50 rounds once a week or ...

[dwhite]

Am I going to get better results practicing at the range once a week with 50 to 100 rounds or going every 3 to 4 weeks and going through 200-300?

If it's like the gym, I'm better off doing less regularly than cramming it all in once every three weeks.

After 100 rounds I start feeling fatigued. I become more recoil sensitive and my accuracy degrades. The local IDPA I do is only a fifty round event. It's real informal. I'm not looking to win these things regularly, just gain a little more proficiency.

All the Best,
D. White

[Hungry Seagull]

You do regular weekly shoots. Easier than trying to burn off lots of rounds in a hot gun.

We only shoot about 30 total each month. I think for some it's pretty pathetic but it's the best we can do and still have a quality shoot.

I have no trouble ripping off 50 rounds quickly through the handgun at any visit. But after the 6th clip the fatique and accuracy suffers.

[Loyalist Dave]

You train for speed and skill in some martial arts schools and styles by going at it slow. Pre-programming so that when you turn on the speed, the muscle movement paths are established. So vary your workouts, and go through the drills slowly, concentrate on perfect form and the best possible accuracy. Not only does fatigue mess with accuracy..., it leads to bad habit that you will have to untrain before you progress once the bad habits are established.

[Hungry Seagull]

Plus it's no fun being too tired to clean the now dirty guns.

Save a little for the day and have it all done and make a good day.

[Sam1911]

I find that I do better keeping things regular and often.

I practice (around 100-150 rds.) once a week and then shoot a (70-120 rd.) match once or twice a month. I can't get as much value out of shooting 3 times as much but only 1/3 or 1/4 as often. I'd spend too much time re-establishing the basics that I'd let slump in the month since I'd last shot.

I think of it as riding a wave. I'd rather stay even and on top, while making slow progress, than run hot and cold, always starting again from cold skills at square one.

Besides, if you're only shooting once a month or so, and you have a lousy practice night or a poor performance at a match, you've got to wait another 30 days to get back up on your horse and ride, so to speak. And how will you learn from the mistakes you made if they're a month old and all you can remember of the experience is the emotional funk you walked out in?

Practice often, and make every practice valuable. Try to learn something new from each shot and each string. If you're distracted or really in a rut, put it away and come back when you're head's in it again and you'll get good value from your ammo expenditure.

Good luck!

-Sam

[rduckwor]

I vote for 50-100 once per week. 200-300 gets to be work and you lose your ability to gainfully practice at higher round counts.

Make sure you get some quality practice in once a week and don't worry about round count. Don't forget about dry firing as well. Be safe/shoot straight.

RMD

[sargenv]

If I can, and now until early June when I go to the IRC, if weather permits it, I will be at the range one or two times a week and likely will burn up 150-200 rounds per session practicing all kinds of things. Draw, transition, plate rack, steel challenge type steel, poppers, weak hand, strong hand, etc. I've about got my new cast bullets dialed in and I shot my first match with my bullets today, and that went very well.

I clean my revolver when it needs it or before big matches. It will shoot dirty, and will shoot well dirty. I'm a firm believer that guns are damaged far more often from cleaning them than they are by shooting and letting them stay in that state.. but then I shoot a stainless steel gun so no fear of the rust monster. I've fired in excess of 2000 rounds between cleanings.. that amounts to in some cases, a month of matches and practice. YMMV.

[David E]

If you're getting fatigued by shot 100, then anything after that is wasting time and ammo.

50 rds a week is better for you.

Still, 100 rds isn't very much for a practice session. What, exactly, are you practicing ?

[dwhite]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like less rounds more frequently is better. Thats what I thought.

DavidE. I'm shooting a 40 S&W.
I'm usually drawing from holster and double tapping the target,dropping the magazine and inserting a fresh one.

I'll pick my weapon up off the bench empty, insert a magazine and then double the target.

Just basics really.

All the Best,
D. White

[RH45]

Work on dry-firing, draws, reloads, and transitions with an empty gun, at home every day and you'll be surprised at how your scores will go up!

[David E]

One thing I'd suggest is picking ONE element to practice that day. For example, next time, work only on your draw. Single and double taps at various distances.

Next time, it might be target transitions, bill-drills, accuracy, strong hand/weak hand, etc.

If you don't have one, buy a shot timer. It will reveal quite a bit to you regarding your skill level and improvement thereof, especially if you keep records.

Oh, and go find an IPSC or even IDPA match to go shoot. It'll be fun and you'll learn more than you would on your own.

www.uspsa.com

www.idpa.com

[Justin]

When you train, have a plan.

Decide what you're going to work on. One week could be draw and fire a double tap, the next could be running a Bill Drill or El Presidente. Another could be drills of double-tap, reload, double tap. Stuff like that.

[Supertac45]

Once a week for 50 to 100 rounds is better.

[Soupy44]

I tell my juniors that if they came to practice (3 hours) and took only a half dozen shots that were all 10s, I would be extremely proud of them. It's very tempting to try to complete what you are doing: finish the ammo you have left, put shots on that last target. But it's more important to make sure that each shot you fire is with 100% effort and purpose. As your round count increases, your effort and discipline will likely decrease.

Obviously I don't want my juniors taking only 8 shots every practice, but it certainly serves a purpose to slow down and see what you can do when you really, truely try your best on a few shots.

[Thomas Garrett]

2-3 times a week. about 50-70 rounds .22, about 30 rounds .38 sp, and to finish it up about 30 rounds .45acp. Thats a typical range session for me. about 2-3 hrs.