Tell us what you learned from trainers in 2010

[TOP PREDATOR]

with the end of the year coming, i thought it would be interesting to share what we learned from our trainers in 2010.

we have the competition learning thread, but i thought i'd throw this one out there...

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

1. a shorter barrel on a regular or pencil barreled rifle increases accurracy with not a big loss in FPS.

2. i'm more consistant and comfortable in the long run getting "straight behind the rifle".

3. better control of eye dominance - using both eyes open

4. homemade trigger job on trigger (pen spring)

5. a better judgement on wind, trajectory, and ranging.

6. better use of different shooting positions - sitting, prone, offhand, kneeling.

7. able to shoot support side more effectively, if need be.

8. when it comes to ammo sorting - rim thickness seems better at shorter ranges (50 yards), weighing more effective at 100 and beyond.

9. test a small lot of a new purchase of ammo before integrating it into your established stock - make sure it isn't defective.

10. lessons learned with the rimfire transfers very well over to centerfires, even more than i assumed.

 

[HathcockProtege]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

Thanks for the post, TP. I need to get involved in this online competition. Just been too stinking busy with school.

 

[Oodin]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I learned one thing: patience. My centerfire builds are going to take even longer...

 

[FoxtrotBravo]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

A .223 shoots like a BB gun after shooting .45-70 black powder!

 

[SmallBoreSnipers]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I could shoot it just as good as I could in 2009.

 

[Iggy]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

1. Good trainers don't come cheap, but are cheap to shoot.
2. Way more fun than I thought.
3. Shooting 22 requires the same bipod loading and fundamental discipline as the 308.
4. I can better read wind.
5. Fun and difficult to shoot at 300 yards, which makes home ranges more fun.

Big and little

 

[mtm87tx]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I learned they are so cheap to shoot and so fun I sold my 308 because i never shot it. 250 yrds with 22 is a good time

 

[bohem]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

Most of TP's experiences I had, though I did find out that I can hit ISPC torso's at 400yd with reasonable reliability from a Marlin 25N.

Super Colibri 20gr ammo does an awesome job penetrating into squirrels, even at 85yd, though be prepared to hold a good bit from the 15yd zero with that ammo.

UKD skills that are taught through 22 only matches at distances out to 300yd is something that we're working on making a regular test at my club, this was brought about through my experiences with my 22 training.

 

[SmallBoreSnipers]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

Actually I will say that I got much better at shooting without a rear bag (since they are not allowed in the long range comps). I was able to really get a control over being shaky, which is tough for me. Now a lot of times I just shoot without a bag for the fun of it.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

^^^^ me too, forgot about that one.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I learned to never say never:
"I will never spend $1000 on a 22 rifle."
I also learned there is something far more fun than IHMSA competition. Hitting steel at 200M with a 22 trainer is the most fun I have had in years.

 

[FoxtrotBravo]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FoxtrotBravo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A .223 shoots like a BB gun after shooting .45-70 black powder!

</div></div>

The above is a true, recent experience, but seriously...

- As I said in another thread, I learned that you can shoot at long range with a .22LR using a calculated approach. Thanks to you guys that helped me get there!
- I was surprised just how quiet subsonic ammo is! The first shot, I had to check for a bullet in the barrel!
- Those holes are hard to see at 200 yards!

 

[Toddcal13]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I learned that I need to practice a lot more!

 

[J_Roger]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

I learned that patience is key to proper training when behind your trainer, and that the pursuit of perfection should be focused on for m as well as equipment.

 

[kombayotch]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

-100 yard testing of ammo is a waste of time. A lot of ammo that performed reasonably well at 100 yards, did not do well at 200 yards. Ammo that did well at 200 yards usually still did well at 300 yards. Any vertical that showed up at 100 yards was greatly amplified at 200 and beyond. Test long range ammo at long range!

-Shoot test groups with a large enough number of shots for the flyers to manifest themselves. It only takes a couple shots dropping out or flying high to ruin a good score.

-Test ammo in cold weather. Some ammo (Wolf MT) really falls apart in freezing weather...

-Snap up good lots when you find them, even if they aren't very big. Matches don't require a ton of ammo, and there are usually sighter shots and sometimes a sighting in period where dope can be derived.

 

[1911.it]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

1. 22 trainers are really fun to shoot.

2. Wind has a big effect on results.

3. 200 yds minimum range.

4. Ammo makes a big difference. At least in my rifle ;-)

5. I don't have to reload.

6. It's way cheaper and quicker to go to the range.

7. Shooting thousands of practice rounds burns in muscle memory for the long range gun.

8. "You're shooting a 22 and hitting those little targets at 200 yards??" Priceless!

And most of all... 22 trainers are really fun to shoot!

 

[kdelnort]

Re: What we learned from our trainer in 2010....

To get started one needs patience and a lot of money.