Want to watch me fumble a reload w/ retention?

Here ya' go....




For being the first match of the year and not really practicing all winter I did OK, I fumbled two reloads throughout the match and totally blew on stage by initially forgetting to put head shots into four targets but picked them up due to a very gracious RO that reminded after asking me if I was done...Head shots? What head shots? Oh, those head shots...crap.

All that being said, I came in 5th, if not for those three screw ups I would have been in 4th, maybe third, not bad for shooting CDP against the SSP crowd.


The Nighthawk ran as expected, I do like the 10-8 gen II slide stop and will probably keep going with it.


And yes, I should have just let the mag go as I almost missed my window of opportunity on that mover, surprisingly I was only down 1 on that stage.

CIDT Iowa Permit to Carry Class - April 30th - Traer, IA

This class is on our class listing as "Basic Carry Class" but after reviewing the class we're now calling it Iowa Defensive Pistol. 

This course is cousin to the Wolf Creek Carry Class offered last fall, it is an Iowa specific carry class detailing Iowa code and the fundamentals of carrying and using a pistol for self defense. An excellent course for those looking to further their knowledge base having taken other less informative classes or for those looking for information regarding the recent changes in Iowa law or those looking to renew their permit.

This class incorporates both lecture and range instruction. It is designed to educate the Iowa Permit to Carry holder on the mindset, equipment, tactics, law, and handgun safety associated with carrying a firearm every day for self defense. Learn where you can and cannot legally carry your firearm, the best means of carry, in what situations the use of a firearm may be justifiable and the best tactics involved in deploying your firearm in a self defense situation. Range portion will include working from the holster (if applicable), acquiring multiple targets and shooting at different distances.

This class is for those with a comfortable, working knowledge of their firearm. If you have never fired your firearm before or are not comfortable with its operation we strongly recommend taking the NRA Basic Pistol or Developing Pistol classes before enrolling for this class.
This class will take place rain or shine so be prepared for all weather conditions.
Training Prerequisites:
NRA Basic Pistol or Equivalent, Carry Permit or Relevant Experience

What To Bring:
Center fire handgun in good working order (rentals available)
A strong-side belt holster (Not required but strongly recommended)
Minimum 200 rounds of ammunition
Preferably 2 magazines or speed loaders and carrier(s)
Note taking material
Weather appropriate clothing
Ball Cap (Not required but generally recommended)
[b]Eye protection
Ear protection[/b].
Water or other soft drinks.State ID

What Is Included:
CIDT student handout
CIDT certificate of completion

This course meets Iowa requirements as well as Florida requirements for their nonresident Concealed Weapons License, if you are interested in applying for the FL permit, inform us at time of registration and we will provide the FL application packet.

Cost: $60 + $10 range fee ($50 + $10 range fee for returning CIDT students)
Maximum of 12 students.

Sign in will start at 08:30 and class will run till 17:30. Students may bring a lunch (bring your own cooler) or adjourn to Traer for lunch.

See our website for registration information.

A bit chilly....

But otherwise a great day at the range, a quick guess would be 6-8 new shooters at today's match. I bolted early as the wife was ill and didn't get to see any of the precision rifle side match but the pistol portion was pretty good.

I will admit I was "rustier" than I thought as I fumbled to reloads with retention and totally whiffed on a stage firing the course correctly....except that each target got 3 shots, not two so there was a time gap where the RO was just "Ummm, the head shots?" to which I said head shots? I got my shots in but don't even want to guess at my time.

NRA Basic Pistol Class - Marshalltown, IA - April 16th, 2011

CIDT will be holding our next NRA Basic Pistol Class on April 16th, this will be the last Basic Class before we raise costs in June.

Details can be viewed at the Iowa Firearms Coalition discussion forum. For other upcoming classes/schedule, see our website, Centraliowadefensivetraining.com.

Know What You Have...

Before you start sanding on it...

"thought you guys might like to see what ive done to my gun i havnt owned for a week.....i know some purists are going to hate it but i thought i would like the bead blasted and black it was from factory but after shooting it and cleaning it i hated it.....so being an all stainless gun i took it apart and started sanding on it...i love the brushed stainless look but i left the grooves and the entire top of slide the blasted look.....what do ya think....be kind now........lol....a few before and after pics"

"Did you know that your gun was a Limited Edition special run and not a standard model ever offered by Kimber? It was one of the few guns Kimber made in two tone with a stainless frame.....key word being "was."  CUSTOM DEFENDER II (2001): 290 produced. Two tone stainless frame and slide. Black oxide coating on frame, slide natural stainless. Fixed low profile rear sight, double diamond rosewood grips. Sold only through stores affiliated with National Buying Service. 38 oz. MSR: $839

I'm no big fan of Kimber, but I almost want to shed a tear over this one. Where's a good fail poster when you need one.


Edited to add:

  So it gets better, apparently the happy sander was well aware that this was a special edition and that when he was buying it "everyone" told him that it was worth no more than any other Kimber and that Kimber made special editions all the time etc" That's true, Kimber does make special editions every now and then, ant currently they don't cost any more than any other model they have (generally speaking of course) that does not mean that long term value will stay along the lines of non-special edition Kimbers. The thing about value is that right now when items are plentiful they are not as valuable, but later on down the road who knows. My father-in-law was the proud owner of a GTO Judge that be bought brand new off the show room floor, he drove it like a regular car....because that's what it was back then, a regular car. He later traded it for a washing machine and $200 after he got married. That car today is worth quite  or rather would be worth (the guy who bought it painted it purple and wrapped it around a telephone pole within three months) a bit more than a Maytag.

Bottom line is that you can't see the future and maybe it's not such a good idea to take sanding paper to your special edition gun. Yes it's your gun and you can do whatever you want to do with it, but we can all still call you a bonehead for it.

"BEEP!"

I'm at work and there's this strange beep that keeps going off that sounds identical to a shot timer going off, every time it goes off I feel a tingle at the back of my neck and want to draw and do a Bill Drill etc. into my monitor....


Pavlov would be so proud...


First IDPA match of the season this Sunday.

On the subject of the 1911 and "Clinical Unreliabilitry"....

I have to throw the BS flag. There's often a lot of talk about the 1911 being unreliable, finicky, requiring gunsmith attention before it's ever fired, or needing an abundance of user end maintenance.

Some of this is true, some of it isn't, and some of it's just flat out regurgitation without comprehension. Too many times I see people quoting bits and pieces of quotes and snippets from sources that are in the know and either try to pass it off as their own point of view or don't give any additional information on what's formed their viewpoint. I don't mind if someone quotes a "Somebody" provided that they give accreditation to the source in it's entirety

Getting back to the topic:

"So, I know this is going to start a firestorm...but frankly in my 31 years if there's one thing I've learned about 1911's is that they are without question the most beautifull class of handgun, but are tempermental by nature to the point of extreem annoyance. I've owned 3 1911's in my lifetime and now I am a die hard fan of my Sig p220 SAO. It does every thing the 1911 does but better except the pretty thing. I like to think of my sig as my more even tempered cute brunette. Like red heads I've sworn off 1911's. To trust one to run with your life, you better have spent the better part of 2 grand. The worst of the 3 was a SA "loaded model." What a load of crap...I spent $900 on a beautiful 1911, get it home and take it apart only to discover it's full of tool marks, then I notice it's an embel frame made in brazil! A $900 sig would never let you down. You know what they say, 1911's have been keeping gunsmiths in business since...1911. thoughts?"

Currently Reading....

Stressfire II: Advanced Combat Shotgun, so far I'm digging it and as an added bonus there lots of mention of the Benelli M1 121 which is what I purchased back in December so I might get to learn a few tips and tricks on my own chosen platform...of course it also means that my choice in shotguns is a little outdated, but that's OK by me for the time being.

There weren't that many books, on "tactical" shotgunning, I also ordered the Suarez  book, The Tactical Shotgun: The Best Techniques And Tactics For Employing The Shotgun In Personal Combat.

Up until know most of what I know about "tactical" shotgunning has been read on gun forums....IE half to three-quarters is crap so when I decided that I wanted to delve deeper into it before heading out for an actual honest to goodness shotgun course I decided to hit the books.

Anyone can spout off BS on the internet, it takes a lot more clout to get an actual book published. Don't fear dead tree media.

Central Iowa Defensive Training Presents: Iowa Basic Carry Class - April 30th

To be held in Traer, IA (the Wolf Creek IDPA range), this course is cousin to the Wolf Creek Carry Class offered last fall, it is an Iowa specific carry class detailing Iowa code and the fundamentals of carrying and using a pistol for self defense. An excellent course for those looking to further their knowledge base having taken other less informative classes or for those looking for information regarding the recent changes in Iowa law or those looking to renew their permit.

This class incorporates both lecture and range instruction. It is designed to educate the Iowa Permit to Carry holder on the mindset, equipment, tactics, law, and handgun safety associated with carrying a firearm every day for self defense. Learn where you can and cannot legally carry your firearm, the best means of carry, in what situations the use of a firearm may be justifiable and the best tactics involved in deploying your firearm in a self defense situation. Range portion will include working from the holster (if applicable), acquiring multiple targets and shooting at different distances.

This class is for those with a comfortable, working knowledge of their firearm. If you have never fired your firearm before or are not comfortable with its operation we strongly recommend taking the NRA Basic Pistol or Developing Pistol classes before enrolling for this class.

This class will take place rain or shine so be prepared for all weather conditions.

Training Prerequisites:
NRA Basic Pistol or Equivalent, Carry Permit or Relevant Experience

What To Bring:
Center fire handgun in good working order (rentals available)
A strong-side belt holster (Not required but strongly recommended)
Minimum 200 rounds of ammunition
Preferably 2 magazines or speed loaders and carrier(s)
Note taking material
Weather appropriate clothing
Ball Cap (Not required but generally recommended)
Eye protection
Ear protection
Water or other soft drinks.
State ID


What Is Included:
CIDT student handout
CIDT certificate of completion

This course meets Iowa requirements as well as Florida requirements for their nonresident Concealed Weapons License, if you are interested in applying for the FL permit, inform us at time of registration and we will provide the FL application packet.

Cost: $60 + $10 range fee ($50 + $10 range fee for returning CIDT students)
Maximum of 12 students.

Sign in will start at 08:30 and class will run till 17:30. Students may bring a lunch (bring your own cooler) or adjourn to Traer for lunch.

See our website for registration information.