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Well, I *was* remiss for not mentioning PSC when pointing out that Bayou has a rule against drawing from the holster and firing. Usually I remember to suggest PSC when it sounds like someone is interested in IDPA / IPSC.

BK - in re-reading this thread I see "Trijicon TA01NSN" and must admit I thought it was a telescopic sight (out-of-touch here) - but in retrospect think it might be a holographic sight. If so, a lot depends on the spot size - if the spot is too large it mightl hamper your shooting at a big round target. In "real life" it might be better than iron sights, but for round ink spots I just don't know. The good thing is, no one cares about anyone's score but their own; the match is fun, not something to feel bad about if you don't "win".

Anyway, my hidden agenda is that Highpower needs to get young people interested. Most of us on the firing line are old, fat, white men. We could *really* use some diversity - especially some younger people, so that as we die off, the sport does not.

Last year the weather was bad one weekend - foggy and drizzle - and only five shooters were pig-headed and stubborn enough to show up to shoot. Plus the match director who was "duty bound" to come. We had two relays, one with with two and one with three shooters. It was a joke but we did get to shoot. Someday, if we fail to attract new Highpower shooters, we will be hard pressed to assemble enough people to shoot a match, and pit changes will take all day while we hobble back and forth on our walkers. Just joking - but you see what I'm driving at.

Anyway, the weather is poor here and now, but I assume tomorrow morning at the range it will be bright and beautiful - and will hold on to that assumption until and unless events prove it incorrect.

Regards,
Andrew

Update on the 600 yard match Sunday - it is changed to 300 yard since the rain has played havoc with the 600 / 1,000 target area.

Your rifle is suitable for the 300 yard match. If you come, get there to register before 7:30, bring 66 rounds (three 20-shot strings plus 2 sighters each time, single loading, 25 minute block time). I can lend you a mat and spotting scope if you don't have. A sling too - great if you have one, I can lend you one if not.

Next month the third Sunday is still, as far as I know, 300 - they did not switch them, just made this month 3 instead of 6.

Have fun!

Regards,
Andrew

BK,

Not in any order:

Addicks floods. It is in the flood plain and that's why the Army Corps of Engineers leases it to Bayou Rifles - it floods. There is a web site you can check to see if it is flooded on any particular day. It floods and then it drys out, and you can go shoot. Juliff does not flood - it can get wet but never to the point you can't walk down and change a target (rubber boots a good idea when it is real rainy).

600 yards is no different than 100 yards, except for the wind. Yes, it would help to have a longer barrel with a 1:8 or faster twist, and 80 grain bullets - but the target is *huge* and the sight picture is the same as at shorter ranges. Once you establish your "come up" - usually about 11 minutes over your 300 yard sight setting - it is no different than shooting prone at 100 yards, except for learning to read the wind flags and mirage. Don't be too impressed by numbers like 600 yards - if you can shoot well at 100 you can shoot well, and all it takes at longer ranges is learning the wind. Not to minimize that, it is something to learn - but if some hot-shot tells you he shoots 600 or 1,000 yard matches and you can't, just don't believe him.

I am no great shooter but no one has told me to go away and not come back until I learn to shoot better - they give advice and encouragement. Next month the prone match is at 300 (alternate months 600 and 300) and your M4A3 will work quite well for that. Optics will put you in F-Class but no big deal - and you will be *amazed* at how well you will shoot that rifle at 300 yards. I know people who were used to zeroing their deer rifle at 100 yards, seldom took a longer shot, who came out to shoot 300 on a lark, and posted very good scores. The wind is not much of an issue at Juliff at 300 because that range is shaded by trees.

No need to phone ahead. The current Membership Director is Clyde, and he is easy-going. The orientation is all about Safety - the scary people at the public ranges you mentioned in your initial post are the reason most folks join a club, and the club needs to emphasize Safety.

Have fun!

Regards,
Andrew

I'm a current member and former membership director. I like the club but you should be aware that Bayou Rifles does not have any kind of action pistol division, and there is a club rule against drawing from the holster and firing. For some people that is a deal killer right there.

The club is very conservative and apparently the board is/was worried someone would shoot themself in the leg, drawing and firing. It is fine to wear your pistol, to draw from the holster, but they want you to put it on the bench before you pick it up and fire. I know it sounds stupid but the club has been around since 1936 and thre is no record that anyone I know is aware of, of any one being shot. Bee stings, twisted ankles, that kind of thing - yes. Firearm accidents - no.

I shoot Highpower at the Juliff range - you might want to come out Sunday to the 600 yard prone match if it does not rain - to observe or to shoot. Bring your AR-15 (with heavier than 55 grain bullets - 80s work well) for service rifle class, or scoped deer rifle and 66 rounds for F-Class. The gate is open during matches.

At Juliff there is a 3, 7, and 15 yard short pistol range, a 25/50 yard pistol / rifle range, a 100 yard rifle range, a 200/300 and 600/1,000 yard rifle - and 800 yard firing line being added for Palma matches.

At Addicks, West of town, no centerfire rifle - pistol and .22 rifle (and black powder pistol / rifle) only. There is a 25, 40, and 100 meter pistol silhouette range, a 25/50 Bullseye pistol range, as well as short pistol and .22 rifle.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a commercial - just trying to be informative. If you want to shoot IDPA and practice for it, Bayou is not the place. If you want to shoot Bullseye, Highpower, Pistol Silhouette, or just go out and punch paper for fun, I think it is a good deal.

Have fun!

Regards,
Andrew