Wow what a humbling experience.

Shoot my first full NRA bullseye match tonight. These guys ate me for lunch at 50 feet. One guy was shooting a Russian made 22 that looked like it came out of the junk yard. The most ugly pistol I ever saw. He kept all the bullets in the black. I did better with the pardini 22 than with the 45. Iron sights on the 45. Still learning. Lol . I think I am going to stick with the 22 only.

The Russian made pistol might have been an Baikal IZH35M? Yea, they aren't pretty, but boy are they accurate.

The Russian pistol was ugly and so were the grips. Look like it was run over with a truck. Lol

Russian forging!

Being humbled is part of getting into BE. Most "handgun guys" that just go to the range blasting away thinking they're great pistol shooters really have no clue. Learning to shoot BE will turn you into a legit handgun shooter over time. Enjoy the journey.

Did you mean 50 yards, or feet?


Some wise person in this forum posted something long ago:

Shoot practice as if it's a match, and
Shoot matches as it if's practice.


Ignore the score, just shoot the way your normally do, and continue with practice, both live fire, and dry fire.  Your only "competitor is you, at your previous match".   You should see the improvement, if you're working at it.

50 feet

If you don't shoot 50 foot targets all the time they will have no problem letting you see what an error looks like.

Closer does NOT equal easier  

The really humbling thing about Bullseye is when you discover that all of those "greatest ever" guns that we read about in G&A or wherever turn out to be mediocre (at best) when you try them in Precision Pistol competition. Then you buy a serious Bullseye gun and all of the bullets are in one hole!

I bought all of my "dream" pistols, then got serious about Bullseye, sold almost all of them and, whilst I've subsequently bought a load more, now I only buy stuff that is proven to be accurate and capable for this specific sport.

And I've got the Pardini T-shirt!

Of course, the next big humbling experience is to try to actually get your body and head to perform as well as the unquestionably accurate gun and ammo!

Welcome to Bullseye!

Cheers,

P.S. +1 Steve Samlelak - 50 foot range does not mean easier - whilst there are many other issues which make 50 yard outdoor Slow Fire challenging, if you can keep them all in the black on the standard 50 feet targets indoor then you are doing quite OK and it will serve you well for when you do venture on to a full outdoor course.

I love taking a good pistol shot to a Bullseye match.  I loan them the gun and ammo, but still hear excuses.   Younger folks these days want to show up and be the best.  It does not work that way.  It takes determination to become a good shot.  Its a Discipline, not just a hobby.  I love  the sport.  Have been shooting Bullseye since 1987.  I shoot Sporter rifle and steel bowling pins also. 

Its you against the target.  No matter what every one else shoots.   Just hang around this message board and keep practicing.   

This not golf, don't go to a match and get up tight because you did not do well, figure out what you can do to improve.  My latest is trying to get the shot off as the buzzer sounds at my 50 foot indoor range.  

Shoot both center fire and rimfire.  Each one will help the other.  After  shooting the 45, the 22 seems like a pop gun.   22 teaches trigger control and is cheaper to practice.

Enjoy the sport.  Have fun!
David

David R wrote:.......Its you against the target.  No matter what every one else shoots........

That is so true, but so difficult to remember...    I used to race radio control cars, and I had a reasonable amount of skill, and during the regular club races, I finished near the top.  Then a special race came, and while I drove just as well as I had been doing, I got whomped by the championship drivers who came out for the big race.  

I learned my lesson; see how well I could do (lap times, etc.), and try to improve - and most importantly, NOT judge how well I did by where I finished in the standings.

'smsnyder', if you go to a match and 20 or so beginners show up, you might leave the match thinking you're a hero, because you were the best.  But if you come back the next day, and 20 or so experts show up, and you shoot just as well as before, you'll likely finish at the bottom of the heap based on the skill of the experienced shooters.



Better not to judge yourself based on how others do, but instead compare your performance with your previous times, and try to continue to improve over time.  "...no matter what everyone else shoots".

I love bullyeye shooting. I shot registered trap for 15 years. It took me many years to win events and break perfect 100 straight scores. I just need to practice bulleye shooting a lot more at my age of 68. Its better than sitting home getting fat and watching TV. LOL.   I can say one think about the Pardini 22. Its has the best trigger I ever shot. Thanks a bunch guys.

Hmm, I just turned 76 a few weeks ago.  I try not to think about that.  :-)

Can you safely dry-fire your Pardini?

If your going to dry fire the pardini, get the pardini dry fire plug.  

with a empty magazine inserted, the plug will stay in place as you cycle the bolt.

My first ever match was Canton Regional. I was 2 spaces over from Brian Zins and I shot the 3rd lowest score of the weekend. Talk about humbling..... Its definitely a journey.

STEVE SAMELAK wrote:If you don't shoot 50 foot targets all the time they will have no problem letting you see what an error looks like.

Closer does NOT equal easier  

Especially with a .22. Tiny holes, tiny scoring rings.

My first targets look like a hit them with buckshot . LOL

smsnyder wrote:My first targets look like a hit them with buckshot . LOL

My first shot was a 10. My second shot was off the target. My fiirst year goal was 270 shots on target:)

As was mine. Right now my goal is 270 shots within the repair center.

Humbling just gets you headed in the right direction. When I look back at my first year scores I shudder. but I didn't and basically resolved to keep getting better. Don't be deterred when you plateau once in a while. Just keep doing it. Keep it fun or you won't.

weber1b wrote:Humbling just gets you headed in the right direction. When I look back at my first year scores I shudder. but I didn't and basically resolved to keep getting better. Don't be deterred when you plateau once in a while. Just keep doing it. Keep it fun or you won't.

The fun factor is vital.

orpheoet wrote:My first ever match was Canton Regional. I was 2 spaces over from Brian Zins and I shot the 3rd lowest score of the weekend. Talk about humbling..... Its definitely a journey.

You picked the right match to be humbled! You prob started in the days when the AMU brought something like 30 or more shooters, the Marines, and the All Guard also shooting. 1st page of results were all 2600's and more on the 2nd.

It was one of the best BE Matches existing (And still is I'm sure) and so much FUN, just great to be a part of. So many great people yr after yr. Any of you on this forum who has not been there and can make it, do so. You will never regret it, never mind your score!

Ron Habegger

mikemyers wrote:Did you mean 50 yards, or feet?


Some wise person in this forum posted something long ago:

Shoot practice as if it's a match, and
Shoot matches as it if's practice.


Ignore the score, just shoot the way your normally do, and continue with practice, both live fire, and dry fire.  Your only "competitor is you, at your previous match".   You should see the improvement, if you're working at it.

Musashi said, "1000 cuts in the morning, 100 cuts at night." Or shoot 10 times the rounds in training for matches.

Those Russian pistols are on steroids.