Hobby versus proficiency. Is there a conflict?

[David E]

At what level will it make a difference if as you say. a poor shooter will be a poor shooter no matter what is in his hand, while the Grandmaster......

Remember, every Grandmaster was once a poor shooter!

A poor shooter who wants to improve his pistol skills quickly would best do that by sticking to one gun, not divide his shooting time between 2 dozen different ones.

 

[mavracer]

A poor shooter who wants to improve his pistol skills quickly would best do that by sticking to one gun, not divide his shooting time between 2 dozen different ones.

Still doesn't answer the question, at what point is it OK with you for me to pick up a second platform?

 

[David E]

at what point is it OK for me to pick up a second platform?

You're really asking: what skill level should be reached before changing platforms?

To which I'd ask again, what is your goal?

Is it to become as highly skilled as you can with a given platform, or is it to reach a skill level that's "adequate" before moving on?

Since I presume you shoot IDPA from your posts, I'd say make "Master" on demand on their Classifier for the former goal, and make "Sharpshooter" for the latter goal.

 

[mavracer]

Since I presume you shoot IDPA from your posts, I'd say make "Master" on demand on their Classifier for the former goal, and make "Sharpshooter" for the latter goal.

So you feel that sharpshooter is required to just be adequate, so we need to be sharpshooter before we are capable of using a gun for SD and can start carrying?

 

[Sam1911]

So you feel that sharpshooter is required to just be adequate, so we need to be sharpshooter before we are capable of using a gun for SD and can start carrying?

You're sounding awfully defensive. YOU asked his opinion.

Do you need to be classified a sharpshooter in IDPA before you are capable of defending yourself? I don't know. I can't tell under what circumstances you will need to defend yourself. None of us can. Our skills -- and even the presence of the gun -- may be way 'overkill' for the timid, uncommitted miscreant who threatens us. Or, we may be set upon on the way home from being handed a "Division Champion" trophy and be unable to prevail against the threat that arises that day, though our skills are in peak form.

All we can try to be is the very best we can.

Only YOU can decide if you need to obtain a certain ranking, or if you need to obsess about training with one specific weapon, or if you need to practice at all! And when you've decided, you may still be wrong.

Do what you can. Do what you believe you can live with.

I'd say setting some goal before changing platforms is perfectly reasonable, though no guarantee of any future success. Picking a low-level classification like "Sharpshooter" is a reasonable level of competence (maybe even proficiency) and if you feel the need to spread out a little at that point, you're still likely far enough down the learning curve that the general skills you're developing will indeed help you across multiple platforms.

 

[David E]

So you feel that sharpshooter is required to just be adequate,

Why do you ask a question when you know you don't want an answer?

so we need to be sharpshooter before we are capable of using a gun for SD and can start carrying?

Then challenge things I never said?

Mav, you have my permission to set the bar as high, or as low, as you wish.

 

[mavracer]

You're sounding awfully defensive. YOU asked his opinion.

According to somebody I've never met and who's never seen me shoot I'm not good enough to get defensive.
For the record I just don't like the condescending tone.

Mav, you have my permission to set the bar as high, or as low, as you wish.

That's the problem, I really didn't think I needed your permission.

 

[Sam1911]

That's the problem, I really didn't think I needed your permission.

And obviously, neither did HE! But, again, you're the one asking what he thinks you should do.

If you don't care what he thinks, don't ask.

If you're looking for insights from someone who might have more experience and understanding than you, that's great, but don't be bitter about the answers he gives.

As far as a condescending tone goes, there is a lot of difficulty in making an honest assessment and not hurting the feelings of anyone who might end up on the "wrong" side of that judgment.

Can you defend yourself? Very probably yes. Possibly, no, not well enough. The same might be said of any of us. Practice the best you can, as often as you can, and seek advice when you're able (if you can stand to receive it).

When can you carry? Legally, probably as soon as you have a permit and a gun. Practically? As soon as you know enough to be safe with that gun under all conditions and will not be a danger to others.

 

[gym]

If it has a bullet that comes out the front end I feel confident after 50 years of shooting that I can somehow figure out how to hit the target with any handgun I am likelly to incur. Unless it's on a battleship. It ain't rocket science, although I worked at a defense contractor, anyone here who is a profficient shooter/hobbiest can figure out how to shoot any gun that you are likelly to run into.

 

[David E]

For the record I just don't like the condescending tone.

No condescension meant. I tend not to sugar-coat, tho, which seems to grate some folks.

That's the problem, I really didn't think I needed your permission.

Why the uncertainty? Clearly you do NOT need my permission for anything. But you specifically asked for it in Post #102:

Still doesn't answer the question, at what point is it OK with you for me to pick up a second platform?

If you ever make it to Oklahoma, let's go shoot together. I'm sure we'd both have fun and even enjoy each others company.

 

[mavracer]

Why the uncertainty? Clearly you do NOT need my permission for anything. But you specifically asked for it in Post #102:

No uncertainty. Just still trying to figure out what I said wrong in my first post.
Where I basicly said I was comfortable with anything where the sights were on top and the trigger was on bottom. And you felt the need to correct me.
For the record I've only shot the qualifier a couple times and it's been a while when I did I scored expert in ESP and CDP. I still shoot a club match every month or two but I usually ignore some of the rules, like I make mag changes like I would in the real world, which tends to rack up the procedurals.
I've also come to the realization after 25 years in a factory I'm reaching an age where maybe I should start to just maintain my abilities as long as I can.

 

[CraigC]

Who is saying that they are not trying to get better with limited time?
BTW does this mean your getting rid of all your SAs since training for SD obviously would take a president over the mindless fun provided by them?

Why are you getting so defensive??? You have people here trying to help you understand what you have to do to get better and this is how you react? Contrary to what you seem to think, we're not trying to impose superiority. We're trying to help you.

No, I'm not getting rid of my SA's and no, SD training does not take precedence over anything else. And no again, I don't consider shooting SA's to be mindless fun. Quite the contrary, it was single action shooting that I was referring to but I did not mention that because the chosen platform is really irrelevant.

 

[mavracer]

Contrary to what you seem to think, we're not trying to impose superiority. We're trying to help you.

That's a good one. I understand I'm not the best shot in the world, but how do you intend to help me when you have no idea of my capabilities? Are you not assuming superior knowledge?

 

[Sam1911]

Oh good grief. Let's just stop.