May/Jun - uspsa

FROM OUR READERS■ PRINCIPLES!Thank you for the letter with thenew spec's on LIMITED CLASS.This is a change we all welcome.There is a lot of debate on whetherIPSC is a sport, or a trainingground for some Walter Mittytypes. I know it's a sport becauseI've seen the trophies. (I even wonone once.) If people want to getmore out of it than that, that'stheir business. People who don'tthink it's a sport shouldn't careabout how they finish in theirclass, but they always do. I knowpeople talk about this principle orthat principle, but if the principlesdon't match what the majority ofthe members want, I say changethe principles. As for some of thestages not being practical, so whatas long as they are fun? Let's remember,we're all out here to havefun. Keep up the good work, we'reall behind you.Brad L. Glustoff, A-11957■ MAJOR OR MINOR?Daryl Varkel's article in theMarch/April Front Sight hasbrought some useful originalthought to the discussion of stockclass IPSC guns.Daryl's second recommendation,as I interpret it, indicates thatonly factory outside dimensioncartridges should be allowed (i.e.9x19mm cannot be lengthened beyondSAAMI specs). This is inkeeping with the spirit of reasoningbehind stock class. HoweverLetters for publication shouldbe no more than 350 words andmay be edited for length or clarity.his suggestion to make this inexpensiveand easy to administrateby doing away with major powerfactor for stock class doesn't fly.Daryl himself points out why:It's a fact, a stock .45, loaded major,takes an additional level ofskill to shoot fast and accuratewhen compared to a stock 9x19.Those persons who progress intheir shooting skill to successfullycontrol a stock major gun shouldbe rewarded. The major-minorscoring system does just that.That is the only bone I have topick with Daryl's suggestions, butI would like to add to his diplomaticallyunderstated case forputting practical back into IPSC.I'll be blunt.Major-minor scoring in our presentopen class is a joke. We nowbuy a major score with weight andcompensators instead of shootingskill. Militant types who rationalize"it's what the bullet does downrange that counts" have missedthe point. Our targets are cardboard,not flesh; we are testing ashooter's skill, not cartridges; andcontrolling powerful guns is aphysical-mental skill, not a contestof mechanical ingenuity orwallet thickness. Likewise, discussionsof major-minor scoring ofcalibrated pepper poppers ispointless. Should a gunner aim atthe twelve inch plate and miss low- he jerked! Having hit the supportingstem is pure luck and rewardingMAJOR poormarksmanship is suspect at best.For stock class, power factoringis still a valid concept in spite ofthe crude technology or formulasthat are presently available to implementit. I hope the stock classwill help put us back in D.V.C.Jack A. Behrman, A-6745■ PATCHES? PINS?I am sending you our club patch,recently designed by our clubmembers. I thought there may bea board with patches from allUSPSA clubs on display, at eitherthe National Office or at the homeof the National Match. If there isno such board, consider this thefirst and ask all club presidents tosend you a club patch. I believe itwould be a nice addition to theorganization to have a board ondisplay where it could be appreciatedby the membership.David E. Martin, A-14667Ed. note: We have a pin boardon display in the office and willstart a patch board if there isenough interest. Clubs should sendtheir pins and patches to USPSA tobe included.■ IMPRESSEDI am writing this letter to informyour readers of the excellent workthat Stewart Arms (915-563-GUNS) has done for me. After seeingtheir ad in Front Sight, I calledand talked to Robert Merritt,their pistolsmith, about building acustom version of their "DoubleTap" compensator with a GoldCup rib for my "Super Elite."Robert was knowledgeable, enthusiasticand quoted extremelygood pricing and delivery.When I received the gun I wasamazed. Robert had matched theexisting 501pi grooves in the slideand compensator exactly. Thecompensator shows no tool marks,fits perfectly and functions extremelywell. He had also machinedfront slide serrations thatwere an exact match for the rearones. I was so impressed I immediatelysent him my other GoldCup (.45) for another compensator,this time for the "CarryComp" version. I recently receivedthis gun and again the work wassuperb. To say I am pleased is anunderstatement.Continued page ... 9Page 4 May/June 1992