March Match-ness

So I was able to shoot 2 Action Pistol Matches recently. The match stages are exactly what the Bianchi Cup will be in May. On some things I did a little better then expected and others a little worse...here is what I did in Match 1:

Practical - 407 - 13X
This is about what I expected, this is the match I can practice the most. I am pretty happy about the shot placement from the 50 yard line, I did better than I expected to there.

Barricade - 399 - 7X
This is a little better than I expected. When I practiced this before I always had problems making the time, I almost always went over. I guess the pressure made me shoot faster!

Mover - 387 - 4X
This is WAY better than I expected. I have never shot a stage like this, where the target moves across the range at 10 feet per second, and you only see the target for 6 seconds. I followed the folks advice to NOT "lead" the target at 10 yards. I didn't,  and all of my shots on that string were behind, I would have been easily over 400 if I shot in front of the target on the first string.

Plates - 250 - 25X
I bombed this...sort of. Again I dont have access to plates so this was new to me. I expected to shoot this almost clean (48/48) I got 25/48. I swear there was something wrong with the rack, because I kept hearing "bang-ping" and the plate would still be there.

The second match was called a Probationary Course of fire, basically it was a distance condensed version of the real matches. This was at the NRA Headquarters Range in Fairfax VA.

Results are pending in that one, we will see how I did. I will say the plates got me again, not as bad, but still I would like to have done better.

The NRA Range is state of the art and really cool, it is open to the public. Maybe if I am in VA again I will be able to stop by and use it again.

Bianchi Events Part #4 Falling Plates

This event is one that I really took for granted as being easy...well its not. 6 steel plates, at various distances. The big problem with these is each plate is worth 10 points, if you dont hit the plate you get zero, there is no 5 or 8 point hits.

Here is the course of fire:

(a) 10 yards - 6 shots in 6 seconds, 2 strings.
(b) 15 yards - 6 shots in 7 seconds, 2 strings.
(c) 20 yards - 6 shots in 8 seconds, 2 strings.
 d) 25 yards - 6 shots in 9 seconds, 2 strings.

And again a video!

Bianchi Events Part #3 "The Mover"

AKA the Devil, This is a bear of a event. The target starts behind a wall and moves...or streaks across the range at 10 feet per second. You have to shoot this at various distances, and it is hard. Here is the course of fire


(a) 10 yards - 6 shots in 6 seconds, 2 strings.
(b) 15 yards - 6 shots in 6 seconds, 2 strings.
(c) 20 yards - 3 shots in 6 seconds, 4 strings.
(d) 25 yards - 3 shots in 6 seconds, 4 strings.

Here is a video of me shooting it! VIDEO

Bianchi Events Part #2 - Barricade

The second event I am discussing is the Barricade event, it is very similar to the practical in that there are 2 targets, but you must keep most of your body behind a wall or barricade.

Course if fire is:

(a) 10 yards - 6 shots in 5 seconds, 2 strings.
(b) 15 yards - 6 shots in 6 seconds, 2 strings.
(c) 25 yards - 6 shots in 7 seconds, 2 strings.
(d) 35 yards - 6 shots in 8 seconds, 2 strings.

Not too hard but the time is tight close in. Here is a video of what it looks like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7STrs5oVlQ

Bianchi Events Part #1 - Practical

I figured I would take a little time to explain what each event in the Bianchi Cup is so you folks would know what I am talking about. This first event I will discuss is the "Practical" event.

The course of fire is as follows:

The targets are the NRA AP-1 and it looks like this:
The black dot, 4" and the first ring 8" are 10 points, the next ring is worth 8 points and the rest of the target is worth 5 points

There are 2 targets set up a few feet apart


(a) 10 yards - one shot each target within three seconds, two shots each target within four seconds, and three shots, weak hand only, each target eight seconds.
 (b) 15 yards - one shot each target within four seconds, two shots each within 5 seconds, and three shots each target within six seconds.
 (c) 25 yards - one shot each target five seconds, two shots each target six seconds, and three shots each target seven seconds.
 (d) 50 yards - one shot each target seven seconds, two shots each target ten seconds, and three shots each target fifteen seconds.

Did you catch (d)? Thats trying to hit a 4" dot from 1/2 a football field away...not easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7QaPqeX6bg