Getting Started in IPSC or IDPA Shooting Sports

Want to get into competition shooting like IPSC or IDPA? The most common thing keeping new people from trying it is that they think they can't do it. They see all these videos on YouTube of shooters hosing down stages and ripping off shots faster than they have ever seen before. However, a new shooter needs to realize that these people they are watching started out as a new shooter and worked their way up to those speeds. I firmly believe that as a new shooter you should not worry about how fast you can shoot. But rather focus on safe gun handling skills and negotiating the stages as this is most likely the first time you have shot a gun while moving. The other shooters will not ridicule you for your speed since they too know what it is like to start out. And they will never remember how poorly you may have shot, but everyone will remember how unsafe you may have handled your gun. So above all, focus on safety and the rest will fall into line.

Here are a couple of videos I made using the ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder. Check them out for more info and some really cool first person shooting footage.
The second biggest question I get is, "What kind of gun do I need to get?" My standard response to this is, "what ever gun you have will do fine, the most important thing is get out and try the sport". Once you shoot a few matches, you may decide that you may want to upgrade your gun based on your experiences and the advice you get from other shooters. Not too mention seeing all the cool guns the other guys have. But do not feel you need to spend tons of money on a new gun to get started. Here is a few things that you will need: 1) A psitol of 9mm/38 special or larger caliber 2) Holster that covers the trigger of your pistol 3) At least 3 magazines 4) magazine pouches are nice, but not required 5) Eye and Ear Protection 6) An attitude to have fun.

Be aware of "good deals" on firearm parts when shopping on the Internet

When I was looking on the internet for the ARMS #41-B flip up front sight for my AR15, I found a smoking deal on Grunbroker.com. It even came with a gas tube for my carbine length rifle. I searched a bunch for a deal and this was by far the cheapest one I found so I jumped on it. Turns out the site did not seal up around the barrel and leaked gas, thus making the rifle fail to cycle. I called ARMS and told them what I saw and they asked me to send in the front sight/gas block for them to see if it needed replacing. Soon after they received it, they called me on the phone and informed me that I had a counterfeit for an airsoft. They said it was the best that they had seen and asked if they could keep it. In turn they gave me dealer pricing on a real 41-B. In the end I paid more for both parts together then if I would have paid retail for one in the first place. So be careful when shopping. Remember, if it looks too good to be true... then it probably is.

"Jeremiafull" Runs the Speed Challenge!

"Jeremiafull" from Switzerland shoots the challenge with a CO2 powered pellet pistol. I love seeing the variety of guns used in the challenge. I have no doubt that all of these guns can easily translate into the users ability with a real firearm. So what every you have, keep up up the gun handling skills. Practice with what you have because the mechanics are the same.

Not all AR15 Parts are Made The Same

Not all AR15 parts are made the same and sometimes its hard to tell. A few years ago I purchased a smoking deal on an M4 carbine kit from BlackThorne. The kit contained everything you needed to build an AR15 with the exception of the stripped lower receiver. The lower is the only serialized part of the rifle so that part needs to be purchased through a Federal Firearms Licensee or FFL. The parts went together easily but the completed rifle failed to cycle. I checked everything and eventually saw smoke residue around the A2 front site. The front sight/gas block is where the gas gets diverted into the bolt for the rifle to cycle. There was an apparent gas leak and not enough gas was being redirected into the bolt for the gun to cycle. After removing the A2 front sight I noticed how poor the surface area inside the front sight was made. It was clear that there was no way to repair this gas block and it had to be replaced. The new gas block worked perfectly and the rifle cycled fine. I had heard mixed things about this company. So if you plan to purchase from them, you may want to consider that the lemon factor seems to be fairly high. It might be worth paying a little extra for another brand. I know I will.


UPDATE! 2-13-2014
Vulcan .50 Caliber Rifle Blows Up and Injures Shooter

BlackThorne & Vulcan are the same.

Black Thorn A2 Front Sight/Gas Block (Above)

Typical A2 Front Sight / Gas Block (Above)

Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner Removed my Chrome Finish

If its one thing I like to share its my mistakes (so hopefully some one else does not encounter it). I tried out the ultrasonic cleaner on my AR15 bolt the other night since I heard it cleans them very well. I dropped it in and went onto my chores and getting the kids bathed and ready for bed. When I returned to the bolt, it was clean. However, the ultrasonic cleaner had removed some of the Chrome plating and the bolt began to rust. Only after an hour and a half. I had also heard that of you put multiple parts in the cleaner, that the vibration the ultrasonic cleaner produces on the parts can rub the finish off if they are touching each other. Not sure if this is true but after seeing this, it might be.

"AustinShootingSports" runs the Challenge again with impressive results!

Tim of "AustinShootingSports" shoots the challenge again and comes up with a 1.95 this time. Super fast run Tim!

Spectator Safety

While doing some video editing from my 2012 Texas State Limited videos, I saw one of my squad members in my field of view of the camera. In this screen shot from the POV camera I was using, you can see that he is pretty much "down range" of me. Now as a shooter I can tell you that I feel the most comfortable at the range at these IPSC shooting matches. I know that all of my fellow shooters are very safe and have pretty good gun handling skills. I feel much less safe at the public ranges. Too many times I've seen just plain dangerous gun handling by the casual shooter at the public range. BUT, even though competitive shooters are safe, accidents can happen. So when you are watching a fellow shooter burn down a stage, make sure you are directly behind them and expect the worst. For example, they could trip or fall and loose control of their gun or have an accidental discharge (AD) while performing a magazine change. Just keep this in mind.

In the video below a shooter is still taping targets when the RO starts the new shooter. Talk about near death!