Back to Basics: IDPA 2-3-18

A New Year

The start of a new year is a great opportunity to revisit some of my revolvers that have largely remained unfired since I finished the S&W 66 Optic. After totally screwing up my last match of 2017, I decided to return to my first revolver, the Smith & Wesson 686-1. I shot an IDPA match the third week of January with this revolver and everything was alright...until the steel stage. Rather than reliving that debacle, I will share my experience at the February 2018 IDPA match.

Needless to say, this match went much smoother. It was a chilly Saturday morning on the range and the match director set up five short stages that we're completed before 1:00 p.m. Since last fall, I've spent most of my time shooting revolvers with red dots. This has made me extremely sloppy when shooting with iron sights. I realize that the red target labels are a bit difficult to see, especially with the orange clay in the background. I apologize for this oversight and will try a brighter color on the next match review. 

Stage One

  

For those that don't typically shoot competitively, the various sports have different ways to determine a shooter's skill level, referred to as a "Classifier." IDPA recently introduced a new classifier that is five stings of five rounds, totaling 25 shots. A shooters raw time plus any points down or other penalties produces a total time that is compared to an established rubric. IDPA's current classification system is: Novice (NV), Marksman (MM), Sharp Shooter (SS), Expert (EX), and Master (MA).

My first revolver classifier was back in April 2016. My time placed me on the lower end of the Marksman rubric. With the new classifier official in effect and the season just getting started, the MD decided that the first stage of this match should be the new classifier. At sign up, shooters could elect to have their scores submitted to IDPA as a classifier. I was in need of another REV division classifier, so I requested my scores to be sent. I bobbled the reload slightly on string three and only shot five points down total. I finally bumped into Sharp Shooter with an overall time of 36.05! All in all, I'd say the stage went well for me.

  

Stage Two

Follow the arrows!

   

Stage two required a seated start. Shooters began holding a large rock that was supposed to be a phone. At the buzzer, the "phone" was discarded and T1 and T2 were engaged on the move to the first cover position. Once in cover, T3 - T6 needed to be engaged while slicing the pie. Shooters then moved toward the targets obscured by the vision barriers, that felt like a hallway. The stage description required T7 and T8 to be engaged before T9. T9 was surrounded by Non-Threats with only the head visible. While there was no cover position at the barrels, EVERYONE kneeled in the same spot to avoid a shoot through on the Non-Threat. 

I loaded and made ready before being presented the latest "phone-rock hybrid". At the buzzer, I discarded the worthless technology and engaged T1 and T2. At the only official cover position, I engaged T3 and performed a solid reload. T4 - T6 ran the wheel gun dry again and I bobbled my reload on the way through the vision barrier tunnel. I engaged T7 first and then T8 while moving to "the spot." I placed two down zero shots on T9 without striking a Non-Threat. I finished this stage in 29.85 seconds with no points down.

Stage Three

This stage was borrowed from Silver Dollar 2016 but treated barrels as vision barriers. 

The MD has participated in several large matches and likes to hit us with his favorites from time to time. This stage was apparently borrowed from the 2016 Silver Dollar Match but adjusted to fit IDPA's current rules regarding fault lines and vision barriers. Shooters had the option to start at either position. T3 - T7 all had no shoots directly in front of them, so shooters engaged targets diagonally from their current position. T1 and T2, much like T9 and T8, were engaged second and third. This is because T4 and T6 were visible from their respective side's start position. Interesting, right? After engaging T4, followed by T1 - T3, shooters continued shooting targets as they appeared, reloading as necessary.

As most of the shooters were right handed, they chose to move from left to right. The two lefties, myself and another shooter in competing in CDP, chose to move from right to left. I drew and engaged T6 before taking two steps to the right to shoot T9 and T8. With the revolver empty, I reloaded and addressed T7. I started moving down the line shooting each target as it appeared in front of my sights. A couple shooters bumped their muzzles on the barrels because they crowded cover. I managed to avoid that. When it was all over, I finished this stage in 29.66 seconds clean.

Stage Four

The tactical broom was later replaced with a tactical stick.

This stage was designed by the MD's preteen daughter who has just started shooting matches with our club. At the buzzer, T1 and T4 become visible and must be engaged on the move to the first cover position. Once in cover, T2 and T3 must be engaged before a shooter proceeds to the next array. After leaving cover and heading toward the stomp plate to activate T5, T6 becomes an appearing target before shooters reach the plate. After engaging T6, shooters activate the stomp plate to reveal T5. Shooters move to Cover Position 2 to engage T7 - T9. 

She did a great job with the design! While advancing to cover, I addressed T4 first and then T1. From the right side of CP1, I engaged T2 and performed a reload while moving to the left side of CP1. Two quick shots on T3, one of them down one, and I was off headed toward the stomp plate. T6 became visible and I fired four shots to empty the revolver. I should have shot three on T3 and three on T6, but I figured four shots on a target while on the move was a safer bet. I bobbled the reload at the stomp plate, landed two shots down zero on the drop turner. At CP2, T7 and T8 were shot before my final reload. I dropped a point on T9. I finished this stage down two points in 31.25 seconds.

Stage Five

Note the tactical car seat. It had several holes by the end of the day.

  

This was the final stage of the day for my squad! There was quite a bit of movement between Cover Positions 1, 2, and 3. At the buzzer, shooters moved to CP1 and engaged targets while slicing the pie. Target 1 was 20 yards away, T2 was half that distance, but T3 was the furthest away. To increase the difficulty, the target hung partially obscured by a Non-Threat target. T4 and T5 were treated as appearing targets and everyone addressed these on the way to CP2. T6 and T7 were both visible from CP2 and were required to be engaged from that position. The steel popper, which activated a rising target, was engaged from that position or CP3. From CP3, shooters could make up any misses on T1 and T3.

T1 and T2 were both down one point. I aimed high right to avoid the Non-Threat on T3. I reloaded and shot T4 and T5 twice on the move, dropping another point on T5. I rushed the trigger press on the second shot. Once I entered CP2, I engaged T6 before reloading again. With a full cylinder, I shot T7 and ran to CP3. From CP3, a single shot downed the steel which fell and triggered the disappearing target T8. I shot it twice before reviewing T3. I couldn't see the hits until I reached the final position. I was actually down 8 points, so I reengaged it with my final shot in the cylinder. I should have shot the steel at CP2 then scurried over to CP3 before T8 rose and fell, but I was afraid of the timing. I totally could have made it! I finished this stage 8 points down in 36.19 seconds.

Conclusions

This was a great match! I still didn't do great, finishing 27th out of 36 shooters, but I was the only revolver shooter again. I feel like five stages is the perfect number for an IDPA match that starts at 10:00 a.m. One standards stage can assess skill, while four 18 round stages test both efficiency of movement and reload speed. I am still bobbling a reload with my Safariland Comp III speed loaders at least once per stage. I've found the issue to be my initial grip of the loader. If my index finger lands on top of a round, I tend to align the bullets with the chambers faster. I plan to focus more on the position of my hand when I go for a speed loader. 

So what is next for my IDPA journey? Well, now that I have another valid classifier under my belt, I plan to shoot a Tier 2 match in Summer 2018. In the mean time, I will return to the S&W 66 Optic now that IDPA has produced provisional rules for the Carry Optics Division. Just like USPSA's similar division, revolvers sporting a red dot have been left out of contention. Luckily, that doesn't stop me from shooting in the Specialty Division and comparing my scores with the other red dot equipped pistols. We'll see how that goes!

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!

Introducing www.RevolversOnly.com

Welcome!

The Revolvers Only blog now has it's own URL, www.revolversonly.com! I've updated the format slightly and  added some new features to the website. 

Today is my 29th birthday so I will have to keep this post short as I have to run errands with my fiancé. Please give them a quick look and let me know what you think.

I hope everyone enjoys the changes!

What's New?

Aside from the new URL address, I have added some new pages! 

These new pages include:

• A Home button to return to posts
• An About section explaining the story of Revolvers Only
• A Contact page for inquires and ideas
• A Favorites page to showcase my favorite wheel guns
• A Merch page (Coming Soon)
• A Links page to my favorite gear (Coming Soon)
• An Instagram link to the Revolvers Only Insta.

I may change the order and even add more pages in the future so don't forget to take a look ever few visits for any updates!
   

What's Next?

I have plenty of new content coming as I've been shooting several matches since the new year began. I've also borrowed several revolvers from friends and family for review. I am working with a friend on creating a YouTube channel with match videos and reviews so look for that in the next few months as well. 

I really appreciate all the readers who have keep coming back for content and hope that any new readers will like what they see and return!

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!

A Present from My Fiancé: Smith & Wesson 929

She wanted a sapphire instead of a diamond. I like it.

The Proposal

After seven years together, I proposed to the love of my life on October 15th, 2017. The best part? She said yes! Another couple helped me set up the plan for a photographer to be present. We've now selected a date, booked the venue, chosen a professional photographer, and she has started searching for the dress. The venue's Wedding Checklist List is extensive, but we are on track for our November wedding. 

The Engagement Present

Now on to why you are reading about all this. After I proposed, she asked me for my wish list so she could get me an engagement present. I obliged. At the top of my list was the Smith & Wesson 929, a Schofield in .45 Colt, a Colt Competition in .45 ACP, and a Charging Rhino in 9mm. Even though she preferred the 1911, she knew I wanted a 929 for USPSA and purchased one new for a song. As a bonus, she received the rebate from Smith & Wesson. I've now taken it to the range a handful of times, so I wanted to share my first impressions.

   

First Impressions

This thing is big. This is not my first 6 inch revolver, but this wheel gun feels heavier. It isn't any heavier than my S&W 617. In fact, Smith & Wesson's website has both revolvers listed at 44.1 ounces. Strange. The only changes I made was to swap the comp to the muzzle cover and exchanged the N-frame Hogue stocks to the X-frame Hogue stocks. These were in my parts bin after my time with the S&W 325 Thunder Ranch. I didn't adjust any screws or mess with any springs.

I did a bit of dry fire and the trigger felt better than other factory S&W revolvers I'd dry fired in stores. I ordered two ten packs of moon clips from Brownells, which was a nightmare because they shipped me 627 moons twice, and loaded them up for the range. This revolver performed well on the first trip, fine on the second, and poorly on the most recent trip. I've rated the trips because I steadily encountered more and more light strikes. I am surprised because this was a brand new gun. I  figured that the tension would have been set by the technician at Smith & Wesson.

Issues

That is a lot of light strikes.

Of the 136 shots attempted on my most recent range trip, the 929 had 22 light strikes. This was disconcerting to say the least. Once I returned home, I removed the Hogue stocks and examined the strain screw. It looked nowhere near flush with the frame. I was able to turn the screw three full rotations before it bottomed out. I guess the tech who assembled the 929 felt those last turns were unnecessary. It is also possible that the previous 200 rounds backed the screw out enough to cause failures.

My other issue was an afternoon spent chasing a zero. I started at 10 yards and shoot a 1.5 inch group shooting in double action. I'll take it. I walked down to the 25 yard board and hung a larger grid style target to fine tune the zero. Aside from the light strike issues, I could not reliably get on paper. I would shoot a four round group and only two would be on paper. So I hung a new target and began shooting groups in single action, finding similar results. I even pulled out the S&W sight adjustment instructions to ensure I wasn't adjusting incorrectly. I gave up to try another day. It must have been me.

  

Future Plans

Despite these issues, I am still excited to have a new revolver for USPSA and maybe even ICORE! I ordered more moon clips, an APEX extended firing pin, an APEX Evolution IV hammer, and a BMT Mooner Model N9-8. I put all of this, plus 8 loaded moon clips, into a box and brought it to the local revolver guru Steve. He said it would be a few weeks to get it all tuned up. I asked for a smoother trigger pull with a 7.5 to 8 pound double action pull to reliably ignite the factory Federal 9mm ammunition that I will be shooting. 

I'm currently hunting for a 6.5" left handed N-Frame holster with a little bit of a race style cant. Comp-Tac's International might work, but I'm very fond on Master-Tac Holsters. I'll give Bill a call and see what he can do for me. I think I've also decided on the Speed Beez's 929 Moon Clip Belt Rack with 8 posts as my ammunition carrier. I'm hoping my folks will pitch in on that for my 29th birthday next month. If all goes well, the February USPSA match will be shot with my new S&W 929. 

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!

How to Lose a Match in Six Shots: IDPA with the Chiappa Rhino

Not everyone shoots a good match every time. I can honestly say that the IDPA match the first weekend of December 2017 was the worst I've ever shot. Some people like to blame their equipment if the hits aren't where they need to be. We all know it is not the Rhino's fault my shots were not where I intended. The real problem is my lack of practice with this revolver. That is what led to my poor performance. Here is a break down of the stages and what I could have done better. 

Stage One

Ah standards stages. Many shooters seem to despise them, but I always find them fun. For my squad, this stage was actually toward the end of the match and man was challenging. The Match Director gave us a bit of latitude on how we shot the stage as long as each position saw the use of a different shooting grip whether free style, strong hand, or weak hand. After watching other shooters have some success shooting free style, to strong hand, to weak hand between positions, the next man up decided to shoot it differently. 

The course of fire was limited, demanding four rounds on each body and two on each head. Not wanting to miss any of the headshots, he choose to shoot strong hand at the back, weak hand in the middle, and free style up close. His scores were significantly better than those before him. Nearly everyone remaining, including me, followed suit. Although one of the headshots was outside the perforation and resulted in a miss, the rest of the shots were almost all down zero. I'll take it considering the earlier stages.
  

Stage Two

This stage required a table start with all shots taken from the seated position. The revolver was loaded to division capacity with three speed loaders positioned any way on the table. Since I load strong hand, I placed them to the left side of the table. I had to reach around them to pickup the Rhino at first, but it made for less awkward reloads. T1 required three to the body and three to the head. T2 - T7 were then engaged with two round each.

I always enjoyed seated shooting because I don't usually shoot sitting down when I go to the range for a session. The first six shots were fast and all down zero. I even heard someone say, "The thing doesn't even recoil in his hand" during my first reload. That's a lie. It does recoil, but it recoils back instead of up. I put two each on T2-T4 without issue and reloaded again. I pulled the last shot on T7 into the hard cover and decided to make it up. I think that was a mistake because the reload and trigger press may have taken just as long as the five second penalty due to a stuck case. 

Stage Three

This MD likes to run stages twice whenever possible to give the shooters more trigger time. Stage three required the gun to be holstered, loaded to six rounds only with all subsequent reloads performed from the belt. At the buzzer the shooter stands, draws, then engages T1 with six rounds. After a mandatory reload, the shooter must engage T2-T4 with the right hand only while the palm of the left hand was placed on the table for all shots. T5-T7 must be engaged with the left hand only while the palm of the right hand was placed on the table. This one was the most demanding stage of this match.

As the Rhino cylinder only holds six rounds, I would be reloading after each target array. Everyone else had a reload midway through the third target array. Sometimes it pays to play with a wheelgun, especially when the MD is often my only competition in the Revolver Division. He creates were revolver friendly matches. Engaging T1 resulted in more statements from onlookers regarding the Rhino's minimal muzzle flip. The left hand array went swimmingly with only two points down. Conversely, the right hand array saw a miss and several points down. The 10 pound trigger is significantly heavier than the 7 pound trigger of most of my S&W revolvers. I need to work on weak hand only.

Stage Four

Our squad started on the bay with stages four and five. This stage required holster handgun loaded to division capacity with hands placed on the wall. Shooters must engage target T1-T3 with three to the body and three to the head. It was unlimited so makeups were permitted. Looking back now, I should have taken a few make ups. The title of this post is a direct reference to this stage. I blew my match by missing four headshots total and shooting a pair of D zone hits on T3. What happened?

I said earlier that I am not going to blame the Rhino because this bad shooting is indicative of my lack of practice with this revolver. In my defense, there is a reason why my shots were high. I've been shooting my Smith & Wesson revolvers religiously for the past few months. The grip angle of the Smith's is different than the grip angle of the Rhino. I did not cant my wrist far enough to fully place the front sight post into the trench. This just shows that I need a lot more practice with the Rhino. I will definitely put in the dryfire at home, but recently received a new S&W N-frame from my fiance. As you can imagine, the majority of my range time will be dedicated to this new revolver purchased for USPSA.

Stage Five

After that terrible first stage, I started trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I walked to the safe area and performed a few draws. When I presented the revolver, I noticed the front sight was high every time until i readjusted my grip. Stage five was a straight forward engage while advancing in priority. The handgun was downloaded to six rounds. The stage began facing up range with hands on the brim of the hat. 

At the buzzer, I turned and engaged T1 on the move. No problems there. I stopped and reloaded to ensure I didn't run out of room before I got to T2. Although I'm pretty sure I put all six rounds into the down zero, the safety officer said there were only five holes on the paper. Welp. I reloaded a final time before engaging T3 on the move. A couple points down, but it was the miss on T2 that ruined that stage.

Stage Six

This final bay contained stages six and seven. This was a bit more of a run and gun stage and everyone was excited to shoot it. All paper targets of stage six required one shot to the body and one headshot. For a bit of a challenge, shooters had to engage T1-T2 while retreating. T3-T5 must be engaged from cover. The two steel poppers had to fall to score with a final array of targets to shoot while slicing the pie.

Shooting while advancing is challenging. Shooting while retreating is a bit more difficult. The weekend before, I was actually on the range working on retreating fire, so T1 and T2 were both down zero. I was careful not to break the 180 as I moved to the first cover position. I shot wide to avoid the non threat on T5 and was down two. At this point I had two round in the Rhino. I actually missed both poppers on the move and had to do a standing reload before moving to the final array of T6-T8 to engage from cover. Poor trigger control. The make up shots on the steel really hurt my time and threw off my reload plan. I had a final standing reload at the last cover position. Not great.

Stage Seven

This was the final stage of the match. The gun started loaded to division capacity, shooter facing up range with hands clasped on top of the head. T1-T2 as well as the steel poppers needed to be engaged while advancing. The start position was incredibly close to T1-T2 and these could quickly fall behind the 180 degree line. I engaged this array first before the steel. 

I guess I hadn't learned my lesson about trigger control because I missed both shots on S1 and S2 while advancing. As both steel had been engaged, I decided to move to the array on the right and come back to them later. I engaged T6-T8 quickly before reengaging the steel. This time both poppers fell and I engaged T3 on the move as soon as it became visible. A final reload at the cover position and the stage was over. So many make ups! At least I had fun running across the stage.

Conclusions

So there you have it. 21st out of 21 shooters. Abysmal. I may not be a great shooter but I usually end up around a little less than midway from the bottom. Although I realized my mistake relatively early, my shooting really didn't improve that much. The newest blaster and the neatest gear don't guarantee success in a match. Success comes down to practice with your chosen firearm.  

Despite my performance at this match, I still really like the Rhino and fully believe in the unique design. Several of my squad mates shot this strange little revolver after the match. Everyone who tried it was impressed by the lack of muzzle rise. I think a 4" Rhino in .40 caliber would be a monster in IDPA's revolver division. The reduced muzzle rise, coupled with the speed of moon clips, would seemingly make a great competitor. Maybe I'll get one and try it out!

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!

For the Love of Snub: Ruger LCR .357

Range 10 still has an amazing view.

I feel it is important to note that this isn't the first Ruger LCR that I've owned. Right after I started shooting, I purchased a Talo Edition LCR .38 Special + P in OD Green. I absolutely hated it. It turned me off to revolvers for about a year. I know. A light weight snub nosed revolver may be the worst choice for a first revolver, but that is what I could afford at the time. Fast forward a few years and a couple wheel guns later to find that this Ruger LCR .357 is a regular companion when I'm out and about (about 33% of the time). This is a great little gun, loaded with features, that anyone with experience behind a revolver should look into.

Specifications

   

The snub nosed revolver is a popular carry option due to the size, weight, simplicity, and reliability (we could debate this forever). Prior to this release, alloy frame revolvers were considered to be the carry option for many people. In 2009 Ruger introduced the Lightweight Compact Revolver (LCR) that incorporated a new polymer trigger housing. This design, coupled with a familiar monolithic alloy frame, steel cylinder, and barrel sleeve, reduced the weight of the wheel gun even more. The result? A 13.5 ounce wheel gun rated for .38 Special +P. The Ruger LCR .357 Magnum came shortly after offering additional power (and recoil) with a slight increase in weight to 17.1 ounces. That's pretty impressive.

Ruger also created a "patented friction reducing cam" system that smooths out the trigger pull and prevents stacking. The trigger pull feels lighter than it actually registers on the scale. A few other features, such as a pinned front sight and recoil absorbing stocks, all come standard from the factory. Options are nice. Ruger offers a variety of parts that other competitors did not. Let's looks at some of the parts I selected to get this revolver to fit my lifestyle!
  

Stock Options

All three Tamer stocks: stock with finger groove, Bantam boot, and finger-less extended.

One of the best features of revolvers is the variety of stocks shapes and materials that a frame can accept. The Ruger LCR is no exception and several companies make stocks for the intended purpose of the gun. Ruger partnered with Hogue to create the Tamer stock that feature a recoil pad along the back strap to reduce the felt recoil of the little revolver. This comes standard and is relatively comfortable compared to wood or G10 stocks, I just hate finger grooves. 

With the release of the Ruger LCRx 3 inch, Hogue produced  a longer stock without grooves. While these larger stocks are the most comfortable for shooting, they print unless I am wearing larger fitting clothing. I finally decided on the Hogue Bantam Boot grips for better concealment and the lack of finger grooves ensuring a better fit in my hands. These stocks still feature the Tamer recoil pad on the back strap. They are good enough for me.

Sights

Sight picture with XS Standard Front Sights.

Perhaps my favorite feature of this little snubbie is the pinned front sight. This model come from the factory with a serrated black front sight. I had a hard time seeing the sight at the counter. Thankfully, Ruger collaborated with a couple companies to offer both fiber optic and night sight options for those who have a hard time with black on black sights. 

I ordered an XS front sight as soon as I made it home with my new prize. Once the sight was installed by my local gunsmith, I took it too the range for some shooting. The LCR hits point of aim/point of impact with most of the ammo I've tested inside of 10 yards. As expected longer shots require a six o'clock hold. I've only shot out to 25 yards with the LCR.

Ammo Selection

  

Selecting the carry round for the LCR was actually quite the challenge. There are dozens of defensive ammunition options for the snub nosed revolver. I tend to lean toward .38 Special + P, rather than .357 Magnum loads, in my revolvers. I just don't like the blast that magnums produce. I settled on Speer's Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain 38 Special + P ammo based on ballistics tests I've seen and the overall shooting characteristics of the round. Out of the LCR, recoil is manageable and the rounds shoot POA/POI with my front sight.

Shooting Impressions

Testing accuracy with a handgun is largely based on the shooter's ability. I've only been shooting revolvers with regularity for about two years and a half years but I consider myself, an average shooter. I shoot the Hardwired Tactical Shooting Snub Super Test regularly with the short barreled revolvers I own. A passing score is a 135/150. The drill is straightforward as follows:

• 5 rounds in 8 seconds from 10 yards.
• 5 rounds in 5 seconds from 5 yards.
• 5 rounds in 3 seconds from 5 yards strong hand only.

Passed.

The target above is from a range session last spring. I managed to run out of the B-8 targets during my most recent session, so I don't have another target to post. I shot this drill with standard .38 special rather than the +P offerings. I dropped a few points shooting quickly with one hand, but I passed. I need to run this drill with +Ps soon. 

I forget how much a little snubbie can recoil after shooting steel frame revolvers all day. Thankfully, the additional weight of the LCR .357 assists in recoil management. The .38 + Ps are a handful, but I am able to control them during strings of fire. I don't think I will ever shoot this with .357 magnums. I feel like the recoil, noise, and muzzle blast would reduce my proficiency with this little gun. I'll stick with +Ps. 

I've also found that the shorter extractor rod doesn't always extract the cases with my preferred reload. As a lefty, I typically transition the revolver to my right hand and use my index finger to push the extractor rod. This usually results in at least one stuck case with the LCR. Instead, I have trained myself to use the universal reload. The revolver transitions to my left hand with fingers through the frame and the extractor rod receives a firm strike with the palm of my right hand. My right hand then retrieves a loading device and I transition the revolver back to my left hand for a firing grip. I prefer my left handed technique, but this is fine.

Carry Options

    

I mentioned that the Ruger LCR is one of my two regular concealed carry options. Although I prefer shooting this little revolver with the extended grip, that stock doesn't always conceal well on my person. I went with one of the smallest grip options, the Bantam Boot grips. This is an incredibly concealable package for appendix carry, inside the waistband carry, pocket carry, and coat pocket carry. 

The kydex holster offers full coverage of the revolver and is ambidextrous with a reversal of the screws. It came with a soft loop strut, but I prefer the clips made by G-Code Holsters. It pushes the butt of the stock closer into your body so it prints slightly less. For pocket carry, I really like the Sticky Holster. It stays in the pocket when I draw the revolver. It is actually designed to be placed between bare skin and a waistband, but I like more retention for belt carry.

After five shots the LCR is empty. I was hoping a Safariland Comp 1 designed for a J-frame would function, but it just doesn't fit. HKS speed loaders are widely available and relatively inexpensive. Although not a perfect fit, this speed loader works just fine. I'd like to try a 5 Star Fireams J2 and matching Kydex Speed Loader Carrier,  but I haven't ordered any yet. These typically ride in my right hand front pocket and it feels like a small rock. I also carry a speed strip in the small pocket on the right side of my jeans. 

 Conclusions

     

The Ruger LCR is quite the little revolver. The amount of features for the price makes it a competitive option for those looking for a concealed handgun. This addition to the market challenged Smith & Wesson's dominance in the small concealable revolver market. Ruger has continuously added to the LCR line by offering several calibers, different barrel lengths, and an model with an external hammer. I think Ruger really listens to potential customers when they offer new models of this fantastic platform. 

When I saw the Ruger LCR .357 sitting in the used cabinet for a great price, I bought it then and there. The ability to change the front sight and the recoil absorbing rugger stocks sold me the LCR. The 17.1 ounce weight .357 model also helps to soak up a bit more recoil than the standard LCR and is totally worth the four ounces. I've never fired a .357 through it and don't intend to, but the option is always there should I decide I need it. This model is a winner!

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!

USPSA Model 66 Open Revolver 11-25-17

A Different Competition

Thus far, my competition experience with revolvers includes IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) and Steel Challenge. I have enjoyed shooting wheel guns in both formats, but when I found out our local club was planning  to offer USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) matches on the fourth Saturday of each month, I was pretty excited. From the outside looking in, USPSA appears to use specialized racing equipment compared to the holsters and speed loader/moon clip holders of IDPA I am used to using. 

This is actually my second USPSA match. I enjoyed it so much back in October that I thought I would shoot the same set up again. The first match was a real learning experience. Since I was shooting minor, I figured accuracy was more important than speed. I was the most accurate shooter at the match with 109 As, 1 B, and 5 Cs. The kicker? My times were slow. I placed 23rd out of 27 shooters. Here are my results from the first match:
  

Sorry this is a little small.

Why Open?

This was what I used at my first USPSA match in October 2017.

My choice to shoot in open was the only choice for an optic equipped revolver like my Smith & Wesson Model 66 Carry Optics. Why not shoot in Carry Optics? Unfortunately, USPSA's Carry Optics Division caters only to handguns with slide mounted optics. Instead, I would be shooting against the double stack 2011 race guns. 

Although I love new gear, I didn't want to purchase a bunch of new stuff if it turned out USPSA wasn't for me. Instead, I used the kydex holster, pouches, and speed loaders that I use in IDPA. The only difference is an Uncle Mike's double belt system my fiance ordered me for this match. The outer/inner belt system is a great idea and I wish IDPA would permit it for the convenience. Now, on to the stages!
  

Stage One

  

The blue and white barrel were not involved.

This was actually the second stage our squad shot at the match. The start position box was just outside of the shooting area, so you had to step in to the box as you drew. Rather than shooting the center array right off the bat, I decided to move to Position Two and shoot the first array of three. Everything went fine until shot five which was a click instead of a bang.  A bang followed by five more clicks threw my stage plan out the window. So I did a reload, fired two quick shots then continued to load midway through each array. 

Up to this point, I've never experience a failure with this revolver. I was actually surprised when it happened twice. I thought it might just have been the round. Until it happened again, just a few steps away, at Position Four. I finished. It wasn't great. My squad suggested an extended firing pin.

Stage Two

  

This stage opened with two targets directly in front of the start position. I always like to load on the move, so I took three quick shots on both targets then moved to the right toward Position Two. I got another click at this position, but that round went off on the second go round. A turn followed by a quick reload and I got the chance to do some shooting through a port. I reloaded on the move across the stage to Position Three and had another light strike. Luckily, the round went off on the second attempt. One last port to shoot through and the stage was over. Four light strikes in two stages is a lot. Thankfully, I didn't have any more that day.

Stage Three 

Table starts can go great or terrible.

    

I haven't done a lot of table starts. Every once and a while the MD of our IDPA matches will throw one in for fun. Well, this was a table start off one of those barrels. I figured I could get this stage done with three speed loaders considering there were eight targets. So empty gun on the table with the cylinder unlatched. The buzzer rings and I grab a loader with each hand and stow them in the pouches. I then grab the revolver and promptly drop my final loader in the dirt. 

I retrieved the loader and put three on the first target and three on the far target. No hits on the non threat. A quick reload and two shots on the target behind the barrel, before engaging the two at the end of the shooting area while advancing. A final reload and two on each paper target. Aside from dropping the loader at the start position, this stage went fine.

  

Stage Four

Standards are some of my favorite stages.

  

The standards stage was the last stop for our squad. Most of the shooters chose to start in the left box and move right, but I prefer to move right to left. This allows for a faster and safer strong hand reload. This stage required two on each target of the right array, a decent reload on the move, and two more on each target. A reload was not required in the stage description if a shooter's handgun matched or exceeded capacity to finish without it. Even though my reload was relatively smooth, it was still slow compared to the magazine fed guns.

Stage Five

  

   

Our squad started on this stage. I was excited to get right into running and gunning. This stage featured five arrays of three targets, each target required two hits. Many of the shooters chose to shoot the first array on the retreat. I took the shots from the start position then retreated while performing a weak hand reload. At Position Two, I engaged the second array then reloaded on the move to shoot the third array through the port. Looking back, I should have engaged the fourth array on the way to the port. This would have prevented the standing reload at Position Three. Two more reloads and two more arrays to engage. This was a fun stage!

Conclusions

So how did I do? Here are my results from the match:

I tried to shoot a bit faster this match. I shot consistently with my last match performance. My hits amounted to 110 As, 1 B, and 5 Cs. I was the most accurate at this match as well. IDPA has taught me not to shoot make up shots due to both limited capacity of the cylinder and the limited ammo on my belt. I may have to learn to take make up shots, but only if I get a new revolver to shoot 8-Shot Minor.

    

This was a great USPSA match despite my revolver issues! I ended up 28th out of 36 shooters. I'm not quite sure if that is an improvement or not. These two matches actually make me wonder if shooting revolvers against magazine fed pistols is worth it. I find it challenging which is why I keep at it, but not everyone just likes to play. Almost everyone likes to win. Unless you are Jerry Miculek, I'm not sure a wheel gunner can compete with some of today's race guns, but that doesn't mean I won't keep trying. Do you think revolvers are outgunned at matches today?

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts or would like to share your experience on the current topic please post below!