Wrap Up

My first Bianchi Cup is now just a memory. I really enjoyed meeting the people and shooting in the match. I did choke on one or two events so my score was not what I wanted but it was a great experience.

On the barricade I just shot poorly. I missed my time and threw one off the target, that did not help my score any. On the plates I think it was a mix of 2 things. One was I did not shoot as well as I could have. That was evidenced by the plate I missed at the 10 and 15. The other thing was ammo related, I had match ammo that I was planning on using, I used some of it to find my aiming points on the plates. It was about 1/3 up on the plate at almost every distance, the ammo shot high. My practice ammo did not shoot as high, so my aiming point was different. When I went to the practice range I just could not hit the plates, the ammo was shooting way low, lower than my practice ammo. I never got my aiming point down on the match ammo.

I am looking forward to next year and also shooting a few action pistol matches between now and then.

Stay tuned...

Day 4...Last event, the dreaded mover

Today marks the last day of competition. My event was the Moving Target. The target crosses the range in 6 seconds. You need to shoot it from 10-25 yards with either 3 or 6 shots depending on distance.

This event strikes fear in the hearts of many, but for me...not so much anymore. I only shot this event 5 times before, never in practice before coming here. No one has a moving target around to practice on. The plates, practical an barricade were all a part of my practice routine.

I shot this in practice here this week maybe 10-12 times, and I was getting very good scores. I ended up getting a 423, this was my best event.

Later tonight they are hosting a BBQ dinner, and tomorrow there is the Colt Speed Event, where the top competitors face off and a Celebrity Pro-Am, followed by the awards dinner.

No that is not snow, apparently cottonwood trees.

Day 3 Practical and Plate Events

This morning I shot the Pratical event, followed by the falling plate event.

The pratical went pretty well and I ended up with a 419, not too bad. This is probably my average score in the other matches. I was hoping for a better but I'm satisfied. I shot the event in the same squad as Smith and Wesson Jr Shooter,  Molly Smith. She is a awesome young lady, and a pretty good shot also.

Waiting for the targets to come back

Photo OP

Moved on to do the falling plates...didn't do so hot here, my average is probably 380-400 and I got a 360. One late shot at the 15 yard line probably would have slipped by the referees at the local matches.

I hit the practice range again for the mover, set another personal record at a 445. (also another 434) Here's hoping my mover is my best event! 

Day 2...First Event, The Barricade AKA, Motivation Destroyer!

Today was my first event at the cup, the Barricade. There is 4 targets used for the 48 shots. The good news is I got a max score on a target! 120/120

Isn't that computer monitor cool?

 The bad news is thats where the good news stops! The rest of the match, well... was terrible! I missed my time at the 10 yard line, missing a shot. I also dropped one at the 35 yard line.

Here I am getting the bad news from the Chief Range Officer.

So the barricade was bad, so I hit the practice range again to work on the plates and practical which are my two events tomorrow. The practice went, well ....BAD! Not a good day today, but it is still fun . I have met tons of great people. Check in tomorrow when I tell you how great (or bad) I did on the other 2 events. 

PS my score today was a 384...probably my worst I have done in several matches.

Day 1 .... Practice

This morning, first on the agenda was to register and get my gun safety checked  along the way they gave us little things that were donated by sponsors, gun lube, pens all that sort of stuff. I got my safety sticker, and a peek at all of the trophies that they will be handing out.

After registration we went for a ride to find the practice range. A quick lunch and I hit the practice range for some trigger time. 

Practice went really well. I worked on the Barricade event as that is my first event tomorrow morning. I also worked on the Mover, that is one event that I have not been able to work on. Barricade practice went pretty good, but I set a personal record on the mover, at a 434.

A first time competitor meeting then dinner, and I am ready for bed.

Up early to get to the range because 9:30 AM is the Barricade.

Arrived in Columbia MO

Earlier today my wife and I landed in St. Louis, and tomorrow I start the Bianchi Cup competition. Tuesday holds some range practice time as well as registration and a first time competitors meeting. 

I am ready as I am going to be. The travel out here was uneventful. Checking my firearms in the airport went without a hitch. I did have to laugh at the ticket agent. I walked up to him and said, "I have a firearm in my luggage I need to declare" in all my research this is how you say it. He gave me a puzzled look and mouthed, " are you ARMED" I said no, it was in my luggage secured as required. He calmed down a bit after that. They tossed my bag behind the "black curtain" for TSA to inspect it. He kept peeking behind the magic curtain, till he heard the magic, we're all good.

I have been thinking about what my goals for the match are. I am not expecting to "win" but I am expecting to place in the top range. My score goals are the following:

Practical 435

Mover 420

Barricade 440

Plates 420

Total of 1715

That score should get me in the range of some prize money...more on what I'm going to do with that money later...

These are attainable scores. I have reached all of these in practice at one time or another. I actually seem to do better under the pressure of competition. 

Keep checking back throughout the week as I will update as to what is going on.

Down to the wire!!

So I am about a week away from the Bianchi Cup. A lot has happened in the past month or so.

First almost all of my stuff has come together, but it is a little down to the wire.My shooting jersey should arrive this week, most of the competitors have custom jerseys depicting their sponsors etc. Mine was designed by my buddy Brett McFarland over at Christs Church of the Valley. It looks pretty cool! I have a back up gun to take with me, but i started to have some problems with it. Its at the gunsmith and hopefully will be done by the end of the week.

Second,  I have rubbed elbows and met the who's who in shooting sports at these practice matches. I met Jason Koon, captain of the H&K shooting Team, I shot my last match along side Doug Keonig multiple time Bianchi Cup Champion. All great guys.

Here is my gear

Pistol - Sig Sauer X-5 9mm
Holster/Mag Pouches - Blade-Tech OWB
Belt - CR Speed High Torque
Ammo - Match Ammo by DC Ammo, 115 gr XTP, Practice Ammo by yours truly
Glasses - Rudy Project
Ear Protection  - Westone Defend Ear Digital  - One of my sponsors.

I have been shooting really well in the practice matches, but am still working setting my goal for the Bianchi Cup Match.

This week is crunch time, I am going to get out and shoot every chance I get.

I am a little anxious about pulling it all together, I have to ship ammo to the hotel, which I have never done before. I don't even want to think about the potential problems of checking my pistols in my luggage (It is legal, but you can have real problems with the TSA)