Sig and Kimber are quite expensive. Great engineering.
1 Like
Thank you. As for the gifted part, Iām not just trying to be modest, but Iām realistic too: the last time I shot a handgun was some time during 1996. Iād expect to be rusty, but competent if I were able to pick it up again. I think I could get back to where I was, but improving on that would be a tall order.
On chamfering the cylinders on my 625, I would love to paint a picture of being a real Renaissance Man by declaring that I did the work myself, but my skills are not with making things. No. I used to use a brilliant, young gunsmith in the Midlands, UK to make my modifications for me. I wish I had those machining skills.
As for speed events, I shot head-to-head with Jerry Miculek in a speed event in Bisley, England back in the early 90s. I was pretty fast, but fast-for-Britain. There were guys like John Coster, Simon Phillips, Angus Hobdell and a couple of other UK guys who were faster than me. I was not a true speed demon like Jerry. He wiped the floor with me. His shot-to-shot reload times are down at the 1.7s and below range for his 625. Thatās a gulf. Jerry won against the UKās best without breaking sweat. The manās a legend.
It was the same with US shooters in the 1500 discipline. It was the premier Police event in the US and was a mechanism for different Police Departments to compete and to find the most professionally competent officer with the sidearm. It developed out into much more with civilian and military competitors joining the open competitions. In the UK, when I was making my last improvements, I was just about to make 1500 High Master. There were only 7 or 8 High Masters in the country. At the time, the US had hundreds, if not thousands of High Masters. The winning scores in the UK National 1500 Open in the early 90s would be 1490-1494 out of 1500; in the US, the winner had ācleanedā the competition shooting a score of 1500 out of 1500 for many years already.
The term āraceā, I seem to remember, was first applied to heavily modified semi-automatic pistols, usually 9mm calibre (sometimes .45 ACP, 40 S&W and others). Whatever could be done to the firearm to make it more accurate (optic sights, modified grips to allow consistent and uniform grip when drawing, weight removal/balance-point changes), faster cycling action (spring weights and rates, slide weights, polishing/grinding feed-ramp, magazine mods), faster post-shot-recovery (porting/compensator), faster reload capability (chamfering out magazine receiver) and a whole host of other stuff ended up with a product that looked space age in nature compared to the factory standard ādonorā pistol on which it was based. I canāt say I recall revolvers ever being tagged a race gun; probably due to being perceived as yesterdayās technology and a bit āgrand daddyā as a consequence.
I can fully understand the therapeutic nature that you described in one of your patients. I am somewhat on the spectrum (pick whichever one you prefer). I have a mix of obsessive traits and Iām certainly socially, uhm, different. I really struggle to relax and Iām always racing mentally. The fact is that I struggle to switch off those character and behavioural components that I am aware of; as for the ones that are beyond the jurisdiction of my self-awareness, wellā¦ There have only been a few things at my disposal to combat these traits in part or in whole:
- Shooting
- Being tattooed - 10 years in Singapore and regular therapy sessions have resulted in a full yakuza-style body-suit which is hidden behind the collar and cuff lines so I could remain professionally acceptable before I retired from regular corporate life
- Cycling - although my obsessive nature required that I have data points to work within in order to have the calming effect; I would try to keep cadence, heart rate and speed all within self-defined limits
- Motorcycle racing - not for the competition, but for the delight in tracing an accurate racing line around a circuit; getting braking, turn-in and clipping-points spot on, rolling the throttle on and feeling the bike move under me, the tyre adhesion etc
In the various throes of all of these, there would occasionally be a moment of an absolute feeling of relaxation and self-control uninhibited by the compulsions that entered my every thinking moment under normal circumstances. I havenāt even mentioned skydivingā¦ Anyway.
To bring this full-circle and pick-up on your point of bowling pins: the bowling pin discipline is the reason I got the 625 in the first place. The 625 bridged the gap between traditional revolver and true race guns. It was just fun for me away from the 1500 circuit. I loved the rationale. Paper/card/steel plate targets are different to bowling pins in that pins donāt behave in a uniform manner to being hit by a round. The rules for bowling pin comps centre around having 5 pins on a bench, set a uniform distance apart and 3 feet from the back of the bench. The idea is that the clock stops when there are no pins on the bench. The reason is for demonstrating control. It would be really easy to reload some weak-ass .38 loads with light 100 grain heads barely hitting 600fps that would create very little recoil thus enabling the shooter to get on target with the next pin quickly with lower recovery time. Sure, the pin will topple, but in the context of firearm mastery it would prove nothing. If you need to get that bad boy off the back of a 3 foot bench to meet the requirement however, then we are incorporating other factors. The calibre and ammunition chosen needs to be suitable for doing the job. Additionally, an off-centre hit, even with ammunition of appropriate nature for the job of getting the pin off the bench, will result in the pin toppling-over, maybe spinning and being left on its side on top of the bench - not enough to satisfy the rules. One needs to re-engage the pin to get it off the bench. The pinsā reactive nature provide a random element to proceedings that the shooter controls with accuracy and power - these are juxtaposed to the primary element we wish to demonstrate which is speed. Itās a brilliantly balanced discipline.
Sorry, Iāve rambled, but it was a really happy time in my life and remembering a lot of it has been great therapy in its own right. Thank you for showing interest. I hope others might be interested enough to dig further themselves. Iām happy to answer any sporting questions from anyone.
2 Likes
Describing your life reminds me of a line from Vonnegut: āIt certainly (has not been) ordinary,ā and I deeply appreciate your sharing it in such organized detail.
It must be reassuring to know that if or when you can return, your skills would rebuild quickly. Despite your protestations, this is the life of a Renaissance Man. Understanding the machining of things perhaps is good enough without having the tools/interest in doing your own machining.
Miculekās skills and talents are well known to me. He is, in short, a phenomenon. I was not aware that he shot in the 1.7s. The vast number of U.S. High Masters is likely more related to population size. You did what you did, and it was your accomplishments that mattered. It is saddening (if that is appropriate) to know that this passion skill/talent came to an unwanted endingā¦.for now.
Yes, āraceā as I hear it applied has to do with semi-autos. They are certainly not-inexpensive. Competition may demand it. There is a recent video of a production Beretta in which race-like modifications have been performed.
In either case, like many who are particularly skilled and talented in an area, you have retained a database of what goes into competition.
Your explanation of the bowling pin activities, brings to mind a question that I had for you:
When you are competing, do you have control/choice of the rounds you are using. Are they made and distributed at the time of the event, or are you independently able to āroll your ownā or chose the factory from whom you purchase the rounds?
I ask because some of recent complaints have been that certain models may be brand specific. Sig comes to mind, that there would be rounds that did not fire in some cases but would if using Sigās own rounds.
Sidebar regarding skin art: There is a local neurosurgeon (sub- sub- specialist). He is very well known, very skilled, and deliberately eccentric. On his arm, he has a large motor neuron tattoo. He also jumps onto the exam table and sits next to the patient. It is not schtick; it is genuinely him, but it also makes him memorable.
My O-C traits gave rise to drag racing, engine building, motorcycle customizing ā¦all interests center around doing. It is great to know a little bit about everything and then become very informed on some things. As technology changes, the need or even ability to take on these things has been replaced by āsealedā machines. There is less and less need to customize a computer or ability to reprogram the computer on a high performance car. The more sedate and traditional hobbies never held interest for me; glad that they do for others.
Perhaps rather than struggle against traits, whether learned or innate, one may be better served by embracing oneās differences from the herd and simply enjoying your own uniqueness. After all that is what artists and poets do.
Back on track, you mention using 100 grain loads (by some) to facilitate ārecoveryā. I was thinking about double-taps which, has been, an interesting concept of firing twice and moving to the next plate.
Years ago I dated this girl whose idea of a great time was riding a motorcycle, out to this strip mined area, and target shoot.
I sincerely hope that you can find a path/means to return to your number one listed passion. Number two sounds like it is well coveredā¦(my kids gave a skydiving gift to my wife and one of their sibs).
What is the status in Australia regarding return to your passion(s)?
In spite of (or maybe because of, Iām not sure) my traits and characteristics, I have always thrown myself into as many different roles and situations as I can. It is a firmly held belief that life is for living and I certainly do not want to go to the grave wondering what if.
On the point of reacquiring skills, an awful lot of the discipline of shooting is based on repetitive actions and visual cues. I am fairly certain 80% of the muscle memory I had for the purposes of speed events would still be there. My visualisation of the process of loading, holstering, waiting for the beep, drawing, acquiring, engaging, reloading and reacquiring is still so very strong; like I was at the range only a couple of days ago. I can see myself, in fact, I am myself wholly and completely - itās still an almost zen-like thing.
As for the 1500 skills, the visualisation piece is not so useful or front-of-mind when I think about the discipline itself. Probably because the time-factor is not the deciding component; for sure, you still have to shoot so many rounds in so many seconds, but it really is no big panic to draw, engage, shoot 6 rounds, reload and shoot another 6 rounds within 20 seconds at 15 yards. Dry-firing exercises at home had limited use, but were still better than no practice at all. I think for 1500, the sight-picture is probably the single most useful visual cue - the uniform view of the front-sight post in the middle notch of the rear-sight, post centred, height of sights level etc. and this is probably the part worthy of most focus during dry-fire exercises.
Your point on double-taps gives rise to one of the IPSC/USPSA (canāt remember which one) regulations on ammunition. Your rounds must make a certain minimum energy to qualify for use in a sanctioned practical pistol match. On request, you have to submit your rounds to a competition official for them to pick a sample of say 6 rounds. They will āpullā at least one round using a kinetic hammer and weight the bullet head and take note of it. Then they will fire at least 3 rounds over a chronograph which measures the speed of the round. From this, they derive the power factor (Power factor (shooting sports) - Wikipedia). Simply put, the more energy released, the greater the recoil and the higher the skill level required to control that and to reacquire the sights to engage the next, or same, target. Interestingly, the broader rules did not prohibit the addition, or machining, of baffles to compensate the recoil.
On the point of ammunition choices in competition, these are largely at the individualās choice save for certain requirements in some disciplines like power factor, or where certain proscribed firearms are mandated within the discipline itself which would narrow the competitorās choice of ammunition accordingly.
Bowling pin comps did not limit any choices on firearm or ammunition; you would disadvantage yourself by using low power factor ammunition as it would not be up to the job of shunting a pin off the back of a 3 foot ledge. For this reason, the 625 was my choice. Most serious competitors load their own. Home loaded .45 ACP 225 grain head rattling out at 950fps is a fairly robust load with a power factor of over 200. I had a Lee 1000 reloading press setup for .45 ACP predominantly (I did have other die heads for other uses/calibres, but I reckon 80% of the time the Lee was primed and ready for .45 production) and I also had a Dillon 550 press permanently setup for .38 148 grain wadcutter for 1500 use.
I donāt recall issues with brand specific ammunition, but I guess the sport as a whole hasnāt been sat around idly for 25 years waiting for me to come back 
As for whether Australia is going to allow me to get back into the sport, my first investigations have shown that there is a base in country, but my impression is that the numbers of competitors is not that big. As a consequence, finding a facility close enough that supports the disciplines which interest me could well be a challenge. Australia is not too different in size to the Lower 48, even a club in the same state as me could easily be a 6-8 hour drive which would be impractical for regular participation.
Whilst seeking out information, it seems that there is a base of people involved in 1500 in country, but finding a facility within 200km that definitively offers it is not proving easy - the search continues. I am also aware that there are prohibitions on some classes or variations of firearms. I would not be able to participate in the Off-Duty sub-category of the 1500 family of disciplines, for example, as the barrel length mandated by the competition regulations is not actually legal in Australia.
1 Like
Yes, people poorly differentiate between personality traits and psychopathology. Being obsessive or compulsive is not a defect or deficit, nor is it a disorder unless it interferes with occupational and social functioning.
So, oneās obsession with going to each of your teamās ball game and compulsion to attend each one during the season would not be a concern unless those thoughts and behaviors has deleterious impact upon your career or relationships.
So we are talking about the difference between a behavioral pattern and a diagnosable disorder. Many celebrities have narcissistic trends. When they have a need to appear nude in their 60s, it may be pathognomonic of a problem they cannot resolve. But letās face it, we often make people into what they are, and the internet has done much of that work for us. You see someone with a rational thought where that thought becomes obsessive and engage in compulsive behaviors that they feel the thought mandates. Thereby, we have a stalker.
Motor memory is an interesting brain behavior. I used to watch my (then small) daughter play the flute. She would stare at a page, and her fingers were move as though she was playing. She learned scales very rapidly, and even with gaps of time, those fingers would āknowā the notes. Alas, she gave it all up for horses, but again, muscle memory, and she is quite an equestrian.
I understand what you are saying about visualization, watching yourself perform even or especially when you were not competing. It was āalways at the front ofā your mind.
Thank you for clarifying regarding the choice of competition rounds and that they had authority to exam and test that with which you were competing. I assume that they can also test and sanction that with which you are shooting unless customized units are sanctioned for that event.
I wondered if you kept abreast of the new metallurgy Dr. Dana J. Medlin, Professor of Metallurgy and Director of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology discusses the advanced materials used in shooting and in biomedical applications. There is also tritium in the use of sights which would make the sight picture easier to captureā¦I am thinking.
When I was talking about brands of rounds, I was asking, and you clarified, that load your own gives you a great deal more quality (and consistency) control.
Likely the sport has not been awaiting your return for 25 years(I liked that), but if you can return, it sounds like you would very much be rewarded by that. The lengthy drive would be daunting. Return or not, I would like to see that under your control and interest at this stage of life.
1 Like
If you have range(s) locally; you may not have to use your KEFās for practice. That model is used by local LEO. A 43 would fit inside the speaker cabinet, dampen the resonance.
Haha, who said you canāt do both? 
Sure thing we have shooting ranges, these days they are more and more popular comparing to say couple years ago.
USCCA is having its home defense conference. That is a very large thing to carry. Thatās what she said. Hammer sitting on a round on your hip or appendix. Could be super dangerous. Several schools of thought. Please be extra careful.
S&W is moving to Tennessee. Why not a 642 to be safe?
Manufacturers almost always do, and that one has a lifetime warranty. Sorry my knowledge base is limited to the laws and mechanics with a budding interest in how competition works. Your question is an important one and much is written aboutit. Keep me posted.
The Colt Python went back into production 2+ years ago. There is a long waiting list and the original was hand nuilt and commands a very high price. This may be driven for the most part by The Walking Dead in whiich it was carried by the lead character, āRick.ā This is similar to the Model 29 being used in the Dirty Harry movies. Were you aware that there is a man/company who leases most of what is used in movies?
Absolutely. I wish more people understood this. I always like to draw parallels with sexuality (in particular, same-sex attraction vs so-called hetero-normative attraction), please bear with me: both mental function/traits (Iām not sure how medically to articulate this) and sexuality are not binary. There is black and white at opposite ends of the scale; absolutely nobody is at either extreme. Weāre all in the grey, just a near-infinite array of shades, thatās all. Iāve certainly been accused of being āa nutterā before due to some of my obsessive behaviours when they have been closely observed. Whilst I may be a little different in many respects, Iām certainly not into the darker grey area where my profile would put me in the company of the deranged or a Fortune 500 CEO. Besides, such harmless compulsive behaviours are a world away from nefarious ideation and actuation.
I can picture what you mention regarding motor memory with your daughter; the physical reaction to the mental sub-routine becomes a partially involuntary connection. Itās an amazing thing to see the biological delegation that occurs with practice. Iāve seen this in rock drummers and itās why they always get my attention in live performances.
Apropos the flute story and other posts elsewhere on your daughters and son where you have shared anecdotes on cat rescue etc. You must be rightly proud as a parent. The world would benefit if there were a greater number of such talented and compassionate people. I hope they inspire others.
I havenāt read Medlinās work, no. On the subject of tritium use in iron sights, I remember early sighting systems that relied on 2 dots on the rear-sight and a dot on the post. This was great for acquisition in speed-terms, but for accuracy, you just canāt beat a blacker-than-black sight picture. Use of calcium carbide lamps was the norm to blacken the sights with the smoke; one might re-black the sights 2 to 3 times during a 1500 course. I would do mine at the beginning of Match 1, beginning of Match 3 (first course of fire at 50 yards) and then again mostly at the end of the first part of the four-part Match 5 just prior to the 25 yard part (6 kneeling, 6 left-handed around the barricade, 6 right-handed around the barricade).
Loading your own ammunition gives so much control over variables and certainly does improve consistency. Consistency is everything, particularly at 50 yards where a poor quality round may cause the hit-point to drift below the 10-ring. Not just the propellant, but control over choice of primer (I used Federal as they were slightly softer and would therefore require less mainspring tension on a double-action pull in order to strike the primer successfully), head seating and choice/degree of crimping (I used softer tapered crimp rather than roll-crimping).
I will carefully consider my next move following further investigations. Iām inspired enough, but not a little reticent due to some of the changes in the world and pervading attitudes over my 25 year absence.
Iām incredibly grateful for your interest, questions and gentle encouragement. Thank you.
2 Likes
This is a contentious area for me. I answer as carefully as I can without judgement. I havenāt walked a mile in your shoes, so I cannot and will not preach. Nothing I write below should be considered encouragement for public carry or for taking on the role of interceding good guy or protector. Post edit: Additionally, āthe lineā as far as this topic and as far as I am concerned is with the use of firearms as weapons. Thatās the only time Iāll use the āwā word as a firearm is not exclusively described thus. Furthermore, this is skirting around the potential for any clarification request to come back to me in the context of āpersonal defenceā. I will not enter into further discussion in such an instance and will likely flag any post that does. Weāve been given the latitude to discuss the topic and I do not wish to further upset or offend by talking about firearms outside of the context of sporting tools. I cannot endorse the use of firearms outside of sporting contexts. The only advice I offer below is in the hope that the response encourages introspection coupled with self-development. Please think hard before treading this path if the intentions are beyond sporting competency.
With the caveats done, here goes.
I trained and drilled for competition. A lot. Whilst I did own a couple of semi-auto pistols, I primarily shot with a revolver, but Iām highly proficient with a semi-auto and certainly not dog-slow. All instructor led training I undertook including so-called bespoke āmasteryā sessions beyond the levels of sanctioned body-led courses, still had the mantra of safety first. Self-defence skills were implied, but not emphasised. Iāve given small amounts of consideration to this line of thought, but as concealed or open carry has never been a legal possibility in the jurisdictions in which I lived, worked and shot, such considerations are largely redundant. As I also never viewed shooting under the guise of anything other than a great sport due to living in a safer community than many do elsewhere in the world, I pondered this less than you might feel you need to.
The one take away that resonates that I think applies to your circumstances is this: any training on-range that you do creates proficiency and enables speed and control to be developed and improved. Any threat that presents in the real world is highly unlikely to come from a person or persons with the levels of proficiency that one can develop through practising on range (when was the last time an aspiring bank robber put themselves through an IPSC sanctioned course?!). You would have the skills advantage and by a wide margin. When you dove-tail this with the mantra of safety, I would personally adopt a position of hammer down, chamber empty and rely on a draw and slide-cycle to ready yourself. The alternative, if you acquired a semi-automatic pistol with a double-action capability, would be chambered round, hammer down, full magazine; this enables a draw, engage and long-pull to fire the first round. I would personally see no value in sacrificing personal safety by having a hot firearm holstered and the safety on at all times unless you live in a literal war zone - in which case move
In short: get training, practice, drill and then do it again. Lots. Learn how do deal with malfunctions. Lots. Practice more. Seek higher training. Practice. You get the picture.
I wish you luck and I also hope none of what I have written ever proves prescient for you.
I hope that your options exist and that if you wish to return to competition that the path becomes open.
You have a very broad understanding of the skills and safety measures. A passive life can be an empty one.
I believe that Wilson makes kits and pieces to improve the competitive performance of some revolvers, chiefly springs as I recall.
Muscle memory, which is a misnomer, is an interesting mammalian acquisition. Thatās how we can not have time to swim for a decade or ride a bike and yet do so with little hesitancy years later. I hope to teach a man to swim next year. He has never acquired the skills needed and this, in turn, has created a dread and avoidance of any water activities, even in the shallow end. Some things we do not do because we have tried and did not enjoy, other things are simple avoided since they are terrifying rather than exciting.
There are things that others do for recreation that are simply uninteresting. Chiefly those are things which are sedentary or repetitive.
Tritium has become all but a standard feature in sights on new semi-. It is enviable to be someone who lives in a rural area where one can āplink.ā It is not an expensive pastime and assuming eyes and ears are protected, it is rewarding to see how steadyā¦or lack thereofā¦one is.
Regarding concealed carry, home defense, and those topics, there are truly endless places to discuss this. There are a lot of data available, both accurate and biased. One learns to listen without passion and understand the information.
There was an interesting video a few years ago. A man (racer0 and his chief mechanic went to be qualify for a drag racing license. The man succeeded, but it was difficult. His mechanic simply tried and tried and could not qualify. In an interview with the mechanic, he noted that he really loved working on things but truly had no desire to be the competitor, merely a resource.
It is similar to how I feel, whatever the technology. I enjoy understanding, building, modifying and then moving on. If I were a competitor, I am certain I would see that more broadly. Whether a computer or a rifle, the first things we do is look to see how they can be modified. The difference is that we shall then use the computer, but are very unlikely to ever use the rifle.
The competition you describe, I have watched as available on TV. They make it appear an easily acquired skill, yet when they show a robust individual failing many times as skill develops, I realize the amount of practice and head-space required.
An interesting sidebar, apropos of probably nothing, but I am not a video gamer. I do have two consoles, and we play mystery games (solving a conflict ridden environment). I have no interest in first person shooters. It seems, to me, to be frenetic and somewhat chaotic. I like branching logic, and again we do not play (nor have the time) more than once weekly. Chiefly, I watch her play and am fascinated by the choices that she makes at key decision points.
You mentioned my children. I cannot recall how many I have, but I like a few of them. My son is a senior software engineer and told us last week he had built an app that does some interesting things. He does not charge for it, he accepts donations. He receives a lot of donations. He is captivated by the challenge. He did a similar thing in high school, not long ago, and the donations for that app enabled him to buy interesting technology. He is a shooter. I have never shot with him.
1 Like
Sorry, I was only quoting the movie industry: The Model 29 was used in Clint Eastwood movies, and the Python was used in Walking Dead. What I was trying to say was that it is interesting to read why the directors went that direction and with what purpose. Hope that clarifies.
I think I recognise this paragraph for what it is. Iāve perhaps overreached in trying to build connection, when you have seen the exchange more from your professional perspective and elected to ārelease me back into the wildā after giving me the tools. Apologies for being over-familiar. I respect the boundaries and appreciate the tools you have equipped me with and the direction I should travel to continue my contemplations.
You did not in the slightest over reach. I was just sharing more data. You have taught me a great deal about a discipline with which I had, at best, a cursory knowledge. I am forever appreciative. How would I have otherwise learned?
1 Like
Iām mistaken. Then I can only reiterate my admiration for how your children conduct themselves.
Iām an open book when it comes to my passions. I will share and help anyone if it is within my purview.
I can only restate that being able to structurally-unpack a lot of what I have done above at your prompting has been enormously helpful and Iām very thankful.
I really need to give them a good cleaning, but i keep putting it off
1 Like