LL not happening for me

Just when I was starting to feel good about my groups indoors with both the 22 and 45 I ventured to the outdoor range and shot the LL this morning.  Both guns needed a 50yrd sight in but that is not going to happen the way I am shooting.  I could get better groups with 00 Buck shot out of my 12 Ga.  More dry fire but I thought that was looking petty good.  Big wobble at 50 yards.  I will try just supporting the arm next week to get sighted in.  Don

Hang in there !

At least your out shooting!!!

My mentor once told me two things about 50 yard shooting: "You can lose a tournament at any distance but they are won at 50 yards." And "50 yards separates the boys from the men." That second was not ment to be insulting at all - he'd tell me that, jokingly, on my most frustrating days at 50 yards and remind me that it won't come easily but when it does the tough journey would have made me into the shooter thats deserving of the reward the hard work had earned.

50 yard shooting takes a focus level that drove me nuts to start noticing and seeing. The ability to drown out the world around you. Focus on the shot process 100%. Commit yourself entirely to that one shot. The breathing. The knowledge of what looks bad and when it's time to abort that shot. Letting the shot happen on its own and not forcing it - worrying about score, point value or X. Just a dot or sights and the target. Pressure, then bang. Smooth. Start to finish uninterrupted. A performance in itself.

The "wobble" is the same size, 25 or 50.  But holding the gun in the correct alignment (parallel with the intended line of flight) versus actual wobble; ah, there's the rub.  That inverse square law affecting the shot dispersion will get you every time.  So, just remember the distance to the target does not matter, only the distance from the breech to the muzzle matters.   What I mean is that everything (well, +99%) that affects the location of the bullet hole on the target happens at the gun.

50 yards will really show how we are actually managing the orientation of the gun versus the natural wobble zone.  Stand arm's length away from the wall pointing your gun at a 1 inch circle on the wall.  Does you're wobble leave the circle?  Probably not.  

Then it ain't the wobble, its the orientation of the gun when the shot breaks that is the issue.   Find a way to fix that, then don't worry about the wobble.  

(Easier said than done, but that's what we have to work on every day And that's what dryfiring is all about.)

CR

Don, have you tried SF at 25 yards v 50?  I have heard some say it is more difficult

I just recently tried practicing SF at 25 yards using the correct target (B16). So far, I seem to shoot better scores at 25 yards v the B8 target at 50.  Bummer since the matches I attend all shoot SF at 50 Yards.  

Good excuse for more practice I guess.
.

gregbenner wrote:Don, have you tried SF at 25 yards v 50?  I have heard some say it is more difficult

I just recently tried practicing SF at 25 yards using the correct target (B16). So far, I seem to shoot better scores at 25 yards v the B8 target at 50.  Bummer since the matches I attend all shoot SF at 50 Yards.  

Good excuse for more practice I guess.
.

Greg I do better at 25yds but I do most of my practice, 4 times a week, indoors.  I shoot either 15yds, 50ft and 20yds.  Normally I been just working on getting them all in the black shooting at 20yd targets.  What surprises me is difference another 5yds makes.  You would like our club shoots the first Sunday each month as it is SF at 25yds and TF/RF at 15yds.  All three of those using the 25yd target.   It is some kind of Police course.  I have yet to shoot a 1800 and the way I am shooting I am going to need some improvement at 50yds first.  I don't care that no body cares what my score is I do.  If I am shooting low 80s then I am ready.  These people shooting BE are great and they are all helpful.  Maybe I just have to much pride and should just suck it up and shoot.  Don

The only way to learn to shoot the long line is to shoot the long line.

Once a week I will make a point to shoot both lines. Don

Magload. wrote:Greg I do better at 25yds but I do most of my practice, 4 times a week, indoors.  I shoot either 15yds, 50ft and 20yds.  ........................ You would like our club shoots the first Sunday each month as it is SF at 25yds and TF/RF at 15yds.  All three of those using the 25yd target.   It is some kind of Police course.  I have yet to shoot a 1800 and the way I am shooting I am going to need some improvement at 50yds first. ............................  Don

 The club match is a modified FOP match at 15/25 yards. It is an 1800.  It will give you timing and confidence to shoot a regular NRA outdoor match.  If you want to do well at the outdoor matches drop all that indoor stuff at different distances and lighting conditions. You need to get used to the conditions outdoors. Besides that ventilation is better outside, less air quality problems.  Concentrate on the club match to learn the cadence and "the game" then reach out for the long line.

Dpgrump wrote:

Magload. wrote:Greg I do better at 25yds but I do most of my practice, 4 times a week, indoors.  I shoot either 15yds, 50ft and 20yds.  ........................ You would like our club shoots the first Sunday each month as it is SF at 25yds and TF/RF at 15yds.  All three of those using the 25yd target.   It is some kind of Police course.  I have yet to shoot a 1800 and the way I am shooting I am going to need some improvement at 50yds first. ............................  Don

 The club match is a modified FOP match at 15/25 yards. It is an 1800.  It will give you timing and confidence to shoot a regular NRA outdoor match.  If you want to do well at the outdoor matches drop all that indoor stuff at different distances and lighting conditions. You need to get used to the conditions outdoors. Besides that ventilation is better outside, less air quality problems.  Concentrate on the club match to learn the cadence and "the game" then reach out for the long line.

I will be there this coming Sunday again.  I have to get to the outdoor range probably Wed to check my 25 yd sightings on both guns.  I think my 20yd sighting will be close enough.  Nice to see another local BE shooter on here.  Don

Wobbley wrote:The only way to learn to shoot the long line is to shoot the long line.

I don't think so- unless you can put 20 shots in a row in the 10 ring at 25 yds. Maybe then do some 50 yd work. "Practicing" at 50 yds is a waste of time. Much better to TRAIN at 25 yds.

PHILIP HEMPHILL TAUGHT US IN PPC CLASS. DON'T PRACTICE THE LONG LINE TILL YOUR CLEANING THE SHORT LINE. "TRAIN" TO CLEAN THE SHORT LINE. YES, "YOU WIN IT AT THE LONG LINE, BUT YOU LOSE IT ON THE SHORT LINE" WAS HIS MOTTO. AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY , DOESN'T THE ZIN'S WORK BOOK SHOOT ALL THE TRAINING TARGETS AT 25 YDS? IF YOU SHOOT  CLEAN SHORT, AND DO NOTHING DIFFERENT AT 50, EVERYTHING SHOULD IN THE BLACK. JP

JIMPGOV wrote:PHILIP HEMPHILL TAUGHT US IN PPC CLASS. DON'T PRACTICE THE LONG LINE TILL YOUR CLEANING THE SHORT LINE. "TRAIN" TO CLEAN THE SHORT LINE. YES, "YOU WIN IT AT THE LONG LINE, BUT YOU LOSE IT ON THE SHORT LINE" WAS HIS MOTTO. AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY , DOESN'T THE ZIN'S WORK BOOK SHOOT ALL THE TRAINING TARGETS AT 25 YDS? IF YOU SHOOT  CLEAN SHORT, AND DO NOTHING DIFFERENT AT 50, EVERYTHING SHOULD IN THE BLACK. JP

JP that is the way I am looking at it.  If I can't shoot it at 25 I am probably not going to be able to shoot good at 50.  As far as that goes fundamentals can be learned at 10yds indoors.  Just scale the black and learn to shoot every shot in it.  Don