TexasShootR
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Posts posted by TexasShootR
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I very new to competition shooting and handgun shooting in general. I am not a great pistol shot but I can squeak by from stage to stage. I have many weaknesses but lately I feel as though I am rushing EVERYTHING. It is starting to cost me big time, and worse it is starting to frustrate me and get into my head. Any tips from the veterans that can help me stay cool and take my time to ensure each shot?
My two cents, coming this March i'll be starting my 3rd year shooting USPSA. That makes me fairly new to the sport but I have been around pistols most my life. Before USPSA I never shot fast, just as accurately as I could. I developed a confidence that I could hit the target. Soon after starting USPSA shooting I lost sight of my shooting skills, I got caught up in the speed that I was seeing coming from the veterans and especially the Open Class shooters. I tried to mimick the faster shooters and started shooting beyond my ability (that is controling my shots). That got me a lot of C's, D's and Mikes.They told me my timing was off, I had no clue what that meant.
I realized after about a year of shooting I needed to get serious about practice. First I found a very confident Master Class Shooter and hired him to give me lessons. From there I took what I learned from him and what I have seen and read from others and started practicing every chance I could. So far the biggest thing I have learned is you must practice something your skills are lacking in and gain the confidence that you can do what you have practiced.
The biggest help for me I think was getting a timer to practice with. The timer is your friend and it will tell you alot about your ability. Your draw, your splits (on shots) and time it takes to aquire and hit your next targets. To name a few. I realized (for my skill level) that two shots fired in one second was my max while still getting my hits. When you have a timer and you can see this, it gives you a confidence that you know you can make two good shots in one second.
The next thing that was big in helping me was gaining the confidence that I could hit the targets at diffent yards 10, 15, 25, and 50. With a timer you will know what you are capable of and what speeds (or splits) between shots fired at them. That will slow you down! You will know that you can fire 2 rounds in one second at the 10 yards, but if you want to hit the 25 yard you may have to slow it down to 2 second between shots fired. This will give you the confidence to not rush.
To sum it up, know what you are capable of through practice and this will give you the confidence to achive it on game day. I'm learning, this confidence Im talking about has just recently dawned on me that if I put the sights on the steel and pull the trigger it will go down! Don't wait to see that it does, move on.
Hope this makes some since to you.
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http://m.youtube.com/user/TexasShootR?client=mv-google
Here is a link to a 8 minute YouTube slide show of pictures taken during Space City Challenge. Plus a video of the overall winner, Edwin Garcia!
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G35 with aftermarket KKM barrel. Couple loads I have used. I like Titegroup powder but it is temp sensitive. VV powder will be more consistent in temp changes.
Range brass and Federal Primers (very good primers for a light stricking Glock)
180 MG CMJ
TiteGroup 4.7gn
1.130 oal
average 945fps x 180gn = 170 pf
86deg
180 MG JHP
VV N320 5.0gn
1.135 oal
average 946fps x 180gn = 170 pf
80deg day
Note: I can't Guarantee the accuraccy of my chrono or my powder charge so use only as a guide.
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Can't seem to find area4 scores, could some one give me a link.
Thanks in advance
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Thanks Classic Jon, that's very good what you guys do. I'm going to speak to our Section Cordinator to see if we can implemnet the same at our matches.
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It's been several days now since this richocet incident and I've had some time to think about it. Just some things for all of us to think about. When an accident happens how will your club handle it? From my experience last week it seems some didn't even know that a fellow competitor had taken a bullet/richocet to the leg. It had entered the front calf just missing the bone and came to rest in the back of his calf just under the skin. You could see the bulge and it was turning blue. At that point you could see and feel panic in the air. Proper decisions my not be made in regards to the hurt when panic sets in. I.E. do we call 911 or take them to emercency room? For us, a couple decided, rather quickly to call 911 because we thought shock could occur and have heard that can be serious. Let me tell you if you do call 911 have an address where you are and don't expect an ambulance in a couple minutes because I was on the phone for at least four minutes (which seemed like forever) talking to several dispachers before we decided against using 911 service. I always thought it would be a very quick responce, not!
While waiting for the 911 to patch us into a local service a couple of guys who knew of a close by emergency room decided it would be better to take him ourselves. My point to all this is it will take time for an emergency service to arrive. I think it should be noted where the closest emergency/hospital is from where your club is shooting and have a trama kit with a knowledgeable person able to administer it if needed. This all may sound like I'm stealling some of the joy of shooting but sheet happens. How will you handle it? I'll be talking to our Section Cordinator next time I see him to express my concerns. All in all I think this sport is very safe especially with all the saftey precautions we take but things can go wrong, how will we hanle another emergency?
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Another thought just occured to me, USPSA has in place many rules for safety and I'm sure using proper steel is one of them. But why is it we get complacent when it comes to steel? Not all do but why should it be any different than "unload and show clear" as far as saftey is concerned?
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Good tip! I try to use the beat to shit poppers for shotgun only.
This is not meant to be mean at all, but the way you spelled ricochet made me laugh really hard.
Let me rephase my first comment I made in regaurds to yours, it's not a laughing matter
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Thought twice about posting this but I feel it is important for everyone to know how dangerous it is to put potted bullet ridden steel poppers out to shoot in your matches. I have been told some months back that shooting this kind of steel is very dangerous and it could kill you. Being fairly new to shooting I kinda took it with a grain of salt. To me if the older shooters didn't seemed bother by it then I shouldn't worry. Well this last week end a fellow shooter was hurt. Recoshay in the leg. I was standing next to him and felt a little flick in the pant leg. He was taken to the emergency room and some surgery was done. I don't know the whole outcome of his surgery at this point (I do know he will live). But my main point is don't use old bullet potted steel it can kill you
I was at a match just the week before and one of the shooters got hit by a recoshay and it drew blood in his arm. It's a rash of flying steel lately and to me there doesn't seem to be much concern about it. I'm concerned and would like to know what others feel about this. Is it there a strict polocy at your clubs to not use bad steel or is it to laxed?
I was out shooting another match the next day but in the back of my head I'm concerned. I dare not even tell my wife that it even happened. I wouldn't want her to worry anymore than she already does with me shooting.
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Glad your ok!!! What headstamp was that case?
It was a Winchester, sorry about the OAL, It measures 1.135. The day I chrono'd this round it averaged 170 PF (946 FPS) not sure what kind of pressure it produces. Today I used the gun in a local match, it ran good without any problems. I think after 15K rounds or so of range brass this was bound to happen. Best start inspecting my brass a little closer!
Thanks,
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That's about the expected burns that one gets from a case failure: Given the marks on the index finger, I am actuall surprised that it didn't blow the trigger itself off of the trigger bar.
Couple of questions:
1. Do you use a GRX die, an EGW U-Die, or a case roll sizer in your reloading process?
2. Which powder and bullet weight?
3. What is your taper crimp dimension?
Best of luck!!!
I do use a Lee U carbide sizing die
5.0gn VV N-320, col 1.30 MG 180 JHP
.421 taper crimp
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Sure hope this never happens again. It's one of those things that happen very quickly and for a moment you just think Oh Shit! hope it didn't break anything (my hand I'm talking about). When it happened I felt a blast to the face and what i would describe as a small firecracker going off in my hand, the case was flipped in the chamber and the magazine blew out. Fortunately I didn't get hurt (maybe my pride a little for dropping the gun)just some gun powder marks on my hand. Not sure why it happened but my guess would be a weak case. I do pick up range brass so you take your chances. After gathering myself I snapped a few pictures of it, then reloaded it and shot of a few more rounds. Everything seems ok with the gun, can't see any damage. Don't know how serious that could have been but I am thanking me lucky stars!
here some pictures:
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I'm a B class shooter in Production and have been putting in a lot of both dry fire and live fire practice this spring.
In my last couple of live fire range trips, I have noticed something... the quality of my "seeing' and the quality of my shooting seem to be diverging. My ability to call shots, and the precision with which I can call them is improving but my overall accuracy on the target has decreased.
I am also increasingly experiencing what I call "Enos moments" where I get that feeling of time slowing, seeing the sights in full cycle, actually feel like I am waiting for them to come back down and then seeing them stop, all the while being perfectly aware of the feel of my trigger finger and grip. But again, if anything my accuracy is sloppier.
Just curious if anyone else has experienced this as they "broke-through" from simple solid technical execution of the fundamentals to higher levels of seeing/awareness? I almost feel like the increased "input" of what I am observing is confusing my physical ability to react to it.
I can say I have/am feeling what you have mentioned but also have found it doesn't equate to good scoring during a match. What I have discovered about my shooting and it could be some of your problems as well is lack of confedense in hitting your target and possibly a poorly performing gun.
Just a suggestion, get your gun looked at by a gunsmith ( someone who knows the gun well ) in order to eliminate any problems such as a trigger problem and then work on aquiring a higher confidence in target acquisitions. Those are two things I have just opened my eyes to. I had major gun troubles with my Glock 35 (some of wich started to feel normal to me) which caused very poor marksmanship and the other a lack of confidense in hitting my target. The latter I feel has improved by practicing at 25 and 50 yards. My confidense has come to me by knowing that at 25 or 50 yards I can hit the target. Which give me so much more confidense at closer yardage.
Good luck,
Joe
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Sean, as you have progressed through the USPSA ranks do you recall any milestones that led you to the next rank or classifacations? As an example when I went from U (unclassified) to to D class it was all about me thinking shoot faster with little thought about choreograph or marksmanship. Now that I'm C class I think of the latter but not so good at the execution. What got you to the next level? And what are you doing/thinking now to get you to the next level of GM?
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Thanks for all the advice Sean. Keep it coming!
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Today I went to the range to chrono my new 180 MG and VV N320 powder. I'm taking my time and making record of OAL and FPS for every bullet. Even taking note of where the bullet hits the target. I noticed the accuracy seemed to be getting better with a higher powder grain count but nothing to write home about. That's when it occurred to me I wasn't following my front sight through recoil back to target. Normally I would have been but firing one shot at a time through the chrono it never occurred to me to do so. I would shoot then look at the target with gun lowered. Got to thinking about it and realized I should be tracking the sight always, even if it's just one shot at a time. Guess what my target hits got a lot smaller. Must be something to do with better form. Well it's a little thing I noticed today but something I feel will help me to become a better shooter.
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Why not get a Lee U 40 S&W carbide sizing die. It works great with my Dillion 550.
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From my experience with BBI they are not attentive to customer needs. It's possible they are attending a out of town match and are not monitoring their email.
Montana Gold bullets = predictable consistency for .13 cents a bullet (1000 count).
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Thought this post sizzled out weeks ago. Here's an update on the 35. It's been four months now since I started this post and since then I have shot about a thousand rounds a month, without any problems. But to be honest that's about how many rounds the gun had through it on the first spring break. I did end up putting the original Glock spring in the gun so I might never see that spring break. Only time will tell and if it does I'll repost.
Thanks to all that replied,
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Revo: I push a wet patch with Hoppe's #9 through the barrel and the charge holes, let it sit for a few minutes, then run a dry patch, then a slightly oily patch. Drop of oil on the front and rear sight to keep them dark black.
Open gun: I brush the mags that fell to the ground before I leave the match. Before I put the gun up, I make sure the dot is turned off. Top end gets cleaned every couple 1000. If someone shows me how to disassemble the frame, I will clean it, too. Promise.
YouTube my friend, thats where I learned about my Glock. Don't know about the 2011 frame but the 1911 is pretty simple even if you strip it to the last screw.
I know how to clean Glocks, too. ---> DISHWASHER when wife's not looking
Hey, if you're good with youtube, can I bring you my Open gun? I think I'm too lazy to learn 2011 disassembly.
I'll be at Bailey's this weekend, bring it with you. I've been thinking about building a 2011 Limited gun and learning how ones put together may help me make a decision. Might also be a good part time business
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Revo: I push a wet patch with Hoppe's #9 through the barrel and the charge holes, let it sit for a few minutes, then run a dry patch, then a slightly oily patch. Drop of oil on the front and rear sight to keep them dark black.
Open gun: I brush the mags that fell to the ground before I leave the match. Before I put the gun up, I make sure the dot is turned off. Top end gets cleaned every couple 1000. If someone shows me how to disassemble the frame, I will clean it, too. Promise.
YouTube my friend, thats where I learned about my Glock. Don't know about the 2011 frame but the 1911 is pretty simple even if you strip it to the last screw.
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Been shooting USPSA for almost a year now with a Glock 35 and at first I cleaned it every match or practice session. Now I've backed it down to about every 500 rounds and then its a complete tear down and cleaning. Twice my glock has encountered a broken trigger spring. The first time i knew something was wrong because of the intermitten firing but on the second broken sping I wouldn't have known if I didn't tear it down for a cleaning.
It's funny that most of the guys having problems with their guns on game day are the one who bragg the most about not cleaning the guns. The way I see it if guns had built in burnt powder filters then I would only clean every three thousand bullets or three months, which ever comes first. Kidding aside, burnt gun powder rubbing against two pieces of metal cant be a good thing and I've seen some burnt powders so thick and pasty that it stopped a firing pin and saftey from working in a glock.
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4.3-4.4gr of Titegroup behind 180gr Black bullet international. Here is how much smoke with no humidity.
Only smoke I could see was you smoking that stage
by the way that stage looks like one I shot this last weekend -
Loaded some up and got them chronographed today. I started with 4.0gn of TiteGroup, then 4.2gn and finished with 4.4gn. Of the first group only a couple would make 165PF. The second group with 4.2gn of TiteGroup all made 165PF and has a moderate recoil. The last with 4.4gn had extreme recoil (IMHO) with an average 172PF. I did notice a little more smoke from the BBI's but not bad at all. I would like to stay with the Montana Gold bullets but it makes more sense money wise to go with another brand. 4.1-4.2 of TiteGroup will do well for now so it looks like I've got a new bullet. Thanks for the help!
Glock 35 .40cal with 180gn BBI bullet
String 1 (180gn Black Bullet International
3.9-4.0gn TiteGroup
1.132 COL)
1) 909.7 -1.5
2) 892.7 -18.5
3) 905.7 -5.5
4) 923.2 12.0
5) 903.3 -7.9
6) 920.6 9.4
7) 922.9 11.7
High: 923.2
Low: 892.7
E.S.: 30.5
Ave.: 911.2
S.D.: 11.6
95%: ±11.6
String 2 (180gn Black Bullet International
4.1-4.2gn TiteGroup
1.132 COL)
1) 930.7 -0.1
2) 937.0 6.2
3) 918.7 -12.1
4) 937.2 6.4
5) 935.7 4.9
6) 933.0 2.2
7) 929.9 -0.9
8) 924.4 -6.4
High: 937.2
Low: 918.7
E.S.: 18.5
Ave.: 930.8
S.D.: 6.5
95%: ±5.8
String 3 (180gn Black Bullet International
4.4-4.5gn TiteGroup
1.132 COL)
1) 932.3 -23.5
2) 962.9 7.1
3) 953.8 -2.0
4) 970.5 14.7
5) 942.4 -13.4
6) 967.8 12.0
7) 960.9 5.1
High: 970.5
Low: 932.3
E.S.: 38.2
Ave.: 955.8
S.D.: 14.0
95%: ±14.0
by the way that stage looks like one I shot this last weekend
Bullets sticking in chamber
in General Gunsmithing
Posted
Last couple of matches my slide started hanging open or not returning to battery. I received a lot of suggestions on what could be causing the problem but after looking it over this is what I think.
Looks like its a bullet problem. Don't think I've been putting enough taper on my bullets and it has scored my barrel chamber. As I look into the chamber I see half round cuts all through the chamber. If I take a bullet and slide it into the barrel at the angle it would be chambered it will stick.
I'm surprised that brass would score a metal barrel if indeed that is what is happening. Anyway I spent a little time polishing the chamber and got some of the grooves out but not all. My question is, is this something anyone has seen before or am I off base with this diag.
Thanks,
Joe