Dry Fire – The Rest of What People Are Not Telling You

Posted on by stevefostershooting

There are plenty of dry fire resources out there; books, tools, lasers, apps, gadgets, even dedicated “training guns.” Many of them are good. Some of them are very good. They help shooters build visual discipline, reinforce safe handling habits, and get your eyes working on rainy days or when you don’t have a range outback.

But here’s the truth most people don’t tell you:

None of those tools are as valuable as dry firing with the exact gun you are going to compete with.

If you want to get faster, more consistent, and more confident on match day, nothing replaces actual dry fire with your actual firearm. I am going to break down why.

Why Dry Firing Matters More Than Most Shooters Realize

Dry fire removes recoil, noise, pressure, and distraction so you can focus on the only thing that truly makes you faster:

Seeing better.

Your eyes drive everything in speed shooting:

  • Transitions
  • Timing
  • Shot calling
  • Indexing
  • Confidence

Dry fire gives you the reps your eyes desperately need. Instead of reacting to recoil, you are training your brain to process visual information at the speed required for Steel Challenge, GSSF, SASP, Metal Madness and other action shooting sports.

Dry fire isn’t about speed.
Dry fire is about training your visual system, the speed will come.

And your visual system can only be trained accurately if you’re using the exact gun your brain expects to see.  This could be your red fiber optic front sight or your favorite optic like a Vortex Defender XL.

Why Other Dry Fire Tools Are Good… but Not Enough

Laser systems, replica guns, and plastic training pistols absolutely have value. They are excellent for beginners learning safety fundamentals and helpful for visual exercises where the real firearm isn’t convenient.  Maybe you are off to college and you cannot bring your gun to your dorm.  Maybe you are traveling and do not want to bring your competition guns with you.

But they can’t replace your real gun because:

  • The weight is different
  • The trigger is different
  • The optic/sight picture is different
  • The geometry is different
  • Your natural point of aim is different

These tools help you see, but they don’t teach your brain where your gun actually lives in relationship to your eyes.

Only dry fire with your competition firearm can do that.

The Critical Benefit: Building Your Perfect Index

Top shooters often say:

“The gun is exactly where I expect it to be.”

That’s not talent.
That’s not luck.
That’s not magic.

That is perfect index, and it comes from thousands of dry fire reps with the same gun, same optic, same grip, and same presentation.

Perfect index means:

  • Your hands build the same grip every time
  • The gun comes up to the same place every time
  • Your dot or front sight appears exactly where your eyes expect it to be
  • You do not “hunt” for the dot
  • You transition more confidently and cleanly

When you dry fire with your actual match gun, you build neural pathways that make your shooting automatic and repeatable.

Nothing else replicates this.

Index Drift: The Silent Killer of Speed

When shooters first start dry firing, they’re often surprised how much their index drifts:

  • The dot appears high
  • The dot appears low
  • The dot is left or right
  • The gun is not aligned with the eyes

This is normal when you have not built a consistent index.  My first experience with this is when everyone told me to have a plate focus and bring the gun up and see the dot and break the trigger.  I never thought I was going to be able to do this!

Dry fire fixes this by training your body to present the gun correctly every single time. Over days and weeks, your index stabilizes. It becomes predictable. Then it becomes subconscious.

Once your presentation becomes automatic, speed becomes effortless.

This is why dry fire with your competition firearm is non-negotiable for shooters who want to rise above the pack.

The Bottom Line: The Best Dry Fire Tool Is Your Own Gun

There is no shortcut.
There is no substitute.
There is no aftermarket training device that can replace the feel, geometry, or visual alignment of your actual match gun.

Laser trainers help.
Replica guns help.
Apps help.

But if you want:

  • A perfect index
  • Clean transitions
  • Faster times
  • Stronger visual discipline
  • True subconscious execution

Then you must dry fire with the firearm you intend to use on match day.

This is what top shooters do.
This is what most people never talk about.
And this is what will unlock your next major jump in performance.

Ready to Train at Home? Here Are the Tools to Do It Right

Dry fire becomes dramatically more effective when you have realistic, correctly-scaled targets. That’s why these banners exist.

Steel Challenge Training Banners

Replicate full stages like Pendulum, Showdown, Speed Option, and more.
Perfect for training visual discipline, transitions, and perfect index.

👉 https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/training/dry-fire-banners/

GSSF 3-Stage Dry Fire Banners

Designed specifically around the 8″ plates used in GSSF competition.
If you shoot Glock matches, these are the fastest way to improve plate rack proficiency at home.

https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/gssf-3-stage-dry-fire-banners/

I hope this helps!  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

How to Train Hard Dot Focus Using a Plate Rack: A Fast Way to Improve Your Visual Speed

Posted on by stevefostershooting

If you’re looking for a simple, brutally effective way to train your visual shooting speed, nothing beats the Plate Rack. It is the perfect tool for developing Hard Dot Focus is one of the most overlooked, misunderstood, and powerful visual techniques in practical shooting.

Whether you shoot Steel Challenge, Rimfire Challenge, SASP, Metal Madness, or Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), or you simply want to make your transitions smoother and your times faster, learning how to see is what unlocks true speed. And the Plate Rack gives you instant, undeniable feedback about whether your visual technique is working.

Training Banner Link:


GSSF-3 Stage Dry Fire Banners

What Is Hard Dot Focus?

Hard Dot Focus means your visual focus stays locked on:

  • the dot (if shooting an optic), or
  • the front sight (if shooting irons),

With Hard Dot Focus:

  • Plates blur slightly in the background
  • Your aiming reference remains crisp
  • You break shots the instant your dot intersects the plate
  • You eliminate wasted time shifting focal planes
    • At the speeds the fastest shooters shoot, these fractions of a second add up!

This is why it is faster than traditional Plate Focus, where your eyes bounce back and forth between the dot and the target.

Why the Plate Rack Is the BEST Tool for Training Hard Dot Focus

The Plate Rack is visually simple, unforgiving, and honest.

Example: The 8″ GSSF Plate Rack

A great example is the GSSF Plate Rack, which uses 8-inch plates.
With plates all equal in size and evenly spaced, any hesitation or visual inefficiency shows up instantly on the timer.

That consistency makes it the perfect environment to feel the speed difference between:

  • Plate Focus
  • Hard Dot Focus

When Hard Dot Focus is executed correctly, your transitions feel smoother, your dot arrives sooner, and the plate rack becomes a rhythm and not a struggle.

How to Train Hard Dot Focus on a Plate Rack

Step 1: First Shot = Target Focus

Just like in Steel Challenge, your first shot you use a Target Focus.

Start at low ready.
Your eyes are on the plate.
Let the dot or front sight appear into your vision.

This ensures a clean sight picture on the plate and press the trigger.

Step 2: Shots 2–6 = Hard Dot Focus

Once the first plate is hit:

  • Lock your eyes onto the dot or front sight
  • Keep your visual focus glued to it
  • Let the plates blur in the background
  • Break each shot as soon as the dot sees the plate

Your eyes DO NOT jump back to the plates.
Your transitions become smoother because your visual reference never changes.

Hard Dot Focus removes:

  • hesitation
  • target re-acquisition time
  • visual “hunting”
  • unnecessary focal shifts

This is why your times drop even though the run may feel slower and calmer.

Your Brain Sees More Than You Think

Shooters often worry they “won’t see the plates clearly” if they focus on the dot.

This is incorrect.

Your eyes naturally pull in more information than you realize, even when focusing on the dot or front sight. Your peripheral vision still provides:

  • plate spacing
  • rack alignment
  • the plate centers
  • natural timing
  • subconscious aiming cues

You will be able to call your shots better than before because you will realize where the dot or front sight was when you squeezed the trigger.  If you don’t know where that was, you went back to a Target Focus.

Bring Plate Rack Training at Home

Hard Dot Focus becomes extremely powerful when you can train it consistently and that’s where the right dry fire tools matter.

For GSSF shooters or anyone who wants to practice on full-size 8″ plates at home, the GSSF Dry Fire Banners replicate exact plate spacing and visual size.

GSSF Dry Fire Banners:

https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/gssf-3-stage-dry-fire-banners/

These banners allow you to:

  • Train Hard Dot Focus safely at home
  • Learn the timing and rhythm of a plate rack
  • Maintain visual discipline
  • Build confidence before a match

Perfect for Glock shooters looking to sharpen plate rack performance.

Final Thoughts: Hard Dot Focus Makes You Faster. Period.

To summarize:

  • First shot = Target Focus
  • Every shot after = Hard Dot Focus
  • Trust your peripheral vision
  • Let the dot lead plate-to-plate
  • Let speed come from visual efficiency, not effort or panic

Remember, if you have a hard dot focus when you are shooting, it will seem slow.  Why does this happen?  The sense of panic is gone.  You will be in control.  Your eyes will not be racing back and forth between focal points.  It will feel ‘easy’ to shoot well and fast.

Train consistently.  10-15 minutes 3 days a week, especially on a Plate Rack and your speed, confidence, and times will improve dramatically.

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

How to Dry Fire for Maximum Speed and Accuracy: Two Proven Methods to Train Your Eyes and Shoot Faster

Posted on by stevefostershooting

Dry fire is one of the most effective and accessible training tools for competitive shooters. Whether you’re working to improve your Steel Challenge times, preparing for Rimfire Challenge, SASP, Metal Madness or simply trying to become a more consistent and confident shooter, proper dry fire training will transform your performance.

In this guide, I break down how to dry fire, the two primary methods, and the visual techniques that helped me drastically improve my performance on Steel Challenge stages like Pendulum and Showdown.

Whether you shoot a red dot or iron sights, this post will teach you how to SEE faster—and shoot faster.

Training Banner Link:
https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/training/dry-fire-banners/

Why Dry Fire Training Works

Dry fire builds:

  • Faster transitions
  • Stronger visual discipline
  • Better shot-calling
  • Cleaner mechanics
  • Match-ready confidence

With no recoil or noise, dry fire isolates the most important skill in speed shooting:

Seeing.

If you want faster times on any stage your eyes are the KEY and must lead the way.

Dry Fire Method 1: Using a Par Time on Your Timer

Timers with par times are extremely helpful when learning the true pace of a stage. One of the best tools for this training is the AMG Lab Shot Timer, known for its reliability and ability to pick up dry fire trigger clicks (on sensitivity setting 10).

How Par Time Dry Fire Works

  1. Select the stage you want to work at (Pendulum, Showdown, etc.).
  2. Set a par time matching a competitive or GM-level string.
  3. Pointed at the low-ready; on the beep
  4. Try to complete all simulated shots within the time limit.

On visually intensive stages like Showdown, where rhythm and timing matter, par times help you understand how fast top shooters actually move.

Dry Fire Method 2: Running the Stage With or Without a Timer

This is the method I use most frequently because it trains visual processing instead of speed dependency.

You can still use your AMG Lab timer with a delayed start, but you don’t need a par time here.

How This Method Works

  • Set a delay beep—or go without a timer.
  • Start the run.
  • Actuate the dead trigger on each target.
  • Focus solely on what your eyes are doing and NOT how fast you’re going.

Why This Method Is So Effective

It develops:

  • Subconscious stage rhythm
  • Plate-to-plate timing
  • Natural transitions
  • Visual discipline
  • Calm, confident shooting
  • Reliable shot-calling

On stages like Pendulum and Showdown, where visual control determines everything, this method builds long-term consistency.

How to See Faster: Plate Focus vs. Hard Dot/Hard Front Sight Focus

Dry fire only works when you intentionally train your eyes. Here are the two visual techniques used by most top shooters.

Visual Technique 1: Plate Focus Shooting

This is the traditional, widely used method.

How It Works

  • Your eyes lead the gun to each plate.
  • You visually lock onto the plate.
  • The dot or front sight follows your eyes.
  • When the dot/site arrives on the plate, you break the shot.

When It Works Best

  • First shot on any Steel Challenge, Rimfire Challenge, Metal Madness, etc array

Plate Focus Shooting can be effective but not the fastest for transitions.

Visual Technique 2: Hard Dot or Hard Front Sight Focus (My Preferred Method and What I Teach)

This method is responsible for some of my biggest improvements and speed gains.

How It Works

  • Your visual focus stays locked on the dot (if shooting an optic)
    —or—
    On the front sight (if shooting irons)
  • Plates appear slightly blurred in the background
  • You break the shot the moment your dot/front sight sees the blur of white in the background.
  • You never shift your focal plane between shots

Why This Method Is Faster

  • Eliminates refocusing delays
  • Smooths transitions
  • Enhances shot-calling
  • Reduces visual hesitation
  • Lowers stage times by 5–10%

When I shoot like this, the stage is a two-dimensional array and I am in a Hard Dot Focus Shooting, it actually feels like I am shooting slow.

The Most Overlooked Concept: Your Eyes Pull in EVERYTHING

This is the part most people do not realize until someone shows them.  If you have been to train with me, this is the ‘finger’ and the ‘tree’ exercise.

Just because you’re focusing on the dot or front sight doesn’t mean you can’t see the rest of the array.

Your eyes naturally take in a massive amount of visual information even when you’re focusing intensely on your aiming reference.

When your focus is on the dot/front sight, your peripheral vision still sees:

  • The spacing of plates
  • The arrangement of the array
  • The overall stage landscape

Trust your eyes.
They will bring in all the information you need.

This trust allows you to:

  • Transition efficiently with fewer sight alignment adjustments as you get to the plate
  • You are now able to confirm shots with a higher degree of certainty
  • Shoot without hesitation
  • Stay calm and fluid
  • Let your subconscious drive the gun

Below is a visual representation of how this looks for an optic gun. This is how top shooters create runs that feel slow even though they’re faster than ever. Just remember, despite popular opinion the targets do not move when the timer goes off 😊

How I Combine Both Visual Methods in Dry Fire and ‘Shoot’ the Stages

Using Steel Shoot Dry Fire Banners, I follow the same sequence every time:

1. First Shot – Plate Focus

Ensures accuracy and a clean opening shot.

2. Shots 2–5 – Hard Dot / Hard Front Sight Focus

Delivers maximum speed, timing, and consistency.

This hybrid approach builds both accuracy and speed—and it transfers perfectly to live fire and matches.

Dry Fire Isn’t About Speed… It’s About Seeing

This is the core truth of dry fire:

You can only shoot as fast as you can see.

As your visual processing improves:

  • Your transitions clean up
  • Your dot/front sight stabilizes sooner
  • You call shots instantly
  • Your runs feel effortless
  • Panic (the “Foster Effect”) disappears

And your times drop even though the shooting feels slow.

Train Like a Pro at Home

To get the most out of dry fire, you need realistic plate layouts.
That’s exactly what Steel Shoot Dry Fire Banners provide.

They bring Steel Challenge stages like Pendulum and Showdown into your home or garage, giving you consistent, match-relevant training.

Check out the Steel Shoot Dry Fire Banners here:
https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/training/dry-fire-banners/

When you are Dry-firing, keep yourself honest.  Was the dot on the plate or not when you pulled the trigger.  “Cheating” yourself doesn’t do you any good out on the range.  You have to practice ‘perfectly’ to get better.  Try different methods and find the right combination for you.  When you combine the right dry fire techniques and your speed, transitions, and confidence will increase dramatically as you see your stage times drop!

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

How Steel Shoot Dry Fire Banners Transformed My Training and My Match Performance

Posted on by stevefostershooting

As a competitive shooter, I’m always looking for ways to sharpen my skills, especially when range time isn’t easy to come by. Between weather, travel, and everyday life, live-fire practice isn’t always realistic. What is realistic and incredibly effective is dry fire training. And one of the biggest game-changers in my routine has been the Steel Shoot Dry Fire Banners now offered by Creekside Custom.

Product link: https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/training/dry-fire-banners/

Why I Started Using Steel Shoot Banners

Like most shooters, I knew the value of dry fire, but I didn’t have a consistent system that helped me train the way I compete. Steel Shoot Banners changed that for me five years ago. They give you:

  • Accurate stage layouts
  • Consistent target visual references
  • The ability to train your eyes
  • A structured environment that mimics match stages

For Steel Challenge specifically, training your eyes is just as important as trigger control. Your eyes drive the gun, and the banners create that visual discipline even when you’re standing in your living room or garage.  All you need is a wall and 5’ – 10’ of distance for all stages

My Routine: Only 10–15 Minutes Every Other Day

I was skeptical when I was gifted my first set of banners, so I put it to the test.  For two weeks,  I committed to a simple rule:
10–15 minutes of structured dry fire, every other day.

That’s it. No hour-long sessions. No overtraining. Just consistency and discipline.

Using the Steel Shoot Banners setup, I practiced transitions, and visual focus for each plate.  What I had to keep myself honest with is where my eys/dot/plate relationship was when I ‘pulled’ the trigger (which I simulated with a ‘dead’ trigger pull each time)

And the results were undeniable.  The AMG Timer did not lie.

Real Results: From 1.90–2.00 Seconds to 1.55–1.70 Seconds

I focused specifically on the Steel Challenge stage Pendulum, one of the most visually demanding stages in the sport.

Before the two-week banner-based training block, my RFRO times were consistently:

  • 1.90–2.00 seconds per string

After two weeks of disciplined dry fire using Steel Shoot Banners I setup and shot Pendulum:

  • 1.55–1.70 seconds per string

That’s a major improvement in a very short period—and it wasn’t from shooting thousands of live rounds. It was from sharpening visual discipline.  I saw things so very clearly.

The Key: Discipline and Consistency

The Steel Shoot Banners work but only if you work and put in the time.

If it’s raining outside…
If you don’t have a range nearby…
If your schedule is tight…

You can still train like a professional shooter.

You can still build the visual discipline that lowers your stage and match times.

The banners give you the environment you need. Discipline provides the results.

Taking It to Competition: Rimfire Challenge World Championships

I used this system heavily in the weeks leading up to the Rimfire Challenge World Championships, and I’m proud to say:

I won my age group.

The stages weren’t the same as Steel Challenge but the training absolutely carried over. Any time you train your eyes to track, transition, and pick up targets efficiently, you gain a competitive edge.

Steel Shoot Banners aren’t limited to Steel Challenge they make you a better shooter, period.

Final Thoughts

Dry fire is the secret advantage of top shooters, and Steel Shoot Banners make that training consistent, repeatable, and incredibly effective.

If you want to improve your times, tighten your transitions, and build visual speed—even when you can’t get to the range—these banners will get you there.

Train with the same system I use:
https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/training/dry-fire-banners/

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

The Pursuit of Perfection – Rimfire Pistol Iron Sights

Posted on by stevefostershooting

As a competitive shooter, I am always looking for an advantage to shoot faster! One of my first ever Handguns was a Ruger Hunter on the traditional Standard Frame which most call the Target Frame. Being a 1911 fanatic, I prefer the 22/45 frame so I repurposed a spare 22/45 frame and placed the Ruger Hunter 6.88″ upper on it. Wow, did it feel amazing! I then added the Creekside Custom 19.22 https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/19-22-rimfire-trigger-for-ruger-volquartsen-tandemkross-pistols trigger with the Volquartsen Accurizing kit https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/volquartsen-accurizing-kit-ruger-mkiv/ to achieve one of the best triggers ever felt in a .22 platform. I like some weight in my hand, I added the Solid Brass Big Daddy grips and Magwell https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/solid-brass-big-daddy-grips-and-magwell-for-the-22-45-mkiv/ to add 15.7oz. For enhanced reliability I installed a Volquartsen DLC coated bolt. I hope it shoots half as good as it looks!


Initial Impressions
Right out of the box, the Ruger Hunter impressed with its long sight radius and familiar feel. The 22/45 frame adds a comfortable grip angle, and the extended barrel is extremely accurate, I was stacking shots on top of each other at 35 yards on the back plates of Outer Limits – free hand. The trigger setup limited sight disruption at speed to include the short reset.


At the range, this pistol delivered. It shoots great, grouping tightly at 35 yards with Eley Contact. The added weight from the brass grips and magwell lessens sight disruption as well. The 1.7lb trigger break with short reset enhances precision, though the return to sight picture is just a tad slower compared to my other Volquartsen Mamba X Iron Sight gun I have been shooting in competition. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but I’m addressing it with the planned compensator, which should speed up the return to center of the sights.

Does the return to sights really matter? If you are a new shooter it probably does not help you much. Over time, as your speed builds, it makes a significant difference. I was talking with Lance Bratcher Jr the other night, who has logged the fastest times shot in Rimfire Pistol Iron and Rimfire Pistol Open in Steel Challenge. He noticed a big difference with the trigger and then with the Brass grips and Magwell. The sights don’t seem to move. The reality is they move slightly but it is a blink of the eye and they are back to where you expect them to be. As I say, you can drive the gun harder and with the additional weight and less trigger movement you have less sight disruption. Less time hunting for the sights and more time getting on target faster!


Pros
• Exceptional accuracy with the long barrel.
• Custom brass grips and magwell add weight and style.
• 1.7lb trigger break with short reset thanks to Volquartsen internals.
• Smooth trigger with short reset.


Cons
• Return to sight picture could be quicker – good return to sights.
• Threading for a comp will be an additional step and $, but worth it.


Next Steps
I’m excited to thread the barrel for a compensator (Falcon II https://creeksidecustomlasering.com/falcon-ii-rimfire-compensator-for-pistol-1-2-28-thread-pitch/ ), which should mitigate the slight delay in sight alignment and enhance overall control. When threading, we’ll move the front sight back 0.5” to accommodate the threading. I’ll update this post with range results once that’s done. For now, this Ruger MKIV Hunter is a solid base for a custom build, blending factory precision with personal flair.

Stay tuned!

Shooters making products for shooters..

Steve

A Weekend of Freedom at the 2025 NRA Annual Meeting: Optimism for the Second Amendment

Posted on by stevefostershooting

As a shooter with Ruger, I’ve attended countless firearms events, but the 2025 NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, was one for the books. Held April 24-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center, the 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits brought together thousands of Second Amendment supporters, industry leaders, and shooters like me. From reconnecting with old friends to meeting new allies, the weekend was a whirlwind of inspiration—and a reminder of why our community is so strong.

Catching Up with Ruger’s Finest

Kicking things off, I spent some quality time with Paul from Ruger, my recent sponsor and a titan in the firearms world. Sturm, Ruger & Co. was a contributing sponsor for the Freedom Experience concert featuring Big & Rich on April 26, and their booth was packed with folks checking out the Ruger RXM and other cutting-edge gear. Paul and I swapped range stories and geeked out over Ruger’s latest innovations including their recent collaboration with Dead Air Suppressors. Representing a company so dedicated to quality and the Second Amendment is something I never take for granted.

Hanging with Ed White of Metal Madness

One of the weekend’s highlights was connecting with my longtime friend Ed White, founder of the Metal Madness Sport Shooting Association. Ed’s passion for shooting sports is contagious, and Metal Madness is shaking up the first time gun owner scene with its fast-paced, steel-target events. We reminisced about his journey about growing the sport, and shared more than a few laughs. Ed’s work with Metal Madness is bringing new shooters into the fold, and it was awesome to see his energy light up the event. If you haven’t checked out a Metal Madness match, you’re missing out!

Meeting John from MidwayUSA Foundation

Another great moment was meeting John from the MidwayUSA Foundation, the official sponsor of the 2025 NRA Annual Meeting. John and I hit it off, discussing how the foundation’s support for youth shooting programs is building the future of our sport. Their commitment to firearms education and Second Amendment advocacy is inspiring, and it’s clear they’re making a huge impact. If you’re not familiar with MidwayUSA Foundation, take a look—they’re doing incredible work.  My wife and I will be supporting them in the future through our Creekside Custom business.

Stopping by the ELEY Booth

No NRA meeting is complete without a visit to the ELEY booth, another of my valued sponsors. ELEY’s ammunition is my go-to for competition, and their team was showcasing some top-tier products. We talked ammo performance and how ELEY keeps me dialed in on the range. The booth was a hub for what is on the market and which line of ammunition is right for each discipline, and I walked away with some sweet swag. For match-grade ammo, ELEY is unmatched.

Connecting with NRA’s New Leadership

Spending time with some of the NRA’s new leadership, including folks under CEO Doug Hamlin, was a game-changer. The NRA is charting a fresh course with a focus on transparency and member engagement, and their vision for defending the Second Amendment is exciting. These conversations left me optimistic about the NRA’s future and our collective fight for freedom.

A Family Milestone: NRA Memberships

This year’s meeting was personal, too. My wife became an NRA member for the first time, diving into the event with me and loving every minute. The NRA’s free three-day entry for members and families let us explore the 14-acre exhibit hall and attend seminars together. I even upgraded to Life Membership this year —a big step to show my commitment to the cause. If you’re thinking about joining or upgrading, now’s the perfect time!

Why I’m Bullish on the Second Amendment

The 2025 NRA Annual Meeting was a testament to our community’s strength. From the packed exhibit hall to the Freedom Experience concert, the unity was palpable. With new NRA leadership, support from companies like Ruger, ELEY, and MidwayUSA, and folks like Ed White growing the sport, I’m more optimistic than ever about the Second Amendment’s future.

Join the Fight

If you were at the NRA Annual Meeting, drop a comment with your favorite moment! If you missed it, plan for next year—it’s a must for every gun owner. Not an NRA member? Follow my wife’s lead and sign up at nra.org. Let’s keep the Second Amendment strong!

Stay safe, keep shooting, and let’s defend the 2nd!

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

NRA Life Member

USPSA Life Member

Tradition and 1%

Posted on by stevefostershooting

As we close out a successful 2024, us goal-oriented people are planning for 2025.  Why do people set goals at the end of one year and the beginning of the next year?  Tradition.  The calendar change from one year to the next marks a blank slate.  It somehow excuses all of the calories you have ingested and lack of practice time to reach your goals.  It also is a point of reflection to see what daily habits you have formed to make you a better version of yourself.  As an example, as I look back at 2024 my journey has been centered on 3 main goals.

  1. Be more involved/interactive with my family – they are growing up WAY too fast
  2. Build habits to be more healthy by playing tennis at least 2x a week for 2 hours a day
  3. Build my business Creekside Custom Lasering by offering products that will help shooters

How did I do?  For number 1 I would give myself a B.  There is only so much time in my day and I know I could have prioritized my time differently.  I did more spur of the moment activities with my wife and children.  Sometimes instead of saying no, just say yes!  For #2 I would give myself and A.  Unfortunately this has lead to a couple of injuries, but great exercise and I feel better now than I have in years!  #3 Another A.  We release Brass Grips and Magwell, the Falcon II and Falcon II R compensators, ICE bolt Racker, the 19.22 Trigger and a couple of other parts/accessories.  2025 will be BIG for Creekside Custom!

Now for next year.  Still in the final planning phases, but 1-3 will continue to be a priority and 4 will be to get back to sub 60 with my shooting.   Exciting things for the future!  I was listening to a podcast with John McPhee on it where he was discussing shooting and instruction.  He was discussing getting better.  Should we expect big changes or small changes.  He said, 1%.  All you need to do is get 1% better every day and you will be 365% better in a year.  So whats the plan?  Good question, it is under construction.  How to balance all of the other priorities in life, work, business, and get better at shooting..  Well, what I do know, if you don’t have a plan you will not be able to execute it.  Time to make one!

Hopefully this will spark some thought for your own personal or professional development as we close out 2024 and head into 2025!

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

I made it!

Posted on by stevefostershooting

When I was younger I was a huge fan of Lincoln Logs. If you are reading this and you don’t know what Lincoln Logs are, they were Legos before Legos existed. The cool part is you were always able to build something with some basic components. The only limitation was your imagination, well until you ran out of logs or shingles! For me, building something better, cooler, functional was the highlight of my day. As I fast forward 40 years later, this is exactly what I am doing with Creekside Custom. Building products for Shooters by Shooters.

Ruger has been around for since before I was a kid. At the time, it was the entry level into how I started shooting. I remember when I opened my very first gun, I was 8 years old and that Santa did a great job that year leaving me a 10/22. A couple years later the first handgun I shot was a Ruger MKII. Needless to say, as I made a decision to base some of my enhancements to the Ruger Platform, I sought out to unleash the potential of the MKIV platform. In full transparency, there were ideas I had for parts in which I provided other companies ideas for. Some were made or changed, and others were not. I do not fault these companies, the market I enjoy and choose to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights is a very small market. So, I made the decision to do it myself.

Recently, I co-released two of the last products I plan to make for the MKIV; the 19.22 trigger shoe and the ICE Bolt Racker. Let’s start off with the Bolt Racker. There are other rackers on the market that are cost effective and they do a great job preventing your fingers from being pinched when racking the bolt. I did not find a version for competitive shooters to use In Case of an Emergency if you had to rack the bolt quickly similar to an Open Gun. The design was created to twist on, be effective, and ergonomically friendly. Mission accomplished. Yeah and it looks really cool as well!

Early in my shooting career I spent a lot of time shooting 1911s and I absolutely love the trigger length, the pull weight, adjustable pre-travel, glass rod break, reasonable over travel, and short reset. Oh, and the straight/flat face is something I strongly prefer in my triggers. As with other parts, I decided to make my own. As prototyping came along, the trigger felt just like my first 1911 and this is why it is named the 19.22. The mechanical advantage of setting the trigger shoe back helped in a couple of areas, mainly it decreased the average trigger pull around 1/2 pound in testing. The other magic for me is the reset is positive and short. My second – third – fourth – fifth shots at the 2024 RCSA World Rimfire were better and faster than I have ever shot with a rimfire iron pistol. A small detail, it happens to be aesthetic as well, is the small hook at the bottom of the trigger that scoops the trigger finger to the right spot every time.

The 19.22 trigger far exceeded expectations with selling nearly half of the first run in the first two days and selling the remaining triggers in the next five days. What was unexpected was the amount of posts, emails, messages, and calls of support from people in the industry. Outside of the sales, this is when I knew that people wanted the same thing I did. Thank you to everyone for your support. I was talking with a manufacturer the other day who congratulated me. I asked why. He said there is a small group of people who are willing to put the time, money, and effort in bringing their ideas to a reality. Never thought of it that way. After going through the process with creating a developing several products, I know why people don’t do it!

What is next? Great question. Working on something cool next. Need to let sales happen to replenish the bank account to fund the next project! If you have ideas – please reach out. I can’t say yes to every project, but at a minimum I can offer the insight I have gained through this process.

Let’s Shop
Let’s Shop

See you out on the range soon!

Steve

JP5 Ultralight – Locking Pieces.. and a bit more..

Posted on by stevefostershooting

The JP Rifles – JP5 just released the ultralight weight barrel and there are a lot of questions surrounding which locking piece should you use. Let’s spend a few moments and I will share my experience with different combinations.

Most 14.5″ JP5s are shipping with an 80 locking piece. This will work with most ammo off the shelf. I will note that all of my JP5s seem to be slightly different when it comes to which locking piece is best. I have one of the first pre-production JP5s with a 14.5″ pinned comp and this one likes a 70 locking piece with a ‘white’ AR 15 SCS spring to run PNR Ammo 135 Gr (https://pnrammo.com/product/pnr-ammo-9mm-135gr-pcc-1000/ ) which is going around 840 FPS and this setup also works for the PNR Ammo 100 gr Steve Foster Edition https://pnrammo.com/product/9mm-100-gr-steve-foster-edition-500-rds-reman/ . which runs around 1100 FPS. In my 2nd JP5, which is a production model, the 14.5″ barrel runs with an 80 locking piece for both sets of ammo. When you buy your JP5 order the AR 15 SCS Alternate Spring Pack which comes with 5 springs. Think of the changes in springs to be micro adjustments between locking pieces.

My Ultralight JP5 came with a 90 locking piece. This proved to work well with off the shelf ammunition. In doing some testing, the 100 gr ammo from PNR worked best with the 100 locking piece and I added the JP white spring. After doing some testing I ended up with the 120 locking piece for the 135 gr PCC ammo from PNR. I decided the leave in the white recoil spring with great results.

Every JP5 is slightly different, but these are the configurations I have tested and are running for the world speed shoot next weekend. Through your own testing, you may find a combination that works for you. While testing, make sure the spent casing lands 2′ or more from your feet. Even the best do it your self reloaders will find a little variation in your loads and you don’t want to be on the firing line with a slightly under powered round that causes you precious seconds!

I hope this helps!

See you out on the range soon!
Steve

At some point, this moment will feel so very long ago… We will always remember.

Posted on by stevefostershooting

I remember sitting in the waiting room, in New York City, thinking that at some point, this moment will feel so very long ago.  I thought to myself, it could not happen soon enough.  My wife and I waited for 9 hours since arriving at the hospital to hear word of how my youngest daughter, Olivia, surgery went.  The words I am writing cannot begin to detail the exact emotions and thoughts from that time looking out the windows watching the same tree sway for hours on-end.  It is only four months later where I am not so overwhelmed with emotion to get some of my thoughts written down.  Olivia had a successful Chiara Malformation surgery to decompress the back of her skull enabling her cranial fluid to move around more freely.  The compression caused a Syrinx to form on her Spinal Cord.  This Syrinx was growing at a steady pace as we monitored the situation.  No one wants to make the decision regarding surgery, but if we did not paralysis was imminent.  We are thankful the surgery was a success, and no one can tell this day that she had surgery, we are truly blessed.


The last couple of years have been filled with medical adversity in my immediate family.  Shortly after my daughter’s surgery I ended up with an 8 day and 7 amazing night stay at the hospital with Ecoli, Sepsis, and having to have my Gallbladder removed.  This was the most pain I have ever had in my life and it was steady for close to 24hours.  You truly find out who you are and what you are made of going through these types of situations.  Today I feel better than I have in a very long time. 

My immediate family and close friends have seen the adversity we have experienced from significant mental health struggles, Vanessa’s Scoliosis surgery, to Olivia’s Surgery, the passing of my mother-in-law, and what I have gone through.  People say that they feel bad for us and all I see is gratitude and appreciation for those around us.  There is always someone who has it worse, we are still intact living our best life.  I wanted to share with those who are reading this, Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  It is this community who has helped take the edge off, brought comfort during some challenging times these past couple of years.  Thank you for all the love and support, even when I said we did not need anything.  Your friendship means more to me and my family than you will ever know.  People ask me why I choose to give back as much as I do, now you have a glimpse of the appreciation I feel.  It is all our responsibility to fuel the next generation in the sport. 

We will always remember the love and support from our immediate and extended family. Thank you!

See you out on the range soon!

Steve