MD Notes for MMM #1

Greetings, Friends!  Here are the Match Director Notes for our first Arizona Season IDPA Match on November 14, 2015.

Here are some notes for the registered participants:

First,  PLEASE read the four Stage Descriptions including their scenarios and procedures.    We will not be reading all of that information at the Match.  We will go right into a walk through and then commence shooting.  The Stage information was provided ahead of time for your convenience.  Please read up on the four stages before arriving at The Range.  Here is the link:

http://montezumamarkmen.blogspot.com/2015/11/stage-designs-mmm-1-november-14-2015.html

Second, PLEASE be on the Range by 10 AM so you can be geared up and ready for the Safety Talk at 10:15.  We will use a much smaller, lower US Flag for our pledge.  We do not want to draw attention to ourselves fxrom traffic on the nearby Beaverhead Road. Remember: We want to commence shooting right at 10:30.  We have distilled our Safety Talk and Pre-Match Briefing into a blog post you can read at the link below.  However, we will continue to provide  an on-site presentation.

http://montezumamarkmen.blogspot.com/2015/08/pre-match-briefing-safety-speech.html

Third, We will have one large Squad of 11 Shooters for this first match.  The reasons for having one squad will be explained in the Safety Meeting.  Please help tape targets and pick up brass after each shooter.  We will need to move right along Saturday to complete the Match in a timely manner.

Ok, now we will go on to a few match notes.

First, attempted to "fix" the steep drop off on the inboard side of the cattle guard at 9204W.  We "borrowed" some material from the Yavapai County materials yard on the Cornville Road for our "fix."  The loose material may get worn down by Match traffic.  You may wish to get out and kick some of the material around so it will be easier for your vehicle to clear that portion of the cattle guard.  We also trimmed away most all of the cat claw and  mesquite that might have been tempted to give your vehicle one or more Arizona Pinstripes.

There is a teardrop turn around at the end of 9204W.  Please attempt to park "head-in" around this loop.  Technically, legal vehicle access ends at the loop.  Overflow parking will near the old iron water tank.  A few vehicles will also be able to fit into the tear-drop loop itself.  Hopefully, we can keep our parking footprint compact.  Please avoid parking on the right side of 9204W (right side is as seen when driving in toward the tear-drop).

Please review photos of the Range and 9204W before arriving onsite.  Here is the link:

http://montezumamarkmen.blogspot.com/p/range-location_3.html

Note that we spent considerable time hiking all over this new range area.   While we did not see a single trace of past human activity downrange from ou COF bays, there is always the possibility that someone may appear.  It is vitally important for ALL of us to continually keep an eye on our downrange horizons and surroundings to scan for possible encroachment, activity, etc.  Please yell STOP! if you see anything entering into our field of fire downrange.

As noted, we cannot require a fee or even a donation for any of our Matches because we shoot on public land.  Donations are strictly free will and considered a contribution to the group "cost-sharing" of Match expenses,  So far I have spent $100.  The bulk of that figure was for targets ($88).  Once target, tape, sticks and paint costs are covered for this season, the suggested donation will drop back to $5.  Donations in excess of the cost of supplies will be used to defray the seasonal fuel costs for the match truck.

All MMM will start with  fresh targets and have lots of spares.

In the past four seasons of informal "action pistol" matches, fully 100% of all donations have been spent entirely on match supplies, props and match truck fuel expenses.  There has never been a surplus or a carryover.

OK, here's some IDPA Rules commentary.   We staged a grand total of 35 "action pistol" matches from February 2012 to March 2015.  Because these matches informal "action pistol" matches we were able to bend numerous IDPA Rules.  Now that we are an official IDPA club, we are required to follow the IDPA Rule Book.  We do not have leeway to overlook, ignore or bend any of the rules.  And likewise, we cannot create our own "tribal rules" for our local Matches.  We know there are some of our Dear Friends who are going to need to get their shooting gear into compliance with IDPA Rules.  We will cut some slack on this Match only because we feel some of you may be unclear on exactly what is required for your pistol and your match gear.

We will have an official IDPA Box and a scale onsite for this Match and we will be checking everyone's pistol and gear-carrying equipment.  Likewise, we will check to see that your concealment garment is correct and covers your pistol and mags with your arms outstretched horizontal to the ground.

We know everyone want to follow the rules and we will help everyone understand how to do that.

Now, as far as COF Rules go, there will be no "slack" in applying those rules for this Match.  IDPA cover rules apply and will be applied equitably for everyone.  Procedural Errors will be assessed as per the rule book.  Likewise, anyone violating the DQ Rules will be DQ'd.  We do NOT want to DQ anyone so we will be certain to  go over any situation in which a DQ might  be possible.   Suffice to say, NEVER break the 180 plain; NEVER put your finger on the trigger; NEVER sweep yourself; NEVER shoot over the berm and NEVER drop your pistol.   We will cover how DQ's work on these four things during the Safety Talk.
Bottom line--just remember the "NEVER" part of the five no-no's and you will be OK.

So, exactly what is the berm at this range?  Well the berm is a bluff that rises a full 65 feet above grade at the end of our shooting area, 550 feet from our firing line.  However, even though it rises 65 feet, it would be easy to shoot over it from our firing line due to the distances involved.  Luckily, Highway 179 is almost 2 miles from our firing line on the other side of the low bluff.  Just be aware and keep your muzzle pointed at the targets and you will be fine.

In the past, we have encouraged the use of individual pickup trucks as each person's "safe area"  This was because all of the trucks were pointed in one direction.  That is not be the case  now so we will set up a designated Safe Area.  Pleas use the Safe Area.

Remember, this may be Forest Service land but, when we are using it for a match, it is considered a Cold Range.  In case you have forgotten  what a Cold Range is all about, here once again are the explanations:

http://montezumamarkmen.blogspot.com/p/cold-range-rules.html

OK, let's move on to Stage commentary.

First, we tweaked the Jewelry Store Robbery II Stage. A customer named Ida Red Wobba asks you to show her a set of 10 jeweled rings on sale today for $5000 (half off)  You turn to get the rings and that's when Ida Red calls in her gang and the fun begins.

What that means is now you are starting facing uprange with the jeweled rings in both hands over your head. At the buzzer, you must drop the rings, then turn, open the box, get the pistol, load and commence firing.

The bottom of the box has been improved so the padding will not move or bunch up in your hands.

One other cautionary note for this stage--the targets must be shot in Tactical Priority.  We will make absolutely certain that no target is within less than two yards of any nearby target.  If you shoot them out of Tactical Priority, you will receive a PE.

Second, In the Motion Sickness Stage, we all want to be very careful about not breaking the 180 plane.  During the walk through, we will have the dummy plastic training pistol and we ask you to go through the motions required in there COF.  Your actions during the walk through will not count as air-gunning but simply as "safety training."

Third, the four cover structures in the Metal Head Mayhem Stage are not tall enough for our taller shooters.  The tall shooters will have to  realize the sides of the cover extend upward to infinity.  Please shoot AROUND the cover and NOT over the top of the cover!!!

Fourth, The Walk Talk Stage is Tactical Sequence.  If you shoot Tactical Sequence or attempt to take a makeup shot before shooting ALL 9 targets, you will receive a PE.

Note that there are NO head shots REQUIRED in this Match.  However, you may take head shots at your own discretion.  Remember also that this year's IDPA Rule changes now mandate that ALL hits on Non Threats get counted.  So, if you shoot a Non Threat 3 times,that's FIFTEEN SECONDS added to your score (5 seconds for each NT hit).  And don't forget we will be strictly applying the FTN penalties as per IDPA Rules.  If you don't get at least one shot in the "One Zone" or better, you will receive a 5 second  Failure to Neutralize" penalty for each such target.

Now that we are an official Club we will no longer be giving advice on how to shoot a Stage.  That's now entirely up to you.  We will describe the Course of Fire and point out Safety considerations, etc. but we will not tell you how to shoot the Stage.

Deal like this  bring 'em right off the street!

Daylight Materials Reallocation!