping to the center fault line a center target was engaged. This was the mirrored half of a target engaged at the first position. Stepping to the next point of cover exposed the final target. If the shooter began the stage on the opposite side, the moves were the same, but in the opposite direction.

There was much discussion among shooters during the walk through, discussing and debating how to run the stage. From my hearing it seemed like the plans involved more movement. I actually began to think I must have missed something, but no matter how many times I reviewed the course, I couldn't see anything different. The first shooter shot the simple plan and there were many exclamations of surprise over the straightforward plan. It's easy to get caught looking at the trees and missing the forest. I believe that in the end, everyone ran the same pattern, from either side. This was my second best overall stage, though many moved through it faster. 

The next course of fire featured seven targets with varying hard cover and non-threat limitations lined up along the right side of the bay. At the end of that run, there was a low target behind barrels and another that was finally seen at the end behind more barrels. I tried to shoot the stage on the move, slowly, but was having trouble keeping the gun smooth and making good hits, some of which I think had to do with my hands being very sweaty and not keeping the gun well-gripped, so a lot of extra shots were taken. In the end I was three points down, but took a long time to do it. In the response to the good-natured ribbing from my friends, I simply remarked, "I came to shoot so I'm doing a lot of it!"

The last stage took us to a part of the gun range I had never seen. I've shot IDPA at the club for 11 years, and did some USPSA there before that. The PCC side matches, and some USPSA larger matches apparently make use of this very large bay. Getting to it required about an 8 minute walk. As we started I wondered why some shooters were leaving their range bags and carts behind and simply going with the gun and ammo on their person. Now I know, although I tend to carry a lot of "just in on case" stuff and I would probably feel odd leaving it behind.

The setup used was one that some shooters had seen at the previous weekend's USPSA match, with some modification for IDPA. The spread out course of fire started with us seated, and the loaded firearm on a barrel in front of us. There were three targets to engage at the starting position. We moved to the left to shoot two targets from two points of cover. Then moving across to the right, there was first a lone target from cover, before heading to the end. At that point, one could either move up range for a target or continue across to hit two targets. Most shooters went to the end, then finished at the lone target. The two targets engaged from the far right included a far target at 25 yards or so. I was first to go on the stage and shot the two right most target from around the end of the wall, instead of over the low wall. Why? I just don't know. It makes no sense in hindsight. I was six points down, with 4 coming on that far target. I'll have to practice more at 25+ yards.

It so happened that curiosity prevailed in the morning and I had activated the Map My Walk app on my phone upon arriving. The map of the day gave an interesting perspective on the 2.26 miles walked that day.

All the various stops of the morning, parking, registration, safe area, and the shooting bays are distinguishable. The "blobs" in each bay represent mainly to trips to reset the stages after shooters. I cannot be accused of not helping to paste targets!

It was a morning of fun and interesting stages, and socializing with good folks. Overall I was very pleased with my performance, and have no big regrets. Another interesting aspect of the match was that 26 of of the 39 shooters were shooting Carry Optics. Only six of us "dinosaurs" were shooting Stock Service Pistols (SSP).  It seems iron sights and stock pistols are no longer in fashion. I often remark that iron sights are the stick shift of the gun world. I suspect I'll be forced into CO some day, if not for the cool factor, certainly by aging vision.

Cheers!