I think I'm hooked......

[AddictedToSB]

I shot my first Highpower match this past Sunday and LOVED it. Definitely different than Smallbore. I only managed to get off somewhere around 30-35 shots (partially from trying to deal with wind, mostly due to some loading issues), but managed to hit 10 of them.

I was pleasantly surprised that the recoil didn't get to me. I usually only manage 10-15 shots at the range before I start to get a little sore. Guess the adrenaline works in competition the same as during hunting. Not to mention the vest with the extra recoil protection I put in. Of course it also helps that my gun liked the lowest charge the best when we were doing load development.

I'm shooting a 7mm08 Remington 700. Looks like it will be getting a better scope (I borrowed an 18x for the match) and probably a better stock. This was one of my hunting rifles, and I had a Hogue overmold on it. Great for hunting in a blind with a rest, not as great for offhand. Will also be doing some more load development. I'm pretty happy with my CPT load, but still need to work up a good Ram load. We didn't want to spend a whole lot on test bullets until we knew if I liked it or not.

Heidi

[Trent]

Welcome to the sweet side of the addiction. Now change your screen name to AddictedToSB&HP

I find high power silhouette more addicting than smallbore. More bang, more clang!

[Jason]

I'm hooked on highpower silhouette, too, but I still love smallbore silhouette matches. They're great practice for highpower.

[AddictedToSB]

I definitely still love SB. And I have been "warned" by certain people that if my HP shooting starts to affect my SB (flinch, etc), that HP will go on the back burner for a while. But I did love the extra "rush" of HP.

And of course I've been told that since I'm going to be at Nationals anyway for SB, and have to stay thru HP since my ride is competing in both, that I might as well shoot HP too. Now I have to find more entry fee and bullet money.

[Jason]

Yep.. those HP bullets get expensive, for sure.

[Dee]

Yep.. those HP bullets get expensive, for sure.

This is why I love air rifle silhouette also. Nothing beats practicing on the super cheap. I enjoy each and find that each rifle type has its own little set of nuances to be learned. I am also recently hooked on HP as of last year and now I am patiently waiting for the Benton Match in 3 weeks to get here. Never shot a combo HP/SB match should be fun and will make me want to go shoot the Montana Iron Man even more I imagine

Hitting those animals so far away offhand does give you a sense of HELL YEAH ;) Plus I love showing guys the targets and seeing the looks on their faces when I tell them how far away each is placed to shoot.

Dee

[Dee]

AddictedToSB- My dad taught me when I was learning to shoot and he always would emphasize the fact that recoil is a constant so there is no need to even think about it. Just focus on the shot sight picture and trigger control. The rifle or pistol is going to kick all the same whether you flinch or not so no reason to even think about it at all. Just know it is coming and make the shot. A good way to tell if you are inducing a flinch is to have someone else load your rifle every shot while practicing and slipping in a empty case now and then. When you pull the trigger on the empty case you and anyone watching you will know if you are flinching really quick.

I've heard of guys falling out of tree stands deer hunting because they flinched while shooting at a deer both with and without having a round in the chamber. Now that is some serious flinching


Dee

[shakes]

Another one converted over to the dark side congrats Addicited to SB or should I say HP . I was just like you, shot smallbore for awhile then went to "just watch" my first highpower match and got to try it and bought a gun on the way home. Highpower is so cool. Did you get any rams at all? Those are fun to watch fall over at 500 meters then you realize that you just knocked over a steel target about the size of a buck at 550 yards offhand. Welcome to the dark side

[Trent]

Another one converted over to the dark side congrats Addicited to SB or should I say HP . I was just like you, shot smallbore for awhile then went to "just watch" my first highpower match and got to try it and bought a gun on the way home. Highpower is so cool. Did you get any rams at all? Those are fun to watch fall over at 500 meters then you realize that you just knocked over a steel target about the size of a buck at 550 yards offhand. Welcome to the dark side

The size of a buck??!!! You gotta quit hunting fawns!

[shakes]

I was talking bout them big ole saskatchewan deer up in canada not the little black tail bucks we have here in washington. you get to big and you cant move through all the underbrush and blackberry vines that are everywhere.

[AddictedToSB]

I am patiently waiting for the Benton Match in 3 weeks to get here. Never shot a combo HP/SB match should be fun and will make me want to go shoot the Montana Iron Man even more I imagine

I'm also going to be in Benton. I plan to shoot the HP Hunter match. Thought about shooting Std but don't think I'm ready for that many rounds of HP the day before a SB match.

A good way to tell if you are inducing a flinch is to have someone else load your rifle every shot while practicing and slipping in a empty case now and then. When you pull the trigger on the empty case you and anyone watching you will know if you are flinching really quick.

I've been warned by the person who loads my rounds (and pays for my guns, and supports me, etc) not be surprised if an occasional "dud" finds it's way into my practice rounds to test me.

Did you get any rams at all?

No rams yet. I was thrilled just to be able to hit 2 turkeys. Especially since that's the animal I started on. But I'm determined to hit some rams at Benton.