[tjj]

I must have worms in my head.

You all have heard of the pro bowler that bowls 10 strikes then chokes on throw number 11 or 12. Or how about the football team that goes un-beaten all season then chokes in the Super Bowl.

Is this normal? Am I just unlucky? I quit archery years ago due to an involuntary release and never went back to it. Now I'm too out of shape and/or too old to ever hope to shoot well again. No discipline maybe.

So I took up shootin paper with rings and dots cuz it looked easy.:D

My problem is while trying for tight 5 shot groups I almost invariably throw shot number four or most often shot number 5 out and spoil the group. I have confidence in my rifle and handloads so I think I'm the weak link.

I just came back from the range a few hours ago. Here's what I mean.

5 shot 0.925 with four shot 0.327
0.687 ..................0.444
1.1483 ..................0.321
0.302 ...................0.191

I shot some other nice sub MOA groups with out incident but whenever I have three shots in one hole I start to get nervous. You know, moving the seat in a little closer, watching my breathing, adjusting the rear bag, re-shouldering the rifle because it doesn't feel right. Then I blow the group anyway.:cuss:
I'm still OK with today's results because I know the rifle shoots well. But I still have a pooch lip cuz I know it's my fault.

I wanna know if everyone does this or is it an affliction that's going to drum me out of bench target shooting.

[WinchesterAA]

Focus. Shot number four rolls around, don't take the time to appreciate your work so far. Keep going til it's done. No pressure that way.

I say this because I used to have the same problem with pretty much everything..

"woo, I'm doin well so far, like the way I did that - damnit I missed"

Practice reflexive control of the "sweet spot", pay attention to the stresses in your entire body prior to the perfect shot, and attempt to reproduce exactly what you did. I used to suck with pistols entirely, but when I got ahold of some MIM airsoft guns I realized what my problem is.. I'm lazy, and my mind tends to wander. Yesterday I got to practice with my 1911 and maintained 8 shot quarter sized groups at 10 yards which is UNHEARD OF for me with ANY FIREARM EVER. I've always been great at nailing the first shot, but the quality drops dramatical with every press of the trigger because I continuously lose focus of what I'm doing in favor of what I've already done. It wasn't til I noticed in slow, maintained fire that I really do get lazy while shooting..

[gunnerh]

+1 Lack of focus is the cause of most misses on follow up shots. I only load 2 rounds in my shotgun when I bird hunt. I seems to focus very well on my first 2 shots but I miss horrible on the third.
It is the same with rif le and pistol focus and follow thru are what put rounds in nearly the same place every time.

[Shawnee]

Same phenomena applies in Golf. Just ask Duval. Monty and Lefty.

:cool:

[DUCKNDAWG]

so I'm not the only one. that is good to know

[benatilstate]

heres a club i can join! two touching/same hole....okay, ive got it this time....breath, relax, aim, sqeeze....felt good.....crap! i guess if it was easy it wouldnt be any fun and there would be no reason to keep practicing...

[rangerruck]

it deff happens, it is a brain effect, which has to do with pressure- real or imagined, and it can be measured. Funny thing is, Tom Brady has had his measured and has excellent response to pressure. In other words it would be a test something akin to this; you normally recite the abc's, now you recite them with a ar shooting over your head , and two guys standing on either side of you , juggling and throwing past you, sabers. Some people get almost no response to this, and happily go on reciting the abc's. Some continue to recite the abc's, and seem normal, but their brain and heart reactions are like a trip hammer.
lastly , some people can barely continue to recite at all; they start actually getting dumber - if you will- because a lot of their brain activity is now being utilized in a perceived fight or flight/stress response, and has moved away from their higher capacity/capability centers.
i did the same thing at the range once, and nearly had a heart attack doing it;
look at these groups I was shooting at 100 yds with a cz, the biggest group i dared was the 4 shot;
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/e82c12fd.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/53557d05.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/czpics002.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/czpics031.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/czpics015.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/pmullineaux/czpics016.jpg

I literally had to take about a 5 minute rest after this; just to calm down.

[WinchesterAA]

that's impressive =)

[HOLY DIVER]

i sometimes have this problem.....i've found the less caffine and nicotine helps
so i only drink water before a trip to the range and i also "try"not to chew tobacco....lol
one thing that is funny if your having fun this problem normaly does not show up.....get ticked off.....and go all to pieces

[Sylvan-Forge]

whenever I have three shots in one hole I start to get nervous. You know, moving the seat in a little closer, watching my breathing, adjusting the rear bag, re-shouldering the rifle because

Try and figure out a way to NOT look at your results during a string.
Oh, and don't think, shoot.

get ticked off.....and go all to pieces
Indeed!


Good shootin' :)

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

I find that if I stop for any amount of time to check out my group before I complete it, the next shot I fire will always come away from the group.

Most of it is concentration and focus with a bit of confidence.

I would always load up my internal mag and fire that way, then when I had some help they had me put one round in after I fired and it helped me by getting a rhythm. Slow and steady, then after firing my shots I would check them, and I would have a heck of a grouping.

Remember always keep your cheek weld also.

[tjj]

i sometimes have this problem.....i've found the less caffine and nicotine helps
so i only drink water before a trip to the range and i also "try"not to chew tobacco....lol
one thing that is funny if your having fun this problem normaly does not show up.....get ticked off.....and go all to pieces


Maybe that's part of the problem. One mug of coffee at the house. Then straight to Waffle House for breakfast and another cup and a half. After a good meal ya gotta take a plug of Redman Golden Blend. The plug affects my cheek weld so I do at least shuffle it to my "off side" cheek.:p

I guess I could try it a few times and see if it makes a difference but hard to imagine how bad I'll shoot half asleep and shaky nerves with no nicotine.:(

[Walkalong]

My problem is while trying for tight 5 shot groups I almost invariably throw shot number four or most often shot number 5 out and spoil the group. I have confidence in my rifle and handloads so I think I'm the weak link.
Pretty normal. The first three are always easy, then the pressure starts. Wait untill you have 4 in a bug hole, then it can sure is hard to pull the trigger again, especially in a match. :)