AA with the Hunter rifle

[bigmike6970]

I made it into AA with the Hunter rifle this week.
Now I need to do it with the Standard.
Funny thing is I use the same rifle for both
Oh, I started shooting Silhouette about 1 year ago not sure if that it slow progression but it is progression and loads of fun

Mike

[DavidABQ]

I have the opposite problem. I am trying to break into AAin Hunter class. I am already AA in Standard class.
I also use the same rifle in both classes. Congratulations on making AA.

[bigmike6970]

Thanks David,

I am not sure what it is, maybe that we shoot hunter first so I am fresher for it.
I am trying to eat a little different during the matches and stay hydrated and stretch and what not to see if that makes a difference.

Mike

[kevinbear]

Congratulations!!!

[bigmike6970]

Thanks Kevin.

I went up a class and your granddaughter got a 5 in a row pin in the same match.

[boats]

3 things that help move up in classification

Make sure zeros are correct,centered up on the animals, check on paper before match day not on steel during the sight in period

Stay in a rountine always the same prep load mount every shot, anything throws your routine off go back through it again

Get shots off soon after the rifle is mounted, but if it's not going to be a good shot come down and re-mount. Refuse a bad one, better to have the clock run out than waste with a miss

Boats

[bigmike6970]

Thanks Boats.

I have been doing most of those already.
I have really been trying to work on using the clock and trying not to take bad shots.
I have printed a scaled set of targets that I have posted on the wall I have been using it to practice my hold at home.
I also need to work on the mental.
In practice I normally do very well when I practice on steel or paper I use the Timer, and the ready period to make it as much like a match as I can, but it seems that when it comes to match time something happens in my head.

[boats]

Mike match jitters and mental lapses happen to all of us. Been shooting rifles so long not often with me. Am a beginner competitive shotgun shooter happens all the time. Other day brain went into netural and shot 25 shots on the 5 stand with my worse score to date. I just don't have the shotgun focus and pre mount routine down pat yet.

Best defense is routine always the same. Just like a baseballs pitchers wind up always the same. Or Pro Golfers pre swing, Anything throws them off they go back through it again.

Routine keeps your mind from wandering.

Boats

[DavidABQ]

3 things that help move up in classification

Make sure zeros are correct,centered up on the animals, check on paper before match day not on steel during the sight in period

Stay in a rountine always the same prep load mount every shot, anything throws your routine off go back through it again

Get shots off soon after the rifle is mounted, but if it's not going to be a good shot come down and re-mount. Refuse a bad one, better to have the clock run out than waste with a miss

Boats

Those are very good recommendations! I am working on a routine right now and one of my biggest problems is trying to refuse those bad shots. I need to remind myself constantly to take only good shots and start the routine over again when necessary.

[boats]

Guys get after me about Quoting Tubb all the time. He is good, very good but more important explains things well. His first book "Highpower Rifle" gives a 3 step routine to get to were he wants to be when breaking a shot. Simply put mechanical, all the rifles stuff right. Physical, postion all in order. Then Mental, total focus on the target and breaking your shot.

I was coming out of the mental stage too much or more accurate not breaking my shot when in the mental stage. What worked for me is to come off the stock just a bit, look at the target spot with my off eye, then back on the stock and break the shot promptly. That off look and back on is the trigger that keeps my mind focused. Somebody else may have a different trick but think you will find most good target shots or anything else were good release is important, use a mental crutch to stay focused when releasing.

Boats

[Innocent]

I have really been trying to work on using the clock and trying not to take bad shots.

Remember 4 good shots on every bank is a 32, so don't focus on the clock too much.

Mary

[boats]

Exactly.

Make every one count even if you don't get them all off. I cannot recall a single club match this year anybody was over the time limit or did not get all 5 shots off. Can recall dozens of times shooters threw one away in frustration. Our top shooters never waste a shot.

This from a guy that sits and watches rarely shoots the match. Good to school on some of your matches good shooters sometime, best learning tool there is.

Put it down bring it up again if it's not going to be a hit. Pick up just a few targets this way AA is no problem. AAA you need a good position thats the next step after all the easy gains are made.

Boats

[bigmike6970]

By using the clock I mean trying not to rush shots, a lot of times I end up with a lot of time left and have taken some bad shots that I knew may not hit.
So I am trying to slow down, realize that I do not have to rush shots. If the shot is not right I have been starting to bring the gun down and reset, knowing that I have plenty of time, and like you say if I do not get all the shots in oh well as long as I am taking good shots.

I will bring the gun down multiple times if it does not feel right. I see some shooters staying in position for long amounts of time.

Before Silhouette i was shooting a handgun match where you had a lower start time each string you had 30 and 25, then 20 and 15 in order to get off your shots so you were trying to shoot fast and accurate, trying to break out of that mentality.

[boats]

If you look at the old "Russian" book, Competitive Shooting by AA Yuryev, they show a graph of movement and hold time. Hold is best right after the gun is mounted stays steady for a few seconds then spikes with movement. Longer you hold more movement spikes closer together. Russians studied this stuff with amazing detail. Shame of it is the book is hard to find and when you do find one real expensive. To get the spelling right just looked it up on Amazon. Over 200 bucks for a copy

If I can't get a shot off first try in Silhouette I don't actualy dismount the rifle. it's just cheek off the stock focus on the target then back on the stock to break the shot. Will do that as many as 3 times before it comes out of my shoulder. Rare I have to put it completly down. Thats Silhouette with limited time. Schuetzen we generaly have 3 days to shoot 100 shots. Get so I can't hold on the center will put the gun back down and walk away. Might come back in 5 minutes or even half an hour. Few bad shots ruin a 100 shot match can't waste any.

Point is it does not get any better, might as well come out and start over.

Boats

[bigmike6970]

Thanks Boats

I am going to see if I can find the books that you have recommended.

Mike