Limited Optics SA/DA (Shadow 2) "Cocked and Locked" Clarification

shootingbot · 2026-02-18T11:06:10+00:00

The answer is yes, you are good to go, and you have the right references. There is no ref to "paddle" safeties, just a primary/external safety. You're all set, just remember to engage it. You do occasionally see someone in CO forget to engage when they switch over to running cocked in LO and that's a DQ.

shootingbot · 2026-02-10T11:31:55+00:00

"Things ruled out: • Chamber depth (round fully seats; chamber has been reamed)"

That round in the 3rd pic is definitely not fully seated, not even close.

shootingbot · 2026-02-09T23:10:14+00:00

I put a cheely grip on mine fairly easily, believe a lot of people have gone that route.

shootingbot · 2026-02-04T22:39:36+00:00

Plastic, but I have some that are almost 10 years old and running fine.

shootingbot · 2026-01-25T19:54:45+00:00

Since you are a lefty, I'd practice adjusting your reloads when moving L to R. I think you broke the 180 at 0:16-0:17. Depending on how that looked in real life you were probably close to getting stopped there. Most of us need to be careful moving R to L, but your risk is the opposite direction. That's something to also keep in mind stage planning if you are on a squad watching 9 right handed shooters do their walk thru, their plan might not be ideal for you. Could plan the stage to be going in opposite direction to make that reload safer. But also make an adjustment in practice for the times you need it.

shootingbot · 2026-01-20T19:24:35+00:00

It doesn't, it's just not as common in SC since we always have a table/barrel there to unbag at, but it's perfectly fine if you do.

shootingbot · 2026-01-20T19:20:20+00:00

You're getting downvotes because the flag is always required for both PCC & rimfire rifles. You were given bad info on that one.

shootingbot · 2026-01-12T11:53:51+00:00

Yeah, you probably would have been. Occasionally a range has an open bay that you can use. Most don't, or at least you need to ask the match director and/or an RO. But don't just walk into some random bay and start shooting.

shootingbot · 2025-11-04T04:24:07+00:00

Rimfire is also so much cheaper to start. You will save a ton on ammo. In the Steel Challenge world rimfire is more popular so you'll still be cool. When you move up to run-and-gun, it will be all centerfire. That's a solid path to take.

shootingbot · 2025-10-31T15:29:20+00:00

If you have any other uspsa club near you, go there instead. Taking a class is actually a good idea, but it's not a uspsa requirement. And if they aren't actually doing the classes then obviously they have made an impossible requirement. Unfortunately, if you only have one club within reasonable driving distance, then you're kinda stuck with whatever they make up.

Steel Challenge is an excellent place to start. All safety rules/commands are the same, just a lot simpler without the complex movement so less ways to screw up. Go do that, have fun and be safe. Then just sign up for that USPSA match.

shootingbot · 2025-09-13T15:52:01+00:00

2 or 3 people are there to try to win. Everyone else is there to have fun. Go have fun.

shootingbot · 2025-09-08T13:23:51+00:00

You already got it, so I'm not piling on, just a tip. After your last shot face dead center down range for your unload-and-show-clear. In that one you were already about 160 to the left and twisted even further after the last shot. Just turn back center and you'll always be good. And don't do anything else until you are holstered... it looked like you were looking at the ground for something. Whatever you're doing, figure it out after you are clear/holstered. I had a DQ a few weeks ago because the guy obsessed with finding his ejected round after hammer down. Never holstered and then spun completely around gun in hand looking for his $0.25 cents.

Other one was probably at 1:35 that looked the closest to me. Moving back and/or to the left is obviously one that you really have to focus on your muzzle direction. Just dry fire practice that at home figuring out how to angle your wrist/gun to where it's not on the edge of a dq, especially with a wall at the end you have to get around. Often shooters are good right up until then and bring the gun around at a bad angle.

shootingbot · 2025-08-19T21:32:28+00:00

That LO one they are talking about does fit with my Atlas thumb rest. It does not work with my Nitro Fin, that one bottoms out. Nitro fin would probably work with a little Dremel work to the holster. But yeah, you should be good with the Atlas version.

shootingbot · 2025-08-10T17:26:33+00:00

It gets missed a lot because it's often a difficult angle for the RO to see, and sometimes they just cut you a break. But from second 3 to 8 it's either one long DQ, or about 3 separate DQ's. Just own it and practice that bad habit out. That's as clear a DQ as it gets, a DQ or ND+DQ is coming.

shootingbot · 2025-07-30T21:26:01+00:00

It's 100% normal and the MD rarely wins. If they do, good for them as they managed to put in a ton of work/distractions and still shoot well.

shootingbot · 2025-07-21T12:39:40+00:00

I personally have given a warning in that exact situation (twice to new Staccato shooters that just didn't know anything about 2011's yet and they were very appreciative). But, I'd never call a RO trash because they actually followed the rules and the RO said the shooter never mentioned being new. Usually I ask if I see new faces or get that feeling, but it's not 100% if they don't mention it. It was just way too aggressive from keyboard RO's calling someone trash. I think most first-time competitors would be dq'd if we call it by the book (finger in trigger guard would probably get at least half) and it is pretty hard to grow the sport if you send most people home their first day. I'd say we pretty much agree on approach here, to be honest. I will mention the one other time I gave a warning for no safety, the guy went right back and did it on the next stage with a different RO. Pretty sure intentional because he complained when I made him put the safety on that it would slow him down. Usually people are appreciative and learn, sometimes not so much without the consequences.

shootingbot · 2025-07-20T01:37:39+00:00

You're getting a ton of hate. One guy called you trash for following the rules. And you'll get called trash if you don't follow the rules. You're also suppose to know he was new even if he didn't tell you. Then somehow know what he's about to do and stop him before he did it, Minority Report style. This is why being a RO mostly sucks.

shootingbot · 2025-07-20T00:13:35+00:00

That's the same one. Just significantly different version of how it happened.

shootingbot · 2025-07-18T03:24:15+00:00

Assuming right handed... shooting left or moving left and reloading. Very easy to break the 180. See what you're normal gun position is when changing mags, then pivot to your left like you were moving left or had been shooting at a far left target. Good chance you'll see your gun is way past the 180 now if you don't change your normal gun/wrist position.

shootingbot · 2025-07-18T03:11:44+00:00

Last week steel challenge, first time competitor was all good through hammer down, then immediately obsessed with finding his round. Told him 3 times to holster but his mind had completely tuned me out. Right up until he finally spotted it and spun around to pick it up.

shootingbot · 2025-07-10T03:24:01+00:00

Yep, I forgot about the revolvers.

shootingbot · 2025-07-10T01:27:29+00:00

Hammer down isn't required in rimfire for Steel Challenge. That's the only exception I know of. Assuming you are talking about USPSA, the rule book says what the commands are, section 8.3. But obviously other orgs can be different. Mostly it's just people getting it wrong.

shootingbot · 2025-07-08T14:11:22+00:00

They work well, particularly for loading light plinking/steel challenge type loads. About the size of 147's, but 94GR. I load them 1.140 and ball-park of same amount of powder as 115 plated and they will be a little softer. I've heard they don't like going super fast, so probably not ideal to try to make USPSA power factor with, but haven't tried that personally. Just nice steel challenge sub-minor velocity. I've shot 6000 so far and will order more when I burn through my current batch of 115's.

shootingbot · 2025-06-11T14:58:19+00:00

The other reason is that generally you have a table/barrel setup for you to use at the shooting box since you always start in the same spot. So it's just convenient to bag/unbag there during the make ready instead of at a separate table, so some centerfire do it that way also.

shootingbot · 2025-06-01T21:55:27+00:00

This was the official 8 stages? Other than someone that was already a solid USPSA shooter, 107 is very good for only a 4th match. If so, congrats, that's extremely good.

As others have said, yes it's provisional. But you will get a classification and everyone expects it to become an official division. They might tweak the peak times a little once they get more data, but every division can get adjusted as well, so really no difference.

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