Have you ever walked up to your targets and see NO holes ?

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 10:25 pm

How about going up to your target and find you've killed the no-shoots instead of your shoot target? Or when you insert a new mag into your gun only to find out that it's got only 3 rounds instead of 15... then searching around your pockets for that barney mag and hoping it's got enough to finish the course ?

Well, all that happened to me yesterday while shooting an IPSC match. And I was so looking forward to this match too because I finially got some time to go shooting.

Needless to say, I ended up as close to last as possible on the scores list; I was supprised that I wasn't actually last, seems somebody was having an even worse day.

I think my first hint was when holstering the gun and the grip feels very foreign. Not sure how to describe it, but when I was practicing 2-3x per week, the gun's grip feels comfortable and "disappears" mentally into my hand.

I think next time, I'll make sure to practice a bit before heading out to a match. It was utterly embarrassing to walk up to my targets and not see any holes. (I did see my front sight on those targets

yeah right) Or maybe I'll just slowdown.

Ok, so after telling my wife my score, she thinks I should stop shooting matches. I'll give that some thought.

At least I didn't do anything dangerous. Oh, some stages, were so bad, beyond words. You probably have to be there to believe it. May even make it to America's funniest videos if its recorded.

When you only know how to walk and think you can run, you take a few tumbles.

Now I remember why I quit shooting 10 years ago

The Marshal · Post by **The Marshal** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:02 am

If you were flawless, what would you have to strive for?
Practice makes perfect, but only if its perfect practice.

Remember, part of the exercise is to enjoy shooting!

~Bill

ElGato · Post by **ElGato** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:13 am

The Marshal wrote:If you were flawless, what would you have to strive for?
Practice makes perfect, but only if its perfect practice.

Remember, part of the exercise is to enjoy shooting!

~Bill

The fun part, that's where I shine, I'm really good at that!

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:24 am

Thank you for the encouragement.

Today, I feel much better, I guess it was score shock. I know I did _very_ poorly but just didn't know how bad is really is.

txaggie · Post by **txaggie** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:25 pm

Don't think about the match, it is in the past. Live only in the moment of the shot you are actually taking. Competitive shooting is a learning sport and you should only be concerned with the "now". Don't worry about past performances, only look forward to the next one :)

Is it Saturday yet??????

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:51 pm

Been there. Don't sweat it. Relax, focus on the front sight and don't squeeze the trigger until it's where you want it.
I started out trying to go fast but realized right away that wasn't working out. I changed my focus from trying to be fast to being zero down and it made a huge difference in my performance.

You can't miss fast enough to win.

Jeremae · Post by **Jeremae** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:33 pm

At a recent wensday fun macth at Thunder Tatical Shooters in Conroe, I added the affectionate phrase "Jeremaeing a stage". Two targets side by side at 24 yards, 6 rounds a piece from behind a barricade. NO tape needed.

Inside 15 yards, I rise to mediocre, outside it is a crap shoot. Although I could use new glasses (at 47) I know the real answer is practice, Practice, PRACTICE.

And I LOVE to shoot IDPA, would rather finish last at a club match than win a golf tournament.

Piney · Post by **Piney** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:53 pm

Greetings--

Hello.. My name is Ron.. and I'm also an occasional target misser.....

I'm not all that experienced in match shooting--6-8 months tops. What I 've found about myself is that I get too worried about shooting fast fast fast. My hit score goes down noticeably. I've been trying to concentrate on technique and hits, leaving the clock part out. I've noticed a difference in how I feel when approaching a stage and afterward. I'm not nearly as nervous.

Another thing I've noticed that I tend to do is shoot, and look for the hit. I try to not worry about the hit-- concentrate on the sight picture and let the other shots flow. Then I look at the target for the hits after its all done. I've found this feels much smoother-no flinching, no jerking on the trigger, no having to regain a sight picture when moving-- just smooooooth shooting.

I've also told myself to approach the match 1) Be safe, 2) Have fun, and 3) attempt to shoot well. That order seems to work for me-- again-- less nervous. # 3 will come with time.

IMO, there's no substitute for live fire. I practice drawing and moving dry, but it still not the same.

sjones · Post by **sjones** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:31 am

what I did do one time,I went to the rifle range to check the scope on my deer rifle before deer season and somehow got on the target next to mine.I shot 3 rounds and couldn't see any on my target when the guy next to me said "you are a heck of a shot,but they are on my target,you have 3 bulls,now can I shoot yours?I apoligized and said sure,I'm finished shooting anyway. sj

RPBrown · Post by **RPBrown** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:43 am

sjones wrote:what I did do one time,I went to the rifle range to check the scope on my deer rifle before deer season and somehow got on the target next to mine.I shot 3 rounds and couldn't see any on my target when the guy next to me said "you are a heck of a shot,but they are on my target,you have 3 bulls,now can I shoot yours?I apoligized and said sure,I'm finished shooting anyway. sj

2 weeks ago I went to the range. Sent my target down range and started to load my mags.

Got ready to shoot and found my target full of holes.

Guy next to me was shootint the wrong target.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:02 pm

ElGato wrote:
The Marshal wrote:If you were flawless, what would you have to strive for?
Practice makes perfect, but only if its perfect practice.

Remember, part of the exercise is to enjoy shooting!

~Bill

The fun part, that's where I shine, I'm really good at that!

What started out to be a good year to keep the skills honed, really tanked in the Spring...

Lost the desire to get out there and put rounds on the target...

Wife let her CHL lapse, our range membership lapsed...

Not sure how to re-invigorate this process...

jbirds1210 · Post by **jbirds1210** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:27 am

I bet a few zero down stages and some good times would cheer you up! If you are feeling down after shooting, just watch me for a while and you will feel accomplished!

At this point I can't imagine getting burned out on IDPA, no matter how poor my performance.

I have never walked away from an experience in IDPA that I did not know what I was doig wrong...I learn everytime I shoot
Jason

SRVA · Post by **SRVA** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:15 am

Stevie, Talk to me at the Texas CHL Forum Day and I'll bet you a match fee that we can re-invigorate your shooting.

Steve

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:42 am

I was watching a Jerry Miculek video and he said over and over, "the front sight is your best friend". He also talked about quality of sight picture vs distance of target.
Regardless of the fact he was talking about revolvers, some things are universal.

â‚¬ posted from Blackberry wireless device Â¤

seadawg221 · Post by **seadawg221** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:48 pm

I'm sure after my first IDPA fun match tonight that I will have lots of "NO Holes" targets