Steroid 15 match#7 Results

[Truman]

A good fun shooting weekend by all! This is the last of the weekend shoot!,As of Big-Bills suggestion, the Steroid15 will now run for a week (7 days) Sunday midnight to Sunday midnight! Thanks everybody for taking part!

[gamo2hammerli]

Good job tallying the scores Truman.  I like the font size you gave yourself  ha ha.  You had such an excellent outcome with the "General Open Rifle" match....and such a downer with the "Steriod 15".  I think you can only go up from here on.......

[Truman]

I wouldn't bet on it Stan! I think there's some kind of mind game going on with the Steroid 15! The big Gamo targets I can hit near the center but put a few together like the '15' and I go to pot! I'm not going to give up on it! I will get a good score one day if it kills me, something over 50 would be a starting point!

[CaptGeorge]

Truman,

Just keep shooting the steroid in practice this week. You'll find the Gamo targets look REALLY BIG later.  The smaller targets force you to really focus on finding "your" technique - breathing, stance, focus, trigger, etc.  Shooting off-hand is more like playing golf.  You have to learn the "muscle memory" to RELAX and get IN THE ZONE.

I used to shoot local competition about 30 years ago - power burners. I'm struggling, too, with air rifles - it requires much more effort to shoot an air rifle (especially a springer) off-hand.

Just keep practicing, and you'll get there!

George

[Truman]

Thanks for the vote of confidence George! I was bad at golf too, but enjoyed it, especially the 19th!!

[gamo2hammerli]

I know what you mean Truman.....with all the little targets, they disturb the concentration....and the gun tend to sway all over the place.   HAVE TO FOCUS, HAVE TO FOCUS AND BREATH.....I keep telling myself.

[CaptGeorge]

Just thought about it some more...

1) You may find that your POI will change between bench and off-hand.  So, shoot about 10 shoots off-hand and adjust accordingly. As your technique gets better, recheck your off-hand POI.  It will change.

2) In my experience, the BEST shooters tend to hold dead center while trying to maintain as small a movement as possible while "squeezing" the trigger.  However, other techniques work well too. Some shooters do better by slowly raising or lowering the rifle (REAL SLOW) while squeezing the trigger.  It takes a little practice to get the timing right, but it does work. I've also heard of "figure eight" patterns being used.

Of course, all my information is based on 30 years ago, but I thought these might help. Maybe the top shooters might help us out. How about Bill, Bill, or Jeff.  Care to share your techniques?

George

[bcshooter]

Thanks Truman for being one of the officials for the Steroid 15 Match #7.....like your font size......I used Gamo Match for my pellet .177cal .....Bill

[JQR]

Shooting tips... well, to be honest I'm not sure anyone wants to study my approach. I don't exactly have your typical target rifle.  AND I had a health issue over the winter and wasn't allowed to do much but I could shoot.  I fired 15,000+ pellets over a ten week period. That's with my pistol at 5 and 10m, and my rifle at 10m and 20yd. All indoor in my basement.

I changed my grip and stance more than once until I found a position I could stand in comfortably and REPEATEDLY. Same with my grip. Anything that changes pressures exerted on the gun and/or how you move as and when it's fired will affect POI. Learning a consistent stance and grip made all the difference.

When I shoot a target I plant my feet and don't move for the duration. I use a pellet pouch to hang in my jeans pocket so I don't have to twist around too much to get the pellet. I shoot right handed which means most of the weight (when holding the rifle on target) is on my left arm - so I taught myself to load the rifle left handed..... Between shoots the rifle is resting on my right arm... Gives my left arm a short rest.  I wobble!! My shots are all about timing, usually as I slowly raise the sights across the target. I'm sure a competive shooter would laugh.

[Truman]

I'll give anything a whirl at the moment! I think it down to having a very light gun and the copious amounts of coffee I drink! I'm going to try and add a bit of weight up front to slow everything down a bit! Hopefully I will have my Gamo Maxima ready for this weeks shoot! It doesn't move quite as much!

[CaptGeorge]

Laugh?  Not likely! I've known many competitive shooters with similar styles. It's all about finding what works for you. I'm still working on finding my "airgun" style - but I'll get there eventually.  Right now, my "sporter" shoots better than I do.

BTW - If you look at some OLD films of off-hand "crack" rifle shooters, you'll find most of them used a unsupported left arm, tight right shoulder, and leaned heavy into the shot. Of course, they were shooting powder burners, but they were GOOD! Most competitive shooters might scoff at their styles today, but I doubt if many could have "out-shot" them using the firearms of the period.

[ac12basis]

For those interested in shooting stance/positions here is a link to some competition photos.
http://www.pilkguns.com/menu_photo.shtml

The rifle categories are precision and sportster.  The 2 major differences between the 2 are the rifle and the shooting outfit.  
Most of you guys are shooting the equivalent of a sportster rifle.  But also look at the precision shooters for technique and ideas.

As was mentioned, there is no BEST technique.  What is best is what works best for YOU.  
Sometimes the technique matches your style of shooting, sometimes you have to be taught a technique.  
Me, I had to be taught the proper technique, as I could not shoot worth beans when I first started shooting 10m.  The only thing I will say about my early shooting is, I was able to keep all 10 shots on the target paper, and it looked like a shotgun pattern.


CaptGeorge
I would say that you still have to lean into the shot if you are shooting a .30-06 or .308/7.62NATO to handle the recoil.  .22LR and air have comparatively no recoil so the stance can be different.  
You implied another point.  The stance is affected by the rifles design.  
- The stock design of a sportster, service and early match rifles are similar, with shallow forestocks.  The later match rifles have a deep forestock, level with the bottom of the trigger guard, gets your support hand lower, which is better for shooting off-hand.
- The pistol grip area of sportsters, early service (M-14 and earlier) and early match rifles is close to horizontal, so your shooting arm is high and away from the body.  Later service rifles (M-16/AR-15) and match rifles which are closer to upright, so your shooting arm can be tucked against the body.
So the rifles design has evolved allowing the stance to evolve.

[CaptGeorge]

Why don't you join our informal matches and share your insights?  I'm sure we will all benefit.  After all, the whole idea is for all of us to learn to shoot better.  I most certainly agree with changes in match rifles.  Wow!  Today's are a lot different than when I was shooting.

[Big_Bill]

Well, since you asked,

It is important to find your natural body position, so that when you bring your rifle to bear, it will be centeredon your target, Ifit is centered to your target naturally, you won't be pushing or pulling your rifle, to get it on target. A good solid pair of boots or shoes also helps keep your body stable !

Being a stable as possible, with your body weight and rifle in position over your feet and balanced, is very important.

Your body is held up by your skeleton, so keeping your body erect, and locked into position is important. Keeping your body joints, locked, or as firmly controlledas you can, also prevents wobble and drifting.

Now take several breaths, 4 or 5, bring your rifle to bear, hopefully your sights will be above your target. Then exhale slowly, as your sightslower to the target center,begin to squeeze the trigger. And with some practice, you will learn when to squeeze by where your shot strikes. Practice and consistency is important. Other methods also work well with practice !

Good breathing between firing, helps relax you and, gives your body enough oxygen to continue. Do Not Rush !

So address your target, locate your natural body center to the target.

Take several deep breaths

Bring your rifle to bear

Slowly exhale, squeeze your trigger as your sights are cominginto alignment tothe target

If for any reason you fail to get your shot off, do not force it. Put your rifle down, and start again

BANG !

Start all over again !

Now that is how I used to shoot, and as I try to shoot now !

I hope that some or all of this help each of you !

Bill

[CaptGeorge]

Big Bill,

Thanks!  Good stuff!