IPSC66 – Practical Shooters

Posts Tagged ‘USPSA Practice’

The IPSC66 have been working the past two months in preparation for the 2016 pistol season.  To our friends in the south and west, YES, we actually have a “season”.  The first group work day was primarily the USPSA group (and a few WCRH members) building 40 new walls.  We’ll need all those walls if progress continues on the addition of another bay.  Yes, the dog pond has given way to a new bay.  The planning group that meets each month before a match is already giddy thinking of things to set up in this significantly larger bay.  The second work day was an official WCRH event that involved all club members building new target stands, cleaning the storage sheds, finding home to too many walls, and maintenance of steel.  The WCHR board of directors approved the purchase of new steel for use at IDPA and USPSA matches.  Speaking of matches…

Official USPSA matches begin April 24th and continue the fourth Sunday of each month through October.  Stages and round counts are generally posted on the IPSC66 facebook page approximately one week prior to a match.  Most of our matches are around 200 rounds but some have gone as high as 500!  Check the page and don’t run short of ammo. Registration will be at the same time (0830-0930) at the range house.  The range house is inside the pistol bay area and is designated a cold-range area.  Use the CPL unload area (if needed) before entering; we don’t want you to go home before the match starts. We recommend that you arrive early if you plan to squad with your friends.  In an effort to prevent bottlenecks, IPSC66 actively manages squad size.  When a squad is full, it is full unless approval by the match director is obtained.  Canadian IPSC shooters must print the 2016 invitation letter in addition to any other required forms for crossing the boarder with firearms.  Non-WCRH members participating in any event are required to sign the liability disclosure.  We use the Nook Practiscore system; allowing us to (generally) post scores within hours after completion of a match.  It takes time to program the system with squads and stage requirements so a fairly strict cut off of 0930 for registration is adhered to.  If you’re running late, call a friend to get you registered and squadded.  WCRH embeds NROI certified range officers with each squad, allowing visiting shooters to enjoy shooting and socializing; not working the match.  That is not to say that visitors are not expected to help paste and reset stages or tear down when done.

If you have not been to a USPSA match, we strongly suggest that you attend a free Thursday night practice.  Experienced practical pistol shooters and certified range officers will explain the safety rules, range commands, and provide an introduction to USPSA rules.  We meet Thursday evenings, weather permitting, from 1730-2000.  Bring your unloaded gun, magazines, mag-pouches, eyes, and ears.  All skill levels are welcome.

Now that (most of) the snow is gone and the temps are warm enough to shoot outside without a heavy coat, the practical shooting season is starting at WCRH.

April 4th Work Day

Actually, things get into full swing tomorrow, Saturday April 4th about 0900 when the IPSC & IDPA gang will get together to build more walls and a new shed to hold them.  I know right; what is it with all these walls?  Seems like we add 20-30 new walls every year.  Probably because we do.  The “see through walls” are safer, more durable, and certainly more esthetic than stacked barrels.  Jason P and Shawn D are going to be busy making all those heavy duty stands.  Hours helped count towards the membership requirement and something interesting is sure to happen with so many power tools, hot glue, and pocket knifes in use.

Thursday Practice Resumes

One of the nice things about USPSA at WCRH is the free practice on Thursday evenings.  If all holds up, we are planning to start practice nights again Thursday, April 9th at 5:30 PM.  New shooters can come out and learn about USPSA practical pistol shooting in a low stress environment.  Experienced shooters can get some real rounds down range before Battle in the Bluegrass and Indiana Production/Single Stack/Revolver match.

Oak Hill RO Class

Practical shooting is a such safe sport in-part because of the people that run matches. ROs issues range commands, oversee competitor compliance with the written stage briefings, and closely monitors safe competitor action.  While NROI certified ROs are not mandatory at level I (local) matches, we generally like to have a minimum of one RO assigned to each squad and usually have two.  The first step to certification is maintaining your USPSA membership.  Next, you take a class put on by NROI.  Oak Hill Gun Club in Portland, MI is hosting an official RO (level I) class on June 20-21.  ROs that assist at IPSC66 matches receive a discount on match registration and there is no better way to learn the rules.

July 4th Fund Racer Match

If you have not heard, we’re having a two day, 18 stage, 500 round match over the July 4th weekend to raise money to improve the berms.  Also, if you have not heard, the match registration of 100 people is full.  Match participants will have a chance to win one of fourteen guns from Glock, FNH USA, Sig Sauer, and Springfield Arms.

The past winter was not kind to Wayne County Raccoon Hunters. Yet, things are moving forward for a safe & fun practical shooting experience. The heavy snow caused the roof of the trailer to collapse. Luckily, no one was hurt. The thick ice and snow layers were still covering large sections of the ground a few weeks ago when members of the club spent the day cleaning, organizing the storage area, repairing steel, and building more walls.

April 27, 2014 Match: 8 stages – 206 rounds – $25
The first IPSC66 USPSA match is scheduled (as usual) for the fourth Sunday in April. The April 27 match will be composed of 8 stages including a new USPSA approved classifier. Approximately 206 rounds will be required to complete all courses of fire so plan accordingly. As the trailer is not usable, registration for this match will be in the clubhouse from 0830 – 0930. Shooters will need to provide their name & USPSA number, declare their division & power factor, and be entered into the electronic scoring system to squad. If you want to squad with your friends, be sure to arrive early as it is first come first squaded. The price has not changed since last year. The fee is $25 for non-members and $20 for WCRH members. We will be using the new 2014 USPSA handgun rules. Canadians will need to print a copy of the 2014 Invitation Letter and have all the required paperwork up to date.

Reminder: WCRH is a cold range! Handling of guns is allowed only at designated safe areas or under the supervision of a range officer. A CPL load/unload area is available outside of the gated pistol bays; use it! Anyone handling a gun elsewhere on WCRH property (loaded or not) will result in a DQ for the match (10.5.1).

A USPSA membership is not required to participate in level I (local) matches but makes getting scores and other match related updates easier. It only takes a few minutes to join USPSA online. Becoming a member allows for your scores to count toward classification and is required for participation in level II or higher events like the Michigan Sectional and Indiana Championship that many WCRH shooters attend.

Set up on Saturday, April 26th at 1400 (2:00 PM)
Wayne County Raccoon Hunter members are encouraged to attend set up on Saturday afternoon. The more people that help, the quicker things get done. Hours count toward your annual required for continued membership and helping set up is a great way to learn the finer points of stage design & management.

Free Thursday night practice resumes May 1
Come out and joint the gang on Thursday evenings to learn IPSC style shooting. Coming to a match with no experience is not encouraged. Thursday practice allows new shooters to learn the USPSA official range commands and safe gun handling.  Experienced shooters share their knowledge by setting up a course designed to hone one or more vital practical shooting skills.

Some members of Wayne County Raccoon Hunters may be spending some time at the range on July 4th but the open practice for IPSC66 is cancelled in celebration of Independence Day.

New shooters are encouraged to attend at least one practice night before attending a full match. Normal Thursday night USPSA practice will resume next week.

Feel free to check out some pictures of the June match here

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It may not seem like spring with snow falling and temps dipping into the 20s but…

Rain, shine, sleet, or snow; the outdoor pistol shooting season is upon us. There is only five weeks before the first IPSC66 match of 2013 on April 28. To be ready for another amazing season of safe shooting fun please remember the following dates and events:

March 28-30: RO/CRO Class

If you registered for the class plan to attend. These classes were open to all USPSA members and invitations extended to many Michigan and Ohio clubs. South east Michigan will have no shortage of level I and II certified range personnel for any USPSA matches in the area.

April 4: Thursday Night IPSC/USPSA Practice begins

All shooters (including non-members) that attend IPSC66 are encouraged to attend practice nights. The road gate into Wayne County Raccoon Hunters is opened approximately 5:30 PM and shooting goes until 8:00 PM. The group will set up one to two practice stages designed to simulate conditions encountered at a sanctioned USPSA match. Practi-Score system is used so you can see your scores improve.

New shooters are strongly encouraged to attend at least one practice night before attending a USPSA match. Safety is priority one. Attending a practice night will allow a reduced stress environment and one to one instruction with a certified range officer to learn the range commands and gear requirements.

April 6: Wayne County Raccoon Hunters spring work day

The IPSC/USPSA group has a list of items they plan to do including: building new walls, fixing old walls, repairing target stands, and building dog houses for steel. Members with building skills and tools should plan to help as possible. Other members assistance will be needed to “spring clean” the equipment storage. In Roy’s usual, he plans to take everything out, sort, and return to its designated place. Other work day jobs are needed for members with all physical levels. This day will give the USPSA practical pistol group a chance to work with other club members for betterment of everyone’s WCRH experience.

April 27: Set up for USPSA match

Last year the organization and cooperation shown by club members and non-members alike to set up matches was amazing. With Roy’s announcement, it would be great if interested members would like to get involved with the match planning meeting that occur earlier in the week. Help is always appreciated and counts towards club hours.