Post Open Rifle Match #19 Yr.4 scores...

[gamo2hammerli]

...here please.  COME ONE, COME ALL to our 19th match in this popular event.  Please post your scores and a photo of your target sheet by Sunday 07 Oct. 2012.
SHOOT OFTEN and SHOOT SAFE

[gamo2hammerli]

Got in one match before the sun went completely down.  I think this could be my highest score in this match so far. 

gamo2hammerli
Crosman Storm XT (Gas Rammed)
Bushnell Banner 4-12x40mm AO @ 6x
.177 CPHP
Stand/Unsupported
10 Meters
+16c, Sun, 5kph Wind
Score: 184/200 2X

[gamo2hammerli]

My friend H.T blamed the slight chill for his inaccuracies....could be true.


H.T
Crosman Venom
REX 3-12x40mm AO IR @ 6x
.177 RWS Superdome
Stand/Unsupported
10 Meters
+16C, Sun, 5kph Wind
Score: 166/200

[gandalfretlaw]

ohhhhh, I love the competition. I feel challenged. This makes me get better. I was in the zone when I shot that last one. I need to work on getting in the zone faster. Been trying to get the RS2 dialed in since and playing with my new crony. So far it's not near as accurate as the Whisper. I'll have to see what I can do. Did shoot a mean steroid 15 last week (112).

[gandalfretlaw]

Gamo Whisper 177
3-9X40 (5X)
RWS Basic Match
Offhand 10yd
186/200 - 2X

I seem to have hit a wall, although I've done better this time on the Steroid 15. It all comes down to shooting what you want every time and not just some of the time. I must push through this wall and do better.

[Brushy Bill]

I seem to have hit a wall,  It all comes down to shooting what you want every time and not just some of the time. I must push through this wall and do better.

Hang in there. Your shooting well, especially for shooting a springer.
Are you using one of Charlies triggers in this rifle? If not, it will definitely
help.

The only advise I can give (not being able to shoot with you in person) is that you
have 20 minutes to get these 20 rounds down range. Use it all, don't force a shot.
If it don't "settle down", lower the rifle, take three or four deep cleansing breaths and start over.
(use the time you have)

If you are shooting the bulls in the order of,
top left
top right
center
bottom left
bottom right

Try shooting them in this order,
top left
bottom left
top right
bottom right
center

This allows you to maintain a better natural point of aim by
not having to shift your feet or twist your body from
the left side of the target to the right.
You are only adjusting the vertical aim.
(only changing your position three times instead of five)

Don't slack on that last center bull, treat like it is the first one.
(it is just as important as the first bull)
Precision shooting is such a mental game, try to stay focused and
just don't rush. The more relaxed you are, the better you will shoot.

I completely understand "the wall" you speak of.
It is more mental than physical, your doing fine, just keep focused.
(you may just be over thinking it, relax and let the brain, eye, finger connection take over)

I look forward to watching your continued improvement. 

edited for pour spellin

edit 2; Shooting in a vertical order will help you even more in the "steroid" match, lots
of bulls on that target.

[gandalfretlaw]

Thanks, I will try that alternate shoot order, I was following the order you thought. I have a stock steel trigger. Lately I find that I often do very well shooting fast. I probably should alternate practicing fast and slow. For me there seems to be a natural point when I come on target where I am on target and if I don't shoot then I have to wait and breath for the target. If I catch that point well, I can nail bulls-eyes; there were a couple examples today shooting the Steroid 15 where I nailed three bulls in a row that way. When I miss that period I do tend to rush the shots, I need to be ok with taking a breath and resetting. I shot 85 pellets this evening in less than an hour. Tonight I shot three Steroid 15 targets and two of the 10yd offhand ones.

My stance is reset every pellet I shoot. Perhaps I should try loading without changing stance but I'm not sure that's realistic. My main goal is to become an accurate, humane hunter and I think that every shot has to be your first shot. I'm also constantly trying to work on follow through. My natural instinct is to only squeeze the trigger until it fires then release (actually a good semi-auto pistol technique).

[gamo2hammerli]

Yep, I followed Brushy Bill's advice from a few years back....shooting the bulls vertically down....it made alot of sense and helped my shooting.
My hardest habit to break is to abort a shot after aiming too long....I just HAVE to shoot....arrrrh....missed again.  heh heh

[Brushy Bill]

For me there seems to be a natural point when I come on target where I am on target and if I don't shoot then I have to wait and breath for the target.

I understand what you are talking about here, I think we all do that to some extent.
Please be aware that if you are doing it as you first come on target, this may create the habit of jerking the trigger.
When those shots are not going where you think it breaks, you are most likely jerking the trigger.

My natural instinct is to only squeeze the trigger until it fires then release (actually a good semi-auto pistol technique).

Precision rifle shooting is different, what works good on a semi auto pistol may effect your follow through with a rifle.
(like all of this, just something to be aware of)

You shot a really respectable 93% in this match. Very impressive with a springer in my opinion, I couldn't
come close to that on a great day shooting a springer.

Once you reach this level, it is the tiniest of things that helps the scores improve.
You will continue to improve, the improvement does slow down once you reach these percentages, just keep at it.

Don't forget to throw some fun plinking time in along the way.

Whether it is from Charlie or AofA, the aftermarket triggers are some of the best money you can spend on these types of springers.
A friend of mine put one in a Crosman Sierra Pro I gave to his grandson, and it was like shooting a completely different rifle.
Very simple installation, and incredibly lighter, predictable break.

[gandalfretlaw]

I do seem to have trouble jerking the trigger occasionally. When it happens I know the shot should have landed somewhere else but it lands quite off (7,8 instead of a 9,10). The on target progresses like this for me. I pull up or down to the target and get a scope picture on the proper target, at that point if I have brought my point of aim to where it should be the rifle is rock steady and I find myself thinking, "it's not this easy". If I think about it too much I'm back to the unsteady moving point of aim. If I just shoot I'm usually right on target.

I do think that concentrating on follow through, pulling the trigger all the way back greatly helps me with accuracy. I have a tendency to think I know where the shot went and give up on it probably before it even leaves the barrel. What was I thinking shooting THEN; I should have waited for a better line up.

Perhaps I'm doing it wrong but it seems that shooting offhand is all about putting the point of aim in the general vicinity of where you want it, calming yourself and waiting for the shot to naturally line up. Also you have to initiate and execute the shot in controlled, smooth manner so as not to jerk the shot. This means that you have to anticipate the moment of shot line up. You have to start squeezing before the line up actually happens.

If any of this is wrong please let me know. A friend of mine said to try to make figure eights with the point of aim on the target and the gun uncocked. Each time approaching the intersection firmly and steadily pull the trigger. I tried this practice but haven't done it in a while. It was really hard to try and make smooth figure eights.

[Brushy Bill]

This is a Scatt training system (if they weren't so "dang" expensive, I would own one)
recording of 10m Air Rifle training by
olympic bronze medalist Miss. Snježana Pejčić.
As you can see, her movement is very random.
(incredibly small too, seldom leaving the 9 ring)



This is the second time in a few months that I have heard reference to the
"figure eight" movement of the sights or crosshairs. Sorry, I don't buy it.
I don't believe anyone has that much control over the movement of the muzzle
to move it an a deliberate pattern. If they did, why would they need to?

When I am shooting the 10 yard match with my scoped 2250XT. Once I am on the target,
the wobble is seldom outside the 10 ring. I take up the first stage of the trigger and when it looks good,
I break the shot. (hopefully on the dot) If the wobble starts getting worse, I abort the shot.
It seems that once I have settled on target, if the process is not completed within 10 seconds
or so, I have to stop. Either the wobble gets worse, or I need to breath. (usually the first)

Bottom line is if the when the shot looks good, take it. Just avoid jerking the trigger.
Having a short travel, (length of pull) single stage, or two stage trigger makes a huge difference.

Keep it fun.

[gandalfretlaw]

My gamo whisper has a two stage trigger. It's probably not the best, but seems decent. It's one of the steel ones. The first stage is pretty lite and then the second cracks just a bit in. Not right at the edge, just a bit over it. I'll keep trying. Gotta get out and shoot.