Practice sessions

[WDB]

When giong to the range for practice do most of you take a mag warm up or start evaluating from the first mag? I assume that goin at it from the first shot would give a better idea of where you stand since this is more match like. Have seen both and been advised both.

[Matt Cheely]

Do you shoot a match warm? Not likely. I start practicing cold, right from the start.

[Micah]

I always have a plan for what I want to work on before I hit the range...these are usually things that I have identified from dryfire or previous club matches.

Saul Kirsch has an amazing matrix that you can use to decide what needs the most work...and I seem to recall XRe posting something similar recently...

Found it...HERE.

[AlamoShooter]

Each match and each practice you only get one chance to find out what you can do "Cold". We do a rifle shoot too and I like to find out what I can knock down on my cold run, as that match only has one rifle stage for me as part of the team.

At a hand gun match at 8am on Smoke and Hope cold, or 4pm after shooting all day my times have closed to with-in 10% and I am happy with that.

IF you don't know what the difference is in your cold times to wormed up times = You should find out. or the other guy will be taking home the wood.

Information is power and that is part of all the games worth playing

Edited December 18, 2007 by AlamoShooter

[Jman]

I attend my regularly scheduled live fire practice every 6 to 12 months, without fail. Yes, to warm up I fire 10-10 round groups from a solid bag rest at 25 yards. Then, 100 free-style at 15 yards. 70 unsupported weak hand and 30 strong hand only at 15 yards. That's it. I'm ready to dominate the old, blind and physical disabled veterans at Rio Salado.

Seriously, slow group shooting is a great "warm up" to the speed drills. It get me back in time with the gun.

Jim M

[Kingman]

I try to start every practice with a set of aimed shots concentrating on trigger pull and sight alignment.

Then go into my drills.

[BSeevers]

I usually try to do something like a stage run or drill cold and evaluate and go from there. The idea is to get your "fastest ever" runs closer to your cold run. That's what the sport is about. Doing it on demand.

[Chris Keen]

Amen brother Bill

[JFD]

I normally shoot complicated stages and always start off cold. After that I'll move to drills.

[joseywales]

I'll usually warmup by doing a few dryfire draws, empty mag reloads - like I would do in the safe area before a match.

Then run an El Prez cold and note the time/points. Afterwards, I'll get going with whatever practice routine I've lined out for the session.

[D-Man]

Do you shoot a match warm? Not likely. I start practicing cold, right from the start.

I have tried getting a quick 30-50 round session in that morning before heading out to the match, but haven't been able to tell if it helped, hurt, or niether.

I did feel "More Gooder" about everything however, and THAT always helps.

I am going to keep trying to make this happen when practical until I see a result either Pos or Neg.

[shred]

in practice I always start out shooting a group to make sure the gun is sighted in and end by shooting a group to make sure the gun is still sighted in. Not only is group shooting good for you, it gives you a little confidence boost when you pull the gun out of the bag the morning of the match knowing it's hitting where it's supposed to.

[Religious Shooter]

I dryfire first. I will do a drill dry at least 10 times. Then I confirm with live fire 1 - 5 times depending on if I feel I need (more) work on that skill. I think doing it this way saves $$$.

I think evaluation at every practice session is just a drag. It takes time and energy that I unfortunately don't have in abundance. I'd rather have more time burning in the skill than spending time looking and writing down my times.

I don't "evaluate" in every practice session. I just like doing... It is what it is. But after three to five practice sessions I'll do some evaluation.

[Jake Di Vita]

I always start by dry firing (which I do at a match too) and then shoot a group. After that I'll start working on drills and recording them immediately.

[basman]

Same as at a match. Dry fire draws and reloads in the safe area. I'm going to add some easy streaching this year.

[Religious Shooter]

You are asking for trouble if you are doing or miming reloads in the safe area.

[Johann the Horrible]

I have to say I also start shooting groups at long distance and then get to my program. I always go to the range with a program and this I build from the previous match. (Unfortunately I try and work out why it went wrong so badly). Even if I learn nothing from it(and I always learn a lot) it is still time shooting and shooting is so much more fun than working!