My very first competition

[Blakenzy]

Oh boy! This Sunday will be my first firearms competition ever. It will be a .22LR rifle opensight presicion shoot out, from a standing position firing at a "standard 50m pistol target" at 25m distance, a least that's what the invitation said. It is supposed to be rather informal, according to what I have been told, but that doesn't make me any less concerned. Wow, having to perform in front of lots of strangers makes me kind of nervous:uhoh: . I just hope that I don't make a fool out of myself. You see, shooting in private is no problem, in fact I think I'm rather good when I'm alone. It's when you know that people are watching you and judging your performance that it gets a little difficult to keep your concentration.

Does anyone of the more experienced competitors have any friendly advice or pointers to share with a noob? I have already been told to skip my usual morning cofee;) .

I will be using a stock CZ 452 Lux. I have no idea what the others will be using. Can any rimfire shooters tell me what group sizes are usually expected firing at a target at 25 meters (thats just a tad over 25 yards I think) from a standing position (no rest or shooting slings) with open sights?

Thanks.

[Wakal]

You are the only one shooting. Everyone who may or may not be watching you is just there for decoration, like grass. Just shoot :)

I don't know about skipping your coffee. If you are an addict, not having your fix may make you shake worse :neener:

Bottom line: just have fun. If you are not having fun, it is...work...



:D



Alex

[Jim Watson]

That sounds like the last stage of the CMP Rimfire Sporter match. They use a target based on the 50 metre freepistol and shoot 50 yards prone and sitting, 25 yards standing. If you are on the same target, the ten ring is 1.7" diameter and good scores are in the 90s. For a beginner, just concentrate on holding the black and let the tens come as they will.

Try to get out tomorrow and get sighted in, if you are not spot on at 25 yards already. The match will no doubt have sighter shots but best to be ready to start with.

Your CZ is just about ideal for the match as shot here, you will have no trouble from the gun.

[Blackfork]

Got a zero for that rifle at 50 yards on that target? Know what "hold" you are going to use? You MUST have a hold AND a zero to be competitive.

Use the same ammo you are using in practice. Different ammo has a different zero, sometimes dramatically.

I'd use Wolf Match Target .22, a six o'clock hold and practice on the same target I was going to be shooting at in competition. I'd also make sure I wore a hat and maybe a blinder here and there.

Ever heard of a Natural Point of Aim?

How's your trigger technique? Holding it all the way to the rear all the way through the shot without moving your finger?

[Gunblade]

Just saying good luck:)

[BobCat]

You've received some good advice already, to which I will simply add - just go shoot and enjoy! Nobody is watching you, nobody is going to tease you if you don't post a great score. You are your own worst critic - go easy on yourself.

I went to shoot one Highpower match because I wanted my Garand from the CMP. Decided it would be ok to humiliate myself one time, to get one match bulletin, to qualify. That was years ago, and I've been to (almost) every Highpower match at my club since.

Nobody told me, "Go away and don't come back until you learn to shoot that rifle better." Instead, people encouraged and informally coached me. I still do not post great scores - but I have a good time at the match each month. You are entering a sport you will enjoy very much, and you will probably post a better score at your first match than you think you will.

Go and shoot and have fun! Post again to let us know how it went, ok?

Regards,
Andrew

[lil ski]

Like they said have fun thats whats its all about

[Blakenzy]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner. The original competition in my first post was cancelled due to heavy rain. It was re-schedulled for yesterday. So, I went, I shot, and well, ended up in first place:D . In my category that is. Another shooter took the overall best score. It's funny you know how I went there with pretty low expectations, my goal was basically to not end up last. I must say I am quite surprized (and happy of course) of the end result. I guess the other shooters weren't trying as hard maybe.

The thing that puzzles me is that while I was shooting I coudn't really see my hits (I forgot to take a spotting scope :rolleyes: ) and I thought that I was making these horrible groups. I could have sworn that someone changed my targets before I could aproach them during the cease fire:scrutiny:

Well anyway I had a blast, made new shooting buddys and discovered I am actually not as bad I feared. Good times. Shooting is great.

[owen]

The thing that puzzles me is that while I was shooting I coudn't really see my hits (I forgot to take a spotting scope ) and I thought that I was making these horrible groups. I could have sworn that someone changed my targets before I could aproach them during the cease fire


Dude,

There is an important lesson in that observation.

Think on it.

Owen

[Centurion]

I agree with Alex on 200% "just have fun! :) If you are not having fun, it is...work...:(" :banghead:

If you will get more interested about peak of performance, you can take a look to this article:"Mental Preparation Achieve Proper Mentality for Target Sports Shooting"

http://www.midwestshootingacademy.com/mental.shtml

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I'm glad you had fun! I just recently re-started my Winter Rimfire Bullseye league. While I know my own skills, and have a few goals, there's a few new shooters that I'm sure to compare myself with. Over the past few seasons, and some times when I've shot Pins, -slightly competitively, I've found that there's always someone better than me. One thing that I've noticed is that for the folks shooting the lower scores, they still have fun. They still try every time at the line. And with shooters, much more so than in any other sport, What I don't hear is, "Man, you're a terrible shot. You should hang it up."

I tell ya what, the people I shoot with, are a helluva lot different than the people I play softball with. Some would say 'Better'.

So, go, Compete. And next time, please take a friend. Introduce him/her to the fun sport.

-Steve

[Sunray]

"...I had a blast, made new shooting buddys..." Exactly. That's one of the many reasons why shooting matchs is such fun. How well you shoot doesn't matter.
"...forgot to take a spotting scope..." You may find that having one will cause you to shoot less well. You might end up thinking about the last shot and not concentrating on the current shot. That will throw you off.