Took Part in a Shooting Match This Sunday - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 04-15-2013, 12:33 AM

Figured I'd post what I got up to this weekend. At least on Sunday.

It was an M1 Carbine match at the Joe Foss shooting Complex in Buckeye AZ. There were seven of us who showed up but only two were shooting M1 carbines and I had a Mauser K98. I was the left most target shooting at 100 yards. The range at which the carbines shot. The rest shot the targets further away at 200 because they were shooting Garands and M14's etc.

First string was 10 rounds prone in five minutes. I scored 88 percent. Not too bad.

Second string was 10 rounds prone from standing in 60 seconds. Not as good but still, not awful. Managed 75 percent.

Third string was 10 sitting or kneeling from standing again in 60 seconds. This is where I came unstuck. 60 percent. Disasterous. I might as well have thrown the bullets down range.

Last string was 10 rounds in ten minutes off hand (standing). I was really disappointed with this. I manged 69 percent but I know I could have done a lot better if I hadn't lost concentration. I just couldn't stay "in the zone". Couldn't keep it steady and kept pulling the shots and flinching. I did far better when I was practicing last month.

At least I didn't completely disgrace myself. I came 6th out of 7. Managing 292 out of 400 for 73 percent. Last place was about 260. It was fun though. Looking forward to the next one coming up in June...

- Peter.

FYVMMF · #2 04-15-2013, 01:14 AM

Well all things considered that looks like 40 dead Indians to me. I think those targets are 6 1/2" at the 9 ring so just about every shot was a core body hit unless the target was one of those skinny guys from Biafra!

When you're in the zone you feel it, when you're not it's very difficult to think yourself into it, that's why practice is so important. It becomes second nature to adjust into what feels right.

Plus you're shooting 100 year old iron so you don't have the advantage of staying locked in the groove like a semi-auto shooter does, they get to set up a firing position subject basically to recoil only you've got to move around to work the action that adds a lot of variability to things.

After the basic mechanics of any position breath control is the most important, your breathing sets up the rhythm so you can anticipate where you're going to be on the target as you squeeze off that shot. You can't stop the physics of sight picture wander but you can tame it and anticipate it and in doing so become more consistent at shot placement.

pj67coll · #3 04-15-2013, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FYVMMF

Well all things considered that looks like 40 dead Indians to me. I think those targets are 6 1/2" at the 9 ring so just about every shot was a core body hit unless the target was one of those skinny guys from Biafra!

When you're in the zone you feel it, when you're not it's very difficult to think yourself into it, that's why practice is so important. It becomes second nature to adjust into what feels right.

Plus you're shooting 100 year old iron so you don't have the advantage of staying locked in the groove like a semi-auto shooter does, they get to set up a firing position subject basically to recoil only you've got to move around to work the action that adds a lot of variability to things.

After the basic mechanics of any position breath control is the most important, your breathing sets up the rhythm so you can anticipate where you're going to be on the target as you squeeze off that shot. You can't stop the physics of sight picture wander but you can tame it and anticipate it and in doing so become more consistent at shot placement.

All true. Actually I was the only bolt action on the line. Everyone else had some form of Semi-auto. But despite that I managed to keep up the rate of fire to stay even with them. The only problem being less time to actually take the shot. This was only my second actual match. The first one being almost six years ago now so I have a lot of catching up to do to get back into it. As you say. Practice...

- Peter.

t walgamuth · #4 04-15-2013, 06:27 AM

Shooting a heavy caliber rifle like that is always tough with the recoil. Worse of course with a bolt rifle. The flinching probably gets worse as you get tired and sore.

100 yards with iron sights is pretty far.

Glad you had fun!

jplinville · #5 04-15-2013, 06:37 AM

I'd be happy with those numbers and times with 6 years between actual matches.

The more lead you send down range, the better you get...that's a given.

I can't imagine sending out 10 in 60 seconds with my Mosin. The bolt get harder to open and cycle as it heats up. By the 10th round, you almost need a 2X4 block to get it open. How the Russians took Germany during the battle of Stalingrad with that weapon was pretty amazing.

Stretch · #6 04-15-2013, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

All true. Actually I was the only bolt action on the line. Everyone else had some form of Semi-auto. But despite that I managed to keep up the rate of fire to stay even with them. The only problem being less time to actually take the shot. This was only my second actual match. The first one being almost six years ago now so I have a lot of catching up to do to get back into it. As you say. Practice...

- Peter.

Was it also a race then? If so you were at a disadvantage. If it wasn't a race you should have taken your time. Don't give in to peer group pressure!

layback40 · #7 04-15-2013, 09:17 AM

Hey Peter, you need to post the best of them up on your front gate with a note saying "if you want to be next, just come in uninvited !"

elchivito · #8 04-15-2013, 09:19 AM

Good numbers considering. Frequent and consistent practice is key. It's better to shoot a dozen rounds once a week than a hundred rounds once a month, no matter the weapon.

pj67coll · #9 04-15-2013, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

I can't imagine sending out 10 in 60 seconds with my Mosin. The bolt get harder to open and cycle as it heats up. By the 10th round, you almost need a 2X4 block to get it open. How the Russians took Germany during the battle of Stalingrad with that weapon was pretty amazing.

I orignally intended to shoot one of my Mosins, a 91/59 carbine. But when I was practicing with it it was clear that getting 10 rounds out in 60 seconds was a physical impossibility and as the middle two strings of fire were 60 second strings that meant I was going to use the Mauser.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #10 04-15-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Was it also a race then? If so you were at a disadvantage. If it wasn't a race you should have taken your time. Don't give in to peer group pressure!

The strings are all timed. First and last are fine with five minutes and ten minutes to shoot ten rounds respectively but the middle two are ten in 60 seconds which is intense having to reload in the middle of it. I thought about not bothering with the reload and trying for five well aimed shots in each quickfire section but that means I'm losing out on half my potential points scoring so in the end it's probably better to try and get all the rounds in if you can.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #11 04-15-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Good numbers considering. Frequent and consistent practice is key. It's better to shoot a dozen rounds once a week than a hundred rounds once a month, no matter the weapon.

Yes. But unfortunately we don't all have the luxury of walking out our back door and blasting away.

- Peter.

Air&Road · #12 04-15-2013, 10:59 AM

el is right. Shooting is INDEED one of those things that requires practice. That practice is also sort of like keeping a garden. It is best to do a little bit of work EVERY day, rather than a bunch of work in ONE day.

elchivito · #13 04-15-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Yes. But unfortunately we don't all have the luxury of walking out our back door and blasting away.

- Peter.

A laser bore sight is your BFF. You can practice in the backyard and not use up any ammo. I sit around dry firing my pistols with laser cartridges in the evening. Wife hates it.

Mike D · #14 04-15-2013, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Yes. But unfortunately we don't all have the luxury of walking out our back door and blasting away.

- Peter.

Just give our state legislators a little more time!

pj67coll · #15 04-15-2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

A laser bore sight is your BFF. You can practice in the backyard and not use up any ammo. I sit around dry firing my pistols with laser cartridges in the evening. Wife hates it.

Tell me more. How does that work? I've never heard of a laser cartridge and can you get them for 8mm Mauser?

- Peter.