“Natural” skill and your limiting factor to becoming a better shot?
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Clipper
Member
The biggest factor for me has been age and somewhat poorer health... I once brought a RBH I hadn't shot in 5 years to a gathering and had no problems potting the end of a 3-lb coffee can standing offhand @ 50 yards. Today my lessened visual accuity won't allow it. Iron sights are slowly giving way to optical sights. Older muscles aren't as steady as they used to be. Heart disease, diabetes and cancer treatment ( though mild and effective ) all take their tolls... I'm just happy to still be able to achieve passable hunting accuracy, but like my dad, there will likely come a day when I'll pretty much have to face such an erosion of skills and ability that even S.D. will be an issue.
I voted Other or Multiple.
Time: I work 7-3 and live an hour from work and the range is an hour past that
Money: Just bought a new house so I'm on a tight budget right now of about $150 a month of discrecionary funds
Physical Limitations: Bad Knee keeps me from getting into a good tight sitting or kneeling position, bad eyes keep me from seeing the target very well, and bad back keeps me from doing a whole lot of stuff I used to.
Time: I work 7-3 and live an hour from work and the range is an hour past that
Money: Just bought a new house so I'm on a tight budget right now of about $150 a month of discrecionary funds
Physical Limitations: Bad Knee keeps me from getting into a good tight sitting or kneeling position, bad eyes keep me from seeing the target very well, and bad back keeps me from doing a whole lot of stuff I used to.
rugerman
Member
I put physical limitations due to my arthritis that now limits my dexterity and hand strength. I used to shoot lots of magnum handgun, now I have trouble with even .357 mag. I still do pretty well with 9mm & 22 and rifles but the 44mag, 41 mag and hot 45 long colt, and even 45 acp hurt after just a few rounds. Getting old is not for sissies.
tobenheim
Member
I put time as my primary limitation. My wife had a stroke last year at the age of 38 and I am now her primary caregiver. Used to be the money was the major limitation until I got into .22. Now I can shoot quite a bit of ammo without blowing the budget and improve my fundamentals.
Jaxondog
Member
Well I voted I was perfect and could not get any better because it was the only one that fit. I have plenty of time, [retired], I have the best equipment and money is not a factor. I reload so I have enough to shoot every day til the day I pass away and then some. I guess if anything at all hold's me back, would probably be knowing I have to clean them afterward's. There has been several time's I have gotten all set up to shoot just to say; the heck with it. I don't feel like cleaning them so I put everything back up and go do something else.
Lol. Well that sounds like "motivation" to me
One thing that surprises me is the amount of "physical limitations" responses. It both saddens and inspires me though. On the one hand, you have to acknowledge your limits and accept challenges you face. I will not take for granted my health, but at the same time, it is great to know that shooting can be a lifelong and very enjoyable hobby regardless of most physical ailments. Thanks everyone!
Other....
People are NOT created equal.
Some people given time, money and motivation will get to be pretty good
at something.....pretty good.
At the pointy end of any sport are the very few out of all those who really
tried, for what ever reason those few are just better.
And then there's "the one" who at that point in time in their particular
sport/event are just better than everybody else.
For most of the population to get to be "pretty good" is a major
undertaking. I've worked pretty hard at some sports when I was
younger....never got to the "pretty good" stage.
I think I lacked talent.
Dave
People are NOT created equal.
Some people given time, money and motivation will get to be pretty good
at something.....pretty good.
At the pointy end of any sport are the very few out of all those who really
tried, for what ever reason those few are just better.
And then there's "the one" who at that point in time in their particular
sport/event are just better than everybody else.
For most of the population to get to be "pretty good" is a major
undertaking. I've worked pretty hard at some sports when I was
younger....never got to the "pretty good" stage.
I think I lacked talent.
Dave
Dave P, you have touched on an aspect of the discussion I had initially wanted to be involved, but sort of fell by the wayside.
That is, can anyone barring physical limitations really achieve any level of proficiency they desire, assuming they have all the time, money and motivation in the world?
My heart says yes but my brain says no. I understand theoretically all it is is sight picture and trigger control, but if it were so simple, I should be better! :banghead: And there has to be a reason the top tiers of competitiveness are so out-of-reach for the average joe. I have no doubt that they work harder to get where they are, but they must also have an inherent natural skill that enables them to gain the motivation to pursue such elite levels. In other words, people don't pursue those avenues unless they realize (or are often told, by a coach or someone) that they are pretty darn good. Meanwhile the rest of us are just content to continuously improve and beat personal records.
That is, can anyone barring physical limitations really achieve any level of proficiency they desire, assuming they have all the time, money and motivation in the world?
My heart says yes but my brain says no. I understand theoretically all it is is sight picture and trigger control, but if it were so simple, I should be better! :banghead: And there has to be a reason the top tiers of competitiveness are so out-of-reach for the average joe. I have no doubt that they work harder to get where they are, but they must also have an inherent natural skill that enables them to gain the motivation to pursue such elite levels. In other words, people don't pursue those avenues unless they realize (or are often told, by a coach or someone) that they are pretty darn good. Meanwhile the rest of us are just content to continuously improve and beat personal records.
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Corpral_Agarn
Member
For me its the money then the time.
I recently go married and I don't reload yet so it gets expensive.
I recently go married and I don't reload yet so it gets expensive.
45_auto
Member
No. There is a degree of talent involved. It's easy to become MUCH better than average, but if you desire to be within the top handful of anything in the world, it'll take a certain amount of God-given talent that you don't have any control over. Either you have it or you don't.
I'm pretty awesome as it is, so....
I used to shoot much more than I do now. Now I work most of the day, with much of what happens at work on my mind when I go home too. Then I've got my girlfriend to spend time with, and there's not much opportunity left. That's life though. Never enough time.
I used to shoot much more than I do now. Now I work most of the day, with much of what happens at work on my mind when I go home too. Then I've got my girlfriend to spend time with, and there's not much opportunity left. That's life though. Never enough time.
45_auto
Member
This is the internet. Everyone is more awesome than you.
Centurian22
Member
Voted multiple:
Time: work, family and to do lists.
Money: for ammo, training, accessories and equipment.
Time: work, family and to do lists.
Money: for ammo, training, accessories and equipment.
Hit_Factor
Member
I guess time is my limiting factor. As the years pass I weigh more, my eyesight deteriorates, my knuckles ache from arthritis especially when it's cold out. But I seldom miss a match.
Sent by someone using something.
Sent by someone using something.
CountryUgly
Member
If I hadn't had broken so much vital stuff when I was younger I'd probably be a better shot than I am today so I had to go with physical limitations. With that being said I'm still a pretty good shot
Steel Talon
Member
Myself, in my younger days I was an accomplished rifleman and hand gunner, perfect practice made perfect. However as I aged and genetics kicked in (neuro -muscular degeneration) it’s slowly robbed my abilities.
I still shoot, but no longer compete, instead of being rock solid in form you can now see a bit of tremble in my front sight.
I believe the key to a "good shooter" is ability to concentrate on task, control your respiratory system, and repeat action over and over again. You need to be in relative descent shape, have good eyesight, and have some descent equipment.
I still shoot, but no longer compete, instead of being rock solid in form you can now see a bit of tremble in my front sight.
I believe the key to a "good shooter" is ability to concentrate on task, control your respiratory system, and repeat action over and over again. You need to be in relative descent shape, have good eyesight, and have some descent equipment.
C96
Member
I voted "other" because I think training/instruction is the most important. Practicing bad habits won't do very much. I used to shoot Bullseye and later Benchrest. I had good equipment but it took a lot of practice AFTER good instruction that I made real progress.
A good instructor can help eliminate mistakes and show you best techniques to use with your equipment. And making real improvement makes any shooting more enjoyable.
allan
A good instructor can help eliminate mistakes and show you best techniques to use with your equipment. And making real improvement makes any shooting more enjoyable.
allan
russ69
Member
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Can a jockey be a football lineman? The obvious answer is no, not everybody can be what they want or achieve the level of proficiency they want. There are people that excel at certain tasks. Do all the Little League kids make the major league? How about triple A ball players, they have the motivation and the time?
I raced gokarts for many years. We put 5 and 6 year old kids in the gokart school and after about 20 laps we can tell who is going to be a champion and who doesn't have a chance. There is a natural talent involved. We don't know the parameters, or we would test for it but putting the kid in the kart we can tell right away who is going to be fast.
Work hard and accept the talent you have. You can be a way above average shooter with practice but you may never win a match in your lifetime. That is life.
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