Steel Plate Match Results

08-09-98

             The Steel Plate Match went off without a hitch today. Several shooters did enter both the Revolver and Auto classes. The match format was changed for this match. We shot a "Steel Challenge" match. I had copied several of the courses of fire that were shot in this year's Steel Challenge match held in Piru, California, from the Internet and we set it up.  What a blast!  

             Each course had only five large steel plates that set up in different arrangements. Each course had a stop plate, a plate that was to be shot last. The plates were stationary, they do not fall as in past plate matches. The plates are touched up with paint between shooters and hits are scored by sound or a mark caused by the bullet hitting the plate. Each course was shot three times. You went to the line and got three runs on the same target array. The time for each run was recorded and then added together for a total time for the three runs on this course. This total time was your score for this course of fire. We had set up five courses of fire on two of our ranges, three on the primary range and two on the upper plate range. The total times for the five stages were added together for a final score for the match. Best time with the least misses (plates not hit before hitting the stop plate) wins your class.

            There are three classes, novice, expert and master. Everybody starts out in novice class. If you win your class, you get bumped up to the next class in the next match. If you shoot into the next class's time, you also will get bumped up in class for the next match. Novice class is an average time for the five courses of 16 seconds or more. Expert class is an average time for five stages of less that 16 seconds but not faster than 10 seconds. Master class is an average time for the five courses of less than 10 seconds. To get your average add the five total times scored during the match then divide the number by 5 to get an average time per course.

            Each match will have different courses set up to make the matches more interesting. Most of the courses will have close targets and will be fast but we will have one course with either smaller targets or further distance shots to increase the difficulty for one stage of the match that will separate the different skill levels out. Another idea presented was to have a standardized course that was shot during each match that would determine class placement. I believe it could lead to "sandbagging" to stay in a lower class instead of demonstrating the skill level the shooter was capable of. The "entire match average" would prevent this but would not exactly be "standardized".

            The bottom line is we all had a great time, got to hit some steel, and did not go home feeling like we did not get to shoot as much as we had wanted to. The match was a 75 round match (if you did not miss) and most of us shot both revolver and auto making it a 150 round match. The match fee was only $15 per gun and we gave out nice trophies to the winners.

            This match will be held on the second Sunday of each month and starts at noon.

	Final Results - Novice Auto
Place	Competitor	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4	Stage 5	Total/Missed	Avg.
1	Leon Hancock	19.04-15	14.24-15	12.89-15	16.65-15	10.97-15	73.79-0	14.75
2	Pat Croom	28.15-15	16.67-14	17.57-15	18.34-15	11.75-15	92.57-1	18.51
3	Mike Vitkin	17.79-12	16.44-12	14.40-12	22.57-15	14.58-15	85.78-9	17.15

	Final Results - Novice Revolver
Place	Competitor	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4	Stage 5	Total/Missed	Avg.
1	Pat Croom	21.77-15	15.99-15	22.36-15	19.15-15	11.99-15	91.26-0	18.25
2	Mike Vitkin	17.28-14	15.28-15	21.79-15	14.00-15	12.55-15	80.91-1	16.18
3	Leon Hancock	15.34-15	24.28-15	23.73-15	16.63-15	10.95-14	90.93-1	18.18

	Final Results - Master Auto
Place	Competitor	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4	Stage 5	Total/Missed	Avg.
1	Jon Grigsby	13.9-15	10.24-15	9.76-15	13.62-15	8.26-15	55.78-0	11.15
2	Tom Palmer	19.23-15	43.01-15	4.26-15	14.11-15	11.00-15	101.61-0	20.32
3	John Blue	15.96-10	10.81-15	10.83-15	13.89-15	12.43-15	63.92-5	12.78

	Final Results - Master Revolver
Place	Competitor	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4	Stage 5	Total/Missed	Avg.
1	John Blue	9.95-15	9.56-15	11.01-15	9.91-15	8.03-15	48.46-0	9.69
2	Jon Grigsby	16.70-15	17.11-15	15-74-15	12.93-15	8.10-15	70.58-0	14.11

09-13-98    

 I spent about $900 on new 1/2 inch thick T-1 steel plates for this new format of steel plate match.  The new plates are 18 by 24 inches and are hung on a steel supports made fron 2" angle iron that lets the plate ring loudly when hit.  It also holds the plates at about a 15 degree angle so no fragments come back at the shooters.  I also made 15 12" round plates that are like-wise hung.  This is the safest steel plate design I have seen yet.  The new plates were ready in time for the second "Steel Plate Challenge" match.  We had a larger turnout for this match.  Everyone had a great time banging away at the new steel.  The large plates are easier to hit and the speed did pick up by the time you got to your third run on each stage.  

As soon as I get the match results back from John Blue, he needed them to order the name tags for the trophies we gave out, I'll post them here.

Please make note of the date of the next match.  It is going to be held on October 11 and starts at noon.  It is a great way to get started in handgun competition.  Everybody starts out in novice class and is pretty evenly matched up.  You don't need any special equipment for this type of match, just a good reliable handgun in 9mm/38spec. caliber or larger.  No magnum ammunition is allowed. It moves quickly, taking about 3 hours to complete.  Call the range if you have any questions about tis match.

Another fun match was held today.  We shot a total of 5 stages that we set up right out of the Steel Challenge book.  The courses were very challenging with the last one being the fastest of the day.  Unfortunately, I left the results at the range.  I'll update this page as soon as I bring the results home with me.  They should be up here in the next day or so.