Best Time - No Change

See below bottom photo for dates & times in Classifiers.

The December 27, 2014 Phoenix Rod & Gun Club IDPA Classifier is history.  I shot my best-ever time in this defining match--154.58.  However, such a fast time doesn't change the fact that I remain classified as a Marksman in the Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) Division.

Try as I might, I can't seem to break on through to the other side and move up to the Sharpshooter Classification.  This time around, I really tired as hard as I could to clear the magical  141.82 bar.  I even shot the Classifier at 138 but my Point Down doomed me to remain a Marksman for the better part of at least another year.

As you know, IDPA requires members to shoot in a Classifier every year.  My last Classifier was February 22, 2014 at the same club and location.  My February time was also my Best Ever up to that point.  My time yesterday was fully six seconds better than the previous Classifier results.  The graph above shows my progress in five CDP Classifier matches.

I shot Down Zero in Stage One this time around with a respectable time of 44.19.  Stage Two wasn't all that bad, only 9 points down and a time of 41.72.  As usual, it was Stage Three that snuffed any hopes of moving out of the Marksman Classification.  I had 23 Points Down and a total time of 68.67.  If I ever have any chance of getting into Sharpshooter, it's going to take near perfect accuracy in all three stages, plus better reloading technique.

I estimate I lost probably 10 seconds in this match because of reloading technique.  First, the mags would not drop free at slide lock.  They had to be pulled out.  Second, there was some fumbling with the tactical reloads.  Those fleeting seconds really add up when you are trying to get into the 140's.

There's absolutely no doubt I need to work, work, and work some more with the 20 yard shots from behind cover.  You have to stay totally behind cover for the 20 yard shots....no use of the "slicing the pie" sight lines from cover.  Luckily, this time around, I placed all 90 shots on paper.  It's the first Classifier in which I didn't have any misses.  There was one shot that was razor thin close to a miss.  t barely touched the outside perf line.

All-in-all, I am happy with this Classifier time.  The Down Zero in Stage One is really exciting and placing all 90 shots on paper was a real milestone, too. An added bonus was having this Classifier also count for the ESP Division.  In the next Classifier, I plan to shoot in SSP and see what happens.  We have a stock Glock 41 hanging around gathering dust.  If I use 230 grain bullets, I can drop the Feet Per Second down to under 600 and still make Power Factor.  It will be fun to check it out.

It always amazes me just how challenging a mere three targets can be!

I think there was a data entry error on the SSR time back in October 2011.  I believe the 182.48 is correct.
Have no clue why the 222.98 continues to show on my official IDPA record.

Total Adjusted Time for 12/27/14 = 154.58