Loves2Shoot

Square deal work great, I would add lots of primer pickup tubes. They are cheap and you can load up several hundred rounds while watching TV. Then when you are reloading you don't have to pick up those dang primers.

I don't know about the prevailing wisdom, but on a predictable motion, being and being an ex-sprinter, I don't know of anyone who started in the blocks with relaxed muscles, you preload them. A preload is not "tense." It is more like a calm tension, like when you try to sneak up on a fly and slap it. I only trust the timer, and for me it is faster and more consistant. Steve, Yep, the less you have to move, the less time it seems to take. (Edited by Loves2Shoot at 12:58 pm on Dec. 20, 2002)

Lots of ways to draw but I 'll mention this "trick" told to me by a National Champion cowboy action shooter since I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. Preload the muscles need to make the motion you want to make on the draw on the standby command. For me hands at side it is flexing my triceps and fingers a bit. Like a track runner going out of the blocks, it takes time to flex, if you are already flexed you have less to do, thus a faster draw. The big key is not to flex everything, only the specific muscles need to get you hands on the pistol.

Funny thing about the draw, I took a class from Frank Garcia and we all wanted to know (A -Gm shooters) how fast our draws needed to be to be a "top level" shooter. His response blew most all of away ".97-.98 10" target 10 yards like a clock." Most of us in the group can pull sub .9's 75% of the time. My personal best @ 3 yard is .72, but in this game what good is that really? He said we all needed to slow down and call EVERY shot. Getting a consistant first shoot and being relaxed (confident) through the whole stage seems to be better for my scores. Also, I go real fast in practice and back it off a bit during a match, and I think the adrenaline makes up the difference because the times are about the same for me.

Duane, I only have one eye to shoot with and I can see my brass coming out also, it doesn't take two eyes to do that. I think that it is more of a focus issue, when you focus hard you see "The Matrix" style. I have no dominate eye and 20/20 vision, so I have to take one out of the equation (a flip down patch). It is the ONLY way I can see 1 sight and 1 target (it took me 3 years to figure this out.) Everybody is different, but it can be frustrating as heck trying to figure it out, good luck. (Edited by Loves2Shoot at 9:54 am on Dec. 19, 2002)

I try to see the fiber optic in the notch (anywhere in the notch) on full targets less than 7 yards, anything besides that I look for a sharp front sight properly aligned. It doesn't take me more than .03-.04 to get a perfect picture from my standard go fast sight picture .14-.15.

2 big things on shooting acurately (besides proper stance (huge) and grip (huge) go the Matt Burkett's site for those) #1 make sure you are not stuffing your finger into the trigger (unless you have a DA only and it is the ONLY way you can get enough leverage to make the gun go boom) The pad of your finger is what pulls the trigger, I prefer to use just the tip, it pushes the gun around less (light triggers help but are not a cure) #2 BIG TRICK Feel yourself take up the trigger on each shot, focus on that, you will experiece weird things if you do (like hitting where you are aiming at) With a 1911 this is easy, the trigger moves a bit until it hits the spot where when you add more pressure the gun goes bang. Do it as much as you can in practice, and in a match when you have a tough shot, you won't have any fear, because by knowing exactly when the gun is going to go bang, and knowing you have a good sight picture there is no need to worry because you have just called your shot and you will hit your target. BTW ~ I learned this from Frank Garcia and he swears he "feels" the take up on the trigger on 80% of his shots during a match when he is is serious shooting shape. It seems to work very well for me. Let me know how it works for you, I think you will be amazed.

Tell me this has to be a joke, please!!! I get better groups than that at 4 yards with my eyes closed. DISLAIMER: I only shoot eyes closed (I have a place with lots of margin of error to shoot at) to make sure my form is correct. I need lots of work on my form

Too easy, and too much fun. The gun cannot shoot, as it has no soul. It is obvious from the thrill and exhileration experienced from shooting (not to mention the despair and frustration) that shooting was always intented (in it's purest form) to be a spiritual experience.

SP2 worked grat for me. It has less volume, thus produces less gas, but I found it to be very consistant, if you have problems with it leaking through your press it sound like you need to talk to Dillon and fix your press. I used it in my Square Deal and then 1050 and no problems. The reason I liked it is that it was very consistant for me and didn't spill out of the case like VV. I just like to load fast and it doesn't fill the case near as full, but it is very dirty to shoot compared to VV.

TT ~ Cool, if you put one on please let us Bendites know, we tend to be the last to hear about what is going on, we have a couple guys here I know who would love to get some tips. Just a thought we are having Area 1, Area 1 3-gun (pending), and Racegun Nats here this year, if you could put on a class before or after those, hmmm... If you want to chat about it sometime scott@srlc.net (Edited by Loves2Shoot at 9:51 am on Dec. 12, 2002)

I have a tweaked eye situation, no dominant eye, I have tried everthing anyone has suggested, but noticed a HUGE improvement when I took my left eye out of the equation totally (a flip down lens with black tape $5) I don't even notice it now, it takes some getting used to, but I see everything much clear now. No more squinting for me.

TravisT, There are so many Oregon cats around because the weather sucks and it is too dark to practice outside, although I like watching the flames in my open blaster in the dark, but the local forest service guys frown on my practicing after dark. Why don't you float down to Tri-County or Dundee and put on a clinic 4 us, if you could make it to Bend that would be even better, but it is a tad cold out these days here, maybe come spring Anyone who can win the Area 1 shooting L10, being the complete hoser match it was, is someone I'd love to take a class from.

I spent 3 years spinning my wheels, reading books, watching videos, bugging shooters, I got to me a decent shooter, but I developed some baaaadddd habits. I took class with Frank Garcia and he said my technique was basically aweful (I didnt draw, reload, or hold the gun right) and he was amazed I was shooting A Class from the drills we did. He was right. After his 1 day class (6 shooters) I left feeling more confident about what I needed to do and over the years since then my shooting has greatly improved. Any chance you get to work with a good teacher is worth it in my opinion. I wish I would have spent more $$$ on training instead of sending rounds downrange reinforcing bad habits. ps. I lucked out and beat Frank that weeekend, his gun wasn't working but a win is a win

2 bags are you kidding!!! I have enough trouble not loosing my Shooter Pro Series bag, give me 2 bags and I would be in big trouble. I love my big bag I don't put too much gun stuff in it (just gun, mags, ammo, and a few cleaning brushes, if i need more than that at a match), I carry mostly clothes, food, H20, and all the extras to be comforatable and stay relaxed. I leave my tool box in the truck. Life is too short to be cold, wet, or hungry. Just my 2 cents worth.