Triangle Tactical Podcast - Competitive Shooting, Mostly

I always like to do something different for the last episode of the year, so this year I had y'all ask me anything you wanted to ask. 

So, thanks for a great 2017! 2018 is going to be great!

This week on the podcast I interviewed Marty Wood, the new NC USPSA Section Coordinator. We talked about everything from the future of USPSA in North Carolina, to announcing the date and location of the 2018 NC Sectional match. 

I wanted to say a special thanks to Marty for driving to Raleigh to meet with me to talk about all of this, and I'm really excited about seeing what happens with him at the wheel as the section coordinator of NC USPSA.

If you want to get ahold of Marty, his email address is [email protected], or you can contact him through the NC Section website at www.ncsection.org.

 

2018 Goals. 

I'm writing it down here, throwing down the gauntlet for 2018: I will make USPSA Production Master before my birthday at the end of June. 

I refused to make this goal last year, but 2018 is the time to make it happen. You read it here first folks. 

What are your goals for 2018? How are you going to make them happen?

What to do with junior shooters who don't help?

This question came in from a long time listener who is noticing a trend of junior shooters who only shoot, and don't bother to help resetting and pasting and scoring.

What should we do with them?

I don't know, unfortunately. I do think that the shooting sports run on responsibility, and when people aren't helping, I don't think they're being responsible. 

What targets do you bring to the range for practice?

Major asks what targets I bring to the range when I'm practicing. 

I have 3 target stands that I built with regular old 2x4's from Home Depot and a couple screws. All told, they cost me about $3 a piece, and they've been great. 

I have a few pieces of steel that are all mismatched that I picked up here and there, and if I could do it over again, I would buy a few pieces of steel that were all the same so I could set them up like a static plate rack, or move them around however I wanted. Right now, with all the different pieces of steel I've got, I can't do that.

Bring real targets. Don't skimp on the paper (like paper paper, not cardboard), get real deal cardboard targets. Also, bring pasters. 

First Match:

Russ in Pensacola sends in a voicemail about his first match... as a Match Director. That's awesome. 

If you're local to me, listen up. If you're not local to me, just bear with me or skip ahead 30 seconds or so. At the end of the year I'm killing the Triangle Tactical competitive shooting calendar on the website.  There are a couple of reasons for this:

1. It costs more than a hundred bucks a year for the software to keep it running. Not a huge deal, but it's a factor.
2. The time to keep it running is substantial.
3. I can't seem to keep it accurate. Matches start and stop even when they're super local to me, and I don't find out about it, and I don't want people to get sent to a match somewhere and not have there be a match that day.

I received a good bit of feedback on last weeks podcast. A bunch of Match Directors contacting me saying "yes, Lucas, you're almost exactly right!"

So, I want to dig into this a little more in the near future. It's basically the "off season", or at least the slow season for most of the country right now and I think this is a good time of year for most matches to startt putting things in place to make changes if they need to, so I want to dig into this a bit more.

Also, maybe I didn't make it clear, but I don't have any issue with for profit matches. I'm a big fan of free markets, and if someone can figure out a way to run good matches, keep shooters happy, and make some money, I'm all about it.

Personally, I think getting paid a good salary to run matches would be a great way to avoid burnout on the behalf of the MD. If it were my full time gig to run matches, I think I could pull that off for a while without getting completely burned out.

However, sometimes with a part time gig, you just get burned out to the point that you just don't want to do it, even one more time.

I used to literally get paid to shoot guns. Like, the coolest newest guns, as soon as they came out. Most of you are probably thinking that that sounds like a dream gig, and in the beginning it was. I named the rate that I wanted to get paid, and was given the new guns and a bunch of ammo, and sent off to the range to do my thing. However, after a while, shooting just became monotonous and boring.  

I'm still unbelievably appreciative of the company for thinking of me when they wanted someone to do this for them, but it just became a thing that I got tired of, and I think that's exactly the same thing that Match Directors can go through. Because it's a part time thing, and because it's not a major source of income, it can just become monotonous over time, and you just dread it.

I also received exactly 3 messages from concerned listeners, and one Match Director regarding another thing that I think is worth addressing:

"Jersey Wearing Complainers"

It was brought to my attention that there' a certain type of shooter that MD's absolutely hate, to the point that some of them will just walk away and never run another match, solely because of a couple shooters: the jersey wearing complainers.

This is really interesting to me, because it's something that I don't see. I wear a jersey (with my own business on it, mostly so listeners can find me at matches, and partially to promote what I do) but I'm not representing anyone with it, but myself. I am Triangle Tactical, and it's just me.

But, I do frequently shoot with a bunch of other shooters who wear jerseys, and I don't really see this.

It sounds like the jersey wearing complainer has become a rampant thing in the shooting sports, and it's something that needs to be addressed. I don't have the answers, so I'll just say this: If you're a shooter, and you're not impressed with a match, absolutely deliver your feedback to the Match Director, but do it in a way that's actually constructive.

If you're idea of delivering feedback about a match to someone is to make anonymous forum posts, or just being a dick, don't bother.

I don't know about you, but if I'm unhappy enough about something at a match, my goal is to improve that thing so that it can suck less in the future, or at the very least figure out why it was done that way, so I'll at least have a little more understanding as to why it is the way it is.

I think if you're unhappy with something, you should absolutely bring it up to the MD. If you're unhappy with it, chances are other shooters are unhappy with it as well, and if nobody says anything about it, it won't improve, registration for the match will start to fall off, and the match might go away completely.

On the flip side, if you're a dick about it, the MD could throw his hands in the air and quit too.

There's a balance here. Just don't be a dick.

I'm not sure if it's because it's nearing the end of the traditional "shooting season" or what, but I've been talking to a few different people about how their match director is about to quit, or they themselves are a match director, and they don't know what to do because they're totally burned out, and they're not sure how to keep that burnout away. 

So, on Sunday I released a survey trying to gather some data on what is killing matches. 

First, I asked respondents to rank the health of their local match. 

The average (mean) score was 7.6. This is exceptionally high, but remember this survey went to shooters, not just match directors. A lot of shooters may not be fully aware of all the things going on with their match.

The second question was asking about the biggest issue effecting their local match. 

I got answers from people in paragraph format, because I wanted them to really tell me what was really going on. Because of that, I did have to take some liberties when categorizing the comments, but here's what I came up with:

43% of people who responded to this question said that the biggest issue was that there weren't enough volunteers.

27% mentioned something about the host club either being hostile to matches, or something like that.

8% mentioned that they didn't have room to grow. 

The third question was asking about what the biggest thing is that's helping your match thrive.

32% of answers mentioned having plenty of volunteers.

17.5% mentioned having a great host club.

35% mentioned something about great stage designs, or things like that (which, if I can make a reach, probably come from having a lot of volunteers...)

Plug of the Week:

A little piece on the USPSA Facebook page about using the correct range commands. 

The Complete Privacy and Security Podcast. Definitely worth a listen. 

Join the Super Squad!

If you want to help me do more awesome stuff with Triangle Tactical, consider pledging a couple bucks a month, or becoming a Super Squad member at jointhesupersquad.com.

Before you enter into a handshake deal for some free stuff, there are a few things that you should consider. Go to the show notes for this episode and get my free .PDF with 10 things that you should think about and do before you pick up a sponsor. 

Gear that Doesn't Suck

Streamlight ProTac 2L

It's the time of year when it's getting darker earlier, and staying dark longer. Having a dependable flashlight with you is a big help. I literally use mine every day. 

When is it time to replace gear, even if it isn't an upgrade?

I think everyones answer is going to be different to this question, but here's my thoughts on it:

I've got this old Glock 34 that I've been shooting forever. It has an unknown number of rounds through it, and I've replaced a bunch of parts in it over the years.

At one point the gun started grouping really far to the left, and I could actually see wear on the locking block where it was starting to lock up off-center. No idea how or why that could happen, but it seemed like the lockup wearing the left side of the locking block was in-line with the gun suddenly grouping to the left.

This wasn't an issue of me not being able to pull ac Glock trigger and pulling the gun low and left, it was literally the gun wearing funny, and causing the barrel to lock up weirdly.

So, I looked around a little on the internet, consulted with a listener who's a Glock armorer guy at Glock, and then replaced the slide release (not the slide lock/slide stop) the slide release, as well as the locking block, and immediately the gun was shooting straight again.

Then, I bought some Dawson Precision adjustable sights. A huge, fantastic upgrade, and I couldn't zero the gun with them. Even maxing out the adjustment on them, I was still hitting something like 12" high at 20y. I called upo Dawson and they did the math, and sent me a front sight that's as big as the sail on a pirate ship, but the gun is zeroed now.

At that point in time, the gun was pretty easily shooting 2-3" groups at 20y, which was acceptable to me, and honestly about all I expect from a stock Glock shooting the cheapest mixed brass reloads I can possibly load.

However, as time has went on, the gun is starting to lose that accuracy. I don't know how many rounds it has through it now, a lot, but it's to the point that I'm having a VERY hard time putting 10rds consecutively in the head box of a target at 20 yards. It used to be very easy, and now… it's not.

The thing is, I can't see the difference. I like to think that I'm pretty good at noticing these things, and knowing when I'm pulling the trigger poorly, etc. I think it's just the gun wearing, and losing some of it's accuracy.

So, I'm at (and have been at for a while) this crossroads of buying another new locking block and stuff and seeing if I can get the accuracy back, and then keeping shooting this gun, or buying a new gun.

If I buy a new gun, do I just buy another Glock 34, toss a connector, grip plug, and set of Dawsons on it and have it be my match gun, and continue beating this one up in practice, or do I maybe see what the DA/SA thing is all about?

David from the Humble Marksman YouTube channel keeps taunting me with his Shadow 2, and I'm kind of intrigued by a gun that is basically good to go right out of the box.

But, at the same time, I REALLY like the idea of having two guns. Not really sure why I like that idea so much, considering I haven't EVER needed a backup gun at a match, but I like the idea none the less.

So, when do you buy new gear even if it isn't an upgrade? When it's time.

I know that sounds like a cop-out answer, but I think everyone has their own tolerance for this, and I don't know if there's a right or wrong.

A lot of guys would have left the range when they realized their Glock wasn't as accurate anymore and went straight to the gun store and ordered a new one. I'm not that guy.

A lot of folks wouldn't have bothered replacing the locking block and other parts trying to get the accuracy back either.

Some folks would have went to a completely different type of gun at this point and never looked back.

I don't think any of those things are the wrong answer.

For me, it comes down to confidence. I've found that when I'm completely confident in my gear, I shoot a LOT better because it's completely off my mind.

Years ago, when I was shooting M&P's I put together a bastardized M&P with the lower from one gun, and the slide from another and headed out the door to a match. Turned out the trigger parts from the two different guns didn't play super well together, and the trigger was just awful. Horrendous.

I got through a couple stages, realized how awful it was, and it broke me. I felt defeated because I knew in that instance that I couldn't perform to the level I should because of that terrible trigger.

So, I think when you lose confidence it might be a good time to move on to something new.

 

Last weekend there was a triathlon here in my little town, and we got to people watch a lot of folks cycling past our neighborhood.

Cycling is my first love. Far and away above shooting, and I really cannot wait until I'm healed up enough to get back in the saddle.

One guy in particular came riding by, and he stuck me as a little odd, and then I thought the things he was doing related well to a lot of the things people do in the shooting sports as well.

Dude rides by. Full on triathlon kit. Not unusual. Tight lycra suit, bright colors, and a fancy Time Trial helmet. Not a regular bike helmet with the vents and stuff that everyone and their brother wears, but a TT helmet. You know, those helmets that are like tear drop shaped to make you more aero, and they stick way out past the back of your head like 12" for more aerodynamics?

Again, not terribly unusual for someone to wear one at a high level of competition.

However, he was riding a hybrid bicycle. If you're not familiar with a hybrid, at a high level, they're like a mountain bike, with skinnier road bike tires. They're handy for transportation, but they don't really excel at anything. They're the Honda Civic of bicycles.

He was also wearing tennis shoes and using flat pedals. As a cyclist, I can tell you, that being clipped into your pedals is one of the best things you can do for efficiency.

This guy bought all the fancy "look fast" gear, but didn't invest in any of the actual "go fast" gear. The money spent on the fancy helmet would have been far better spend on clip-less pedals and cycling shoes.

I'm not gonna dog on the bike itself, because I always tell people to go compete with what they've got, and maybe this guy was doing just that, and that's great.

So, I give you this lesson on cycling to tell you about shooting.

A while back I had a question from a newer shooter asking which type of holster to buy for his gun. He was shooting outlaw type matches, and wasn't sure which type of race holster to buy.

My advice was to just get a kydex rig from whoever because the holster wasn't what was holding him back in his shooting, and he'd be better off spending $50 on a solid holster that'll work for whatever game he decided to play instead of spending $200 on a holster that wouldn't work if he decided to shoot Production or Carry Optics or IDPA in the future.

I'm not sure what he bought, but per our emails, I suspect he went ahead and bought a $200 race holster... Mostly because that's what he wanted all along. This isn't a problem, you should shoot whatever you want, but don't think that a piece of gear like this is really going to make you better.

I think that he was under the impression that everyone, given the chance would shoot a race holster and not a kydex holster, but people just shoot the kydex rigs because they have to per division requirements.

This is the case for a lot of people, but I also think a lot of people who shoot with race holsters do it because it's the defacto standard for their division and most of them probably can't tell you how much of an advantage they actually get from the holster.

I also think most of them would have been better off putting that $150 they would have saved towards some instruction or ammo, or whatever.

Again, I'm not against race holsters, and that's not what this episode is about.

My point here is that before you go spend a bunch of money on something, make sure that it's a thing that you're actually going to get your pay value for.

The guy in the triathlon would have been FAR better off with clipless pedals and good cycling shoes. Then lighter tires, and finally, a better bike.

I used to be involved in the 4x4 scene a bit a decade or so ago, and it was the same thing. People wanted to buy the big lift kit, and the big tires, but nobody wanted to re-gear the axles, or add sway-bar disconnects. People wanted to add lift blocks instead of getting new springs, etc.

The same thing happens with shooting. People want the lift kit and the big tires. They want the fancy race helmet, and the brightly colored shirt, because new sights aren't sexy.

Practice isn't sexy. It's hard work. It takes time and it's expensive. However, if you don't want to suck, it's the road you've got to take.

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Q&A:

Mike asked a question in last weeks Q&A show that I didn't get to during the live show. 

"Any tips for shooting with a weapon mounted light?"

Yes. There's not a lot to it, it's basically like shooting in the daylight, however, make sure you know how NOT to activate the strobe mode should your light have that, because turning it on accidentally during a night match will mess with you. Other than that, there's really not a lot to them. I like my Streamlight TLR-1, because as a right handed shooter I can use the switch kind of like a gas pedal for controlling recoil. 

If you've got questions, shoot me an email at [email protected], and make sure to join me on Thursday nights at 9PM EST on Facebook live every week!

Plugs of the Week:

This episode of Firearms Nation Podcast with Shannon Smith was really good. I love Shannon's own podcast, but hearing him interviewed was great. They talk a lot about the IPSC World Shoot 2017. 

This episode of the 3-Gun Show with Matt Martini was really good. I might have like it a *little bit* because it stroked my ego just a little when Matt talked about how if you can hang with the big dogs at matches here in the Carolinas, you can shoot with anybody. He also has some interesting thoughts on practice, and keeping track of his cold times on drills, as well as his fastest times. Good stuff, definitely worth a listen. 

There's a good chance you're reading this wondering to yourself "What is a drop step?" You're most certainly not alone. In the gif below, notice how I step out of the second box, and push off with my foot? That's a drop step.

via GIPHY

Some people say they're okay in certain circumstances, others say that they're never any good, and somewhat recently I came across an internet argument where people were making all sorts of claims (good and bad) about the drop step.

So, naturally, I figured this would be a great junk science episode.

I threw it out to the Patrons a week or so ago, and asked how I should test it. Initially, I thought I would only need to test it while making a short step into a box. Something with a starting position like "Standing with toes on marks, outside the shooting area", then on the buzzer, I'd just take a single step into the box.

However, the Patrons brought a great idea that I hadn't thought about, and that was that it could also be beneficial on longer movement, as it might help you get up to speed faster, so I did another drill with two boxes, one 10' in front of the other (about 4 steps), and tested the drop step vs. a regular step there too.

Here's a link to my raw data if you want to nerd out on it. It's also my terrible chicken scratch, so good luck deciphering it.

Step into box:

Drop Step Average (mean): 1.2527 sec

No Drop Step Average (mean): 1.2427 sec

In this instance, not drop stepping is 1 hundredth of a second faster. Being that this is junk science, that's basically nothing. 

4 Steps into box:

Drop Step Average (mean): 2.1390 sec

No Drop Step Average (mean): 2.1409 sec

2.139 vs. 2.14? Yeah, that's a wash too.

Hard Left Lean:

Drop Step Average (mean): 4.578 sec

No Drop Step Average (mean): 4.448 sec

Now this is interesting. 0.13 seconds faster by NOT using a drop step? Very interesting. I wonder if it'll show the same thing going the other direction?

Hard Right Lean:

Drop Step Average (mean): 4.5583 sec

No Drop Step Average (mean): 4.4825 sec

.07 faster again, NOT using a drop step.

Conclusion:

This is pretty interesting stuff. When doing the drop step in most every instance, they *felt* faster, but as we know things that feel fast aren't always fast.

On this given day, with this given shooter (me) drop steps are basically a wash moving forward, and actually a bit slower on lateral movement.

Have an Idea for a Junk Science episode?

If so, shoot me an email to [email protected], and put the words Junk Science in the subject line.

On Friday, I shot the 2017 Carolina Classic USPSA match. It was hands down, the best run match I've ever been to. I was the first shooter on the first stage, and I started shooting at 12:54PM. We shot 9 stages, and I sent my wife a text saying that I was on my way home at 5:52PM. 

9 stages + Chrono in less than 6 hours. Awesome.