Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 10:21 AM

Yeah, I do that too... but my sights are _always_ on target. Its just that the "target" continually changes position relative to the bulls eye in a seemingly random fashion.

Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 11:26 AM

I wonder about that... it seems a fair number of high power shooters (and bullseye, for that matter) do that, with great success. When I'm shooting well, I end up having a similar cadence... bang! recoil, recover and breathe, let it out, front sight rises to 6 o'clock bang! repeat. Bullseye shooters seem to do it as well.

Of course, I could be doing it all wrong, and could be all wrong about what other folks are doing... but it seems like you build a good position initially, and trust (but verify! front sight!) that your natural point of aim is right. So, if you let the gun go back to where your position wants it, then have the same cadence for your breathing and trigger pull, the shots will go in the same place. (and you practice building your position consistently so the place your shots go is the place you're aimed)

I guess I'll have to pay attention to that, now. You've got me curious. and my scores will probably suck as a result of thinking too hard. :) Okay, fine, they'll suck *more* than usual.

Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 11:37 AM

AughtSix, I can understand getting into a cadence of aim and I think that's what normally happens to me. But I wonder how many other people simply shoot because "it's time"?

Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 1:45 PM

yep - I've also noticed how two people shooting at opposite ends of the range will sometimes get into a rhythm with each other.

Bang, blam, bang, blam, bang, blam...

Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 4:02 PM

Breda, I've noticed that as well. It happens all the time, except when Robb is shooting his "DEAR GOD WHAT WAS THAT" .357 rounds. Then the rest of the range is silent.

Rolled Out On: 1/9/2008 5:52 PM

I guess my shooting discipline never fell into a pattern. I was taught "sight, breathe, relax, hold, steady, steady, squueeezze...bang!". If the target was shaking, the trigger was relaxed and the process repeated until the sight picture was settled.

I'll do rapid fire as a test of rapid acquisition and shooting. That's the only time I shoot in a pattern, letting the shot fly as soon as the crosshair or sights fall on the center of the target. I've gotten weird looks from folks as I am cycling a bolt action rifle as fast as I can get a good sight picture. About one a second.

I guess I'm just funny. I was told to focus on getting a good sight picture and letting that process be consistent. The folks that can do that with metronome precision and good accuracy are experienced shooters. I long to be that good.

Rolled Out On: 1/10/2008 3:42 PM

The hardest thing about shooting competitively was/is not taking the shot.

You absolutely want to get into a pattern, and then just pull the trigger when it's time; and that's all well and good to a certain point. The master shooters are the ones who have enough discipline to stop their finger when the shot isn't right, even if it violates their pattern.

That's the thing about shooting bullseye for competition; patterns themselves are good, because you want every shot to be exactly the same. My coach at the Academy used to say that you "want to create a pattern of repeatable excellence"; which I guess meant "if it works keep doing it". So once you've got your pattern, the hard part is having the discipline to break that pattern if something isn't right.