My Competition Journey

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z7

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I decided to try and consolidate threads some and have a central place to share and discuss my competitive shooting versus starting new threads when I had something to discuss or ask.
I hope to document some things through this new thread that will help others who are on the fence about competing learn and maybe take that leap and go to a match. I also hope to gain knowledge and critique from you all here. I gained some valuable insight from you all and what I needed to work on, so thank you. This process also will serve as a way for me to reflect and learn from my performance and growth, connecting physical performance with mental preparation and knowledge

_________
In December of 2017 I shot my first 3 gun match, was middle of the pack and learned a lot. I have shot 4 matches since then and am doing better but am learning more as well.

I started a thread here to share/discuss some of what I learned
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/range-report-2nd-3-gun-match.832445/

a few weeks ago I started a thread to ask for help to critique my shooting:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/help-me-get-faster-and-more-consistent.836310/


Thanks for taking the time to read, watch or critique. I really appreciate any feedback or recommendations. I will periodically update with new videos and questions I have.

2nd 3 Gun match, 10 Feb 18


Action Rifle, March 2018


3rd 3 gun match, 30 April 18


4th 3 Gun Match, 12 May 18
 
I think it is a great idea to set goals and tell others about your goals, positive outcomes and not so positive outcomes. Allowing for some critical assessments is also good. You are doing well z7!

This past week was a really good one for me shooting wise. One of my goals for 2018 is to go from B class to A class in Steel Challenge (Optical Sight Revolver). I just barely made B at the end of last year. In this category you need to lose roughly 30 seconds over the 8 stages. This week I took off 14 of those 30 seconds. So I feel that my goal is obtainable. I also shot in an ICORE match that had a classifier, will move from C to B in Open Revo.
 
I think it is a great idea to set goals and tell others about your goals, positive outcomes and not so positive outcomes. Allowing for some critical assessments is also good. You are doing well z7!

This past week was a really good one for me shooting wise. One of my goals for 2018 is to go from B class to A class in Steel Challenge (Optical Sight Revolver). I just barely made B at the end of last year. In this category you need to lose roughly 30 seconds over the 8 stages. This week I took off 14 of those 30 seconds. So I feel that my goal is obtainable. I also shot in an ICORE match that had a classifier, will move from C to B in Open Revo.

Thanks for the comments, shaving 14 seconds off is impressive, I have not shot steel challenge yet, but I am familiar with it, it is a fast game, 2 seconds per stage improvment is great
 
Thanks for the comments, shaving 14 seconds off is impressive, I have not shot steel challenge yet, but I am familiar with it, it is a fast game, 2 seconds per stage improvment is great

Hope you get a chance to try it.

If you take off 1/2 second from your draw to first hit that is 2 seconds per stage and 16 seconds per match assuming an 8 stage steel challenge match.

Regarding the classifier, they take your best stage of the 8 official stages and use that to calculate your classification. So if you can manage to do really well on 2 or 3 stages per match it will help in moving up the ladder quickly. The other thing is your % is calculated based on "peak times" and it is very easy to identify the stages that you need to work on. I have them numbered in priority 1-8. My worse stage is "Speed Option" my best is Accelerator which is the only stage that I'm currently shooting A level scores in so I have some work to do.

I just started shooting iron sight revo. also, there I have quite a bit of low hanging fruit.

I would like to try 3 gun, my club hosts TGN matches but I have enough time/money invested in what I'm already doing. Looks like a lot of fun though.
 
I would like to try 3 gun, my club hosts TGN matches but I have enough time/money invested in what I'm already doing. Looks like a lot of fun though.

I hear you about the time and money invested. I enjoy 3 gun and will be trying out a "precision rifle" match in June. I don't think I have justify it to the wife that I need ANOTHER shooting sport, but I want to try USPSA, and steel challenge, and and and

you should go shoot a local 3 gun match if you can find one. the TGN matches are expensive AND they are 2 day events which is a significant time consideration. the one's I am shooting are very new shooter friendly with low round counts, most stages are simple enough. if you have any shotgun and any acceptable rifle, it can't hurt. take the wheel gun out there.
 
New competition from this past weekend, and one that I am most interested in. I finally was able to attend a local precision rifle match. it was crowded on the 600yd line at the local range, and the match was a shorter distance "easy" match for beginners but the stage design made it challenging enough for everybody, nobody shot a clean match, but most got some hits. I was unable to capture good video of all 5 stages and a long range match is more difficult to capture of film, do I film the target or the shooter? I did a little bit of both. I have learned a little from my video and and post match notes, thanks for reading/watching and I'll be glad to hear any feedback you have on my technique (when you can analyze it)

 
Local PRS match on 1 July. this match went a lot better than the first, I learned a lot from the first match. I have more, bigger takeaways from this match. one, dial your dope before the buzzer, 2, find the target with the eye, kill it with the scope (I shot at the wrong target on one stage). overall a 3rd place finish which is outstanding in my opinion. I was able to clean the "know your limits" stage which helped a lot.

I learned what sling techniques help me and which ones do not help and I learned a little about tank traps. after the match I reshot the tank trap stage with the sling set up in patrol carry vs. clipped to the belt and just used a small bag strapped to the rifle and I was significantly more stable and faster.

anyway, video below for your critque/review and maybe enjoyment.


p.s.
one guy was shooting a ruger american rifle in 6.5 creedmore and a $500 scope, less than $1000 in his entire setup....he didn't finish last, so grab an accurate rifle out of your safe and go shoot.
 
Question from someone who has never shot PRS: What's a tank trap?

Nevermind, google answered. I've always read/heard such things called "hedgehogs."
 
Question from someone who has never shot PRS: What's a tank trap?

Nevermind, google answered. I've always read/heard such things called "hedgehogs."

hedge hog, tank trap, same thing. I thought they were hedge hogs but the match stage description called them tank traps, so it stuck in my mind.
 


another day another competition. This was put on by the Manatee Multigun Club, they try to have a more complex/difficult match that looks and feels like the higher level competitions. I can say that this was a steep learning curve, I was in the top half of the shooters, but the top 10 were significantly faster thanks to their stage execution. Some of the equipment advantages that come with the expensive and purpose build rifles and pistols I can't overcome without spending the money, but shooting better, moving smarter with a better plan is where I need to focus.

I had a small squad of 5 shooters so we were busy as can be, so between scoring and cleaning up the stage there was not much down time and stage 3 really showed my lack of prep
 
This is a cool thread.

I have some match footage I have been meaning to get up on the YouTubs.

My favorite matches are the Hard as Hell matches (3 Gun in November/December and 2 Gun in May) in Southern Utah.

Couple of HaH 3 Gun stages:


 
This is a cool thread.

I have some match footage I have been meaning to get up on the YouTubs.

My favorite matches are the Hard as Hell matches (3 Gun in November/December and 2 Gun in May) in Southern Utah.

Couple of HaH 3 Gun stages:



I have watched some of the hard as hell match videos, they look really fun and physically challenging
 
I have watched some of the hard as hell match videos, they look really fun and physically challenging
Yeah. That match in particular is a good blend of shooting challenges and physical challenges.

I won Limited Division in my local "Tin Man" match and that was mostly all physical.
Carrying a 30lb medicine ball over your head for a 40-50yrd run, carrying kettle bells with you during the stage, wearing a 30lb divers belt, carrying a 40lb sack that cannot touch the ground, drag a sled 25-30yrds to you. etc.

The stages were not timed out, so people were struggling through a 350 second stage! I managed to keep mine all around 250.

Totally different kind of match. Basically the better physically fit people were able to out do the out-of-shape-but-darned-good shooters just because the time was made up in movement.


I got my butt handed to me at an IDPA match last Monday that was almost entirely technical shooting (one handed, off hand, small targets, etc) with very little movement.

I prefer the movement!
 
I prefer the movement!
Shooting and moving is too much fun. I tried IDPA once and wasn't a big fan. it seemed like half the shooting group was looking at a rule book while somebody shot and were helping the RO identify mistakes. I also HATE the way reloads are governed in IDPA, but the offhand shooting and forced used of cover is valuable.
 
You need to try USPSA. Stage directions are "shoot the targets as they become visible". And no one wears a stupid fishing vest.
 
You need to try USPSA. Stage directions are "shoot the targets as they become visible". And no one wears a stupid fishing vest.
Love USPSA.
I am a big UML multigun fan too. Lots of options.
UML is probably my favorite.
Shooting and moving is too much fun. I tried IDPA once and wasn't a big fan. it seemed like half the shooting group was looking at a rule book while somebody shot and were helping the RO identify mistakes. I also HATE the way reloads are governed in IDPA, but the offhand shooting and forced used of cover is valuable.
Yeah that bugs me too, especial the rule book hounds.
I get it, the game has rules, but sheesh.

I shoot idpa because the match happens 2 minutes from work on a weeknight. Hard to pass up cheap practice sessions that are so accessible.
 
You need to try USPSA. Stage directions are "shoot the targets as they become visible". And no one wears a stupid fishing vest.
I want to, but the uspsa matches are either on Sunday, compete with 3gun, or are a long drive on a Thursday after work, so I have not made the trip yet
 
Interesting journey, it shows how your improvement and your increasing enthusiasm. Keep on recording your experiences and inspire people who would love to do the same.
 
Interesting journey, it shows how your improvement and your increasing enthusiasm. Keep on recording your experiences and inspire people who would love to do the same.
Thanks, I hope you enjoyed some of the videos. I shot another prs match today, had some highs and some lows, learned a few things, hit some targets, missed some targets. I will try to get the video edited and uploaded this week
 
Below is the video. On this match I tried a few things to improve my shooting in tough positions (like barricades). I didn't get more hits, but I learned what NOT to do. 308's don't like to switch between free recoil and a more firm hold. you will notice a few times on the first two stages that the gun twists slightly when the shot is fired....that was me trying to minimize my input and let the gun do its thing. I had inconsistent elevation as a result.
the worst was the fourth stage with the white barrels, if you look closely you can see the gun rock up with most of the shots, I was .3-.4 mils high on that stage, holding dead center put the rounds over the target into a berm with tall grass, I couldn't see anything. I tried holding the bottom edge of the plate to see what happened and got a hit.
I did clean the last stage with the tires. it was the biggest target (an farthest, but not by much) and the most stable positions of the day with the exception of prone.

I think I learned more from this match than I did the previous two even though I didn't get more hits. trying new ways of solving problems is the only way to improve, and I know to not practice "Free recoil" and instead work on training my body to be rock solid in those odd standing and high kneeling positions.



as always, thanks for watching, if you have any feedback I am glad to hear it, and if you want to shoot a competition, stop waiting, you will never be "ready" so just go shoot it. I bet you beat someone . . .even if that is yourself.
 
3 gun match today, new camera today so I was able to get a neat 1st person perspective. for anyone considering trying to "jump in" to shooting sports, just look at my youtube channel, I upload all of my competition videos and the growth over the last 9 months is exponential. I am amazed and how much better I have gotten, and by how much more I have to go. There are folks who shoot incredibly fast. . . .

as always, thanks for watching and if you have comments or critiques, I am listening.

 
Finally got back to the range - work sucks

Anyway, this was a PRS style match at Hollywood tactical gun club in south Florida,
It was an awesome match, about 85 rounds for the day, I ended up with 62 points and 2nd place, the winner had 63 hits,

One lesson learned/ reiterated: eat, hydrate, and focus on the next task. I dropped 6 points on stage 8, (the gate) because I didn’t have a great plan, got frustrated when I struggled to break two shots well, then just ripped off the next three. I had not eaten or had enough water and my mind was not as sharp as it should have been.

I was able to get video of the shooter and target on most stages and put some notes in the video to help me debrief myself

This was a 9 stage match so it is a longer video, if you watch it and have any thoughts or comments, I am all ears

 
Finally got back to the range - work sucks

Anyway, this was a PRS style match at Hollywood tactical gun club in south Florida,
It was an awesome match, about 85 rounds for the day, I ended up with 62 points and 2nd place, the winner had 63 hits,

One lesson learned/ reiterated: eat, hydrate, and focus on the next task. I dropped 6 points on stage 8, (the gate) because I didn’t have a great plan, got frustrated when I struggled to break two shots well, then just ripped off the next three. I had not eaten or had enough water and my mind was not as sharp as it should have been.

I was able to get video of the shooter and target on most stages and put some notes in the video to help me debrief myself

This was a 9 stage match so it is a longer video, if you watch it and have any thoughts or comments, I am all ears


Nice work, Man.

+1 on keeping fed and hydrated. During Summer in the runin' gunin' games I normally play it is critical to stay hydrated.

I like the format of that match. It's a cool style.
Some day I am going to get into real deal distance shooting.
 
@Corpral_Agarn thanks, I usually do a good job in the summer time (Florida summer rules: hydrate or die) but this particular match it was cooler and overcast and i got complacent

@Good Ol' Boy thanks, I am trying to get good with “my guns”. Granted i have an amazing bolt action 308, mausingfield put together by Chad Dixon of Longrifles Inc- but my carbine and shotgun are basic intro models with minimal work, and my handguns are pretty much stock glocks
 
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