Schottgun Lessons Learned

[Schottgun]

I shot my first USPSA match this weekend.  I am excited to learn and progress...your help is appreciated!

[Hi-Power Jack]

How did you do?   What are you shooting?   How's your speed and accuracy?

[Schottgun]

Apparently the stages were similar to an all qualifier match because the match director had some family obligations (wedding) that afternoon.  I finished fifth in production out of 11, but there was very little movement.  I thought it turned out to be a good match to cut my teeth on (as well as two other new USPSA shooters that made the trip with me).

 

A  41

B     1

C  24

D  7

M  1

 

The qualifier was Baseball Standards which some said was a very challenging stage.

 

Some take always: Need to improve on movement, weak hand only, more efficient reload, slow down some to get better accuracy (I had the 12th fastest time out of 59 who participated), pacing of distance shots, turning at the start, and target transitions.  I've been dry firing for a month, and will work these areas into the practice now.

 

Overall, it was a lot of fun...I wish I had started this earlier in my life!

 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

Thanks.

[Magictalent]

In production you will want more A.

Most production guy I know try to get 90% possible points and more. I am a new b too.

[Schottgun]

I am going to focus much more on accuracy next time.  I really look forward to learning and improving.  Thanks for the info.

[Schottgun]

I listened to a podcast today that emphasized that shooters need to focus on calling their shots and allow your speed to happen based on how you saw the sights.  I focused on that during dry fire tonight and I noticed that my draws and reloads went much more smoothly.  I'm going to emphasize this at the match this weekend.  Focusing on calling shots seemed to relax me and allow my body to do what it needed to do.

[Terry44]

What podcast was that?

[Schottgun]

That Shooting Show.  It can be tedious at times, but there's some good conten there.  

 

http://andersonshooting.libsyn.com/

[Schottgun]

Take Aways from Ben Stoeger Interview on the Shooter's Summit:

 

1.  Train like the match: dryfire before practice just like you would in practice as a warm-up, set up match drills, etc.

2.  Be honest with yourself at every practice...dryfire and live.  Make sure your sights are correct on dry fire drills....be accountable.  Call your shots on every drill.  You are who you are in practice...pay attention and hold yourself accountable...don't make excuses.

3.  15 minutes of dry fire can allow you to get good faster.  Focus on only a few drills per practice.

4.  Your practice should be constantly changing and evolving. You should always be looking for new ideas.  Don't get in a rut.

5.  Speed comes from being smooth and efficient....cutout excess movement.

6.  Go as fast as you can in drills and learn how to become more accurate rather than go slow/accurate at first and gain speed later.

7.  Shoot a drill five times and average your score...you are as good as your average score...not as good as your best/worst score.

 

Most of this info is in his books, but I still took something away.

[Schottgun]

 

My notes from training last week:

 

1.  I need to focus on shooting vertical.  I seem to avoid missing left or right if my thought process is about keeping things vertically strung...I have less problems with up and down accuracy than I do left or right when shooting fast.  I need to do the dry fire trigger drill every night.

2.   I seemed to move more quickly and efficiently on draws/reloads when I focus on my finger tips prior to the draw. 

[Schottgun]

Hwansik Kim Summary:

 

1.  Accuracy:  Made of Trigger Control and Grip.  Grip is more difficult/important to learn than trigger control.  He has mastered trigger control, but will always spend a lot of time on grip.

2.  Consistency:  Made of repeatability...index points on the gun, magazine, etc are important.  Visualization is key to consistency....physical part is the walk through.... create index points on the walk through....grip your hand hard during walk-through.  Mental part includes watching yourself in both first person and third person completing the stage.

3.  Efficiency:  Technique and Mental....Strategy.  Streamline extra steps in movement through the stage...align your foot position at each shooting location so that your feet are pointed in the direction of the next target.  Keep a low center of gravity so that you can explode toward the next position.  he doesn't use a timer much in either dry fire.  He uses a timer sparingly in live fire.  By not using a timer, he allows himself to focus on the proper techniques and disregard meeting the par time.  He focuses on maximum speed and aggression.

4.  Discipline: Following through on your visualization and on your strategy.  Must practice under pressure.  Combine different types of difficult targets and multiple skills in one drill.....different size targets, different movement types, etc.

[Schottgun]

I shot my second USPSA match this weekend.  

 

A  101

C  17

D   1

M. 2

NS. 3 !!!!!

 

Takeaways:  No shoots and misses hurt me.  I need to go faster and be willing to sacrifice some accuracy.  My time was slower than the middle of the group.  Front sight focus on poppers and partials need to improve.  I really enjoyed the match.

 

 

[BeerBaron]

one important thing despite the miss and NS;s is that overall your shooting cleaned up a lot. much better A% which is pretty important in production. C's are death by a thousand cuts in prod. with 101 A's 20 non-A's (plus 2 NS) that's a much better result that the last match. 

[Schottgun]

Thanks BeerBaron.  Is there a general A percentage that you’re looking for in matches?

[Schottgun]

 

I shot in my 3rd match today.

 

Comparison of my score to a Master and A Class from the match:
                  Time        A     B/C    D      M
Master    124.10    120    20     3       1
A              124.78    130    13     0       1
Me           180.01    117    21     4       2

The major difference in time is Stage 1 (see below). Around 36 seconds difference caused by that stage. I wish I could have seen their runs on the other stages to see where they gained 20 seconds.

Areas needing improvement: Leaning shots, partials with no shoot, steel, and movement.
Areas I improved: Speed and my movement.

Stage 1: There was a lot of steel. Small poppers did not fall for me when hit. Star was a learning experience...had a small window between barrels to shoot. I need to practice on the star. I was OK on the plate rack. I ran dry a couple times because of the steel not falling and the star.

Stage 2: A good stage for me. I had a good plan and shot OK. More non-As than I’d like, but I was fast.

Stage 3: I bobbled a reload that cost some time. I also missed a leaning shot around a barricade.

Stage 4: I had a good plan and moved well. I missed a head shot on a partial...probably should have aimed more for the body. I hit a c on a short shot because I was shooting on the move.

Stage 5: I moved fairly well, but there were some long runs that cost me some time...I need to do some more exercise to get better on that. I had a few more Cs than what I should have.

Stage 6: (08-03) Hit factor: 6.48   I was faster than most on my turn and draw...the practice paid off. I had 3 As and a C on the paper. One extra shot on the steel the first time through, but I had to go back for another when it didn’t fall. I had already moved to the second paper by that time, but I was impressed with the speed of my makeup on that steel.

 

 

Edited March 4, 2018 by Schottgun

[Schottgun]

Enjoyed another match yesterday even though I didn’t shoot as well as I would like.  My accuracy was off today, but my speed was decent.  Problems occurred on 30 yard mini poppers and one string of partials.  This was the first match that I’ve shot a swinger.  I also had a jam on one mag that was difficult to clear.  I did ok on the classifier but had a mike on the SHO portion of three chickens.  

 

Takeaways:

 

1.  I am going to do more live fire at 15 yards and over.  I need more front sight focus on more difficult targets.  I tried to move too fast at times.

2.  I will clean all of my ammo and mags that were used in the stage between stages.  That’s what caused the jam.

3.  I will work partials and targets stacked on top of each other.  I had problems finding my aiming point on the lower target.

4.  I need to find a place to shoot swingers.

Edited March 25, 2018 by Schottgun

[Schottgun]

We had another fun match on Saturday.  I improved on most of the steel, but I struggled on mini poppers on one stage....trying to move too fast. 

 

I was pleased with my transitions, splits, and accuracy on open and partial targets.  I had a good day with reloads...especially on the classifier (13-08 More Disaster Factor).  It was good to see my dry fire paying off. 

 

I had three misses and a no-shoot...that really hurt.  The no-shoot occurred on a stage where a mini popper was in front of the no-shoot. I had a mag fall out of its pouch which really hurt me on time on my first stage (of course I was shooting first on the first stage of the day).  Overall I had 77% As for the day.

 

Takeaways:

 

1.  I will dry fire more on accuracy on mini poppers.

2.  I will continue to work hard on reloads and draws.

3.  I will do drills that improve my focus on the first shot after a reload.  I had a miss on one during the classifier.

4.  I will make sure my mags are more secure.

5.  I will work on more dry fire drills that include footwork.

[Hi-Power Jack]

Six months  …  are you a B yet ?

 

Any more steel not falling ?   What is the PF on your loads ?

 

What gun are you shooting ?   Modifications ?

 

How many matches do you shoot/month ?

 

How many rounds do you fire/month ?

[Schottgun]

Hi-Power Jack:  

 

Thank you for the dialogue!

 

B Yet?    I've shot 5 matches in six months.  I'm currently a C (49.4068).  The qualifier I shot this weekend will raise that to 55.35.  One miss on the last qualifier cost me 12% on that stage.  I need to learn from that.

 

Steel Falling?  I was missing the steel this weekend, it wasn't the load.  I'm rushing a little too much...I will try to correct that.

 

Gun?  Walther PPQ.  No modifications, although I've considered putting in the APEX trigger.  The stock trigger is pretty good though....4.25 lbs with a quick reset.

 

Rounds Fired Per Month:  I've started shooting more...500 last month.

 

I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice!

 

[Schottgun]

Another match in the bag this weekend.  I saw some improvement in the areas I focused on.  My accuracy was better, but I still had four misses.  I shot the classifier pretty good (99-08 with a 6.0335 HF... 64.25% ...I wonder what it would have been before the HF changes).  Here’s some thoughts.

 

Accuracy:  4 misses.  I had one miss on a very difficult leaning mini popper partially concealed behind a barrel.  Two misses from 10 yards on targets in an array.  I had one miss at 20 yards.

 

Movement:  I seemed to leave some time when moving.

 

Heat:  I lost focus on the last stage partially because of the heat.  That’s where two of my misses occurred.

 

Stage Planning:  it was poor on one stage.  

 

To do:  

• Practice leaning shots...especially leaning to the left (I’m a righty).
• Shoot the doubles drill...no draw...from different distances.  Add multiple targets to this drill too.
• I need to get to the match a little earlier to look over the stages....I could use another 10 minutes or so.
• Practice shooting on the move more.
• Contine to work on mini popper accuracy.
• I need to bring a cooling towel to the next match.  Maybe keeping cooler will help me focus more later in the day.

Edited July 2, 2018 by Schottgun

[Schottgun]

Another fun match this weekend.

 

My accuracy has improved over the last month.  I had 122 As, 24 Cs, and 4 mikes.  3 of the Mikes happened on one stage.  I missed a tuxedo by 1/2 inch and tried to transition too fast on two targets in the same array.  The other miss was caused by the same problem.  My time was the 5th fastest out of 20.

 

I shot 4.6973 HF on 03-07...good enough for 65.63%.  I would now be a B if it weren’t for the classifier adjustment.  Instead I’m at 59.25%.  Hopefully, I can pick up some points at my next match.

 

Things to work on:

 

• I struggled with my reloads today.  I’ve done dry fire, but not a lot of live fire on reloads.  I’ll add more live fire reloads with movement.
• I was more accurate today, and I attribute that to shooting at 15 yards and 25 yards much more. I need to continue that.
• I need to put more effort into transitions from high to low to high targets.  Three of the mikes I had were moving from high to low and back to high.  I was getting impatient.
• i need to paint some tuxedo targets and practice those.  
• I struggled with surrender draws on the classifier even though I dry fire those.  I’ll add it to live fire also.

 

 

Edited July 22, 2018 by Schottgun

[Schottgun]

Shooters Summit Notes:

 

Steven Smith:  Get your hits.  Speed is the most difficult thing to learn, but once you get faster...focus on hits.

 

Charlie Perez:  Open your eyes and observe.  

 

Bob Vogel:       Analyze qualifiers and make a plan to improve.  Speed is the most difficult thing to learn.

 

Mason Lane:   Draw in one second, reload in one second.  Dry fire needs to be consistent in frequency and consistency.  Must use metrics in dry firing to grade yourself.  You need to let your shooting happen...don't rush results or expect results.  Shooting clean is a good goal as long as you aren't shooting too slowly.  Practice well before matches should be at a speed and distance that is uncomfortable and lead to errors.  Practice before matches should be at distances and speeds that are expected at the match.  Don't neglect single handed shooting practice.

 

Casey Reed:  Get low when moving.  Just shoot the classifiers and let your score establish who you are...don’t overshoot the stage.

 

Tim Heron:  Biggest change from B to M is organized practices, practice with a purpose, and work on specific things at each practice.  Push yourself in practice...make it tough.  Try to do things earlier or sooner rather than faster.  Treat classifiers just as any other stage....shoot like any other stage....focus on the shooting the process and let the result happen.  Be a spectator of the process and shoot as you see the sight picture that is needed for each target.  Lowest hanging fruit is transitioning the gun.

 

Steve Anderson:  Don't have an expected outcome on stages.  Just shoot the stage.  Don't look at stages to determine where you'll stop to shoot...instead ask yourself why should I stop.

 

Edited November 29, 2018 by Schottgun

[Schottgun]

Shooters Summit:

 

Elias Frangoulis:  He did 8 hours of dry fire per day when attempting to become GM. He did a lot of one shot draws and transitions in live fire.  He uses positive affirmations...positive thoughts to brainwash himself...."I always execute my stage plans...its like me to execute my stage plans".  With Winning in Mind was a great book for him and others on the broadcast said the same thing.  Bill drill is important for him.

[Miggz55]

Shooters Summit:
 
Elias Frangoulis:  He did 8 hours of dry fire per day when attempting to become GM. He did a lot of one shot draws and transitions in live fire.  He uses positive affirmations...positive thoughts to brainwash himself...."I always execute my stage plans...its like me to execute my stage plans".  With Winning in Mind was a great book for him and others on the broadcast said the same thing.  Bill drill is important for him.

The mind is a powerful tool!
My biggest challenge with USPSA is the mindset shift from 3-gun style to the accuracy needed shooting minor limited. I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but havent dedicated the time to dry fire practice and cognitive mindset shift from one sport to another.

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