Practice thoughts

[chuck d]

Got zeros, now it is time to practice. Wondering what is best:
1. I have a set of targets set them up and knock them (atleast some) down.
2. I have a couple of swingers, allows a lot of shooting.
3. Paper targets. Not as much fun, but printging on 8 X 11 it gives feedback on misses.

Learned to shoot with both eyes open again. sure does help. I am amazed how much your hold can improve with a couple weeks of practice. I think I cut my wobble area in half.
Wind at 100M- wow, quite a surprise!

Any thoughts/experience apperciated.
chuck

[BlauBear]

You've got the right idea! Practice, practice, then practice some more.

Paper targets are a huge help to me because of the feedback, but you're right, they're less fun.

[Jason]

Paper targets to practice on, swingers and real targets for fun and as a stress relief after the humiliation of the paper targets. As the saying goes, paper doesn't lie. It's hard to claim that you barely missed one when the paper says you yanked the trigger and missed by a mile.

[Senator vitaman]

With paper, you can shoot at very slightly reduced size targets, if you want a challenge or frustration.

[Shootndig]

Oh, sure. Like I need more challenge and frustration.

[Kevin6q]

Another benefit of shooting paper is not having to reset the targets. If your range time is limited, shooting paper is much more efficient. Just hang a bunch of targets and shoot. Look at how long it takes to reset targets at a match. As you become a better shot you will need less and less targets. The hit/miss will be easier to keep track of. If you miss a lot, hits are easier to keep track of. As you progress and punch out the animals, the misses will be easier to spot. As others have stated, the patterns that develop will be super helpful as a self coaching tool.

[Travelor]

After practicing on paper, I wonder how I EVER hit an animal.

I know this is the proper way to practice, but WOW, what a hard look at reality.

George

[Kevin6q]

Paper is harsh on the ego but it is enjoyable to see improvement. When I started shooting, the targets looked like I was using a shotgun with no choke and at the limit of the shot range. Some bullets missed the entire sheet of paper. Now the misses are usually no more than an inch off the target. Off the paper or of the target its still a miss. The tighter groups have demonstrated I am improving. I do hit more targets now too. Watching patterns develop in my groups has taught me a lot about my shooting habits and made me a better shot. The downside is some frustration knowing I put the round 1/16" too high on three rams. Close but just as good as off the paper from a scoring perspective. Great gains are made when we start and it does take a lot of work to make smaller steps as we become better at this. The breakthroughs do feel like more of an accomplishment. I'm sure the improvements I've made would never have happened if I was just shooting at actual silhouettes.

[Bob259]

After practicing on paper, I wonder how I EVER hit an animal.

I know this is the proper way to practice, but WOW, what a hard look at reality.

George

Ohhh how well we all know... it's a real reality check, but helpss if your conistently grouping in one place over your original bench settings.

[Pete A.]

I shoot paper 1-3 days a week. My scores have been improving; not matching Evilio's 35 yet. Though I am getting closer to matching my oldest son's scores.

Tried animal targets for a while but got away from them for 2 reasons. First could not get scaled for 50yds (distance I often do "lunch" practice at) on 'target' paper. When shooting "copier" paper after a couple of shots it just ended up with big tears. With regualtion NRA targets from places like Chamions Choice you get perfect holes even when shots are close together (not that that happens all that much for me, but I can dream).

Second I like spots. This way I'm focusing on the center of target. My thought are trying for 2 MOA scored hits (what fits perfect in center mass of Turkey). Outside ot the 2MOA is a miss. I've been using the 5m BB gun target (AR-4/5) as at 40m-50yd, it has as center/black of about 1MOA. Nice small center to focus on. Not too big if you only have 25yd/m either. This takes the head/foot/tail out of the training session as it all about center of target.

Lastly I "shoot paper" alone. These are "my" scores which can show any poor shooting habits out clearly and vividly. Success here is what you decide it is not what the number ring the hole is in. Might be first few sessions success is simply keeping all shots on the paper then before long who knows. However I do keep a few targets from the year before the show myself the improvement. Before shooting paper I was only guessing when calling shots now I am much better at it.

Have fun.

Pete A.

[blueline]

I use actual size animals printed on Cardstock from printshop. 6 chickens on one page, pigs and turkeys are 2 per page, and one ram will fit the 8 1/2 X 11. I sit out at actual distances. great for testing ammo because you can keep for future refrence. Get a good practice rutine and stick with it. There is nothing more humbeling than shooting offhand!

Blueline

[pistolero45]

I made stencils of the four animals and spray paint them onto cardboard, then shoot at the correct distances. This is white paint on brown cardboard, which does a fair job of mimicking the appearance of the targets and background in an actual match. I also use small pieces of masking tape to cover the bullet holes, and then continue to use the targets.

Carboard/paper is very humbling.

[Innocent]

Carboard/paper is very humbling.

Mark, shooting the real silhouettes isn't humbling enough?
Innocent

[Kevin6q]

With the real silo targets a miss is just a miss, the sigh is just a sigh. Sorry, couldn't resist. With paper, actually seeing each miss was 1/16" off on a set of rams where you put 7 holes in the target out of 10 shots is painful. The sign of real targets becomes a scream of agony. Actual proof of being so close does ramp up the angst factor and piles on the humble. I find shooting matches so much more relaxing than shooting paper. Shooting paper does build confidence because I can see the effect of my adjustments. Paper targets are tough on the ego which helps make us stronger for actual matches.

[Innocent]

Kevin,
You took my remark seriously? With your answer you should come take my job man, being so serious about it. Yes I even play a little with paper. But then a good spotter can tell you where the miss is.

Innocent