Week of 3-31-97, from the Internet:
I am a fourteen year-old female shooter. I have seen the first 2 volumes of your series. They helped me very much. I hope to see some more soon. I am going to be shooting in Area 8, so maybe I will meet you! Any tips or suggestions you can think of would be appreciated.
Best of luck,
Rebecca Jones
Jerry Replies:
Make sure your pistol will fit your hand good and do some work on strengthening your hands, arms, shoulders and back. Not like Arnold S.; but, some female shooters lack the strength to shoot really well.
Debbie James is one of the most physically fit of all the female shooters and that is one of the reasons she dominated women's shooting like she did. I talked with her on a few occasions and that was one of her focusing points.
Now is the time to develop all the mechanical skills also. After that, e-mail me and maybe I can help you with the mental game.
One last thing, like I discuss over and over in my tapes - see something when you shoot; i.e. sight lifting off your target.
Best of luck,
Jerry
Week of 1-14-97, via Internet:
Jerry,
I understand that you at one time had problems with glasses,front sight blurry or target blurry. Question is do I set up my glasses so that the front sight is sharp, which for me is aprox 23 inches, and hope the target is not to fuzzy.
Thanks, John McMahon
Jerry Replies:
I have always set up my glasses for the farthest distance. I focus on the target harder than most and let my sights somewhat get a fuzz or a haze around them. I can still shoot a good accurate shot this way but still know I have good sight alignment. If target gets fuzzy I think focus is in the wrong spot for action shooting.
Week of 11-26-96, via the Internet:
Dear Mr Barnhart
What we really miss on this side of the ocean are some useful drills we can use in our training could you put some on your page?
thanks Hans Knoops from holland.
Jerry Replies:
I will give you one to try:
Set up 3 IPSC targets at 12 yds, 3 feet edge to edge, 5 feet high to top of head on target.
Turn, draw and shoot 2 bodies on each target then reload and shoot 2 shots on each head.
To score: add 2 tenths on to your time for each point dropped, miss is 2 second penalty.
Idea is to come up with a 5.7 or better adding your time penalties. Best I know it's been shot in is a 5.3 with a limited gun and about a 5.0 with an open class pistol.
Week of 11-25-96, via the Internet:
What is your technique for performing a turning draw, like on an El Presidente, for example?
Thanks,
John Buol, Jr.
Jerry Replies:
Key points on turn and draw are to keep knees bent from the start. You should pivot in the direction, or on that foot, of the side that the pistol is on. Get your head turning ahead of the body motion so that your eyes see the target before you have completely finished the turn. You should be shooting at the same time both feet are planted in your stance.
Week of 11-21-97, via the Internet:
Hi Jerry. Great shooting in Fredricksburg. I met you there, you probabley dont remember, I was the one that didnt say much from being awestruck. After all, you taught me how to shoot. (your videos). I know you are busy, so I will get to the point, I am shooting a STI eagle 40. I am having problems with it nosediving, I was loading at 1.350 oal, I went to 1.200 it made no difference. I even tried factory ammo with no success. I tried using SV mags and STI mags. Same, I tried 3 different kinds of mag springs. I tried different recoil srings, I tried a shock buff, and it got worse by far. It does it weak hand about every 5th round & free style every 100 rounds, which is unacepptable. Some times on unload & show clear round, the bullet will have a imprint of the bottom of the feed ramp that resembles a smilie face; like the gun is laughing at me! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I talked to several gunsmiths, they were no help. Thanks! Jimmy Stinson
Jerry Replies:
Jimmy, I feel it is the slide stop more than anything else. There are a lot of gunsmiths that just change and fit parts; there are only a very few that can diagnose a problem. I must also tell you that the lobe on my slide stop is cut back so far that the magazines will not lock back the slide when shot empty; and, my feeding problems and other associated problems are gone also.
Week of 11-23-97, via the Internet:
Greetings.
I am one of your "students" so to speak (thru your instructional tapes). And after going over your tapes and after having completely changed the way I look at the sport, I do have some questions.
At present I am shooting a Para-Ordnance .40 S&W pistol fitted with a Caspian slide and an Ultimatch barrel. Mr. Roland Tan's shop did the gunsmithing for me. The pistol is not really a problem, the ammunition load is. Could I possibly ask your personal opinion about this? What load would you recommend? What powder should I use? What length should the bullet be?
With the present load I have, the shell bulges and I experience primer flaws at times (especially with Federal Match grade primers). I have found a way to resize the shell all the way down to the base of the shell, and it sure does last a long time (this tip I learned from your reloading tips and up to this moment I'm being laughed at by my fellow shooters, they say it is a waste of time, anyway it works).
I sure do hope you can share with me some of your experiences regarding this matter.
My best regards,
Gregory K. Loy
Jerry Replies:
First off, I don't shoot a para set-up like you described. I will try to tell you what works with my SVI frames, mags and barrel setup.Your bulged cases tell me that either your bullets are seated too deep, too much support was taken away from the case when they did the feed ramp, or you are using Clay's with 180 gr. bullets and seating the bullets too deep.
The primer hit is an easy fix; call EGW and order an extra long firing pin. It should protrude through the breach face about .030 when the hammer is down, pushing against it. This will keep the primer flow problem from happening. Note: this is only done in a competition pistol; I would not carry one for protection set up like this. The extended firing pin has been used like this in competition for the last 4-5 years by myself and a few others.
I use Hodgdon's Clay's powder with Hornady 180 gr. XTP bullets. My O.A.L. is 1.230 or just short of .45 ACP length. It takes about 5.1 of Clay's powder (not Universal Clay's or International Clay's, just Clay's). I know what is said about the powder and this load; but, by loading at the length I am the pressure is less and it feeds better in my particular setup. I would not use this powder and bullet weight combo if you are seating bullet deeper than 1.200 because pressure starts to get very high. I also use Winchester small rifle primers in both .40 and .38 super; because of the heavier cup thickness.
The part in my videos where I talk about cutting down the sizing dies does work and EGW is now making a die like I described. Tell that to those who were laughing! (I was laughed at the first time I showed up at an IPSC match with a scope on my pistol too!)
I know that there are others using para's with O.A.L. of 1.200 and 200 gr. Hornady XTP and Clay's which I think is a safer load. It should work in your gun with the other modifications I discussed.
One more thing, don't taper crimp more than .001 because accuracy will not be as good and it will create excess pressure.
Week of 9-6-97, from the Internet:
Jerry,
Hi. I recently bought your Burner Series of Tapes from Marilyn. I have some questions both related and non-related with the tape. They are the following:
a) Now that you stopped using scoped sights, what part of the Holosight do you use to guide the open gun toward the point of aim? In your tapes you used the adjustment knob of the scope sight. ( I plan to purchase a C-more; what guide will I use to assist to reach the point of aim?)
b) Why did you shift from Safariland to Bianchi?
c) Please comment on .45 ACP semi-autos with a six inch barrel and slide. Do you use them? Is this the optimum configuration for a .45 ACP? What are the Pros and Cons of a .45 with six inch barrel and slide?
I hope to hear from you soon.
Alex Gomez
Jerry Replies:
A. The HOLOSight is so easy to align on the presentation I look just over the top of it (center of top) on the way to the target. Besides the HOLO being so easy to align, more versatile with all the different patterns available, the list goes on and on... I can't imagine why you would want to buy a C-More. If weight may be a concern and you would be mounting the sight on a Para frame; I'd change guns and use an STI/SVI frame before I'd use a C-More.
B. Bianchi, at the time I changed, had a faster and more "shooter friendly" holster. I also like the angle of their mag pouches.
C. I am only interested in shooting a 5" configuration because I like how the gun reacts in recoil. Although the 6" gives more velocity with less powder it feels slow and sluggish when shot aggressively.
Hope this helps.
Week of 1-1-97, from the Internet:
I am a rookie limited shooter and wonder if you could recommend a good starter gun that would be easy to upgrade etc... I have several Colt .45 pistols but no custom work. Trigger work first? Thanks for your help!Steve Marx
Jerry Replies:
A single stack .45 is hard to beat for reliability and parts are easy to get. Wilson's Gun Shop would be your best bet for your needs. If you wanted to get into a high capacity gun, an STI or SVI frame is good in .40 cal. I think it is more reliable than the .45 in the wide body design.
Best of luck,
Jerry
Week of 1-11-97, from the Internet: UPDATED 12/22/97
Jerry, I'm trying to find a pair of boots similar to the ones you wear for competition. The boots you have appear to be LAPD "responder" boots. Can you tell me where I can find a pair.
Jim R.
Jerry Replies:
The boots in question are actually Adidas GSG-9's. They can be purchased through the US Cavalry Store catalog. Also, they can be had from Safety Systems, Inc. in Carol Stream, IL; the phone number is (630) 653-1103.
Week of 11-1-96, One each from the guest book and the Internet:
WHERE did you get that truck and how can I find one? Keith
Jerry Replies:
My truck is one of a kind and I had it built custom in Kentucky. I strongly recommend looking at production trucks as opposed to what I have. Mine is a prototype and they have a lot of problems. Although I like it, it was a long time before I got it where I wanted it.
Dear Jerry,
Once you've developed accuracy, let's say 90% or 95% A's and 10% or 5% C's, but your time is 10% or 15% slower than the fast guys, even though you win sometimes...How can you get faster and reduce that 10% or 15% keeping the accuracy that high? I will really appreciate your comments, Thanks for your time, Pablo.
Jerry Replies:
Well Pablo, sounds like you're already shooting very well. I like to think that 90 to 95% A's are what I shoot all the time, although that is not always the case. To increase your speed at the level you are performing will now require a lot of work on your moving and setups. Practice moving from box to box while firing only one shot. This will increase your speed to the first shot and there by decreasing your total time. If you were to pick up 1/2 second per box and the stage had 4 boxes that would total 2 full seconds. Now that's an improvement! So here is the math: 4 boxes for a total time of 10 seconds, without the 1/2 second savings. With the 1/2 second savings X 4 you would have an 8 second run. That is a 20% increase.
Week of 10-8-96, three questions from the Internet:
Jerry,
When moving from one shooting position to another, and having to attack the targets from around an obstacle at the approaching position(i.e.: Bianchi barricade), is it preferable to enter the shooting box with either foot or the right if shooting from the left of the barricade and approaching from the right, or vice-versa left for around the right side??? Thanks for the opportunity to "Ask Jerry"
Hal Richmond
Jerry Replies:
When entering a barricade from either side you need
to look at two options:
Option One "Will I be able to stop my forward momentum in a 3 foot box"
Option two "What will be my quickest setup to my first shot?"
If you watch how I shoot you will see that I use both feet depending on the 2 questions above. I will sometimes come in and enter the box with my left foot while leaning back so as to smooth out the sudden stop and get a good first shot. At the same time, if the boxes are close together and full speed can not be reached, I may choose to enter with my right foot. This question has a lot of variables and through trying different approaches you will find out what works best for you.Tape #7 of The Burner Series tapes goes into detail on this subject and should answer all questions and more you might have.
Thank you for the question,and hope that I was able to help you. Jerry
Jerry -
People keep claiming "course design neutralizes the high cap advantage." Comments from you on the accuracy of this statement would be appreciated.
I believe Hi Cap will always be an advantage. If you know you have extra rounds in the gun you will look at the course much differently. I believe that good course design is a start, but I don't think it can completely neutralize the playing field.
Also, how do the big sponsors feel about having their representatives shoot the big matches using equipment they are no longer able to sell in the civilian market? Do you see the continued use of high capacity guns with a 10 round new mag limit as inhibiting the growth of open class, or will future shooters be content to buy $2500, 10 round guns to compete with? Do you see a time when the big name shooters will arrive on the line with 10 round guns even if high cap is still allowed in competition? The perspective on this issue from the top would be most interesting.
regards,
rob boudrie
For right now it's very hard to comment. This is a tough issue, without knowing what's down the road and to make a comment now on this would be premature.Your question regarding equipment and sponsorship has never became an issue with any of my sponsors. Thank You for your questions.
Week of 10-1-96, two questions from the Internet:
Jerry,
I have two quick questions:
1. How important is pistol "balance" i.e., holding the gun upside down with your finger in the trigger guard (as a smith had suggested to me)? Should the gun balance parallel with the ground? Should this be done with a full mag, half full mag, or no mag?
2. When shooting fast (for me, .14 or .13 splits) I lose the dot. Would a brighter dot help (C-More vs. my current Tasco PDP4) or would that give me a "tracer effect"?
Jerry Replies:
Well, I don't shoot my gun in that position so I don't believe balancing the gun upside down is going to help you. I believe the only way to tell if a gun is balanced for you is to shoot it and watch the sight track. The sight should track as straight as possible without too much side movement. Custom pistols are as individual as the shooters that shoot them and I don't believe there is a hard, fast rule here.
One thing I always teach my students is only shoot as fast as you can watch the sights. You are losing the dot because you are shooting faster than you can watch the sight. Slow down, pay attention to your sights. Your scores will only go up.
The tracer effect you are talking about can be overcome a lot by your grip. Try holding your support hand at more of an angle and see if that makes a difference. Don't be afraid to experiment, find out what works for you and stick with it. Tape one of The Burner Series goes into detail on Stance, Balance and Grip and should help you out.
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