10/11/2026
October Bandera Defensive Match
Yesterday, I hosted one of the more fun Defensive Matches I’ve ever run.
This was a TDR Defensive Rules match using the more challenging Shootsteel targets, NOT an IDPA match.
Hits on a non threat are not a piddling 5 second penalty like in IDPA. In this match, each hit on a non threat gets you a whopping 30 seconds added to your time.
In the shooter’s meeting, I warned competitors, “If it takes you 29 seconds to determine if it’s a nonthreat, you’re still ahead of the game.”
Those words came back to haunt me.
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Stage 4 was a BLIND stage, photorealistic threat/nonthreat indicators. The position of threats and non threats changed for each shooter while their back was turned.
The position change caught a number of folks who thought they knew which was which from taping the previous stage.
The most devious indicator was a hand holding a flashlight like a Surefire Stiletto. It looked an awful lot like the barrel of a compact handgun.
Each target required three shots. The steel clamshell activator had to be engaged from behind 10 yards, but you could advance for all the rest.
In my run on this stage, I THOUGHT I was taking enough time to identify non threats. I realized I was wrong after putting one round into a target holding the flashlight. Some harsh language followed.
This stage caught a LOT of folks, leading to some truly impressive stage times after penalties.
The fastest stage time was 18.88 seconds, from Patrick Flores.
The second slowest stage time was 213.78 seconds. 180 seconds were hits on non threats.
Yikes!
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The seconds most fun stage was the Trigger Interactive flags on plates, in a Steel Challenge “Roundabout” pattern.
At the “Go” signal, you retrieved your fi***rm loaded with 10 rounds from the barrel.
Three plates showed flags for 4 seconds, then all disappeared for three seconds. This repeated for a total of 21 presentations.
The 10 rounds in the gun meant you had to proactively reload if you wanted a chance to hit ALL 21 plates.
A lot of folks said this was their favorite stage.
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Divisions:
* Concealed Pistol
* Non Concealed Pistol
* PCC
* Revolver
* Back Up gun (subcompact that holds 6 rds or less)
AIWB (appendix carry) is allowed.
You may load magazines to full capacity.
If you selected “Concealed,” you must conceal your handgun at the beginning of the stage.
PCC folks are often required to move some distance to retrieve their r***e, as they probably would in real life.
Many targets will be covered with t-shirts.
There will be photorealistic targets
There will be "Unload/Load" tables in bay 2 and 3 for those who plan to carry to and from the match.
