Awesome Weekend! (Gun Related)

Got back from my vacation. It was amazing for a gun nut like me, especially as I own and carry Wilson Combat guns almost every day. The rest is a copy and paste, as I am lazy after all the driving.

A quick link to explain IDPA and the Wilson name to those that are not familiar:

http://www.idpa.com/about/introduction

Bill Wilson helped found the IDPA, was a championship shooter, and eventually founded Wilson Combat. His wife Joyce is the current head of the IDPA. I guess the Geek equivalent would be hanging out with Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.



I went to the big town of Berryville Arkansas over the weekend. Wilson Combat gave our group one hell of a tour! We got to see their new factory while all the smiths were working. Amazing. They had probably 20 CNC machines! They now make almost every part, barrels, AR uppers and lowers, triggers, all that stuff. They have at least 4 walk in gun vaults. These things are big enough that including all the shelves, you can put 25+ people inside them and still be able to walk around... They really treated us like royalty. Even gave each of us a gun bag with our names embroidered stuffed with a hat, T-shirt, 2 8 round 45 mags, gun cleaning rag and a few other little things. I would have gone just for that. But, then it got a whole lot better...

Bill Wilson and his wife Joyce flew over from Texas to shoot with us at his son Ryan's personal range. This guy has a steel range for rifles, one for pistols, a 8 or so lane range for pistol shooting, very nice place. My favorite holster maker, Jason Winnie and his wife also came down to shoot with us. There were a few ladies with little experience, so Joyce (president of the IDPA) took them to another bay to help them out. WC had about 8 extra RSO's there to insure safety. Heck they had no idea who was going to show up. Anyway, no safety violations, not even one 'get your finger off the trigger' the whole day. The morning shoot was simple, draw shoot, reholster, letting them know what they were dealing with.

After they bought us lunch in town, we came back and did some drills. OK, I suck at IDPA type drills, but did not come in last in the group. Bill was telling me I was loosing time doing reloads using the slingshot vs slidestop. At one point, it hit me, I am discussing shooting technique with Bill flippin' Wilson! They are totally down to earth folks.

Some of the drills we did: Draw and shoot 2 rounds into 3 targets in 6 seconds. Draw and shoot 2 rounds in 3 targets strong hand only in 7 seconds. We topped off the guns before the strong hand one. Draw and shoot 3 rounds in 3 targets (one or more reload). Draw and shoot 2 rounds in 3 targets then two to the chest, one in the head of each target in (I think) 14 seconds, with of course a reload or two.

After that, we went to the clubhouse. Open bar, plenty of Shiner Bock in the ice chests. Ryan's wife made homemade spaghetti, lasagna, and they had chips and such. They really outdid themselves, treated us great.

 

Guns, Beer and Lasagna...:drool
You lucky man!

 

Yep, and we were in the Ozark mountains, lots of great views. I got a few picts on my phone, but will have to resize them to post.

 

My father would have loved this, if he were still alive.