I shot a local Steel Challenge Match today with my new 617 four inch with C-More Railway Sight on it. I played a little with shooting strategy and shot some stages in different orders than I normally so. Pays to watch the top shooters because I cut a few seconds off on most of those stages.

Outer Limits I had to shoot from the center box so the 12 second penalty didn't help my overall score. Speed Option worked out well for me shooting it right to left and then the stop plate. I was able to shoot much faster and more accurately.

Roundabout was another stage that just seems easier to do today. I cut about 5 seconds off my best run. I even managed to cut 3 seconds off my fastest run on Smoke & Hope.

All in all a great shooting day for me.

On our first stage the match director was shooting with us and had a new gun, Taurus TX 22. He forgot his extra magazines and was going to just work the rest of the match. I offered him my back up 6 inch 617 and also lent him 6 DS-10 Speed Loaders and a loading block.

For not firing a revolver in a long time he did pretty well. Shooting Mini Mags he had to clean the cylinders every third stage or he got sticky extraction so I lent him my cordless drill with brush.

I've learned to always take two guns with me just in case and today it payed off.

Good for you. I truly enjoy shooting my 617 4 “ at my ASI games- my wife shoots my dad’s old Ruger MK II which bring back memories.

I find in my ASI and IDPA matches a great bunch of guys and gals willing to share of themselves, their kits to help one another - it’s a great community that I’m proud to be with.

Sounds like you are in a similar group.

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

Good deal! I have learned that the nicer you are to people, the better off you are rewarded. There may be a few buttheads that might take advantage if your good nature, but that quickly becomes evident.

For the most part the shooting community is pretty congenial and helpful to each other. Especially new shooters. The wife and I have provided guns, ammo, safety equipment etc to a new shooter more times then not. But these days we stay where we can take control of whatever is going on.

We haven’t taken the jump into Steel Challenge yet, we have a good friend that runs a monthly shoot about 2 hours away from us. Possibly now that our regular matches are over this weekend.

I learned a longtime ago to watch the big dogs at the National Police Revolver Championships. Also, that those big dogs will help you out if you have a question or issues! My best advice is to watch the big dogs, or get some good instructions!

You did a good deed! Thanks.

Regards from the Bluegrass,
Rick Gibbs

I'm brand new to Steel Challenge. I've shot two very small matches, and one practice session. My first time was running my 325. Man! Did I ever learn a lesson and get lots of reloading practice!

My second match, I had my new (to me) 327. It sure did help on the reloads, but imagine my surprise when I came up on my target and found my front sight missing! Thankfully, I had a spare gun in the form of a 627 with a 2.5" bbl. Surprisingly, I shot better with it, and held onto it for my last couple stages. (One which was Smoke & Hope) There sure is some wisdom in your words about having an extra gun! Even simple Steel Challenge seems to find a guns weakness and exploit it. (Shooting around zero degrees probly has something to do with that too)

The more I spend time around Steel Challenge and consider, the more I think I need a 617. Seems the only way to afford it and compete in a division where I'm not the only one.

Thats the best part about steel challenge- you can literally compare your times to anyone throughout history or any other matches going on in the world. Maybe no one else at your location shot revolver, you can still compare your times to theirs. You could find what the fastest revolver records are and compare to those, and you can even search practiscore for most recent match times by top shooters in each division to compare yourself.

While a 617 would be cheaper to shoot, you can shoot your centerfire revolver in other divisions as well.

Hello, are you shooting on sunday's at the Ben Avery these days i'm going to the next match. How many guy's shooting the match lately ? Look forward to seeing you there !