My Goal

[teetertotter]

Going into this year my goal was to reach AA with practice at the range which is only 10 minutes drive. Sounded pretty simple and still ended up at our once a week matches with no practice in between. I shot one 20 six weeks ago and then at state 2 weeks later it was 17 and 18 respectfully. I made a goof at state on the pigs when on the first bank, I was shooting high on the first 4. I looked at my elevation and was set for TURKEYS. For the next 3 Thursdays, I could not make 20+ before season ended. Probably because I was thinking about 20+ all the time and should have known better with wrong mental attitude. Well, I almost met my goal and will make AA next year! I did meet one goal and got my first 5 in a row and then couple weeks later got my second 5 in a row late in the season. I love this sport! Winter indoor paper practice paper starts January and my goal is to start practicing middle of November when we get back from southern trip to AL and GA.

[CZforlife]

You'll reach your goal, just try not to think about it when your shooting. Prior to me go to Ridgeway my all time high in a match was 23 in a match and I shot a 25 in practice. While up there I must of got so caught up in talking to and meeting new people that I shattered my personal best with a 29! Haven't beat it since but shot a 26 today and was tickled to death since it was a lil more than a month and a half since my shoulder surgery! Couldnt shoot silhouette at ALL for about 4-5weeks and have shot very little since. Guess the whole motto of the story is to just try real hard in practice but when you get in a match just kinda have a care free attitude, it helps me quite a bit, give it a try!

Best of luck with reaching your goal!

[teetertotter]

Yes, CZ..., I need to remind myself with the carefree attitude and just relax every time I go to the range. Congrats on the 29! My same 20+goal will be on paper which should improve my discipline spot shooting and not follow the dot. 29 sure is good! I framed my recent 20 and dated it and have my first 15 and 17 from 2010 framed too. Just moving on with goals in mind, but with clear and unmuddled mind at the range. All things are possible???

[Daddio!]

Hi Teetertotter!

I hope your doing well. Sorry, you didn't meet your goal of making AA this year. I think you already know that making AA was my goal too and I didn't make it either. So I know how you feel. I just didn't get to shoot silhouette as much as I hoped this summer and this is a sport where you gotta keep putting lead down range and have the right mindset to keep improving. I actually did improve my scores this year compared to last year so I'm happy. I had a great time at the matches that I was able to attend and (at least to me) that's what matters most. I'll look forward to making the drive up to shoot with you guys more often next year. Silhouette's over at Sycamore (unfortunately only 4 matches per season) but we have a rimfire sporter 3P match next weekend and then it's on to indoor 4P for the winter.

According to the Cubs...there's always next year!

Take care,

Pat

[CZforlife]

Ya. Just shoot the match and have fun. Practice hard, dry firer, try to just take like 25solid shots in practice for a change, learned that from someone on here, and I've even gone to the extent of holding my rifle and looking at myself in the mirror to see how my hold looks and try to remember what every one mentions as far as pointers goes. Front elbow on side and don't flare out your back elbow are two things that helped me out a little. Just fool around with different stuff. I even imagine the dot in my scope on a turkey or chicken at night when I can't sleep lol I know I'm crazy.

[Daddio!]

...I even imagine the dot in my scope on a turkey or chicken at night when I can't sleep lol I know I'm crazy.

There are times when I can't sleep at night due to work stress etc and I do the same thing. I find it usually gets my mind off the bad stuff and onto something I enjoy. There are other thoughts that work too, but since this is a family show, I won't go into that.

[Dee]

I even imagine the dot in my scope on a turkey or chicken at night when I can't sleep lol I know I'm crazy.

I do this as well but usually while I am driving to a match or taking a break at work. My destop image is of all the animals on a rail so I can visualize the call and where I intend to break the shot. Works great I have yet to miss one yet and it was gusting 20-30 mph the other day too

Practicing on paper will help you a lot to isolate inconsistencies in your shooting. I was hoping to make Master in Hunter rifle this year but not looking to likely as I seem to be plateaued out at 31 right now. Unless of course it is the Standard match then I can shoot a 32 on occasions I know it is just a matter of me doing the same thing I have been doing since starting out in A and AA Hunter by 1 shot classifying. Practice and try to work on one little aspect that I can incorporate into my game that will give me another couple of points till I plateau again for a higher average and then move on to the next thing to try and get those couple more points. Working ok so far as I am knocking on the Master Door in Smallbore and only need a couple more Master scores in the Airguns.

You just have to put the time in and you will (should) get better. I plan on shooting 40-50 lives airgun shots a night along with 40-50 dry fires of the HP rifle I will be using in Zwolle. Do that every night for the next two weeks and see how I do. Overall I try to shoot at least 40-50 shots a day with whatever rifle SB or Air Rifle and mix in some dry firing which I need to do more of. Just hard to force yourself to be disciplined to dry fire when you have a nice selection of airguns to shoot for practice. None of them has the same style stock and 2 lb trigger though so that is where the difference really lies between them.

Keep on chugging along and always look for ways to improve and don't try to many new things at one time. Take one as it comes and see how it works for you. Once you start to beat the Master Class guys now and then you know you are actually getting better


Dee