Posted: 1/14/2007 1:27:06 AM EDT
Can anyone give me a VERY detailed explanation on how the Speed Steel thang works? I kinda understand the basic's, but want the DETAILS! I'm thinking about giving it a try, but don't want to show up and make a total fool of myself  Thanks! 
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First off, all the targets are steel, you hit it or you didn’t. There are six "stages" or "courses of fire." Each stage you come to will normally only require six hits or less on steel. There is a Stop Plate that is to be the last piece of steel hit. Beyond that, the steel can be engaged in any order you like. You shoot each stage five times (call it five runs or five strings). For each time you miss a piece of steel, three seconds is added on to your time for that string. From those five strings, your worst score is thrown out and your score for that stage is the best four times added together. Once you (and the rest of your squad) are done with the stage, you move on to the next stage. So, six stages x five runs = 30 x six hits = 180 hits if everything is normal. There are a bunch of stages that only require five hits, a couple only four. The number of hits is going down, but we haven’t even begun to discuss misses. Maybe, we shouldn’t discuss misses. I usually bring 250-300 rounds of ammunition to a match. Last match at TCGC I only fired 169 rounds. Match before that I fired 202 rounds (many misses). There are four classes in Speed Steel 22: 22lr handguns (semi-auto and revolver) Revolver: center fire revolver Limited: Semi-auto with no optics or compensators Open: handgun with compensator and/or optic. At TCGC Nick (the match director) has also let the gang start a pistol caliber carbine (PCC) class. |
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What are the size, distance, and shape of the steel plates? So it is typical for someone with a 10 round mag to complete a run w/o reloading? If the typical run is 6 hits on steel the average time to complete this is? Sorry for so many questions I'm a total newbie to this. I'm also very new to shooting gunz (mostly within the last year). Right now I don't have a favorite hand gun and don't know which would be better to try speed steel out with. I own the following hand gunz. HK USP 45 Tactical - with 10 or 12 round mags FN 5.7 - with 20 or 30 round mags FNP-40 - with 14 round mags S&W Sigma 40 - with 15 round mags As for ammo I run mostly TMJ or FMJ factory loads (the 5.7 is either SS195 or SS197). What do you recommend to shoot? |
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This is from the October Speed Steel match. This is a typical setup. At each stage there is a description of the stage and which plate is the stop plate. I have been shooting my Mark II with 10 round stock mags. I go with five mags so that I don't need to reload a mag while I'm shooting a stage. I just swap a new mag out. Each stage you shoot five times, so five mags. There has been one occasion where there was a mandatory mag swap during the stage, but you only shot it three times. My suggestion is bring out a .40 or a 9mm if you have one or even a .22 with about 250 rounds and a few mags. Just show up. If you don't have enough mags there are people there that will help load for you while you shoot. This is a low stress competition, but you must be a safe shooter. Just show up!  |
Square, round. From 6" to 18". Distance is everything from 7-10 yard to 40 yards.
Yes. Stages are typically "revolver friendly" with 6 shots or less.
Anywhere from 2 to 10 seconds.
I'm not sure if the FN5.7 would be allowed due to the velocity of the rounds. I would check specifically. Besides....that's REALLY spendy. The rest are fine! So save money, you can always shoot a .22LR. |
Yeah the SS195 moves pretty fast at ~2,100+ fps. The ammo cost isn't really bad since I purchased a shit load(4k) of ammo ~$15/50 rounds. Yes I'm a ammo whore and can't pass up a good deal, more money than brains The sweet thing about the 5.7 for a newbie like me is there is little to no recoil, so follow ups are easy. I still have the newbie jerk with the pistol, but I'm trying to lose my bad habbits. I tend to be VERY comptetive and hate looking like a retard.......as in 20+ rounds to finish one of the 6 plate stages 
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You are going to make mistakes and look dumb, that's just the way learning new things works. It's nothing to worry about; people are friendly and very few are TV-style fast. Turn out at ARPC ranges a lot depending on weather. Average is around 15-20. There is quite a lot of standing around: 10 per squad x 5 runs per man. Stage times can vary, but have a max of 30 seconds per run (usually only happens with some kind of malfuction). You can also just show up and watch one. |
That seems to happen to me a lot. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, it’s not hard to do and you’ll get the hang of it in about 60 seconds or so. Paul (the ARPC director) is a wonderful guy, but he can sure chat things up (not that I have room to be talking). We try to keep things moving along (something we need to do a better job of). The game is easy, watch you sights, shoot and have fun. You may indeed want to just come out and watch. As with most other games, bring a gun and some ammo; you’ll probably want to shoot. The steel used is hardened (AR400?), but I think that little Five seveN would be too much, bring one of your other pistols, or I can being one for you, you like revolvers don’t ya  |
There is usually anywhere from 25 - 45 shooters, but it's divided up into six groups. If you figure that you're shooting each stage for a little over one minute to maybe four minutes on the outside, you're not waiting around long. Between the banter and reloading the time goes pretty fast. Really I enjoy the banter portion as much as the shooting. Watch, shoot and learn what works for you. It's cheap training. I have never seen anyone there that has a big ego or put down someone for doing poorly. I have seen and am guilty of talking smack to friends. Unfortunately it's usually just before I tank a stage . I'd also say probably not to the 5.7. Try shooting cheap at first until you get the hang of it. |
| I'm going to make this one. I got to try out the new G34! Only problem is I ordered a blade tech holster and it isn't going to be in before the match. Anyone got a holster I could barrow for the match? I borrowed steves? I think last time but the only reason he had it was because his son was suppose to show and didn't. |
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I've been to two matches at TCGC, and love it. I'm not a fancy high-speed shooter by any means, but I never felt intimidated or unwelcome. Everyone's pretty friendly, including the non-arfcommers. I like the fact that missed shots don't count (encouraging me to make full use of 13-15rd 9mm mags). I don't think there's a lot of waiting around, as the groups are pretty small. You're either shooting, keeping score, RO-ing, loading mags, or chatting among the group. You should definitely come out to the next match, either at TCGC or ARPC. I don't think anyone will think you are a fool (unless you are unsafe, have poor trigger/muzzle discipline, etc.) |
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Your guns (took the Five seveN out), figuring they all are pretty much stock (no comps or optics) would all be in the limited class. HK USP 45 Tactical - with 10 or 12 round mags FNP-40 - with 14 round mags S&W Sigma 40 - with 15 round mags Bring em all, try it out. |