Yuku free message boards

I really enjoyed the match. Lots of challenging stages, with a whole lot of "that doesn't look so hard," but then finding out that appearances were deceiving. I personally really enjoyed the stage with the targets in the three cars (I remember thinking "How did they get the swinger to move that fast...") and the one with the Dodge Neon where you either had to get out of the passenger seat and go around the back to engage the final targets or launch yourself across to the driver's seat and shoot them while leaning out the window.

There were a couple of minor stage issues that I noted: mixed round counts for no compelling reason, a target we had to shoot on the move despite the presence of cover, and a stage with no cover anywhere yet we had to shoot some targets while stationary and others while on the move.

My one big gripe was regarding the low-light stages. If your squad started the match on a bay after the Tunnel Rat stage, you would get to the shoot house stages before coming to Tunnel Rat. In the shoot house, you were given a chance to play and practice with the flashlight we were required to use (a First Light Tomahawk). There are multiple power output settings on the light, and it was extremely helpful to know how to use it to get the optimum performance.

But if you started on a stage after the shoot house and up to the Tunnel Rat stage, you weren't allowed to familiarize yourself with the light this way. At the Tunnel Rat stage, you were simply shown what button to push to turn the light on, and not allowed to manipulate it any further. The result is that some competitors where provided with a competitive advantage over others simply because of where you started the match. For me, it didn't make all that much of a difference, since several mind-farts at other points in the match put me well out of a competitive finish, but inadequate knowledge of the light probably cost me 5-8 seconds in Tunnel Rat (the light didn't provide enough illumination to see the targets, so I finally had to give up and guess where they were).

My point being is that match-required and -provided equipment shouldn't be utilized in a way that allows some competitors a competitive advantage over others. The required gear should be relatively stupid-proof so that everyone has a equal chance of using it efficiently (for example, the mini-mart stage required engagement of the first target with the match-provided Glock 17 - pick it up, shoot it at the target 2 yards away three times, put it down - simple and fair since even non-Glock shooters can pop a 2-yard-distant target three times very quickly).

I discussed my concerns with the assistant match director, but he basically said that there was nothing he could do about it and it didn't merit a re-shoot. I didn't care to press the issue since jumping from 24th to 20th Place would be a Pyrrhic victory, but if it had cost me being in the top three, I would have been absolutely pissed (assuming that the guys who beat me had been given the competitive advantage described above).

Beyond that, it was a far-and-away great match. Tough but fun stages, personable SOs, gorgeous range, fantastic weather, and a location with lots of amenities. And since my wife got to compete with me, as well as spend my birthday with me on Sunday, I call that a Win.

I'm looking forward to next year's match.