USPSA Revolver Major change

[growr]

After a 4 year gap in shooting USPSA Revolver Major I have learned that USPSA now allows 8 shot revolvers Minor caliber.....I see now that few stages are revolver friendly....many arrays are now 8 shot with mandatory reloads which makes for a long day if you are shooting a 6 rounder......

Seems like Revolver Major is a thing of the past. Have a 625 JM that was the hot ticket for that division......

Anyone else have the same thoughts?


Randy

 

[Ignatz]

The rule change was from Oct 9, 2013, and went into effect Feb 1, 2014.
Many bought 627 8 shot revolvers right away, while some of us struggled with the 6 shot gun.
A 6 shot revolver still finished 10th overall at the Nationals this year.

 

[AzShooter]

I'd shoot my 625 and wouldn't regret it. You may not win but you will sure know how to reload your gun under pressure of competition.

For many years I shot my revolver while everyone else was shooting their autos. Stages were definitely not revolver friendly and many times the Match Director would tell me he was sorry I had to reload so often.

It was my idea to shoot the revolver so I didn't matter. I was practicing my reloads and easily got them to under 2 seconds even with Jet-Loaders ( Safariland Comp IIIs are about the same thing).

Do what makes you happy.

 

[OKFC05]

If you want to feel even more left out try the same new rules in ICORE, plus they also use penalty MIKE par time stages.
If you use a 6 shot revolver in those stages, failing to finish in time gives you so many penalties, you wonder why you bothered to come.
The answer from the ICORE match director in OKC: buy a new revolver with 8 shots!! His favorite stages are 16 or 24 shot par times with penalty mikes and short par times. No hope of finishing with the extra reload using 6 shots.

 

[Old_Cop]

Every game has its rules, those who are very good will be good, no matter the rules.

 

[AzShooter]

I'm sure the guys in limited 6 categories are going to really get on that MD.
Some guys just want themselves to win and screw it to the others. I'd look for a new match.

 

[captainwayne]

The only way you get revolver major friendly COF's is if the director is shooting in that division. Sorry, but no wonder no one in USPSA wants to shoot revo, as they NEVER make the courses even slightly friendly.
It's only worthwhile to compete in this if you have several others in the came category. I'm close to giving it up, as I cannot interest others in the joy of revolver shooting!

 

[CheyenneBodie]

I suggest shooting NRA Action Pistol (aka Bianchi Cup) all shooting is from static positions and revolvers and autos shoot on an equal basis. The four basic courses of fire (The Moving Target, The Practical, The Falling Plates and The Barricade) have stood the test of time and test shooting skill like no other game.

 

[AManWearingAHat]

In my humble opinion, USPSA, ICORE and even IDPA is getting to the point where they're so up their own rear ends with rules and technicalities that it isn't even fun anymore and its off putting to new shooters.

The more informal local matches can be a lot of fun, I try and find those when I can.

 

[.38SuperMan]

In my humble opinion, USPSA, ICORE and even IDPA is getting to the point where they're so up their own rear ends with rules and technicalities that it isn't even fun anymore and its off putting to new shooters.

The more informal local matches can be a lot of fun, I try and find those when I can.

I shot USPSA thirty years ago and don’t remember so many rules. I took twenty five years off and got into IDPA last year. The rules read like something a home owners association would come up with. Looking at USPSA rules they seem just about as bad. Now I’m not sure that I’ll shoot another match.

 

[eb07]

In my humble opinion, USPSA, ICORE and even IDPA is getting to the point where they're so up their own rear ends with rules and technicalities that it isn't even fun anymore and its off putting to new shooters.

The more informal local matches can be a lot of fun, I try and find those when I can.

That is exactly why I started. Then quit uspsa after 12 months.

 

[AManWearingAHat]

I’ve watched more than one shooting organization succumb to this cycle. From my observations, you have a core group of people who want to start something fun and informal because they’re dissatisfied with what’s out there, new people join, the original spirit of the match/ game gets diluted from what the founders intended. People become more and more obsessed with “winning” people start finding loop holes and technicalities to exploit to win. Rules are passed to close those, more are found be it equipment or whatever, repeat until the original group has long left, it’s no fun for the “swing what you bring” crowd, and your core demographic is a bunch of people playing to the rule book, and the bar to entry is now high and intimidating for new shooters.

USPSA, 3 Gun, ICORE, PPC, and IDPA are all in this cycle at some point or another. Stock divisions help to alleviate this somewhat, but even there if you’re not intimately familiar with the rule book and how to game the scoring system you’re non-competitive. Some people just go to socialize and not care about the scores. If you’re not planning to seriously pursue the game, this is what I recommend to new shooters. Don’t even bother with the score and go have fun. Set your own standards.

I personally prefer accuracy games because the rules are simple and there’s inherit objectivity to it. Though the bar to entry, equipment wise, can again be high.

Sorry that turned into more of a soap box than I expected haha

 

[AzShooter]

I shot revolver for over 40 years and had to give it up do to injuries. I feel you pain. IDPA turned me off with all their rules. My 625 became illegal because it had a 5 inch barrel. Heck I can conceal a 5 inch with no problems.

In the past few years the 8 shot revolvers have taken over the USPSA and ICORE matches. I saw the writing on the wall when Jerry Michulec was shooting he 7 shot Bowman. Everyone was going to have to have a high cap revolver. When Charlie Prest (sp) came out with the 8 shot I think the sport was doomed.

ICORE use to be 6 round neutral but now you need an 8 shot to be competitive. I don't mind reloading, at least they have a division for 6 shot guns but again the stages are just designed around 8 shots.

USPSA allowed the 8 shot and course of fire was never revolver friendly but has changed so that shooting a 6 shot isn't fun.

Sorry for the rant. My favorite shooting sports just changed too much for me.

Steel Challenge is still a great alternative. Everything is only 5 shots. The targets are so large and so close that your 6 shot is welcome. Just don't shoot too fast that you need a reload. Jerry Michulec even destroyed the automatic guys at many of the National matches. You don't need an 8 shot to be competitive.

 

[H Richard]

I had a USPSA # beginning with an A, so you know it was a long time ago. It's been now over 25 years since I have shot a match. I still shoot bullseye, the rules are the same for both revolver and auto, and with practice doable for a revolver. But when I started a center-fire bullseye match at our local club and tried to have 900 point match's, (didn't want to try 2700 point that soon), the run and gun shooters bitched it took all day, and soon most of them didn't come.

Now, we also have access to a .22RF bullseye club (indoor), and during the winter we hold a 300 point 50 ft match league (10 week) and all 20 firing points are full and several more shooters require us to have a 2nd relay for the match. They all enjoy it, but when the weather warms up they are mostly out at the run and gun matches again.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I shot IDPA on and off for about a year. The rules are never ending. The last straw for me was when I pointed out a section where there was no way I could safely shoot it being left handed. Nobody cared and was ignored when I asked how am I supposed to shoot this.
The club started steel challenge last year and that, so far, has been fun and relaxed. You still have your "professionals" show up, but generally it's a bunch of older guys having fun.

 

[Kiwi cop]

The games men will eventually invade every type of shooting match there is to gain an advantage. But they donkt last long. Most move on to the “next best thing” when their performance plateaus.

I shoot IPSC Classic Division (single stack) major. I am limited to 8 rounds. Almost everyone else shoots minor (10 rounds) and stages are set around that number of rounds between reloads. The emphasis in past years Has been on speed alone. Yet I see those minor shooters in my division going so fast that they miss targets and end up shooting to slide lock. My .45 ACP major is competitive.p because once they do they keep shooting to slide lock every mag instead of altering their plan to get back on track.

My rule is that the only score I have to beat is my last one, so for me it is still a lot of fun.

I shoot my 686-4 in revolver friendly competitions only.

 

[AManWearingAHat]

The games men will eventually invade every type of shooting match there is to gain an advantage. But they donkt last long. Most move on to the “next best thing” when their performance plateaus.

I shoot IPSC Classic Division (single stack) major. I am limited to 8 rounds. Almost everyone else shoots minor (10 rounds) and stages are set around that number of rounds between reloads. The emphasis in past years Has been on speed alone. Yet I see those minor shooters in my division going so fast that they miss targets and end up shooting to slide lock. My .45 ACP major is competitive.p because once they do they keep shooting to slide lock every mag instead of altering their plan to get back on track.

My rule is that the only score I have to beat is my last one, so for me it is still a lot of fun.

I shoot my 686-4 in revolver friendly competitions only.

You're the kinda guy I want for a match buddy. Good on ya.

 

[hogblue]

Considered joining, went to an intro at my club and learned that many stages started in the “surrender “ position or hands on a table and so forth. Was in law enforcement 31 years, never trained that way and not going to start now.

 

[captainwayne]

just face it, cof's aren't remotely revolver friendly in USPSA.
It's not fun when there are only 2 out of 60 participants are shooting revos. So, I can go back to limited, shoot my XDM with 19 rounds, reload once, and finish in the middle of my class, middle of my division, super senior. Not much fun! At 70 years old, in great shape, can't see crazy practicing to move up a notch or two.
Skills in revo shooting are tougher than other divisions. Therefore, more desirable when it all comes together for a great run! I'll take that one outta 4 or 5 anytime out of same ol same ol limited.

 

[H Richard]

I recall an old saying in the USPSA crowd, "What do you call a group of USPSA members in a basement", "A whine cellar".