FishnHunt's Journey to ?

[FishnHuntIN]

Hi y'all, my name is Adam and I’m addicted to 3 gun.

Finally getting around to starting this after a year of shooting, lessons learned, and lessons forgotten. This first post is gonna be a little long, so bear with me or just skip it, lol. I want to try and get some things down on paper from last year as well as set a few goals for this year and beyond. First, some background. I’m from Northeast Indiana and I shoot the Indiana Multigun Series spread throughout 4 ranges (now 6) in the northern portion of the state. Hillside Shooting Sports in Roanoke is kinda my home club, as I’ve gotten to know a few of the guys there and it’s only 20 minutes from where I live. I’m hoping to mix in some USPSA this year, as there are two good clubs within an hours drive that host monthly matches.

I started hunting about 8 years ago and that was my first intro to firearms. Up until the last two years I only ever handled long guns, mostly shotguns and rimfire .22s. I’ve seen 3 gun and USPSA on TV for a few years and always thought it looked like a blast. So I finally bought a pistol in October 2013, with the intent of starting with pistol competitions and progressing into 3 gun. Well, that didn’t last (I’m an impatient fella) and 6 months later I was shooting my first 3 gun match. I attending 7 matches last year, never really doing that well and earning my first DQ (hey, at least it’s over with).

Well, my competitive nature is getting the better of me and I need to get better. I took two training classes last year, both of which helped quite a bit (at least initially). I’ve retained some of what I learned, but certainly not as much as I should or could have. This will be my effort to retain more of what I learn from matches and any training, as well as some self-accountability. I’ll try and lay out some things I remember from last year that I really struggled with and some goals to work on those things.

First, mental issues. Through the year, I got to the point where I could lay out a bit of a stage plan. But every time the beep went off, I basically just freaked out and rushed around. I’d be going so fast I’d realize I wasn’t tracking the front sights, or I’d just blow shotgun loads completely. I also almost always run my pistol to slide lock, whether I plan my mag changes or not. Somehow I’ve got to work on going slower and chilling out during a stage run. Any contributions on this front gratefully received.

Second, my pistol skills stink. Out of everything (other than mental) this is my weakest point. I regularly yank the trigger, shoot low left consistently, and I’m terrible shooting any kind of steel. I seemed to shoot a little better at a recent indoor pistol match, but it was at much shorter ranges than our typical club match stages. I’ve been doing some inconsistent dry-fire, pulling the trigger with a dime balanced on the front sight, so maybe that’s helping. I need to actually read the training books I bought last year (Seeklander and Stoeger books) and set up a consistent dry-fire regimen. This will be kinda tough, as I’m not yet in my own house and don’t have a lot of room. Hopefully that will change here in a month or so. Also, the only times I shot last year were matches, so I need to hit the range more as well.

Third, long-range rifle. I think I timed out on every stage I shot last year with any targets over 150-200 yards. There weren’t too many last year, but there are more events this year and two additional ranges, so I’m sure I’ll see this more. I’ve never really shot past 100 yards before with anything, so I need to get my rifle out and run it out to 300-400 yards and see what’s going on. I’m sure it’s me, there’s no reason my rifle should be having any issues. I’m running a Stag 3G with a Vortex 1-4.

Fourth, shotgun loading. Part of this stems from my tendency to rush everything, cause I always jam things up when I’m really hurrying. I load two and shoot an 870. Usually the first shell gets slammed up against the ledge between the tube and the barrel, and then the shells fold up and one or both go flying. Not pretty. I’ve worked the loading port as much as I’m comfortable with and tried to put a little ramp on that edge (without much success). This is something I should be practicing a lot more. I’ve got dummy shells, so I just need to get at it and then slow down when shooting stages.

On to goals for this year:

1. Shoot slower and smarter this year. Make a concerted effort to stage plan and follow it during the run.
   
2. Improve my pistol skills. Build and stick to some sort of dry-fire regimen while it’s still cold out.
   
3. Shoot at least 10 INMG matches (one at each of 6 ranges if at all possible) and as many local monthly pistol matches as possible.
   
4. Keep it fun. I get down on myself too easy and let my competitive nature ruin a good time shooting.
   

I’m taking an RO seminar at the end of the month in Cincinnati (the INMG match directors are always asking for RO’s, plus I feel like it’s a good way to improve while also giving back a little). I’m also taking a one day class in Indy on May 8 from Robert Vogel. There’s a two day class that weekend that I wish I could’ve have taken, but I felt like I’d been in way over my head (it was listed as an advanced class and I’m definitely not an advanced pistol shooter). I’d like to work in more classes this year, if I can make anything else work. I’m also hoping Hillside has some more indoor matches, as I really enjoyed the first one.

So that’s it for now. I’ll check in here as I get out to the range and also if I think of any other lessons/issues from last year. Feel free to tell me I’m full of it or throw any advice out there. The first INMG is here in town on March 29, so I’ve got about two and a half months to get things going. Hope to see some of y’all on the range this year!

[FishnHuntIN]

Back from the RO seminar this weekend, definitely worth going. Lots of good discussion with the other guys there and learned a lot. Decided I'm going to shoot and work my first big match on September, the Indiana State match. Looking foward to shooting as much USPSA as I can to prep for that.

[Sporky]

Glad to see you are getting into USPSA more this year.

I am going to hit a match every weekend this year, so If you wanna go to any of the matches you can hitch a ride with me.

[FishnHuntIN]

Thanks for the offer, Matt. I'll see how things shake out the next few months, might take you up on that. I desperately need to get my house finished, mostly so I can get a press & start reloading!

[Sporky]

Oh shit! yeah you need to get reloading!

if you want to load some 9mm let me know. we can set my press up and crank out a butt load.

Freedom munitions has competition loads too....I think you can get some lite bunny fart loads too

[FishnHuntIN]

I might just take you up on that! Almost lucked into a 550 a few weeks ago, but it didn't work out. I don't mind shooting factory for INMG cause the steel is rarely ever calibrated, but I'd like minor loads for USPSA, especially for the state match.