Stuff I learned at my first outdoor 2700 match

Just finished my first registered match and it was a full 2700.  Highlight of the day was a 100-5x target in 22 timed fire, the rest were (cough) not as good as that.  Still I had fun, and there are a few things that I have learned between practicing for the past month and a half and at the match.

1) Practicing at 50ft really doesn't prepare you for 25/50 yards
The 50ft Reduced Targets (B-2 and B-3) are great, and have helped a lot in my practice since the range I have easily available is indoor with just about 50ft.  Unfortunately, for me, shooting the full outdoor 25/50 yard targets (B-6 and B-8 ) was a big adjustment.  All of the same things apply, but it was just a lot more challenging.

2) 2700 is a long, long match
When I go to the range to practice, I normally spend an hour or so, and shoot less than 100 rounds overall.  I have some goal, which I can normally work through in that amount of time/rounds.  That is a far cry from the 270 shots you need to complete a full match. During the 45 portion, I was definitely getting fatigued and my scores reflect this. What I learned is that I needed to have a few practice sessions that lasted hours, so would be prepared.  Of course it didn't help that it was 93 degrees and 80%+ humidity, but that is "just getting started" weather here Texas.

3) You don't need much, but there are a few essentials
I am still gathering the all of the stuff that people normally have at the match, so I had just the basics: guns, ammo, magazines, ECI (empty chamber indicator), eyes and ears. This worked out fine, except for a few things that I didn't really understand ahead of time: a stapler and ivory target patches.  You will need the stapler to put on a center target (B-6/8C) on the board for every target you shoot, and you need the ivory patches to cover the holes you shoot outside of the center target.  Just an extra $15 and I would have been much more prepared and self sufficient.  Thank goodness for one of the experienced guys at the match -- he really help me get through it, *and* was happy to share his stapler & patches.  (I'll need to buy an extra box, since i'm sure that I used a sizable portion out of his!)

I took patches but they were the wrong color but found out that masking tape works better.  I was told on here that the patches can fall off and also with all I need tape is cheaper.

Way to go making it through a 2700 for the first match I don't think I can make it through one.  My right knee hurts bad after the RF match.  I was beat after 180 shots but at my age I guess I should be happy with that.

Good job with the cleaned target I still am trying to break 91. LOL   Don

Greetings,

Forget the Ivory pasters. Go to your local store and by a roll of 3M masking tape.

Handy for pasting holes and a small piece on your shooting glasses is helpful also.

Cheers,

Dave

I don't know if mine is 3M if was what they were selling at the range.  What I like about it is you can see the scoring lines through it.  When i practice I may have 90 holes in a target and a big share of them get covered with tape.  Don

If you keep them on the repair center you don't need pasters. I stop carrying them a while ago

Chris Miceli wrote:If you keep them on the repair center you don't need pasters. I stop carrying them a while ago

That is only when shooting matches.  I repair the heck out of a repair center when I practice.  Sounds like the OP is not going to be using up his patches very fast with cleaning a target.  BTW I even patch the black but those patches last me a long time.  Don

Yeah, you need to bring pasters or masking tape, in case MA or HM shooters need to use them

If you've only shot indoors, there are a few extra things you need for a 2700. Just off the top of my head,
Stapler
Staples
Clipboard
Pen
Pasters
Scoring overlay
Stool
Water bottle
Snacks
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Raincoat

http//www.starreloaders.com/edhall/lists.html

john bickar wrote:Yeah, you need to bring pasters or masking tape, in case MA or HM shooters need to use them

So true, the difference between a Master and an Expert?   An Expert carries pasters,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,A Master borrows pasters.

I learned that I like 1800s a lot better, but then, I'm getting older.

I look forward to the day I no longer have to carry pasters, might be 10 years though lol. On a good day I'm down to using 10 or so. I shot with the AMU guys at Columbia one day an even they occasionally miss the repair center, they usually just tear off a section of the last target and staple over the target.

Paul,

I enjoyed shooting with you Sunday.  You can bring pasters next time.  I'll try not to use them.

Congrats on that 100/5.  It took me 7-8 months to get my first in a match.  I shot two cleans back to back but haven't repeated it since.

Thanks man. It was a blast and thank you again for helping me through the first match!