Yep. And since the match is at my home range, I should go. :D
Here's some tips:
1 - ZERO your damn gun! You'd be surprised how many people don't have a zero'ed pistol or know their hold overs/unders (depending on pistol and distance to target and zero).
2 - Clean guns tend to jamb more than slightly fouled guns. So...a day or two before you leave, or maybe the day before the match, spend 20-30 rounds confirming your zero on a clean pistol and foul it.
3 - Ammo prep is your friend. Depending on finances, but keeping in mind the cost of brass relative to the cost of the overall match, if you can, use new brass. The GB is 235 rounds minimum, so let's round it off at 300. At $0.10 each, that's $30. Between travel, match fee, shipping of anything, hotel & meals, $30 is nothing. Also...gauge every round (not in your barrel but in a gauge) and chrono your loads before the match. Then, with your "match" ammo, do random pulls to make sure that it's still chrono'ing at the desired level. Speaking on that, always be like 3-5 PF points above what you need. Side note: Bring 400 rounds.
4 - If shooting Open, replace the battery in the scope....NO MATTER WHAT!
5 - DO NOT LOOK AT THE STAGE DESCRIPTIONS AND TRY TO WIN THE STAGE FROM A 2-D PICTURE! This drives me nuts. Check to see if there's any weird stuff, but if there's not, shoot the stages fresh. Just like you do at home and just like you do in practice. That's how you've trained, don't deviate from that just 'cause the match fee cost more.
6 - Have your gear ready by...tonight. When you're traveling, concentrate on traveling. When you're shooting, concentrate on shooting.
7 - Have fun. If you're having a great first day, don't stay locked up in the hotel. There's a lot to do in Sac and go have fun with your fellow shooters. This is supposed to be fun after all. If you're having a crappy first day, drop it out of your mind, do not discuss it and go have fun and relax with friends/fellow shooters.
8 - Good or bad, do not start thinking about the next day's stages. You can't do anything about them 'til you're on the stage, so there's no point in workin' yourself up even thinking about it. When you're done on Saturday, go back to where you're staying, prep all your gear (however it is you do so) for the next day, put it all in the corner of the room and forget it.
9 - Snacks and fluids. If you're shooting the match in 2 days, you're going to be out for 2, 4 hour shifts. Eat about 1/2 a snack bar between stages. It won't be smokin' hot, but you do expend calories and electrolytes standing around waiting for your turn. When you're down on sugar, the first thing to go is your visual acuity. Kind of important in a shooting competition. Fluids = water. Fluids does not equal Gatorade, Powerade, soda or juice. Drink about a gallon of water for 2-3 days before the match (not counting meals). When you're at the match, during a 4 hour shift, down about 1/2 a gallon of water. Think about our sport. You stand around for an hour and need to be at your best (or close to it) for about 1-2 minutes (from Make Ready to Range is Clear). That's taxing and nutrition is a tremendously undervalued aspect of our sport.
10 - Stop by Stage 2 on Sunday and say hi. I'm not totally a jerk. :D Or, if not doing anything on Saturday, I'll be shooting with Taran Butler.
11 - Have fun. Remember, if you win, you're not getting a Cadillac. If you lose, they're not taking away your birthday and your dog is not going to stop loving you. It's not worth the stress. Have fun!!!
Hope to see you and everyone out at the match.
Rich