ihmsa forums

Is it just me? I can take my 8" ported Taurus 44 mag and shoot it in PH Long Course and even PH Short Course using a creedmoor position but I cannot use the same gun and shooting position to shoot Big Bore Revolver or Big Bore Production. I'm not even sure if I can use my Taurus in FP since it has an overall barrel length of less than 12 inches with the ports. Seems like we have a conflict here.
By the way, Happy New Year!!!!!!

You will have more fun if you stop reading the rules and shoot steel.

From another Taurus owner.

I wonder if those rules were written by FA owners who are afraid of our bulls.

This particular rule was discussed when PH came out. I do not remember all the details but Ports and muzzle brakes on short barrels were most certainly discussed. The biggest concern was safety and the potential to get muzzle or port blasted in the creedmore position.
Seems to me the Creedmore position is not allowed with a muzzle brake or a ported barrel. I'll have to re-read the PH rules.
By all means, shoot and have fun but be safe.

Happy new year
Joe

I brought this up a couple years ago on this very forum. I'm not going to look for it. Anyone else feel free to do so. The PH rules state "any safe position". I know I used quotes and it may be partially incorrect. That is what allows brakes in PH with "short barreled guns". Now what may be "safe" for one match director may not be for another. If I'm correct the rule book allows each match director to determine what is a "safe" position. So your local match director may say you are ok, but you show up somewhere else and they take you off the line for being unsafe. I thought the rule was written the way it was so you could run what you brung. As long it was done safely. I don't agree with the rule. I think breaks should only be allowed in unlimited with the rule written for those guns the way it is. I don't care who ports factory guns. But those who stepped up and took the mantle of responsibility decided to make the rule this way. I can live with it.

Greg, Yep, it is what it is. Most MDs will allow any gun these days as long as the shooter is safe. If the gun doesn't conform to the rules then the shooter is just shooting for the fun of it anyway. My biggest nit pick with the rules is new shooters get confused by the contradictions that exist in our rules. You read one section and something is allowed then read another and the same thing is not allowed. I worked for the Government for over 50 years and we had to make sure all the stuff was crystal clear to whoever was going to read our info. Almost impossible to believe our Government is crystal clear about anything!!! Too bad the rules don't get looked over for problems. Porting on PH guns may be more common than people think. Especially on the long guns. I'm going to shoot my Taurus (safely) even if I can't submit the entry to IHMSA.

Not to start a fight but, why can't the rules be revised to take into account changing technology, the change in demographics and what it takes to keep people shooting as their physical conditions change with age. Ya know people this game is gonna "age out" before long. Sorry for the rant...carry on.

bkraft wrote:Not to start a fight but, why can't the rules be revised to take into account changing technology, the change in demographics and what it takes to keep people shooting as their physical conditions change with age. Ya know people this game is gonna "age out" before long. Sorry for the rant...carry on.

I don't really have an answer for the changes in technology or demographics, but the Physically Challenged program can take care of some of the the advancing age issues. Scope categories were added to help with old eyes. Technology changes to our game can perhaps be made as necessary but demographics can't be addressed without making our game "tactical". When that happens, I'm out.....no thanks.

I don't know why I start discussions about rules anymore since they are really just guidelines and not rules at local matches. If a gun looks like an unlimited gun then it gets shot in that category. All other guns look like production legal guns and they get shot that way. Guns are only checked anymore at major matches. As long as shooters are safe they usually shoot in any category. I know I am way past worrying what the other guy is shooting even if he is in my class. I just shoot to beat my scores and hopefully not be at the bottom of my class. I have serious doubts that many, if any, shooters know what the rules say anymore. It's just my nature to want to fix something if it is broken or doesn't make any sense. I think all the shooters at our local club enjoy themselves regardless of what the rules say they can or can't do and that is what is the most important thing.

260 Striker wrote:I don't know why I start discussions about rules anymore since they are really just guidelines and not rules at local matches. If a gun looks like an unlimited gun then it gets shot in that category. All other guns look like production legal guns and they get shot that way. Guns are only checked anymore at major matches. As long as shooters are safe they usually shoot in any category. I know I am way past worrying what the other guy is shooting even if he is in my class. I just shoot to beat my scores and hopefully not be at the bottom of my class. I have serious doubts that many, if any, shooters know what the rules say anymore. It's just my nature to want to fix something if it is broken or doesn't make any sense. I think all the shooters at our local club enjoy themselves regardless of what the rules say they can or can't do and that is what is the most important thing.

Well said Lynne!!!!