Pre-shooting rituals

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jpatterson

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What, if anything, do you do every time before you shoot handguns for target/competition/etc? Dry fire, mantra?

I need some ideas of things to do mentally before I take each shot. Had a disheartening day at the range this afternoon :barf:
 
Not much...just a deep cleansing breath.

jpatterson
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Pre-shooting rituals
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Not exactly like you mean, I don't think.

I pretty much always limber up by shooting a few cylinders out of my .22 Ruger Bearcat before I shoot anything of a substantial caliber.

I've been shooting a lot of blackpowder revolvers lately. Before I load them for the first go-round, I always snap a percussion cap on the empty chambers to clear any oil residue.

That's about it.
 
I slaughter a chicken at the full moon, and dance naked till dawn. Of course, that means I sleep late and miss registration, sooo....

When I was shooting bullseye and airpistol, every shot had a check list. If I was working on something specific I'd use it as a mantra for example, "front sight, front site," which evolved to "daylight daylight" when I went from a 6 o'clock hold to a sub six.
 
A little

internal "come home to Jesus" thought about the seriousness of the consequences of carelessness.
Hope it always works.
 
My pre-shot mantra goes like this:

"Load and Make Ready."
"Shooter ready?"
...nod...
"Standby!"
"BEEEEP!"


:)

Really, aside from the usual range banter with my fellow shooters, double-checking mags or speed-loaders, and maybe a quick (and utterly pointless) attempt to run through the shot cadence I expect to follow (or that I'm about to have WISHED that I'd have followed! ;)) on the stage, that's about it.

All the prep and dry-firing I needed had better have already happened. When I'm on the line, I've only got the mental capacity to try to remember the course of fire instructions.
 
I need some ideas of things to do mentally before I take each shot.
Click to expand...

This will sound stupid, but I remind myself to keep my eyes open and "watch", maybe "will" the bullet to the target. It's as if the bullet is a basketball, and the bullseye is the "hoop".

Yeah, I know. Goofy. But it seems to improve my accuracy.

Les
 
Load gun, shoot at target.
No extra crap, and have yet to miss my target. Except for one time, when I tried shooting a bowling pin at 50 yds with a compact .40. Came pretty close though.
 
I close my eyes and visualize my perfectly aligned sights centered on the target...I'm turning on my subconscious to recognize the sights on the target to cue my trigger press
 
Train so you don't need any superstitious rituals one day. For if you don't, you may someday have to ask the bad guy not to shoot, but to wait until you do the funky chicken and follow through your whole ritual before shooting.

Nawwww . . . learn to JUST DO IT. Doing so will inspire confidence . . . for skill is what is needed. Lacking skill . . . so hope for dumb luck. NOT ACCEPTABLE in matches OR when your life is on the line!!!
 
Before a competition for accuracy, I usually recall all basics. Stance, sight alignement, hand and trigger finger position, trigger pull, and follow through. I try to be calm and breathe slowly. And no coffee before the match:)!

Even after about three decades of competition, I do that, and probably more so than in my younger years. It helps to make up for diminishing eyesight.
 
If it's a range day, and I'm wanting to get the most out of shooting 50, 75, maybe 100 rounds out of a handgun, I find investing a bit of time on the rifle line first gets me into that "groove" best.

For whatever reason, I know I slow down a bit; I seem to pay attention to what I'm doing more, which helps correct the less-good and reinforce the more-good.

I can step straight to the line and shoot handguns, but, I have found that I ramp up to operational more, the focus, the muscle memory is all there. Just not a lot of 'stamina' for lack of a better term. It's less good for my skills, too. Rather than "fix" errors, I adjust for them. Knowing this means I also know I can give myself a more "stressful" day, too, if that seems apt.

Reverse seems to be true in going to the long-arm line.

But, that's me; others differ.
 
I wasn't talking about praying to the Norse gods and drinking chicken blood before each shot.
Thanks for the constructive posts.
 
Front sight and trigger squeeze. That's about it.

As for what you do at home that morning, while driving, etc, don't stress about it. It's only shooting, whether at a big match or a small fun match, it's all the same. You've done it a zillion times before and will do it again. And remember it's supposed to be FUN.

Now, I primarily compete in Highpower RIFLE. I figured out I have fired in 22 seperate rifle matches this year, between the local ranges, the Vermont State Championships and CMP Week at Camp Perry. Once you've done it enough, a lot of the anxiety goes away. When you reach the point you can doze off under a shade tree somewhere in the middle of a match when you're not on the line, you're there! ;)

Oh, and some of the best advice I've ever heard was when it's time to start shooting for points, leave your brain behind and don't let it screw you up. Overthinking will have you holding up on shots and throwing bad ones real quick. Let your subconcious work. "Front sight, breath, squeeze, repeat"
 
This will sound stupid, but I remind myself to keep my eyes open and "watch", maybe "will" the bullet to the target.
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound stupid to me. I concentrate on follow through by reminding myself to watch for the flash.

Kinda hard not to blink when your bottom feeder seems to eject brass at the perfect angle for a bank shot off the barrier into my forehead...:fire:
 
Load up range bag, carry bag to car, drive to range, hang targets, load gun, shoot targets, load and repeat.

That is all.

:)
 
When I was shooting bullseye and airpistol, every shot had a check list. If I was working on something specific I'd use it as a mantra for example, "front sight, front site,"
Click to expand...

I close my eyes and visualize my perfectly aligned sights centered on the target...I'm turning on my subconscious to recognize the sights on the target to cue my trigger press
Click to expand...

When shooting groups or my 10 meter air pistol for score, I do the above. Visualization of a good and stable sight picture, in particular, is huge.

During matches (IDPA, ICORE or USPSA), I visualize the CoF - how I'll move through it, how & when I'll reload, and at each target, seeing it, and a precise POA in the center of the Down Zero. Then I step to the line, and it's...

"Load and Make Ready."
"Shooter ready?"
...nod...
"Standby!"
"BEEEEP!"
Click to expand...
 
During matches (IDPA, ICORE or USPSA), I visualize the CoF - how I'll move through it, how & when I'll reload, and at each target, seeing it, and a precise POA in the center of the Down Zero. Then I step to the line, and it's...
Click to expand...

Yup! Exactly. That's what I meant by, all those things I'm about to wish that I had done! :D
 
I mostly practice defensive shooting, and I refuse to even make any time or room for rituals. I do plan on how and what to practice (shot sequences and drills and such), but the moment the slide is racked, I acquire a flash sight picture on the target and fire. And every so often I set my alarm to wake me up in middle of the night to practice waking up and shaking off sleep quickly, as well as retrieving my pistol and flashlight in the dark.

If I only did target shooting for fun or competition, then I suppose that I might allow for things like mental warm-ups and visualization, but in my opinion it's not good for anybody who ever expects to use their gun defensively to depend on having to do it right before shooting.
 
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Assuming its not the CCW on my hip and it's unloaded.

-See target
-pick up empty gun and aim, exhale during aim (thanks banjo)
-load mag in my "work space" while still looking at target. (builds a muscle memory to keep your head up during reloading)
-rack
-press check
-hammer fist the back of slide to make sure it's in battery after the press check
-holster (or table)

Probally alot more steps than you need. But that's why it's called practice. The key is keeping the pistol up and maintaining your view of your surrondings. Works like a charm, I used to keep my head down too much and couldn't press check anything quickly. Now it's second nature.



complete and total copy from here:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-Dynamics-Dynamic-Handgun-dvd-p/magpul dvd dyn 004.htm
 
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