What can I expect to gain from minimal investment?

[chrisrdba]

..... I know, minimal gains.

 

Greetings. I've been considering diving in to this sport, but having second thoughts based on time constraints. My goals though really aren't to make GM ever -- honestly my goal is to simply learn to shoot fast and accurate under pressure. My guess is probably 99% of American gun owners are under equipped to deal with a life or death scenario with a pistol, and I don't want to be one of them. Due to kids and other hobbies I'm a few years out from being able to devote more time to this. 

 

I've had a bunch of classes but the cost is heavy. Several years ago I also did a bunch of run n gun outings with an M class shooter out in the desert (I'm near PHX), but all the desert near me is now off limits to shooting. So I'm certainly not new to shooting, but also not where I want to be.

 

All said I can dry fire a few times a week, and do one match every 3-4 weeks. I realize how little this is compared to most users on this board. Does anyone else only occasionally pop in like this, or is the sport completely dedicated by those that do it far more? Can I expect to gain anything from this based on what you've seen? I realize there's a ton of variables in there, so hoping to hear from someone else like me, or at least someone that's seen others like me. 

 

Thanks!

 

Edited November 21, 2021 by chrisrdba

[Rnlinebacker]

USPSA is a social hobby with some shooting. All your individual goals will always be your own and you get what you put in. 

 

No one else really cares but it's a great way to spend weekend days with like minded people. Just go out and have fun. Your goals will change, or they may not, either way it's ok.

 

My closest friends to date are people I met through USPSA. 

Edited November 21, 2021 by Rnlinebacker

[Nathanb]

You’ll find a mix of folks who take it ultra seriously, seriously, semi seriously, and then casually. Like said I know a lot of people who do it for social reasons and not just standing around plinking on a static range 

[HesedTech]

You can expect to have fun and become better with your gun than most people who think they’re good at shooting. 

[rowdyb]

IF you truly dry fire 4x a week, even if just for 5 minutes each time, and shoot one match a month you will at a minimum maintain whatever skill you have. If you can only devote a small amount of time, attention and energy to your gun skills, then at least make sure they are enough to keep the skill level you have rather than slowly slowly losing skill.

• use a shot timer
• dry fire regularly
• live fire with a plan
• video yourself and review it
• compete

[chrisrdba]

Thanks everyone for the input!

[OpenshooterMclass4lyfe]

I got a berry who works offshore and is gone two weeks out of the month. Can’t even touch a gun the entire time.  Comes back and slays.  

[BigHand]

I don't think the time you can devote is too out of the realm. I've only been averaging 1 match a month, and at most 1 practice session a week. I do dry fire anywhere between 5-15min about 3-4 nights a week. I think HOW you practice is far more important than how much you practice. 

 

Highly recommend having someone video you at your matches, especially if you're only going to one a month, and use those videos in your practice sessions to focus on your weak points. 

[Johnny_Chimpo]

23 hours ago, BigHand said:

I don't think the time you can devote is too out of the realm. I've only been averaging 1 match a month, and at most 1 practice session a week. I do dry fire anywhere between 5-15min about 3-4 nights a week. I think HOW you practice is far more important than how much you practice. 

 

Highly recommend having someone video you at your matches, especially if you're only going to one a month, and use those videos in your practice sessions to focus on your weak points. 

 

This is the truth

 

Efficient practice > Volume of practice

[obsessiveshooter]

Weekly dry fire and 15 matches a year, you can definitely reach Master class.  You won't get there fast though, and you'll have to be observant, focus on improving your weaknesses, which can be hard to identify.