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Practice

neeltburn

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 23, 2013
446
119
South Western Indiana
What does everyone do to prepare for matches? Out side of shooting from a bench or prone? I realized a long time ago I need to work on the outside the box skills but what can you do when you only have access to a 100yd range on daily basis? Right now my plan is to work on Sling supported Standing, Sitting and kneeling. What tips do you guys have?
 
Like you said practice your slung positions, and if the matches in your area are especially cruel then practice support side slung as well. Any kind of makeshift barricade you can make will help as well. Practice reading wind!!!!!
 
Set up small targets and practice shooting off barricades under the clock. My biggest thing is being able to build a position and get on target under the clock.
 
I do a lot of positional dry firing at home from sitting kneeing and standing both strong and support side with and with out a sling. When at the range I try to find something to use as a barricade... be that a chair, lumber or what ever and use it and shoot both strong and support side.
 
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Some other good ideas:

1 - Check your gear thoroughly. Everything torqued down tight to spec?

2 - Make sure you have the best zero possible.

3 - Test the lot of ammo you are going to use. Nothing smarts quite like arriving and finding out that your loads won't chamber.

4 - Don't come up with any great ideas or changes right before the match.

--Fargo007
 
I think focus on endurance is important. running to shoot is a frequent thing and hinders your shot if not practiced
 
I think focus on endurance is important. running to shoot is a frequent thing and hinders your shot if not practiced

Amen to that jkk. I've seen great shooters completely fall apart because they had to run further and faster than they wanted to, and couldn't get their act back together.

Physical fitness helps ALL areas of your life improve. Shooting is no exception. A two day match can take a lot out of you. If you don't have a lot to start with, you'll be one of the first to start burning the candle at both ends.

--Fargo007
 
i would recommend what most above have mentioned. barricades, slung, cardio. i would also throw in some dot drill and KYL with a 1", .5",.3" dots or something similar. with reduced targets this will acomplish what you will see at matches except for the wind.
 
Stop shooting groups and shoot each shot at its own dot (ie the Impact Data Books 21 dot drill target). A .22 trainer rifle is a godsend for working the fundamentals. Work them over and over until they are burned in your subconscious. It makes everything else easier when you don't have to think about shooting. Lets you worry about other things like memorizing holdovers and targets for a stage or remembering those damn KIMS games. And what everyone else said.
 
Like most already said sling up for positional, barricades, dot drills and do some support side shooting and prone positional building. From prone fire one, get up run back for another round, get prone again, fire one on a different dot and repeat for 5 or 10 rounds or 2 minutes.
 
Thanks guys, working on getting parts together to start a match rifle build, but I want also want to step up my training to make some of the matches I want to get to next year.


Sent from my IPhone 5S.
 
There is alot you can do without any range, but of course actual distance shooting is the best form of practice. Have you developed a mental program? This is a mental checklist of things you need to do before shooting, for example:

1. Know course of fire/shooting solution:
a. Locate targets and range using rangefinder, reticle, or provided distances
b. Examine wind clues and estimate in data book
c. Write this down in data book (order of shots, distances, elev/windage adjustments) or develop very good memory skills
2. Come up with initial plan for positions: off barricade, under log, whatever -- have this understood in advance and practice if allowed
3. Preload magazines for expected course of fire, have a couple backups ready just in case
4. Set sling for position needed
5. Remove scope caps
6. Dial first elev/wind settings
7. Take position and scope all targets again (if possible) to ensure you can find them quickly under the clock
8. Position rear bag
9. Execute the shooting solution

This is just an example, you need to develop your own checklist which may include additional steps if you have other equipment, such as tripods, range finders, etc. You should run through this mental checklist before firing, even dry firing at home. Get in the habit of running through it (with imaginary data if at home). Actually do each step that you can -- load mags (dummies at home), removing scope covers, dialing, etc. so that it becomes a smooth fluid process. Practice until you get to the point where you intuitively feel "something is missing" if you have forgotten a step.
 
I've never shot a competition but am looking to shoot one soon.

I'm not sure if this would help but seems useful. When bored at the house I will take up all sorts of weird positional shooting and aim out windows at stuff like cracks in brick houses or something really small to practice dry firing and running the bolt. Maybe something to do when your bored at home.