Did something I've never done before today...

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:12 pm

Started the match at Tacoma today on turkeys and just like crap on turkeys and rams... and then the light bulb turned on over my head and I hit 30 chickens in a row and then 17 pigs before the first miss. Out of my last 60 targets, I got 57 of them I think. Kinda funny that I got 47 in a row and ended up with a 46 in both classes. The most I've gotten in a row before today was 15. The bad part is that I'm not really sure what I did differently. To top it off, I didn't get either of the legs (rams, pigs) that I still need for my smallbore standard grand slam.

Oh well, at least I know the potential is there. It was like I couldn't miss for most of those targets. That must be what it's like for Cathy or Augustin all the time.

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:43 am

Yes, congratulations! That was pretty impressive. Maybe it was the doughnut?

I did something myself, come to think of it. I brought down two successive 10-in-a-row's in Chick/Pig - typically I'm lucky if I do one in a match, but things must be improving!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:47 am

Maybe the planets were just aligned right or something yesterday. We were all shooting really well there. Maybe the magic will carry over to the Machias match next weekend.

twofifty · Post by **twofifty** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:57 pm

Congrats Jason.

Just curious about your state of mind during these long strings. When pulling the trigger, did you do so effortlessly, with a clear sense of certainty about the outcome of each shot? Not forcing anything at all?

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:39 pm

twofifty wrote:Congrats Jason.

Just curious about your state of mind during these long strings. When pulling the trigger, did you do so effortlessly, with a clear sense of certainty about the outcome of each shot? Not forcing anything at all?

At the beginning of the first relay of 15 chickens, I was fine for the first 10 shots. My heartbeat started becoming noticeable right around number 12. On number 14 and 15, my hands were shaking between shots and I could see my dot jump with each heartbeat. What I was doing right, though, I was doing it right enough to keep the dot in the animal and didn't even consider timing the shot between heartbeats. To be honest, I don't think I was thinking of anything and that's probably what helped me. Between each shot, I'd rest the barrel on the bench in front of me for two deeps breaths, mount the gun during the third deep breath, and let the shot go when the dot got close to my chosen spot on the target. Once I saw the target fall, I rest the barrel on the bench and started over.

Once I topped 30 (two relays of 15 chickens each), my hands were shaking enough between banks that I had to hold my wrists against my body to be steady enough to load magazines. As I said, my previous record was 15 in a row on pigs and that had only happened once ever. I don't shoot like that. I guess I evidently can, but I don't. I'm not sure my nerves can handle me shooting like that.

twofifty · Post by **twofifty** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:24 pm

Just like being in the driver's seat !

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:44 pm

Jason wrote:Maybe the planets were just aligned right or something yesterday. We were all shooting really well there. Maybe the magic will carry over to the Machias match next weekend.

I finally remembered what was going on this weekend! SHEESH - It's late Buck Season Thur-Sun. So assuming we don't tag some meat Thur/Fri, we'll likely be out walking around scaring the local wildlife... Let's hope we get something and that we get a match in too!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:50 pm

Oo... I didn't get to hunt at all this year due to work/home stuff. I hope you get a big one and just happen to bring some with you on Sunday.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:30 pm

And yes, Bob, I do still owe you pictures of matches from up here in Washington. I bet you didn't think I saw that reply before you removed it, huh?

Bob Mc Alice · Post by **Bob Mc Alice** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:40 pm

Yea Jason, you got me. I did not want to bug you again for pictures. But I (we?) would really like to see some when you get a chance, no hurry. Thanks.