Labor Day Picnic

Wonderful weather made our end of season three gun IDP shoot and picnic all the more enjoyable this Labor Day.

Nearly fifty men and women shooters broken into six squads closed our IDP season with six skill stages (scenarios), including a three gun stage that was exciting, to say the least- and proved how easy it is to miss a target even with a shotgun using number seven shot!

Stage One was disembarking a 'boat at a dock', engaging targets with an oar/paddle, progressing down the 'dock' engaging six Bad Guys with our Carry pieces, having to reload on the run several times. This stage was enhanced by having to leap from the boat, up 24 inches onto the dock, maintain the oar as we ran to clobber the BG- not an easy task when you're old and joints aren't as limber as they used to be. (AUGH!) 'Hostages' in this scene made a belly-on-the-ground shot mandatory- we had to shoot between their legs, which got more than one hostage singing soprano.

Stage two was a backward walk/run, one handed (alternate) double-taps of half a dozen BGs, a run to swinging targets (running BGs), then engaging the last BG with four shots- two body and two head. Simple to do. Unless you're shooting through the eight inch opening of two ATV tires two feet apart, making only a shoulder and portion of the body and head visible. (Running with a loaded handgun is definitely time to be aware of muzzle direction and keep all fingers off the trigger!)

Stage Three was a killer- having hostages and BGs, beginning with a face-to-face/close contact with the first BG, speed-rock draw (I used a fist to the face to distract the BG since my speed rock isn't the fastest draw in the world) and triple-tapping, then using cover on the run to engage other targets- some stacked as to have 'hostages' protecting the perps. More than one killed the BG and the hostage behind him by not moving far enough before engaging.

Stage Four was M-1 Garand engaging snipers, a downhill run to engage eleven targets over a fifty yard distance- every shot and reload on the run. Targets were BG silhouettes and bowling pins/reactives, some hidden in the grass. (This was my second fave event and I did well at it, was given lots of compliments for accuracy and problem solving. Not to mention, mine were the best hits with the Garand, but I have to admit an affinity for that rifle, love it. Most opted for a rest, Yours Truly being the only one to utilize the sitting position.)

Stage Five was exiting a car, engaging BGs on the move, bursting into a building/room, clearing on the fly without hitting hostages- more than one shooter shot the badge off the police officer being held captive! (Hostages were a cop, a woman, and child. BGs were gun or knife-wielding.) I accomplished this stage by bursting the door (nearly off the hinges) and dropping to a squat as I engaged the BGs with triple taps. (An interesting note here: 'problem solving' is one of the point awards here, and how one reacts is important. It doesn't help in room clearing by always shooting around a door jamb or remaining standing while the BGs are 'theoretically' shooting back.)

Stage Six was a three-gun stage beginning with M-1 Carbine and taking our three snipers, two rounds each, grabbing the shotgun and engaging five reactive BGs, progressing to the side-arm and clearing a room- all triple-taps and lots of points lost by shooting the wrong people here, as well- this time identified by color of their clothing. (Clothing was changed between shooters so no one could tell which to shoot or who was what.) Lots of running, walls/barricades and speed draws, double and triple taps and problem solving made this one of the most enjoyable shoots I've had in a long time, though I did lose some points (or gain points) through procedural errors and style- was complimented often for my unique style on some events which really made my day!

Between the shooting and picnic, gunsmoke and lead are the absolute best way to celebrate the end of summer that I can think of (and still be legal) ;) Hopefully, yours was as enjoyable and filled with good friends, good humor, good food and lots of fun as well.

Coming in twelfth place of 97 isn't too bad for the ego, either!

Bless God, God bless.

Shy III

(Apologies for the poor quality of the pix- I carried a new P&S when I should have used the SLR,)