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From: marko@hutch (Mark O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: competitive target shooting
Message-ID: <35431@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 10 Jun 91 22:10:18 GMT
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Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon
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Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu

In article <35369@mimsy.umd.edu> mdg@oberon.com (Mark D. Grover) writes:
#I've shot only one (informal) PPC-style match at my local gun club,
#but picked up a (small) trophy and got a taste for it.

Congratulations
 
#I've had both my Browning Hi-power and my Gold Cup accurized; in
#particular the slides were tightened.  For the latter I had installed
#a non-Colt bushing and a short trigger for my smallish hands.
#Do these mods and replacement parts disqualify me from shooting
#"stock" class matches, if I want to try practical, or action,
#competition (pins, IPSC, ...)?  As a beginner to competition, that
#would seem unfortunate and discouraging.  I hadn't planned to get a
#compensator or other special-purpose gear that don't appeal to me as
#"practical".

They shouldn't.  At present the plan for the Stock class in IPSC is to
say the gun cannot weigh more than 3 ounces over its factory production
weight.  This is meant to rule out optical sights, compensators and things
like that.  
 
#Folks at the clubs are always very helpful, but I'd still like to
#start off without asking too many dumb questions.  Any suggestions for
#how to start, and what to read?  (I've read "Hit the White Part".
#What about books about IPSC-style matches?)  I see myself shooting
#competitively only perhaps once a month or so, for the fun and the
#challenge.  Of course the obvious thing to do is to be a spectator at
#a couple of matches first.

Although I haven't had time to read either of them, yet, both Brian Enos 
and Rob Leatham have books out that have been recommended to me frequently.
Leatham has a set of video tapes out too.  

BTW, when it comes to learning something that can be potentially dangerous
the only dumb question is the one that didn't get asked before the accident
happened.  I know that I will help whenever I can and ask someone more
experienced when I can't.  I ask a lot of questions too.  The two people
who taught my certification class shoot just about every match and they
are always willing to answer questions.  They believe the more a shooter
knows the safer we all will be.  

At the clubs where I shoot if you go as a spectator and tell people
that is why you are there, they will volunteer lots of info.  You can
pick it up from there.


Gun Control Means Being Able to Hit Your Target
Mark O'Shea
marko@ijf1.intel.com