TRAINING LEAD-UP
Monday, Nov 11:
18A "Lower Body Prep" in 21:58, then "Lower Push BW" in 41:14
Tuesday, Nov 12:
18A "Upper Body Prep" in 26:04, then "Pull-ups" in 29:24, followed by "Hollow" 18 min BW TABATA
Wednesday, Nov 13:
Took my parents to the airport overlook
Thursday, Nov 14:
Trip to Blackstone with SB for the first time in a while, to zero her new CZ. Her reticle is different from mine, and I prefer mine.
We did some timer drills, and I needed to work out my flinch by remembering that every round is a dummy.
At night, I did a 4 mile ruck with 50# in the v2 rucker in MACV1s in 1:00:54
Friday, Nov 15:
Day 3 - Stretch & Day 22 - Courage | MOVE yoga with Adriene
Saturday, Nov 16:
In the morning, I did a 11 mile run in 2:52:11 wearing Saucony Nomads at Zone 2 with an average HR of 127bpm at Latta Nature Preserve
In the evening, my parents and I went to the nighttime winter trail at USNWC to play on their obstacle course-themed exhibits.
They also finished construction on a new building that had a fireplace and a nice little shop with holiday-themed souveniers.
Sunday, Nov 17:
My new custom rifle with a Defiance Machine An Ti action and Krieger 22" 1:8 twist 6GT barrel in an MDT HNT26 chassis was ready. I drove up to Rifleman's Outfitters to pick it up and test shoot it.
After that, it was time to go to Coleman's to start the process of breaking it in with periodic cleanings, to help the speed rise and settle. I did one full cleaning upon arrival, followed by 40 shots of prone and some pseudo build-and-break. I didn't have 6GT mags yet, so I was hand-feeding singles. I did another full cleaning and then shot a bit more to see how the group and chrono was shaping up. I began with 2748fps for shots 15-20, and I ended with 2755fps for shots 55-60.
Another adaptation that I had to make was that my Nightforce on the unimount didn't work on the two-section picatinny on this action. I had brought my Vortex Venom, which was also on a unimount, but the mount points lined up better, since they were centered, rather than cantilevered. It did the job for breaking in purposes. I had to get new loose rings for the Nightforce, though.
Monday, Nov 18:
18A "Upper Body Prep" in 19:46, then "Trip" (a workout I made up in honor of my dog friend) in 44:49 with a 45#SB and 2/side for the reps where possible
Tuesday, Nov 19:
Tuesday, Nov 19:
Installed the new rings.
Also prepped food for the next day's Thanksgiving potluck at work. I rarely cook, so even bringing salad was a big lift for me.
My sister came to visit for Thanksgiving holidays and to see my parents' new place. We went to the Whitewater Center again.
The finale was going to be a 2-day event, the first in TPG history. It was going to be epic!
It didn't disappoint. They had a good setup, with half of the squads running day 1 on the inner portions of the Sawmill grounds, and the other half of the squads staying up top for day 1. On day 2, they'd swap. I like getting to use non-traditional, non-square shooting bays.
For gear, I used my usual weapons, but I did use real ceramic plates this time, instead of Rogue training plates. It was already in the BCM-colored PC that I wanted to wear, and I had never tested those plates in action before, so why not? They weighed the same, though they are a bit thicker.
The womens' division competitors were squadded together, which was good for keeping consistent conditions for everyone, and for camaraderie. It was fun.
Saturday, Nov 23: Day 1
Stage 5: Squirter
- Start in a hummer with mag in, bolt forward on rifle, and pistol empty
- Run up the connex with a climb, run around the U-shaped series of connexes, and climb back down
- Breach a single-peg door with a battering ram
- Run up to the 2nd floor of the mini connex structure, and
>> from the first rail, shoot 3 small pistol targets with 1 hit each, L->R, 2x through.
>> from the first window, shoot 3 small white pistol targets with 1 hit each, L->R, 2x through.
>> from the second window, shoot 3 small white pistol targets with 1 hit each, L->R, 2x through.
- Run to the rifle bay next door
>> from the barrier, shoot 5 white rifle targets 1 round each, L->R
>> repeat from anywhere on the VTACs, including the prone option
>> from the left side of the bay, use the left side of the barricade to shoot at 5 targets R->L
>> from the right side of the barricade, repeat
- Run back to the bus and shoot the stop plate with pistol
Learnings/Outcomes: 5/7W, 49/59O
- I was the first to go on the squad, based on the list. I probably did the worst out of everyone on pistol.
- I wore gloves, due to the cold... it was the only stage where I had worn gloves
- I had to try 2x to muscle up the connex... maybe the thicker plate made it slightly harder
- The breaching ram was pretty heavy, and it took me 2 tries to open the door
- I went to war with the first set of targets... I'm not sure why I struggled with pistol so much. I wasn't able to get much feedback from my misses because the first target in the series had vegetation behind it. It's tough to skip a target when you're the first to go and don't know how hard of a time everyone will have.
- I used 63 pistol, 21 rifle
Stage 1: Thru the Fence
- At the new o-course, low crawl, low wall, low crawl, and rope climb
- Retrieve your rifle, pick up an ammo can and a partially full water jug, and walk across the parking lot to the bay on the opposite side
- Drop the coupons, and bound back and forth between the barrels on the left and right sides of the bay, progressing forward, to shoot from 5 sets of barrels at 3 big steel targets, which you hit once each from each position
- Grab the coupons and return them to the other side of the parking lot
- Go to the rifle bay next door, and shoot from a low chain, L->R, at 10 rifle targets, then repeat from a blue barrel (no prone allowed).
- End by hitting the stop plate with pistol
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/7W, 17/59O
- I used 23R and 19P
- It was a reasonably clean run, although I did miss on the giant pistol targets a few times... it's always worth waiting for the perfect shot
- My rifle sling started to slip off on my way back to return the coupons, and I had to stop to adjust it by putting on the coupons
- The chain wasn't terrible
- I didn't wear my hat, to not have to deal with it while slinging/unslinging, even though it was sunny out
- There was lots of panning involved on the rifle shots, so my leg stance did get crooked as I shifted, since I only shifted my upper body... maybe not by the book, but sometimes you try to push speed... I guess it depends on the size of the target and what you can get away with
- Eye relief wasn't perfect on rifle
- My 2x magnification seemed to work fine for 100yd
- Only 2 of us from the squad passed the rope climb... 60s penalty for the others.
Stage 2: Across the Way
- On the old o-course, go through the window, the RR tie wall, the cargo net A-frame, the low wall, and the wire traverse, all with rifle this time, for the first time
- Run across the street and shoot 3 falling steel with pistol, the plate rack, then 4 falling steel
- Go to the next bay and use the tall big rock to shoot 5 rifle targets N->F (L->R), 1 hit each
- Go to the left side barrels and shoot R->L (N->F) on 5 steel targets, 1 hit each
- Run back to the rocks and shoot standing with the mag dropped and 1 in the chamber, at a 50yd HVT with 1 chance only and a 30s penalty if you miss
- Run back to the O-course, and shoot the stop plate
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/7W, 27/59O
- I used 35P, 12R... pistol was not super clean, but it wasn't a disaster, either
- I had 1 rifle miss, but I got the HVT... I had wobble on him, but I waited and tried my best, and luckily, it hit (from the whole event, 2 females were the only ones to clear that rifle bay)
Stage 3: BZO
- Start at the zero target, and run to the start of the bay 100yd away, and climb up the hill
- At the left cube, shoot 5 blue targets L->R, 1x each
- Go to the right cube and shoot 3 orange targets L->R, 1x each
- Go to the center cube and shoot at the blue targets again, L->R, 1x each
- Go to the pistol lane and shoot at 14 targets, 2x each, anywhere on the cardboard, with the last 3 targets positioned behind a low wall that you have to duck to shoot under
- From the red box, shoot the pistol spinner until you get a 360*
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/7W, 27/59O
- I used 19R, 28P on the cardboard, and an unknown amount on the spinner
- My strategy for the spinner was to use 147gr and to shoot multiple times at the big low plate initially. It went pretty well, and I might've even cleared in faster than the 30s I would've had to get as a penalty for not clearing it
Stage 4: Oh Baby
- Start in the left connex with guns on teh table, mags on body, and sand baby on the ground
- On the beep, retrieve your guns, grab the baby, and go to window 1 behind the pallet on the second floor, and shoot 4 rifle circles L->R, 1x each
- Move the baby and repeat from the second window
- Take the baby to the 3rd floor and shoot 4 white IPSCs that were further by about ~50yd from the window, L->R, 1x each
- Go to the top floor and shoot a 215yd target from any VTAC position, 1x
- Go downstairs (optionally toss the baby from the 2nd floor if you choose to rope climb down), and put the baby in the tire, then hit the dueling tree paddles 6x
Learnings/Outcomes: 2/7W, 38/59O
- Pistol was good. Rifle was a little bit more of a struggle than it shoul be
- Fortunately, 1 mag of rifle was enough, even with my too-many misses... I had about 2 rounds left
- I think I got the 215yd target on the first try, which was a relief, because of the high penalty for rifle misses (30s) and my low ammo situation
SB and I got dinner at a Mexican place and went to bed at 7pm for a 6:45am wakeup. We were both tired!
I earned a woodland Safari ball for the first time, with a pit stop on our way back to the range.
Sunday, Nov 24: Day 2
There was a bit of walking involved to get to a couple of the stages, but the rotation scheme and timing accounted for all of this.
Stage 8: Sandy Cheeks
- Pull up a 10# weight onto the bank using a rope
- Load pistol and shoot 4 small plates L->R, 2x through
- Hot holster and go down to the knoll, and repeat the pistol sequence
- Run along the flagged path, and stop at spot 1 by the tree to shoot 5 targets.
- Continue along the path, and stop and shoot the same 5 targets from the second tree, and then look right to shoot 3 targets standing (vegetation blocked other positional options)
- Continue, then stop at the third spot to shoot the 3 small targets again from the ground, and clear
- Run back, throw the weight back down the bank, and shoot the stop plate
Learnings/Outcomes: 2/7W, 19/59O
- I used 25R, 27P... I had brought 3 mags of R and 5 mags of P, since I heard that others needed 2 mags, and my pistol shooting had been iffy. I only ended up using 2 mags of pistol, but no regrets... it's good to plan for contingencies
- I ended up skipping the first pistol target because I was struggling with it... it was a skinny IPSC
- Rifle wasn't bad. I used the right side of the tree to brace on the array of 5 targets
- I knelt from the final position, for more stability
- The sandy trail was more challenging to run through, but I am probably more used to it than others
- I didn't need gloves this morning because it was a little warmer today
- Some people skipped rifle shots and had trouble seeing the array of three, but I didn't have any issues seeing them... I was wearing a cap.
Stage 6: Tired
- Climb up the tires and shoot 5 silhouettes, L->R, then 4 squares L->R, 1 hit each
- Climb down and go to the side of the other tires, and repeat
- Run into the bay
>> Shoot 4 circles with 1 shot each, hit or miss, from position 1. If you miss any of them, run a slick lap
>> Shoot 4 circles with 1 shot each, hit or miss, from farther position 2. If you miss any of them, run a lap with a tire
>> Shoot 4 circles with 1 shot each, hit or miss, from even farther position 3. If you miss any of them, run a lap with another tire
- Run the rest of the way around the outside of the tire bay, and shoot the stop plate when you're back
Learnings/Outcomes: 4/7W, 32/59O
- I used 21R, 13P
- Unfortunately, I made 1 miss (or 2 at one spot) per position, so I had to run every time... I should've told myself "it's a dummy"
- The rifle position felt fine bracing on my mag
- The run penalties hurt me... it added both fatigue for subsequent shots, plus time, plus the miss penalty
- It was a fun stage design, though
- I used 147gr intentionally, to try to shoot better
Stage 7: Hillside Assault
- Run up the hill and shoot from the tripod at 5 targets, L->R, 2x through
- Run up further to the trench and shoot 6 targets L->R, 2x through
- Run down the path, and shoot the card suits 2x through, L->R
- Run back to shoot the stop plate
Learnings/Outcomes: 2/7W, 29/59O
- Used 32R (glad I brought 2 mags!)
- Used 15P, not too bad
- Had to try 2x for the stop plate
- Had to hold low on the closer rifle targets
- I forgot my pistol mags in the parking lot before our long walk down to this bay, but fortunately, SB shoots the same CZ now, so I was able to borrow hers. I did have ammo.
Overall - 2/7W, 28/59O
- I need to think "it's a dummy" on my pistol shots
- Good strategic use of grains... 147 when accuracy mattered, or to move steel... I used 115gr initially, when all my mags happened to be pre-loaded with it
- 55gr worked fine for 100yd targets. Holding center was fine, in this case. I needed to hold low on further targets
- Good removal of my cap when I needed to sling/unsling
- Good to carry the sand baby on my shoulder when I was moving up stairs... I can consider using the baby as a shooting prop in the fuutre
- Good plans for how many mags to bring on each stage
- Good pacing myself physically
- The DFNDR plates worked fine, generally (only minor setback was on the muscle up the connex)
- It was nice of Chad to let the women walk the table first
- 1st place for the women beat me by 1 point (and 100s)... at least the time wasn't a tiny difference
- I was pretty happy pulling my mags from the PC instead of my belt
- Good to remove spare mag carriers when I didn't need them on my belt
- Monica and Michelle were the most fun ROs ever
Competition breeds excellence!
After we finished our last stage, and before awards, SB and I squeezed in a 3 mile ruck on gravel, to practice for Mammoth together and make good use of time. I carried a 12#PC plus a 30#R in a Bullet Ruck with only a sternum strap, for 44# total, covering it in 44:36 with 370 feet of gain with MACV2s. The plate carrier did give me some chafing. It was a good session, though.
