Author: Aaron

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Unlocking Victory: The Vital Role of Gun Maintenance in Competitive Shooting

The Overlooked part of Winning

Often times in competitive shooting there is always someone whose got a gun they’ve been tinkering with & haven’t had time to go to the range to test it but they wanted to come to shoot the match or they did a hotel special, like hastily installing a new trigger or sight, the night before nationals start. These are bad ideas.

Why Are These Bad Ideas?

Importance of Reliability: 

This plays into multiple areas of match performance. The most significant area you won’t realize it will affect is your mental game. How is this going to affect your mental game? It will affect your mental game by taking some of your focus away from the match because some of your mental focus is transfixed on: Is the gun going to run today? If it doesn’t run, this often snowballs into trips to the safe areas and time spent trying to band-aid the situation to make the best of it. The time spent in the safe area takes away from loading mags, stage walk-throughs, and watching the other shooters run the stage. It puts you at a mental disadvantage overall. If the gun does work, then you are happy & you are still mentally transfixed on it working, which is still a mental distraction. No mechanical gain is going to make up for the mental distraction.

Tuning Your Gun for Optimal Performance VS. Finding the Balance: Avoiding Over-Tuning

Tuning your gun for optimal performance with your grip & your ammo might not be a reliable combo for long-term use. We have watched people make a gun completely unreliable by short-stroking the recoil system, cutting coils & adding recoil buffers because that is how the gun doubles best with their combo of factors. But it doesn’t run if the gun is dirty or stuck in a small port; it doesn’t run. Yes, You’ve optimized performance but over-tuned everything & the gun no longer functions with typical match demands. But man, it doubles like a dream. At about the 75% mark of where a lot of people want to tune their gun to, the gun is pretty well tuned up & doesn’t require the Maintenance schedule of an exotic car & recoils back to the same spot, and has a sub 3lb trigger.

Matching Gun to Ammo and Shooter & The Power of a Dumb Reliable Gun

Not all guns like all ammo or even bullet profiles or powder charges. your grip can have affect on this as time goes & you learn or develop your abilities you may change your ammo combination which in turn lead to you needing to change striker springs/ hammer spring or recoil springs maybe both will have to be changed. a simple change in oal can have big affect on your sights coming back on target how is this so? an increased overall length will change the feed angle & drag caused by stripping the next round out the mag.

Key Maintenance Considerations

Most competitive Shooter use there guns more in a year than they get used by most customers in a life time.

  • Firing pin block/ Striker plunger spring every 6 months! This a safety feature that keeps the gun safe…
  • Trigger return springs once a year
  • Recoil spring if its super light for application you may need to change it every 1k rds or once a month most are every 6 months
  • Mag Springs every 6 months/ every 5k (this also depends on mag total)
  • Hammer Spring/Striker spring Every 6 months or 5k rounds

Competitive shooting demands precision, reliability, and an understanding of the intricate relationship between guns, ammunition, and shooters. As one fine-tunes their firearm, finding the balance between performance & expectations, the need for meticulous maintenance diminishes, and the gun effortlessly returns to its position with a sub 3lb trigger. However, it is essential to acknowledge that not all firearms are compatible with every ammo or shooter, necessitating adjustments in striker springs, recoil springs, or overall length. Regular maintenance is indispensable in unlocking the path to victory in competitive shooting.

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Choosing the Right Gun


One of the most frequently asked questions by newer and even intermediate shooters is, "What's the right gun for me?" We often hear comparative questions and statements like, "Is this better than this?" or "Do you think I'd do better if I had a ____?"
Alex cote getting the gun up fast going into position	As an instructor, former MD, and competitor, I have noticed that one thing remains the same from beginner to advanced shooters. What is most comfortable in YOUR hands will be the most comfortable and consistent for YOU to shoot. In turn, on a topic of growth, you'll find a more direct correlation of progress with a gun that is naturally comfortable to you over something that isn't. Don't expect a price tag to produce progress you haven't worked for! But also remember reliability is equal as well; it must work as well as be comfortable, whether it is a $500 Glock or $5,000 2011. Guys and Gals have won championships with everything from Glocks, Sigs, Walthers, Caniks, and 2011s. So, remember, the type of gun used doesn't make the shooter, but the connection between gun and shooter can. One saying I always loved was, "Go ahead and get that 2011; someone out there is still going to beat you with a plastic gun". This means that someone who's comfortable with that plastic gun will not succumb to your new imaginary skills just because you finally own that 2011 you're not yet comfortable with.

	



Now, let's talk about the financial aspect. Yes, some firearms are priced higher for a reason, but does that automatically make them' better'? The answer is, it depends on your needs and comfort. There's a trade-off between your budget and your practice. A shooter with a $500 Glock, if that Glock is comfortable for them, and $4500 in Ammo to practice with will outperform the shooter with a $4500 2011 and $500 in Ammo. It's not just about the initial cost but also the ongoing investment in practice. So, remember, it's not about the price tag; it's about finding the right balance for you.

	Lastly, let's talk about modifications. If there are one or two things about your firearm that you don't like, it's okay to make some changes. Most platforms have a significant aftermarket presence, offering everything from gas pedals to grips. But remember, these modifications aim to enhance your comfort and reliability, not to' bling out' your gun. It's about finding the right balance. Don't make the mistake of constantly modifying and changing your setup, as it can lead to reliability issues and prevent you from truly getting comfortable with your firearm. So, be mindful of your modifications and focus on what truly improves your shooting performance.



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Limited Optics
limited optics cz

Cajunized CZ Shadow 2 w/ Flat Armory Craft Trigger – Trijicon SRO 5 – SSI Nitrofin – CZ Oversized Safety – LokGrips LokJaws – LokGrips Brass Magwell – LokGrips Basepads – Lokgrips Brass Oversized Mag Rel - Rune Tactical Springs/Followers



CZ USA Dan Wesson DWX – Trijicon SRO 5 – LokGrips Lokjaws – LokGrips Aluminum TS Gridlok Magwell – LokGrips Oversized Safety (Mod) – TS Gas Pedal –Henning Basepads – Rune Tactical Springs/Followers
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Jay beal dryfiring in stage walk through 
Jay beal dryfiring in stage walk throughWhy would someone dry fire every day, even for only a few minutes? I will cover some reasons for doing this and the skills I prioritize. All of this comes from the perspective of a competitive shooter who wants to develop the skills and confidence to perform at the top end of my ability, on demand, in competition.  First, the specific skills I practice and how I train them matter far less than the regularity with which I handle the pistol. Training every day builds a deep familiarity and connection to the gun, allowing me to look at a small spot and present the dots/sights to that spot without thinking specifically about how to do this. That is the main benefit of handling my competition pistol every day, regardless of whether it’s for 5 minutes or 50.
The skills I maintain focus on developing are simple: draws, reloads, and target transitions. There are obviously variations to all of these skills; for example, the draw is not always “wrists below the belt,” but it could be a table start or hands starting on a wall; this principle of variety applies to any skill in working on.  Overall, Allowing myself the opportunity to train every day without the pressure to have an entire 45-minute session makes it far more likely that I actually handle the pistol every day. Often, these shorter sessions become longer or even an additional dry fire session later in the day. Maintaining daily gun handling skills over Extended periods, such as years, has only had a positive impact on my shooting, and I’m sure it would be for anyone who wants to get better at shooting.I currently use the full-size 5” Walther PDP steel frame with a 14-pound flat wire spring and the Rune Tactical guide rod. I use CR speed for my belt and magazine pouches. I use a GX products Vice on a BOSS hanger for my holster.
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Getting Started in Carry Optics

Carry Optics is the most participated division in recent USPSA, accounting for 34% of USPSA activities in 2022. In comparison, this number will drop slightly if they choose to introduce the provisional division: LIMITED OPTICS, in 2023. Below are just some of the things that make getting started in carry optics easier than other standing & potential divisions.
What will cause the drop will be a multitude of things, Like wanting to use their factory magwells from Canik & SIG. Cz & Tanfoglio guys wanting to use single-action & thumb safeties. There will also be guys chasing paper classifications.
Carry optics will still stand as the best option for new shooters as more & more optics-ready guns become available. For example, Taurus has factory optics-ready revolvers. While they aren’t legal for Carry Optics, it just shows the commitment to red-dot the world movement.

What makes carry optics more new shooter friendly over the other divisions. is the ability to use off-the-shelf everything & not be at such a competitive disadvantage that you never come back. By off-the-shelf, I mean gun take your choice(Glock 17,34,19 all mos, Canik Tp9sfx & Rival, Cz Shadow2 optics ready, P-10F optics ready, P-10F Competition, Sig P320 AXG, P320F, P320 X5, P320 MAX, etc.) holsters you can show up with any name brand OWB Kydex style holster. Some top brands are GX Products, Bladetech, Black scorpion, Comp-tac & others. What not to show up with is Blackhawk, uncle mikes, or other cheaply made holsters. If your looking at buying a holster to get started, the Black scorpion is one of the best bang-for-buck options at there uspsa specific holster rolling in at around $105. However, they offer a lesser expensive one under $100 geared towards uspsa. The difference is the hangar quality.

Ammunition can be off the shelf also for carry optics. Shooting factory ammo with factory mags doesn’t disadvantage you considerably. However, you have to do more recoil & red dot management than someone shooting ammo skating by 128pf. As far as mags go, canik offers factory 20rd mags, Cz offers 19+ rd factory mags, and Sig has 21rd mags that all fit the 140mm gauge. While these aren’t maximized for the game, they will get you started & can be maximized down the road. You will need at least three mags; having three mags on your belt with 17rds each gives you 51 chances. Five mags make it a more comfortable experience. Having more mags means you can shoot more stages without reloading your mags. But you always want to start the stage with FULLY loaded mags. This also allows you to help paste the stage and move the match along faster.
Red dot opinions are like butt holes; everyone thinks theirs is the best, cleanest, freshest one available. Anything from a Vortex Viper to SIG Romeo3 MAX will get you thru the match.
As far as mag pouches & belts go, if you asked ten different people on the range what their favorite is, you might get three people to say Shooters Connection Ultimate belt & CR Speed Versa pouches. So you don’t need either of these for your first match but should have them for the second or third.
Things That Often aren’t thought about when preparing for a match
Hydration- both water & Gatorade
Food- Something like beef jerky, trail mix, Pistachios, PB&J whatever
Tools- On occasion, you have to work on something because it doesn’t have thread locker on it.
Shade/Sunscreen-Even on an overcast day, you can still get sunburnt. or use an umbrella to block the sun.
Poncho- because rain happens, we still shoot.
Gun oil-Because walking to the safe area with the dipstick from your car to try and lube your gun is the equivalent of doing the walk of shame thru the sorority house.
A good Range Bag/Cart/Big wheeled stroller can be a lifesaver.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, BRING AN OPEN MIND & PPE. DON”T FORGET THE GUN & AMMO EITHER

For Current USPSA rules for the division PLEASE SEE USPSA’s Website