FRONT SIGHT - uspsa

The Northwest 1911 Single Stack Classicby Duane Thomas, A-38099The first Northwest 1911Single Stack Classic washeld at the Interlake Rod &Gun Club in Redmond,Wash., the weekend of July 11-12.Fifty-six shooters showed up tocompete in this USPSA-recognizedmatch conducted under the guidelinesof the Practical Carry category.As its name might indicate, thematch was patterned after RichardHeinie's 1911 Single Stack Classic.Heinie himself provided much adviceand guidance during matchplanning to the director of thisevent, Dane Burns.Under USPSA guidelines allcompetitors in Practical Carry categoryare scored at minor power factor,so the minimum power floorwas set at 125. Contestants could fireany caliber single-stack 1911 as longas it was iron-sighted, uncompensatedand made the minimumpower factor. It was interesting tonote, when all was said and done,that the highest scoring shootersGlockTitaniumStrikers• Patented design increases Glockaccuracy instandy!• Cuts lock-time over 50%• Corrosion Proof• Drop-in installation• Lifetime Warranty• We also offer Glock magwells, basepads, titanium safety plungers, andColt .22 titanium strikerswere not those who took advantageof the rule to fire super-light loads.My own match gun was a custom9x23, built and loaned to me byDane Burns, and it put out about a165 power factor. An unforeseenbenefit of scoring everyone at minorwas that it made this a far more accuracy-intensivematch.When competing at major powerfactor, it's often possible to fire sofast that a few Cs or even Ds won'tbe enough to offset a really greattime. At minor you can't be throwingperipheral hits or lost points willtrash your final score.Course design was set up, asmuch as possible, to eliminateequipment as a factor. The goal ofthe match director was that anyshooter armed with a Colt Officer'sACP with factory six-shot magazinesshould be able to win thematch if he shot well; thus, therewere no more than six shots requiredfrom any firing position.Competitors were limited to 10-round magazines. Actually, if youwere hitting what you aimed at,there was really no advantage tohaving a 10-round magazine over asix-rounder; with six-shot strings offire, whether your gun contained 11rounds or seven, you had to reloadbetween positions to avoid havingto do a standing reload.Under Practical Carry guidelinesall holsters must be real-world concealment-worthyrigs carried behindthe hip; magazine carriers also haveto be behind the hip. Many "streetoriented" types have complainedabout the race rigs that dominateIPSC. At this match, it really didn'tmatter what sort of holster you werejpENTERPRISES, INC.ir,,Eirff,:, .,-.-..r.,-.,i7m!fig:.: pr,.,:i!„.:„using with regard to draw speed.There were nine stages at thismatch, seven of them required theshooter to move to cover before engagingtargets. When you've gotthat much time-consuming movementrequired before you can evenbegin shooting, draw speed simplybecomes a non-issue.Courses of fire at this match alsoaddressed another of the commoncomplaints leveled at practicalshooting: nonexistent use of cover.At the Northwest 1911 Single StackClassic, in every case where shootershad to use cover, the design of thebarricades forced them to actuallyconceal themselves behind thatcover while engaging targets. As hasbeen pointed out many times in thepast, use of cover in IPSC is simplya matter of intelligent course design.However, for most people, it's easierto complain about it than it is forthem to create a great course of fire.So obviously things were done alittle differently at this match thanthey are at your typical IPSC-fest. Ithink it's great that USPSA is recognizingmatches where the peopleputting the contest together want toexperiment, be original and creative,and try new things. Perhaps themost controversial aspect about howthis match was run was the prize table.There was about $11,000 of merchandiseon the table here, which isnot at all bad for a regional match,including five handguns, two ofwhich were $1,800 custom guns, onebuilt by Dane Burns and the otherby Tim Bacus. The others were astock Springfield 9mm 1911; anAMT .45 Backup; and a certificatefor a second .45 Backup. The prizemiHi Perforrnance Firearm Products4220 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Suite 20Norcross, GA 30093800-804-5399www.Ispi.comwww.jparl5scomCheck us out! On the WebOr send $2.00 (refundable with any order) for our Illustrated catalog of exoticcustom rifles, components and services.PO. Box 26324, Shoreview, MN 55126 612-486-906428FRONT SIGHT • November/December 1998