Getting Better

[TrapperReady]

Just shot a 100-yard reduced 50-round course.

411-3x.

I'm still sticking to the roughly 10 point improvement per match. Another 8 or 9 matches and I should be doing OK.

Anyway, the worst was still the offhand, but I got a 95 on the rapid prone, which was nice. This is the first match I've shot with zero misses, and in the last two stages, all but one round was in the black.

I've got probably 6 more HP matches left to shoot this year, and a couple of JCG. What do you think would be a good (attainable) goal? I'm thinking 430 would be a good number to shoot for.

Also, I'm shooting with a standard trigger, no float tube and no coat. Any idea (very roughly) what those pieces of equipment might bring with respect to points? Wild guesses are of course welcome.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

if you are shooting over 400 with out all of those items and if its on the regulation targets and not just the same target all the way threw.
you should see big improvements in your score or you may still see a few points here or there more with the equipment you have.

 

[TrapperReady]

It's all the regulation targets, scaled for the 100-yard course.

The first two are on the SR-1, the third is on the SR-21 and the fourth on the SR-31.

My plan is to keep going until I level off, and then add equipment/mods one step at a time. I'll probably start with a trigger job, then get a coat, and then (most likely over the winter) get a John Holliger upper.

 

[Steve Smith]

You are doing GREAT. You may not see a big difference with a tube at 100, but if you go to 300/600 yard matches, you might be a pretty sad individual.

I assume you have a spotting scope now? If not that will make a big difference. Also, if your sling is painful on your arm or hand, a coat and glove will benefit you immediately. Even a few volleyball kneepads under the sling will help a lot.

A better trigger can help a tremendous amount.

If you just fired your first match without a miss and shot a 411, then I think you could easily shoot a 430 on the 100 yard short course with the equipment you have.

Lets work on that x count some...that will bring all your scores higher. Try to pick out where the x is and only shoot for that. 10 ring is too big.

 

[TrapperReady]

Spotting scope. CHECK.
Scope stand. CHECK.
Shooting mat. CHECK.
Glove. CHECK.
Ray-Vin carbide smoker. CHECK.

I don't have a shooting coat yet, but am using an old field jacket. It's hot, and doesn't have any support, but it does provide a little padding, and I seem to shoot better with it than without it. Did I mention that it's hot?

The trigger makes the most sense to me, as that is truly beneficial in all stages. The coat should help with the offhand (admittedly my downfall), and I plan to do the upper all at once (so we can stop having the flattop discussion ).

I don't want to do anything different until I plateau. Then, I can add one piece at a time and try to quantify the changes.

 

[Steve Smith]

A field jacket is much cooler than a shooting coat is, so enjoy it while you can. FWIW I think the coat helps in all stages, if only to squeeze your shoulders a bit and to give some comfort under the sling and under the elbows. A good trigger makes a huge difference.

 

[gixxersixxer]

Make the new trigger your first modification. Then you will see a big difference. Floating and coating might, I say might improve your scores a little. Competitive shooting is mental focus not equipment hocus pocus. First get the muscle memory down and know how to execute a good shot. If you get all these bells and whistles and automatically think that will help drill more ten's your wrong. Set yourself some goals. Right now you said you are improving 10 pts per match. Forget that because once you don't improve 10 pts per match you will let yourself down and try to over analyze what went wrong and how to make it perfect next time. You want to look at development not scores. Once you reach a base score and stay around a few points of it then make an addition to improve the accuracy of the gun.

Great job on keeping all the shots on the paper.

 

[InTheBlack]

I just shot my first match with a properly fitting coat and its a very big improvement. Shot 90% on the 100 yard reduced course. I need the coat to hold my elbow in standing. Your body shape might not require it.

Are you using match grade ammo? Or at least not milsurp?

Unless you have a really crappy trigger, I'd get the coat first.

Next time I'm adding a football elbow pad so the concrete doesn't kill me in prone, and it should also help to keep the sling from slipping. Getting a consistant position in prone is my current goal.