Watching Steel Fall

[Alaskan454]

I had my first steel left up this weekend, I hit the darn thing but never checked to see if it hit the ground. I was staring in disbelief when they scored my shots. I always wondered how people forget and now I know.

[hankdiesel]

Did you call for calibration?

[hankdiesel]

I had one at a major match this year, called my shot and knew I hit it, but took off before I realized it...The RO was going to give me an FTE at first but then saw that I had hit it...

[Alaskan454]

I clipped it pretty low so I'm not surprised. It was just a club level with one squad too, didn't bother with the calibration check. Most important thing was the lesson learned I think.

[Flatland Shooter]

Sounds like you may have learned the wrong lesson.

If you hit it and wait for confirmation, you are wasting time.

If you hit it and felt it was a good hit, you actually did it right by going to the next target.

[Alaskan454]

Yeah, I agree I should have moved on after hitting the target, but there was a required standing reload before engaging the next target array so it would have been really easy to glance over during my reload. I feel I engaged them correctly but should have glanced over before ending the stage. The thread title is actually poor advice, I should have titled it "Making Sure Steel Falls".

[BuellX1]

I agree with flatland shooter

[Alaskan454]

So what do you guys recommend for steel, do you ever look back or just end the stage if it hit?

[amokscience]

If possible, shoot the steel first/early in an array/position so you can glance at it or catch it from your peripheral vision before moving to the next part of the stage. Scout out a secondary position to take the steel if they don't fall at your first position. If you finish up a stage with steel keep your gun on target and scan the final pieces of steel. If you have to reload early to makeup steel don't forget to reload when you planned anyways.

Edited October 15, 2015 by amokscience

[Alaskan454]

I noticed a few guys hit the steel first and I'm sure that was the reasoning. I never really considered this aspect of running through a course of fire until now.

[MacLethal]

You always walk the stage and usually someone points out "don't forget that one." It usually screws with a few people and you wonder how someone missed it until you miss it yourself lol.

[BryanHoover]

If steel is in your first array do you draw and engage it first? I've had several people tell me not to draw on steel...

[WaJim]

If possible, shoot the steel first/early in an array/position so you can glance at it or catch it from your peripheral vision before moving to the next part of the stage. Scout out a secondary position to take the steel if they don't fall at your first position. If you finish up a stage with steel keep your gun on target and scan the final pieces of steel. If you have to reload early to makeup steel don't forget to reload when you planned anyways.

Awesome advice...thanks.

Especially the small stand alone plates.

[e5young]

i just listen for the plate falling and how solid i connected with the plate...but once in a while i do get a plate still standing

[photoracer]

Heck the first USPSA match I ever shot I called a calibration on the very 1st stage and got a reshoot out of it. I was shooting my STI in 9x23mm around 172 PF and hit this falling plate in the neck area and it failed to fall so I called it immediately. I was not the first shooter but I was the first one not shooting a .45 in the squad. Once they tested it and readjusted it was good to go.