Rangemaster wouldn't let me bring my target home tonight!

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I shoot some rimfire Bullseye in a late fall league. League hasn't started yet, but many of us have been practicing for a couple months. I've had some ups and downs, and tonight was definately a high. First slow fire... A '94'. One hand, reddot sight, non-stock Ruger MKII. (trigger and spring job) That's actually my score goal. I want to average '94' for slow fire, timed and rapid fire. That's better than a score of 560 for a 600 series. I'd be happy with that in this stage of my competitive shooting. So... My next slow fire- I shot my first '99'. Witnessed, scored, signed, and stapled to the bulliten board.

Unfortunately, through the rest of the session, I couldn't do any better than my 550 average. A couple of 95's during timed/rapid fire. Which is OK, but certainly not equal to my best target ever. Now that I've proven that I can shoot that well, nothing will compare until I do better. I even whipped out the Kimber and could only muster an '89' slow fire with the .45.

This sort of challenge is stressful!

-Steve

 

[Double Naught Spy]

What are you talking about?????

What rangemaster would not let you take your target home and why?

What do having your target mean relative to all this other stuff you mentioned?

What is the importance of you having this target?

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

No, no, don't take it wrong. It's actually a good thing. Sarcasm. The bulliten board is where we put our best targets. Bragging rights. If someone scores better, then well, they get to bump you off. We don't have any real pro's at our range, except some pin shooters and an ex Canadian Olympic team member. I suspect my target will hang proudly for quite a while. With some luck, maybe I'll be the one to bump it off the wall.

Our indoor range masters, husband/wife, are two of the nicest people I've ever met. (actually, they just run the Bullseye league)

There's no real importance of having my target, but I've got a couple posted in my gun room. Some of my better scores. A reminder, that if I've had a -not particularly good shoot one night, that when I'm returning my arms to the safe, I can notice a couple on the wall, proving that I can do better. -Because I've done it. So there's always next time.

Still, it's a little different 'telling the wife and my young boys' my new accomplishment, than actually being able to show them. Guess I'll have to take the boys to the pistol range.

-Steve

 

[bdutton]

(snip)So... My next slow fire- I shot my first '99'. Witnessed, scored, signed, and stapled to the bulliten board.

Unfortunately, through the rest of the session, I couldn't do any better than my 550 average. A couple of 95's during timed/rapid fire. Which is OK, but certainly not equal to my best target ever. Now that I've proven that I can shoot that well, nothing will compare until I do better. I even whipped out the Kimber and could only muster an '89' slow fire with the .45.

This sort of challenge is stressful!

-Steve

well done. Feels good doesn't it. Of course, when shooting for score it's a lot harder but now you know you can do it.

The problem with shooting such a good score on your first two targets is you've got that 'I am going to beat my high score of 560!' or 'All I need to do is average 95 on the rest and I'll beat my high score! going through your head.

You might as well put a blind fold on and shoot left handed with that going through your mind.

The best target I ever shot is the target I did not scope nor made a mental calculation of the score as I was shooting. You focus on the fundamentals and shooting the next shot, (not the last shot) and you will see results beyond your current (and quite good) accomplishments.

On a personal note, I have been struggling with slowfire. The past two matches I have started my first target with a 6. Both times I recovered shooting a 91 and a 90. This past weekend I followed up with a 97 on my next slowfire. Not bad. I was able to put the bad shot behind me and focus on the next shot.

The week before I had a very good SF (94) and followed up with a 100-7x timed fire. But I was so excited about breaking 290 and telling myself that all I need to do is not drop more than 4 points and I would be golden! What did I do? Drop 5 points on my first 5 shots of Rapid! So there is an example of what NOT to do. (A lesson I need to take to heart myself).

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

"The problem with shooting such a good score on your first two targets is you've got that 'I am going to beat my high score of 560!' or 'All I need to do is average 95 on the rest and I'll beat my high score! going through your head.

You might as well put a blind fold on and shoot left handed with that going through your mind.

The best target I ever shot is the target I did not scope nor made a mental calculation of the score as I was shooting."

Yes, I did have that going through my head! :banghead:

Just recently, I've not been setting up a spotting scope while shooting. My slow fire scores are a bit better for it. I've had some equipment problems lately, (attributable to modifications), but I've got those all worked out now. For quite a while, I wasn't trusting the red dot or it's fixture. Locktite fixes the rail screws, and I've come to trust the dot sight. That's where my timed and rapid fire scores have gone down. I shoot better with open sights.

But yes, after the '99', the rest of the evening was just sub-par. I wasn't happy with anything I shot. I should have just packed up after the good target and headed home early. But, I was there for practice. And got learnt, I did.

-Steve

 

[bdutton]

Usually I just scope the first 2 and then once every few shots just to make sure the shot went where I thought it did.

 

[richardschennberg]

You have to shoot 100! Seriously, after the adjacent shooter scores your target, you have to cover the repair center anyway. If you want to save a memorable target, just take the previous repair center off. In case you score 99 or 100 on your first target, staple on a repair center before you begin the match, so that you only have to remove the center.
Richard
Schennberg.com

 

[P-32]

I've found when the numbered targets are put up my scores always go down. :banghead:

 

[richardschennberg]

There could be a problem with trying too hard. My best string of five shots was while I was talking to a potential new NRA Bullseye shooter during an indoor practice sesson. I got up to the line just in time to load, grip the handgun, and verify the red dot still on, without having to raise my hand and shout "NOT READY." I was checking the dot during the "READY ON THE RIGHT" command and raised the gun for rapid fire. At the "FIRE" command I emptied five shots into the X ring, none touching the edge of the X ring. So my gun, and hand-eye coordination must be good enough to shoot all Xs in sustained fire, but I usually did not have the right combination of relaxation and concentration to shoot to my potential.

My worst shot ever, I really tried too hard. I had 9 shots of slowfire where a mere 6 or 7 on my tenth shot would have probably put me on the road to another 10 Hardball Distinguished Point. Instead, with just about the entire line watching, I flinched and shot the freshly painted target frame, which rang out a loud "DING" as the only sound on the range at that time.

Richard
Schennberg.com

 

[JohnKSa]

I generally check after the first 2-3 shots but then I don't look again except during reloading. Looking too much will definitely hurt your scores.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I think I've got the bugs worked out of my equipment...

I'd lightened things up so much in trigger department that after a few hundred rounds, the trigger spring wouldn't raise the transfer bar high enough to engage the sear. So, instead of the Trapper trigger spring, I've installed a stock spring with one coil cut off. Makes for more reliable function with still a crisp release. I've worked on my Mark II's so much now, Volquartsen and Clark triggers. Trapper spring kits. Volquartsen hammer, Hogue grips. My own polish on anything that moves. Drilled/tapped/installed trigger pre-travel set screw. Extended bolt release. Clark extended magazine release.

But recently the screws for the rail for the RedDot kept coming loose. Locktight for that now.

Shot this weekend. 558 is almost the goal for my average score but I'm happy with that for now. I want to be in the 60's. But to follow up my 99 of a couple weeks ago, (I didn't shoot last week), I shot three 93's and one 94 slow fire yesterday. And I called the 7's and 8's before looking in the spotting scope. (Yes, this time I set a scope up.)

So, my question is... (and I know out of the box, a Mark II trigger doesn't compare with the Buckmark, or maybe even the S&W..) But, those of you that shoot rimfire Bullseye, Is your competition pistol modified in any way? (other than stocks/grips) (Hammerli's and other foriegn target specific pistols excluded- No modifications required. If you need to modify one of them, your scores must be well above mine. )

-Steve

 

[rick_reno]

I usually stick my good targets in my gun box. It's a nice reminder of what can happen when everyting works. Do you shoot in the Inland Empire league?

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the Inland Empire League..

Just a league at our local range. NRA rules. We shoot against two teams from a range at a city not far away. Men, Women, One hand, Two hand, and a nice thing to see, Juniors. As my boys become teenagers, I'm sure they'll compete too. Actually, many of the competitors shoot various events at both ranges. The trophy/cup base must have 30 years of notoriety between the two clubs. Last year our team won it back. And we intend to keep it this year. Last year I took most improved shooter honors. (There is a handicap round) I doubt that'll be a possibility this year. I've reached a plateau, ready for the next step, improved my firearms since first starting, now it's up to me to get better. As was posted in another thread, It's time for me to get the mental part working. I'm calling my shots, and noting my mistakes. I've had one terrific slow fire, proving that I can get better. Now it's time to work on the consistency.

-Steve