FRONT SIGHT - uspsa

1\sIDENROIby John Amidon,The instructors of NROI metat their annual conferencethe first weekend of March.Many things were discussed,and some new programs areclose to happening.The Range Master program hasbeen changed significantly. Most ofthe match administration materialhas been removed, and the RM programnow concentrates on rules, arbitrations,course design, and safety.Only four range master studentswill be allowed per year, and eachwill be required to act as assistantrange master at one of the Nationalsto graduate from the program. Wealready have three candidates andinstructors ready to take on the newmaterial.A new classifier course book is inprogress, and one of the instructorshas already done a lot of work inrewording the stages selected. Otherinstructors are contributing to makethe stage procedures as clear andunderstandable as possible. Theyare also looking over the set-ups toensure that all distances are shown.Our hope is that this new coursebook will be less problematic thanthe current book.In January, the board of directorsauthorized a new book to be publishedby the end of the year. Theyalso have made allowance for a clubto choose from any of the classifiersCOLT 45 AUTO& Ail copesGrip ScrewBUSHING DRIVERFits overbushingand properlycenters bii in slolfa Gunsmrths& OwnersRemoves tightest slakedbushing without !eating 0 up$15 95 • $3_00 postage 8 handlingMich. residents 4% sates taxBOB KRIEGER, INC.Mager Gunsmith2271 Star COutl, Rochester Hills. MI 483091248) 853-8171listed throughout the year. Thisshould make it easier for indoorclubs to have enough classifiers tochoose from. To make sure that theclassification system works, thestages will be redone to make themas simple and straightforward aspossible so they can be set up andadmiruistered the same way for eachcompetitor around the country.'The material for Level II RO certificationis being updated. We hopeto have this available by the end of1998 as well. We are concentratingmore on proper course design, therules that apply to it, and arbitrations(which most often are the resultof poor course design). We in-tend to teach and bring back thefree-style aspect as much as is possible.We discussed some of the concernsor questions that you, themembers, have expressed, such asthe latest addition to equipment,"The Walk-Through Strap." Some ofyou have asked, "Does this have toremain on the holster during thecourse of fire?"Rule 7.20 states that if a retainingstrap is fitted, it must be used for theentire match. The interpretive wordis fitted. The instructors felt that becausethe strap is detachable, it doesnot fall under the intent of the nile.Many of the older holsters hadstraps that were part of the holsteror were sewn on to retain the gunsafely. These are what need to beused for the entire match. The walkthroughstrap was considered to beno different than a dust cover overthe gun. Both help to hold the gunin the holster while applied, but canbe removed prior to commencementof the stage.The walk-through strap, however,has raised another question. Ifthe holster will retain the gtm, whythe need for this additional strap?There are several explanations.While it is not USPSA's, the board ofdirectors', or NROI's position to endorseone holster over another, or tosay one is good and one is bad, it isour responsibility to provide themembers, match directors, rangemasters, and range officers with aset of rules and guidelines for you tofollow.US 7.20 pertains to holster testsand states that after such a test, theholster may not be adjusted prior tothe competitor beginning the course.Holster tests are one thing I noticemissing more and more at ourmatches. Rule 7.20 lists guidelinesfor determining whether a holstercan safely retain the gun. If you areconcerned about the retention capabilityof holsters used in your match,you should provide a means to havethem tested under these guidelines.Now you're thinking, "How canI stop them from adjusting their holstersafter they do the test and arewaiting their turn to shoot?" Oneway, and probably the one you willsee at the Nationals this year, is toinclude a 16-inch-high barrier thatthey have to jump over to get intothe start box or location before theyload and make ready. You, therange officer, are there to observethat no adjustments are done.I wouldn't be surprised if yousee holster tests in the area championshipsthis year, and certainly nextyear. Who knows, maybe we willeven start to see them again at localmatches.Remember, shoot fast, shootstraight, but most importantly,shoot safely.4 FRONT SIGHT • May/June 1998