[DontShootMe]

Ever 'catch a rhythm' while shooting? Where you shoot fairly rapidly, but dont carefully aim each shot and yet each shot is following the next through the 10 ring?

Over many visits to the range I am noticing that I get into rhythm more and more. If I ever decide to shoot in a competitive match, is this a bad habit or a good one?

I sure do like the results on the target :cool:

[Sunray]

It depends on the course of fire in a match. Concentration on the front sight is more important than a rhythm. For example, in the 'timed fire' stage of an ISU or NRA bullseye shoot, it won't help. I suspect what's happening is that you're going 'zen' with your pistol. Becoming one with the pistol. That's not bad. It's what you have to do for most rapid and timed fire courses of fire. Timed is 5 aimed rounds in 20 seconds, rapid is five in 10 seconds.
You should go shoot some matches. You'll have a good time. Don't worry about placing or how well you shoot. Go because it's fun. You'll meet a bunch of like minded people who wouldn't ever think about laughing at you if you have match jitters or just a bad day. It just isn't done.
I shot bullseye for years and it's great fun. I'm not the greatest pistol shot either. You're shooting agianst you, not the rest of the shooters. And a bit of competition will make you a better shooter. And join a club. Punching holes in paper is fun, but it's just not the same as punching holes in paper with friends. It's the only team sport that I ever really liked. It led to my going to the Second Chance shoot, several times, other pin/plate shoots and knowing a bunch of great people.
trust me. Shooting alone just ain't the same thing.

[C. H. Luke]

"...is this a bad habit or a good one?"

Rhythm or tempo is good in a Match but you really need to
know where that front sight is......all the time, especially at speed.

Don't sacrifice the fundamental's: {as Chuck Taylor teaches}

"THE THREE SECRETS", i.e. Sight Picture, Sight Alignment & Trigger Control.
It IS quite possible to shoot extremely fast while paying attention to that front sight with good practice.

That said, Yours is an excellent point!

[Standing Wolf]

I suspect what's happening is that you're going 'zen' with your pistol. Becoming one with the pistol.

It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's a thing of great beauty. Serious, dedicated target shooting, in my experience, is a form of meditation.

[Edward429451]

Mmmm, going zen on demand...

Not there yet, but if it happens occasionally it should be able to be done on demand, right?:scrutiny:

[P95Carry]

It sure happens, and when it does it's sweet. :)

But is it reliable? prolly not .. at least not enough to depend on. Most often it is shhotin off a mag full outa marlin 60 i get that rhythm .... get the timing right and they just keep hittin the 10! handguns? Sometimes yeah .. similar but ... oh so hard to duplicate - on demand!

[Justin]

Back when I was shooting bullseye regularly a lot of guys who were much better than me talked about getting into a rhythm while shooting timed and rapid fire. It only happened to me once or twice where I felt an actual rhythm, like a metronome. If I was doing well, though, I could easily get into that meditative mindset where I felt as if I were 'one' with the pistol.

[Stay Low]

We have a match here called Metal Mania. We shoot reactive steel from racks bowling pins to big pepper popper for a cumulative time. i often do better on the skinny bowling pins than I do on those big falling pepper poppers due to what I believe is rhythm. The bowling pins are one continuous rack of same size targets while the pepper popper are arrranged staggered over a 10 or 20 yard course of fire.

[DigMe]

I don't know about your whole question but I can say that for some reason unbenknownst to myself I shoot much better groups during drills if I triple tap rather than double tap. I don't know why that is. You'd think that the second shot would go to the same place whether or not it's followed by a third but that's just how it works out with me and I'm wondering if it's something psychological. I don't necessarily put 'em all dead-center bullseye but I do get some really awesome groupings somewhere on center mass when I shoot off three (silhouettes - I get em free from my uncle in LE). For this reason it makes me think that if I should ever have to use my pistol for self-defense I'd probably shoot off three immediately instead of the double-tap (a la law enforcement) just because I shoot them all closer that way. Call me crazy and I'll understand.

:scrutiny:

brad cook

[DontShootMe]

be hard to stop at 3 shots in a SD situation especially if the BG is still coming.

:uhoh:

[C. H. Luke]

"...use my pistol for self-defense I'd probably shoot off three immediately instead of the double-tap..."

Please don't take this in the negative but what if you were facing more than one armed assailant?

[DigMe]

C'mon people! Of course it's going to change with the situation! I wasn't making a blanket statement for any and all situations. I figured that would be assumed. I was speaking in the general terms of one assailant and the initial face-off. Many LEO's are trained to double tap at first and then go from there when facing a single bad guy. They aren't taught to not shoot anymore even if the guy keeps coming. :rolleyes: Of course I'm going to keep shooting if he keeps coming and of course I'll improvise if there are more than one. I'm no idiot and I have some tactical training from my uncle, who's a lieutenant investigator with the Harris County DA in Houston.

brad cook

[DigMe]

It will be hard to stop at 3 shots in a SD situation especially if the BG is still coming.

That's why I do drills, but you're right...no one really knows how they or the other guy will react in real life. We can only rely on our training and wits.

Sorry ya'll if my post above this one seems harsh in writing. Not really meant that way...it just seemed kinda silly to me because I know what I'm doing but I know that you guys don't know that I know what I'm doing (huh?!) and you were just trying to show me some valid concerns and those concerns really aren't silly...especially for someone who really DOESN'T have any training or shooting experience.

brad cook

[Ron L]

That's interesting because last time we went shooting, I was able to get into the "zone" doing double-taps. And it seemed like I just couldn't miss. Great day when all the fundamentals just come together and worked like they're supposed to. Makes you appreciate all the training and know that it pays off in the end.