Possibly the worst range session ever

[Sheslinger]

Ok, so the three of us went to the range yesterday after work. All of us had a really really long week and were in extremely bad mood. We were shooting terrible. I don't think I shot this bad when I first learned how to shoot and did not know to use sites.

Do any of you find that your accuracy tends to mirror your mood? I think for me it's because I was just really tense and upset and could not shake it off and relax and just shoot for fun.

What do you think?

 

[Admiral Thrawn]

Yes, absolutely.

I had a pretty bad session the day before yesterday because I had had very little sleep the night before and the temperature here has been about 40 degress celcius consecutively for several days. (roughly 105 degrees F)

As a result, I was feeling a bit tired and impatient.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I shoot terribly when tired, hungry and cranky...once in a while if I'm awake but just bored, shooting lets me forget about it but if I'm lethargic, I just shoot bad.

 

[El Tejon]

The best time to go shooting is when you are off your game, the weather stinks and it is dark!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Bring a 22 instead and shoot for fun.

 

[3 gun]

My inability to shoot well does not change regardless of my mood, hunger, weather, etc. My (lack of) skills set is firmly in place.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

the temperature here has been about 40 degress celcius consecutively for several days. (roughly 105 degrees F)

in my best norm mcdonald impression.....

note to self... move...

 

[mack]

No, you did not have possibly the worst range session ever. No one was killed or seriously injured, no gun went kaboom and blew up.

Once you get to the range and have your firearm loaded and pointed safely down range and are ready to engage a target, you should mentally tell yourself that you have already had a good day at the range. From there on out anything else is gravy and if you shoot well it's dessert.

So much of shooting is mental, and given they way I shoot I guess that makes me insane.

 

[coonan357]

BAD DAY AT RANGE BETTER THAN ANY DAY AT WORK !!!!! especially for me !! and whos complaining about the heat its been -3 degrees here for the last 4 days !!!

 

[10-Ring]

Like the old bumper sticker says, "A bad day at the range is still better than a good day at work!" True probably 99% of the time unless you work at the Playboy mansion or something

Now, I'd agree that I do shoot better if I'm not hungry or tired or too terribly wired on diet Coke or coffee. But I'd still say I enjoy being at the range w/ da' fellas regardless.

 

[cslinger]

We were all hitting just fine, just not making nice groups. As defensive handgunning goes all of us would have been just fine but as for that personal strive for a clover leaf or whatever, it just wasn't happening.....So I compensated the best I could......I pulled out the 12 Gauge.

Nothing like a little 12 gauge therapy to make you feel better. I highly suggest picking up some Shoot and See targets and using those with your shotgun. Waste of money.....yes.....absolutely going to make your grin....big YES. Nothing like seeing the target go from black to all yellow in a millisecond.

Like somebody else said it was a heck of lot better than a good day at work.

Chris

 

[Guyon]

cslinger: As I read down the thread, I was going to suggest "12 gauge therapy" and durned if you didn't mention it. I see ya'll are in Nashville. At what range were you shooting?

 

[dance varmint]

I just got back from 4 hours at the range, 30 degrees out with a 10-15mph wind. Shot 10/22, AK with new scope (all tight and pretty well zeroed at 25 yd), trap, 9mm, and some .357. In spite of 10% of my Federal .22 ammo failing, 2 stovepipes, shooting horribly even with the scoped AK (granted, it was Wolf ammo), and missing all but a few clays because I can't launch a target and mount fast enough with all this arctic apparel on, it was time well spent.

 

[vulcan]

I actually shoot better when Im angry rather than in a laid back mood. But on coffee, most of my groups are pretty big

 

[craigz]

Possibly the thing I like best about shooting is that when I am at the range, I'm able to forget about everything but shooting. I don't think about work or hospitals or CAT scans or anything like that. This is not to say that might shooting isn't affected by fatigue or anxiety, just that I briefly stop worrying about things, and that makes it worth the trip, no matter how large my groups are.

 

[Hardtarget]

Yes, mood and focus seem to have a real effect. If I'm thinking about all the other stuff I find my front sights wandering around more than I like. Its hard to leave all that baggage at home, so I try to treat it like a regular day...my shooting is not all that pristine anyway!
Mark.

 

[Blackhawk]

Can't say as they affect me.

Part of learning to pilot airplanes is the necessity to divorce your moods and emotions from what you're doing lest they cause your entering a smokin' hole.

Turned out that was a life lesson, 'cause I don't seem to allow moods or emotions to enter into my chosen pleasurable activities.

 

[SodaPop]

Not eating my Wheaties and drinking too much coffee has ruined some range sessions.

 

[kalibear45]

I shoot better in front of the ladies

 

[PATH]

Any day at the range is ALL good for me. I Bring a sandwich and a few Dr. Peppers. In summertime I'll fire up the grill and eat some burgers. Nope, I don't care how bad it seems to go. A day at the range is always good. Unless of course someone shoots me in the foot. I might even let that go if she is good looking!

All kidding aside, I have never had a "bad" day at the range.

 

[ENC]

I tend to work better under pressure or when I am being watched. My mood will effect my ability but I shoot better when I'm mad. And there are always those guns that I can absolutely do whatever I want them to. I just hope they all come around some day.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Moods do affect People in different ways, but I find when I am at a range .I usually am in a good mood because I enjoy shooting.