PRS Talk New shooter timing out a lot

[grainy]

I've been to two matches and I have a big issue with time. I just ordered an Area 419 RCX which should hopefully cut down on the amount of bag handling I have to do.

That said, should I be focusing on moving through a stage faster, or should I focus on trying to get as many hits instead of rushing?

 

[Hotcoffee4all]

I've been to two matches and I have a big issue with time. I just ordered an Area 419 RCX which should hopefully cut down on the amount of bag handling I have to do.

That said, should I be focusing on moving through a stage faster, or should I focus on trying to get as many hits instead of rushing?

I’m a new shooter. Both to long range and PRS this year. I’ll Start with that. I timed out a lot at my first few matches until I started really really improving my pre-stage prep and focus(gear handling, data, etc.) and shooting the COF in my head and physically mimicking it through the shots on target before I get in the hole. It also improved my scores. Long way to go still.
ADDED: The adage of "Slow is smooth and Smooth is Fast" does actually work when I can combine it with what I also just mentioned.
A recent stage at Gunline's regional qualifier -

 

[Mongo68]

Get your hits. No point of 10 misses.
I timed out a lot at first too. Now I just miss a lot but have enough time Just have to get used to finding targets beforehand. Hopefully your squad is still coaching you with only a couple matches under your belt.

 

[Lightning8]

Get hits. You will speed up with experience

 

[giumau1]

Train more, suck less. Dry firing is gay, buy more ammo or make your own and shoot it. You can’t buy skill, stop buying shit buy once and cry once and then go shooting. Take a good course is one nice way to speed up things.
After thirty matches or so I still suck for my ambitions but improvement is continuous, it comes in steps.

 

[Hotcoffee4all]

I've been to two matches and I have a big issue with time. I just ordered an Area 419 RCX which should hopefully cut down on the amount of bag handling I have to do.

That said, should I be focusing on moving through a stage faster, or should I focus on trying to get as many hits instead of rushing?

If you ever need anything, got questions, wanna vent about the addiction...just reach out! Glad to help and pass along what I am learning and what other better shooters are teaching me along the way.

 

[SortOfClear]

Speed is lack of extra movement and motivation.
Write out a list of tasks you have to perform. Practice each task until your hands move without thinking, your making progress now.
Learn how much wobble is acceptable for hits. Perfectly still positioning is too slow for gaming.
Mock up a stage. Go slow thru it. From picking up your rifle thru last shot. Where do you have to stop & think? OODA loop it. What prep do you wish you had done? Stop and write it down, then keep moving thru stage.
Lots of Luck!

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I've been to two matches and I have a big issue with time. I just ordered an Area 419 RCX which should hopefully cut down on the amount of bag handling I have to do.

That said, should I be focusing on moving through a stage faster, or should I focus on trying to get as many hits instead of rushing?

Which yields a better score: fire four times and get three hits, or ten times and get zero hits?

I've watched so many newbies spend their practice time trying to shoot little groups or little targets from the bench or prone, doing little positional practice or ignoring it altogether. Then the timer beeps in a match and they implode.

Find a way to emulate whatever props you can, and practice transitioning across them WITH A TIMER running. Even doing that, you will need to gain experience knowing how to set up and run the stage based on "eyeballing" props immediately before. For example, my favorite match venue has a collection of concrete culvert pipes 2-5 feet in diameter that the MD rearranges every so often. One of those pipes will usually be pointed straight downrange; it's a solid modified-prone prop - except the "downrange" end will be several inches lower than the near end, so inexperienced shooters often plop their rig down and find their scope looking into the dirt a fraction of the distance toward the closest target - but if they set the bipod high enough for that position, what about the other pipes where the bipod might be too high? I also remember a match where the course of fire specified the sequence in which a set of targets was to be engaged from stacked tires... shooter could choose which tires to shoot from... and the shooter better realize up front that not all the targets could be seen from all the tires.

Ya just gotta get on the bike and pedal.

Here is an earlier post I made to a new competitor's thread that may be worth your while. I'm in my 7th year of PRS-style competition, with at least three dozen or so matches behind me. Still learning.

Good luck; enjoy the journey.

 

[scissorhands]

I've been to two matches and I have a big issue with time. I just ordered an Area 419 RCX which should hopefully cut down on the amount of bag handling I have to do.

That said, should I be focusing on moving through a stage faster, or should I focus on trying to get as many hits instead of rushing?

What's your biggest issue with time? Finding the target? Not knowing the course of fire? Dialing your dope? Figure out where you are loosing time and work on that.

 

[TubbyT223]

This is my first year too. Having an actual timer has helped me. I have it on my watch and I have a scientific timer I can put on my hat.

What do you think you are struggling with. What are you trying to work on?

One thing that has helped me is taking my prestige prep seriously. Getting on my binos and running the stage through that. Then going through each position in my head before the stage.

 

[Taylorbok]

IME most new shooters waste time acquiring targets, which is easy to practice and doesn't require you to actually shoot so it's free.

As mentioned no sense rushing through stages just to miss them all, focus on making good shots and you will naturally speed up with practice.

 

[Sheldon N]

IME most new shooters waste time acquiring targets, which is easy to practice and doesn't require you to actually shoot so it's free.

100% this. Speed is definitely not about moving fast or shooting fast. Speed is being accurate and efficient in getting into position and being on target in the scope.

The best shooter in our region (and one of the best in the nation) looks like he's moving slow when he shoots, but his body positioning and target acquisition is perfect so he actually gets through the course of fire quickly. Here's an old video of him that I found, but I'd argue he's an even better shooter now than he was back then.



Go get a 5' step ladder and dry fire a ton, getting good at getting into position and on target.

 

[The4GunGuy]

What's your biggest issue with time? Finding the target? Not knowing the course of fire? Dialing your dope? Figure out where you are loosing time and work on that.

^^^^^THIS is the way. The next match, ask someone to video you. You will quickly find where you need to focus. I have many videos on shooting specific stages in my library, but would ask you to start with this one on 5 basics for new shooters, and for that fact, all shooters. Scissorhands brings up a great point, in that if you don't know what's wrong, then you can't focus on making it right.

 

[grainy]

Thanks all, appreciate all the replies. Glad to hear I'm not the only that had to go through this.

I like the idea of practicing setting up positions at home, hadn't thought of that and will give it a try.

My biggest issue has been finding targets and then feeling like I'm stable enough to send it. One of my squad members suggested taking some sand out of my schmedium (heavy fill) and that helped a bit, but I don't think I took out nearly enough.

 

[Mongo68]

Thanks all, appreciate all the replies. Glad to hear I'm not the only that had to go through this.

I like the idea of practicing setting up positions at home, hadn't thought of that and will give it a try.

My biggest issue has been finding targets and then feeling like I'm stable enough to send it. One of my squad members suggested taking some sand out of my schmedium (heavy fill) and that helped a bit, but I don't think I took out nearly enough.

Definitely mess with your fill. They say they overfill so you can play with it. I changed mine out to mostly beads and some sand after a “field match” but I digress.
There’s a post on here somewhere about practice barricades at home. A ladder, back of couch, truck bed, etc will work. Also, consider a dfat if you don’t have the room outside ( or nosy ass neighbors).
It all helps.

 

[CK1.0]

The last couple of matches I’ve shot, I’ve literally tried to time-out rather than rushing shots, and for me it’s equaled more impacts.

Funny thing is, I think I actually only really timed-out on a stage or two, but finishing a stage with only 9 shots off and 8 or 9 impacts is way better than getting all 10 shots off with less impacts and lots of time left…

 

[Hotcoffee4all]

Thanks all, appreciate all the replies. Glad to hear I'm not the only that had to go through this.

I like the idea of practicing setting up positions at home, hadn't thought of that and will give it a try.

My biggest issue has been finding targets and then feeling like I'm stable enough to send it. One of my squad members suggested taking some sand out of my schmedium (heavy fill) and that helped a bit, but I don't think I took out nearly enough.

i use the free MDT targets off their site with the IDTS lens cap. Props are a couple of Stanley saw horses, step ladder. Step stools. kitchen island as a stand-in for rocks.

 

[OREGUN]

After thirty matches or so I still suck for my ambitions….

that might be because your advice to the OP is almost universally terrible.

@grainy:
Get better at target acquisition (dry fire is great for this). Choose a low scope magnification (15x at most) and DONT CHANGE IT ON THE CLOCK. Point the rifle at the target, look at the target as you transition to the scope. Do this until the target is in view 95% of the time. No need for live fire for this.

Take a class if you can. Close to PA? Go see Andy Slade. Let someone teach you how to build a solid positional shooting…position. Then practice (again, dry fire ALOT) until it’s second nature. Build a small three level barricade for dry fire use, use a tripod (tend to be more wobbly) or use whatever you have around the house. There are 1/4” dots on all the trees visible from my basement windows. If the weather sucks, I dry fire from inside. I have no neighbors. Ymmv.

DO NOT BREAK A SHOT THAT ISNT FUNDAMENTALLY PERFECT. You can’t miss fast enough to win. Take the time to build good positions, breathe, steady the gun and press the trigger. Practice this with tons of dry fire and live practice until you can shoot 1 MOA targets from any position at 100 yards. DO NOT USE A TIMER. It will only build subconscious “hurry-up” patterns that will haunt you later on. Just train yourself to make perfect shots not matter how long it takes at first. Once you can hit a 1” circle from any position, every time, you can worry about doing it in less than 15 seconds, or ten seconds, or whatever.

If you can find the targets and efficiently build a position, you will stop timing out. Or if you do, you will have made 8 good shots. If you can shoot 80% across a whole match, you will start to see podiums.

 

[CK1.0]

If you can find the targets and efficiently build a position, you will stop timing out. Or if you do, you will have made 8 good shots. If you can shoot 80% across a whole match…

I agree with this, especially the first part about finding targets.

It took me kind of a while to get decent at target acquisition and I still work at it. But, for me that’s where I needed and still need to put in the work, because the guys who are good are universally great at it, and it allows them to be very deliberate when they set down their guns and build a position, that’s what makes them fast.

I wish I could do more dry-fire, but honestly the best practice for me has been to stay off the damn bench. These days I try to get a build/break for almost every round I burn when practicing and even when I shank a shot I still get the reps of the target acquisition and building the position.

“Smooth is fast” is real but can take a minute lol.