Did you ever just QUIT?

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SharpsDressedMan

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Ever go to the range, take out a gun, fire one shot, and quit shooting? I have done it a couple of times. The first I can remember was a S&W Model 19 2.5" back in the early 70's. A beautiful gun, just out of the box, loaded up with magnums (as I recall), took aim at a bullseye target at 20 yards, and punched out the "X". I had a friend there to witness, and I just figured it as never going to ge better than that, so I put it away, with a big smile on my face. Went on to shoot other guns that day. It pretty much happened again yesterday. Drove out to the outdoor range I belong to, and the 25 yard pistol range had three cars and about 6 people there, so I backed up to the 50 yard range....all to myself. I posted my targets (so cheap, I just taped up a leftover silhouette target so I could shoot on it), and brought out the Colt Super 38. I fired 9 rounds at center mass on the silhouette, and then picked up my M1 Carbine, and challenged myself to a head shot on the same target. After surveying the target, I had 9 good hits in the chest, and a nice, single carbine hit in the forehead, dead center. I put the carbine away, and opted to fire the Super a few more times, and then later try my Colt .32 1903 and S&W 1006 for a magazine. The 10mm was still sighted right on, and the .32 was keeping all the shots on the silhouette (which I patched as I shot, keeping it clean to score). I just let myself shoot for fun, although I was really concentrating to hit with them at 50 yards. Any time I slacked, the target showed it. Has anyone else just quit shooting a particular gun when you got that "pinwheel" or record shot, right out of the gate?
 
Once. I took a shot at a bowling pin at 500 yds with my remington 700 in 30-06. Had one friend on a telescope watching, and I had enough time to get back on the scope to watch it get hit. Didn't need to shoot that one anymore that day.
 
Nope.

Doing it once is a fluke. Being able to do it repeatedly is confidence-inspiring, and is evidence of proper practice.

When I take a brand-new shooter to the range, if they bag a bulls-eye (usually at 3 yards) I set that target aside and let them take it home for bragging rights and positive reinforcement.

But I also encorage them to keep shooting... so they realize that replicating that feat is not a given. And although I do not press the issue, they often want to move the target out a bit...and are then faced with the harsh reality that poking the center out of the target isn't as easy as it looks.

BTW, I always encourage them to come back next week (or the week after that) to enjoy the range experience again. Only a few take me up on that, but about 10% do...and become gun owners and somewhat regular shooters...and a few NRA members.
 
Only when I dry balled a caplock rifle. If I get a bullseye first shot I always try to duplicate it. Rarely manage to. I shoot till the ammo runs out, even if my groups get worse. The object of the exercise isn't to get a target with nice holes, but to train myself to shoot and keep practicing. So I will keep at it in rain, snow, when my eyes are getting tired and when spent brass is smacking into me.

Besides, if I don't shoot the lead I have to carry it all back.
 
The object of the exercise isn't to get a target with nice holes, but to train myself to shoot and keep practicing.
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Bingo. For me, I'm going to keep coming back, because I am commited to improving my shooting.

With a new shooter, I want them to have a positive experience, so I will be happy to let them take a one-holer home, only because it may encourage them to return and do it again...or learn to keep trying to do it again.
 
I will occassionly keep nice targets to show my ole man. He competed in Bullseye competitions when I was a kid, he shot well not great but he can still embrass me on the firing line with the right gun. His eyes aren't as good as they once were, but I'm still competing the phantom of years past.

Today, I punched out the X on the 25yd slow fire target with my 625 double action. I could've stopped right there, but I wanted to decimate the bull. My goal is to have all the shots land in the bull, shots in the white are screwups. Until I get all the 50 of 50 in the bull I wouldn't be truly satisfied. Hard to do for the hobbiest shooter.

Perfection is what we're all trying to attain. Being "in the zone", "go with the force Luke", or "to many minds". That's what I'm trying to achieve, I've been there a couple of times and it's a truly wonderful experience, a place where the mind and body are truly one.
 
My grandfather told me a story about a friend of his who, when they went hunting once, was dared to shoot a duck in flight with a .22LR. He took the dare and dropped one on the first shot. He then packed up and left. Grandpa said he left because he didn't want to be dared to do it a second time.:D
 
I did it with a S&W 460 once. I hit dead on where I was aiming at 25 yards. I probably would have shot more, but it was a rental gun. My friend shot a few rounds after me :)
 
Yeah, went out, wasn't a good day, bad weather, head wasn't in it,
I realized that I wasn't doing anything but throwing money down range
switched to the .22 then wrapped it up early.
 
Once. One year I bought myself a Christmas present, a Smith & Wesson model 29 "Classic Hunter" before they named it and it had the adjustable front sight. Anyway, the range was closed since it was December so I drove down the highway and pulled off. All I had for a target was a pop can which I put on top of a snow berm, backed off 20-25 yards and let one off. That pop can went straight up about 10 feet! That was enough for me.
 
Never quit.

But there were a few times where I should of never even started in the first place.
 
Once about 6 months ago, only my experience was the opposite. I was shooting so poorly I was only reinforcing bad habits, so I packed in in after firing less than 50 rounds.
 
Oh hell no! As much effort as it takes me to get around to going and getting there? I ain't quitting until I'm fried from sunburn, eaten up by skeeters, out of ammo, or the sun's gone down.
 
These replies have been very interesting. I kind of compare it to golf. I don't play golf, but if I ever hit a hole in one, from the frist drive of the ball, I think I'd just go to the clubhouse and have a few and celebrate. That is about how happy I am when I have done similar with the gun. It's never going to get better than that. I guess I DO get a lot of practice in, though, so I never feel cheated by not shooting anymore on those particular occasions. I can see if you have waited all week, or month, to go out. I'd keep shooting for those reasons, too.
 
Not me, I go shooting to SHOOT. I could blast the x ring out of everything and I'll just keep going. I see no reason to quit with a smile on my face because of success, I'll just change targets. But everybody likes different aspects of our sport, some guys strive for sub-MOA perfection on paper, rednecks like me just love to bust soda cans full of water! I could do that all day long.
 
Yep, I installed some Tru-Glo night sights on my XDm last year, took it and 150rnd to the range, Shot one mag and inserted the second and felt something hit my shoe! the rear sight, I didn't tighten the set screw. No allen wrench, went home with the sight in my pocket.
 
I hit a clay pigeon on the berm at 300 Yards with a Spanish Mauser FR8, I was done with it for a while after that 1 hit quiter.
 
Mossberg 88 12 gage with 3" magnums or slugs...two shots.... find a sling for my arm....and go home for a hot compress; make appointment with dentist for replacement of fillings that fell out after second shot........order 410 gage shot gun. Sweet woman wants to know why I am walking funny with my sling and Crick in my neck........ tell her my fillings hurt..........she wants to know if I want soup or steak?
 
Nope jusy savor the moment and try to duplicate

rednecks like me just love to bust soda cans full of water!
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Try balloons. :) some binder clips on the knot or add a lenth of string to the binder clip.

Very challanging
 
No, no, not ever. When I'm shooting well, it motivates me to keep practicing.

If I'm shooting badly, I can't focus because of other issues, or if I'm just generally not having a good practice, I might end practice early. I try to force myself to do a few magazines of slow-fire accuracy work, just as kind of a mental reset.

-C
 
A hot load from an S&W500. Hit the target, decided I'd rather not punish myself physically or aurally with the remaining shots, and handed the revolver back to the owner. Too many shots from that hand-cannon would have done a number on my aging wrists, and ruined the rest of the day.
 
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