Bulls Eye, I got one X..

Yesterday 4/10 was a day of firsts for this Ol'Fat Guy. I went too my first Bulls Eye clinic/Match down in Tacoma and boy did I have a blast, and humbling experience as well. I have always considered myself a better than avg. shooter, I've played gun games before and then it dawned on me before the class even started. I said too myself, You Big Dummy this game is played with one hand now what have you done. Ahhh no problem If they can do it, so can I nnooo sweet!


For starters, The clinic was actually pretty good(class). Two very cool instructors that didn't have the High Master shooting "GOD" attitude. One of the first questions asked was who has competitive experience NRA or CMP no one raised there hand but Me. I was told the line commands and scoring is the same so you have a leg up over the new people after that forget what I know rifles are a very different animal, would I be willing too help score the others too help keep the flow going. Sure not a problem was my reply.

Now this was two 30rds National Matches fired at 25yds, first was a warm up and second was for your personal glory. 60rds doesn't sound like much but my arm was tired in the end. My forearm, tricep and deltoid are sore if you can believe that and my hand is just tired for griping all that fist of 1911a1 furry in .45acp we like too all call old slab sides. I wish I could report my stellar above avg. scores but sadly they were not so stellar infact they were in the basement.

So now you guys are wanting too know how did Phil do on his first go around, how high did he set the bar your asking yourself. Not very high, a big fat whopping 122-Goose Egg X count. I had such high hopes I would smoke everyone.... CRUSHED NOT HAPPENING. I got killed by a 12yo shooting a .22 from a starship troopers looking thing. Now, would it be wrong for me too admit I took silent pleasure in peppering him with hot .45 brass?

Round #2. I showed improvement, but not much I fired a 146-1X. This time they upped the pace like it was a real Match.

Anyway that was my day, how was yours........

Don't feel bad. My first match was awful. For every shot in the black I had one off the target! This forum is a great place to learn.

I think most of us had similar starting experience and, good for you pelting that obnoxious kid with brass!

I strongly recommend starting with 22 to get a grip on the fundamentals before going with the 1911.

For anyone who sticks to the game of bullseye, sooner or later they have to put their egos in their back pockets. Once that is accomplished, the game becomes much more fun and they start to improve.

My ego is a well used door mat when it comes to stepping up to the line.
You can shoot for score, entertainment, or self improvement...but not usually all at the same time.

Well played Steve!

Great job and continue to focus on the positives like that 1st X

It took me several matches to get all shots on paper and many more to get them all in the scoring rings.  I started out just shooting for fun, developed some bad habits along the way then got serious.  A couple of surgeries slowed me down a little but I'm back on track and having a blast.

Simplified milestones for beginning bullseye shooters.  
1-4 in BOLD  aren't goals they are the outcome of executing the good fundamentals listed after them.
1) All shots on paper.  Start working on fundamentals, stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control.  Poor trigger control (jerk) #1 reason for off paper shots.
2) All shots in scoring rings.  Improving on above , developing shot process and better focus, grip is consistent and any trigger jerks are now less violent
3) All shots in black.  Still improving and trigger control is now very consistent and it's becoming more a mental game
4) All shots in 9 ring or better. Continued improvement and now knowing when NOT to shoot is key - 95+% mental.

- Dave

Dry fire, a lot - but learn how to get the max out of dry firing.  Just pulling the trigger can really create some bad habits.

Check out Working the Trigger Part 1 & 2
http://tonybrong.blogspot.com/2014/05/working-trigger-part-1.html?view=sidebar

http://tonybrong.blogspot.com/2014/05/working-trigger-part-2.html?view=sidebar

If your serious about improving/training check out:
http://www.brianzins.com/wp-content/uploads/USMCPistolTeamWorkbook.pdf

I had a Great Time and will do it again and again, for starters I know my biggest #1 problem is time management this being my first time I was a little O.k. alot amped up and fired way too fast. The miss's I had were on paper but just outside the scoring rings.

So, I promise more practice and slowing down, the next score will be higher than the last one.

Thanks for the links, I will check them out.

Two things... 
1) I heard what dronning said as "On, On, In, In"  On paper, On repair center, In the black, In the 10 ring.
2) That poor kid was just shooting... None-the-less, he got to learn that other peoples brass is HIS problem.  If flying brass bothers distracts, get a screen!
Welcome!
Glen

Too funny, I was going to post something similar on the 1911 forum.  He has the same thread over there as well.   I think the OP will find this is the better place for gouge, with the exception of knuckle heads like myself.

dronning wrote:Great job and continue to focus on the positives like that 1st X

It took me several matches to get all shots on paper and many more to get them all in the scoring rings.  I started out just shooting for fun, developed some bad habits along the way then got serious.  A couple of surgeries slowed me down a little but I'm back on track and having a blast.

Simplified milestones for beginning bullseye shooters.  
1-4 in BOLD  aren't goals they are the outcome of executing the good fundamentals listed after them.
1) All shots on paper.  Start working on fundamentals, stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control.  Poor trigger control (jerk) #1 reason for off paper shots.
2) All shots in scoring rings.  Improving on above , developing shot process and better focus, grip is consistent and any trigger jerks are now less violent
3) All shots in black.  Still improving and trigger control is now very consistent and it's becoming more a mental game
4) All shots in 9 ring or better. Continued improvement and now knowing when NOT to shoot is key - 95+