Coach Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Good Luck at Nationals Mrs. Ball. Let it rip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 (edited) Good Luck at Nationals Mrs. Ball. Let it rip. Thanks Coach. Here's an update on where I'm at in my preparation: Thursday: shopped for shoes, got my hair done (did not live fire or dry fire) Friday: did not live fire or dry fire, went to bed and rested Saturday: shot steel match with 2 guns (I'll talk about that later) Sunday: shot USPSA match, plus live fire 300 rounds through 40 cal open gun, dry fired, science fair experiment with bullets Today: will live fire with 38 supercomp gun (check sight alignment, timing drills) Tomorrow: travel The steel match went pretty well. My focus while shooting the 38 supercomp was to be smooth and to see the shot. I was shooting the steel more like USPSA poppers than "steel". Meaning I wasn't pushing the envelope on speed but leaning more towards accuracy and seeing. I found a problem with my 40 cal open gun. I've got an extended mag that isn't working correctly. I brought it home and went to the range and figured out which mags work correctly. So now I think I'm ready to go with my back up gun. Shooting the 2 guns side by side was a mental adjustment. The 40 cal gun has a thumb rest and is lighter in weight. I actually think I shot that gun faster and better than my 38 supercomp. GREAT!!! I had to deal with that little fact in my mind and push past it. The USPSA match was OK. I really would have liked to have been a dominate force at that match but I wasn't. I had a 2 mikes, 2 no shoots that dampened my performance. The dot was jumping pretty significantly on the second shot spreading my shots. My charlie / delta count was up more than I would like. I'll be going to the range today to address the timing thing one more time. I'm just going to shoot rounds and watch the sight and learn. The reality is this: I'm going to shoot the gun I've got with the ammo I've got I can only be as good as I am I can only shoot as fast as I see When I return from the range today there will be NO MORE thoughts on my ammo or my gun's performance. It is what it is and the gun will only be as good as I think it is. Therefore, I'll be talking like a NASCR driver about both from here on out. Probably should have been talking positive all along. I don't learn to good or quick. ** I decided to edit the bullet experiment. Edited September 8, 2008 by Calamity Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeMartens Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 You have got your gun, your ammo and your "boots", that is all you need to march in and do battle. Go shoot YOUR match You are trained for it oh and have fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EatMeerkats Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Yep, you've got a gun that runs with your ammo, and all your training from this summer behind you. Now just get out there and SHOOT! We'll be cheering you on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notasccrmom Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Good Luck at Nationals Mrs. Ball. Let it rip. +1 Be sure to have fun too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar_guy04 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Good Luck at Nationals Mrs. Ball. Let it rip. +1 Be sure to have fun too! Yeh, what these guys said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Take the laptop. We expect daily reports about how things are going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Take the laptop. We expect daily reports about how things are going. OK Coach...it only seems fair to give you daily updates since we are leaving you behind. Wish you were going with us. I had a moment of intense clarity as I walked out of Walmart this morning. I'm going to Tulsa to face fear and then kick it's A$$! Game face on! A$$ kicking boots packed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidball Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 9/10/8 9:31 Central Time Calamity has assigned me to do the update duties. She is completely focused on the match and cannot be distracted. We arrived at the range around noon today. We made half of the trip last night, stayed in Rolla, MO overnight, and completed the journey this morning. The weather was overcast and we experienced light rain on and off all afternoon. The forecast for the next three days is a 60%+ chance of rain each day. Another wet week in Tulsa. We spent a couple of hours looking over tomorrow's stages. We start on the bigger, more complicated field courses. Lots of required shooting positions, activated targets, tight and/or long shots (including a 30 yard head shot protected by a no shoot) and a VERY muddy track. CJ's coach and mentor, David Re arrived around 4pm and we reviewed stages with him. CJ is confident about her game plan and likes her strategies for the stages. We spent the evening preparing equipment, settling in at the hotel (Candlewood Suites - very nice) and getting ready for tomorrow. CJ has hit the sack while I finish this post and watch the Cubs (hopefully) hang on to their 4 -1 lead (we are in the bottom of the 8th). I am proud of how Jane has been faithful to her journey and finished her training in a strong fashion. I anticipate an outstanding match for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopalong Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Have fun on the final leg of the trip !!! Oh, and having just shot that match. Shoot A's first. good luck CJ. HOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Moore Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Keep us posted Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidball Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I has been quite a day. I’ll do the best I can to cover it. The biggest event of the day was the rain. CJ went third or fourth on the first stage (she was scheduled to go second but we had a couple of shoot throughs). I followed her. We had no choice in the matter of shooting order because of the implementation of the Palm scoring system (see below). When I completed my run on our first stage, I was the last shooter in our squad to shoot targets without bags the rest of the day. The first couple of stages it drizzled on and off and occasionally reached a steady rain. The already muddy track became swampy with several inches of mud or standing water everywhere. Naturally, the shooting areas took the worst beating. We arrived at our fourth stage to find the squad in front of us going through their walk-through. Apparently, the squad in front of them had four re-shoots, primarily due to not resetting activators. Once the squad in front of us began shooting, they had a re-shoot, a calibration and at least one range equipment failure. We waited almost two hours to begin shooting the stage. During this period there were several lengthy periods (30+ minutes) of all out downpours. By the time we shot the stage (maybe the most difficult of the match), the entire range was a swamp with 3-6 inches of water or mud everywhere. We had to watch where our squadmates dropped magazines because they would literally disappear under the muddy standing water. We had to “fish” for magazines several times. The rains stopped as we finished our fifth stage and only sprinkled a bit on our last (sixth) stage. But the damage was done. The range, which features all grass bays (not a stitch of gravel anywhere) looks like Lambeau field in November after three consecutive Bears-Packers games played in constant rain. Palm scoring. We found out on our first stage that our stickers were only needed to place a single one in our chrono bags. We would be using the new hand held system. This means that shooting order would be alphabetical. We could rotate who went first on each stage, but the order was set by the system. We also would not get carbon copies of our scoring, at least not ones that listed each target. At the end of the stage, the perforated summary sheet was given to the squad. Each competitor got a listing of the number of alphas, charlies, etc. that he/she received on the stage on a one inch high by 8.5 inch wide strip. Something to get used to. Site in. Dave Re decided he wanted to check his zero before we got started. CJ and I decided to tag along and check ours as well. The match had a steel metric target set up in the chrono bay at about 25 yards. CJ launched 10 rounds at it and missed 10 times – all to the right. We weren’t sure what to think as she had sited in almost continuously for weeks. We decided 15 minutes before the match was not the time to start fiddling with it, attributed it to nerves jerking the shots and went on. This was a mistake. Although she had no paper misses on the first two stages, she had to hold off of steel poppers (all of which were 20+ yards away) to the left, after executing several misses. She headed back to chrono, put the gun on a rest and saw that it was shooting about 18 inches right at 25 yards. She adjusted the gun and was back to herself, mowing down steel for the next three stages. However, with four shots left on our fifth stage, THE LENS ON HER CMORE FELL OUT. Not on the ground, but pivoted 90 degrees so it was on edge as she looked at it. She finished the stage indexing the gun and did not score a mike. She then had the Range Master contacted and switched to her backup – Jacksons .40 open gun. Our next and final stage was only 10 rounds, but included 2 targets at 30 yards – head shots only (well, maybe a little upper chest) protected by a no-shoot. She nailed the stage with a gun she had only limited recent experience with. Overall, it was a very challenging day for all of us, but especially CJ. The stages we difficult by any standard. I have already mentioned the distant steel which also appeared on all of the first five stages. I am sure that well over 50% of the targets on our stages today had strong no-shoot coverages. Mikes and no-shoots everywhere. We shot under the worst conditions I have ever experienced, including last year’s nationals. And we shot virtually everything through bags. We had to adjust to the Palm system. Backups and delays on stages. Throw in CJ’s site in and Cmore issues, and, well, grown men could have been brought to tears. But not CJ. She remained determined and positive through out. Not a single discouraging word. She addressed each challenge as it presented itself and defeated it. She still has not shed a tear. She hasn’t even come close. I think the best moment of the day was when CJ was switching out her gun at the safe table under the supervision of the Range Master. By this time we were all soaked to the bone and covered in mud from head to toe. From our knees down were layers of caked mud. A guy comes up to the safe table and wants to use it because he is beginning the afternoon session which is already running 3 hours behind schedule. CJ tells him to hang on a second, she is switching out guns in order to finish her final stage. He says something snide about not wanting to wait BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO GET HIS SHOES ALL MUDDY! Unbelievable. CJ held her tongue – well, mostly – and then went on about her business. We are fortunate to have a great squad, mostly Texans, who keep a positive attitude and a jocular spirit. Two days to go. Rain is forecast and we are under a flash flood warning. Should be interesting. I’ll keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AikiDale Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Thanks for the update Dave. What a challenge! I can only think of one thing to say: Bears 29 Colts 13. Hang in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Sounds like you could use a good jon boat. The lens falling out probably explains the scope troubles for the past month. Maybe, just maybe, September is not the right time of the year at Tulsa. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Moore Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Way to keep your heads above the water (pun intended). Do the best you can and come home with another experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopalong Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Rock ON Jane !!!!!! You are already a true Champ for what you soldiered through today !!!! (Bump in the road on that Journey) You are one of my HEROs' Hopalong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBarnes101 Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Way to go Jane and David. Keep your heads above water! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capizzo Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I can certainly confirm everything Dave said above, I'm lucky enough to be squaded with them, and the "jocular" Texans. Jane had about the most miserable day as a competitor I can imagine, but was intent on hanging in there and fighting through it. Class act all the way. But let me say something about Dave also, his support, concern and encouraging attitude is impressive as well. So Dave, say something encouraging to me too would ya, I'm getting my ass kicked by girls ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 So Dave, say something encouraging to me too would ya, I'm getting my ass kicked by girls ! That's funny right there! (And as long as Jane's kicking your butt --- don't expect too much sympathy from us; you could have worked that hard..... :P ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catfish Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Best thing I saw Jane do all day was shoot the last stage of the day after switching to a new gun - she smoked it! And with 4 of the toughest shots of the day got all her hits. Pretty cool stuff! See ya'll at the mud bath soon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidball Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 9/12/8 9:26pm CST Today was certainly a better day in all respects. The weather started out lightly overcast but changed to mostly sunny for almost the entire day. Temperatures were warm and humid but not oppressive. The range started the day as a mud pit but conditions improved in many (but not all) of the bays as the day wore on. We started the day early as we were in no mood to look at stages after yesterdays shooting. We arrived at the range at about 9:30 to look over the stages we would shoot both Friday and Saturday. We quickly became aware of several things. First, the weather for Saturday looks bad, very bad. 90% chance of rain and possible high winds. Range staff spent much of the day driving metal fence posts in the ground to attach canopies to in anticipation of more rough weather. Second, match management wisely decided to get as much shooting in today as possible. The morning squads shot straight through until the afternoon session starting time (1:00pm) and got an extra stage or two in. Then we were informed we would shoot until dark, which we did. We got two extra stages in and have five (in four bays) to shoot in the morning. Finally, there is a rumor that if any more rain of any significance falls, at least one stage will be tossed because it will be under water. CJ did a little victory dance upon hearing this as it is one of the stages she shot with the bad Cmore. Calamity Jane had a solid day shooting a backup gun. She had a couple of less than stellar runs (one because she tried to get “clever” with a plan), but solid nonetheless. She also had a couple of “wow” runs. Overall she was steady and was able to (finally) “just shoot”. The backup gun ran flawlessly and made major at chrono, although that was touch and go. NONE of the first three bullets had the expected (and required) velocity. All three of the next bullets made major. I had chronoed them at 173 pf at home, but they had not been as rigorously tested as her main gun. Needless to say that caused my heart to stop for a moment. Our squad is bonding nicely and we are having a good time, even if we are not all shooting up to our expectations. Making new friends and getting to know old ones better is one of the greatest aspects of our sport. Tomorrow could be another adventure. I may not get a post up Saturday as we may be shooting and then scooting to avoid confronting Ike. I’ll finish my job by Sunday one way or the other. Haven’t seen the guy who didn’t want to get muddy on Thursday. Al – I didn’t see your post until this (Friday) evening. I’ll do my best to be encouraging in the face of gettting whooped by the girls. Believe me, I’ve been there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidball Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Sunday 9/14/8 1pm EST Although overnight rains returned the range to the poor conditions we started with on Friday, Saturday's weather held until we finished the match. Calamity Jane finished her match strong. And while she did not score as well as she had hoped, her shooting was defined by focused aggression. She attacked the courses of fire and exhibited the depth of skill she has trained so hard to acquire over the last two years. She had a couple of more "wow" runs, the last of which was marred by a mike on a partial target that was well-protected by, you guessed it, a no shoot. Despite the weather, it was a very good week at Nationals. We were a part of an awesome squad. Jane and I had the best time together we have ever had at a match. And we both experienced moments of "greatness" in our shooting (Jane more than me, and neither of us as much as we would have liked). On the 10 hour drive home (ahead of Ike) we talked a little bit about where her journey would go from here. Calamity is going to take a couple of months off and then decide what the plan and goals are for 2009. Jane will be posting again on Monday, after she has a chance to decompress. I know that everyone that has read this diary and especially those that have posted in it have been an important part of her journey and that she appreciates all of the help and encouragement you have provided. Over and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catfish Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Jane did really great! I feel fairly confident I heard her name mentioned as "stage winner" for one of the stages.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopalong Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 She's more than a "stage winner" in my book ! Dave, you and her just "chill" for a while. Hop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 She had a couple of more "wow" runs One of those - Stage 8 - was a stage win, BTW... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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