What happened?

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

I finally got to the range today. I was awful. I put about 18 shots in the black at 25 yards and surrounded the x ring. Not one shot in the middle. Went out to 50 yards and the first off hand shot was in the x. I said great maybe I'm improving. Well the next 2 shots were an inch apart side by side at 6 oclock. I'm blaming the weather it was cold and rainy. But my poor performance was likely due to lack of practice. I've only been to the range twice since the CLA show. I think I need to take the advice of Scadden (forget his first name) you know, "shoot more, Shoot more often"

[Bull Shannon]

We all have our "off" days, I don't know why but just take them in stride and try and remember those other days when you just couldn't miss and were in the "zone".

What were you shooting?

[hanshi]

You got it right, Bull3540.  I've had off days so bad I'd only get 3 or 4 shots on the paper at 25 yds!  Then the next week I'd shoot head-swelling good.  Moon phases?

[Bull Shannon]

Who knows?  Maybe bad air, locusts or pollen, those days just seem to happen without ryme or reason. 

[LH]

Two days of shooting in two months aint enough to keep you tuned up even a little bit.  Trigger control and position go away fast when you dont shoot. 

[Daryl]

Offhand practise in the basement in inclement weather with a pellet rifle is good for the breathing, sight alignment and trigger control practise.

[Jerry V Lape]

Something many shooters ignore is dry fire practice.  Having shot with and having coached small bore championship collegiate rifle teams, I firmly believe in dry fire practice.  Teaches trigger control, follow through (really important for muzzleloaders), flinch resistance and the rhythm of the sights in the firing positions. It does a lot for strength of muscles used in the firing positions too.  I tried to get the shooters to fire about a ten dry fires for every live fire.  Had a pretty good impact on scores.

[PPatch]

I firmly believe in dry fire practice.

I firmly believe this Jerry - Dry firing is essential if you want to stay in the game. Off days happen to everyone Micah, shooting is such a Zen thing and everyday is not zen day. On the other hand some days it all comes together and those are fun and the off day quickly forgotten.

dp

[Pete G.]

1st thing that goes is the concentration of the follow through.

[jamesthomas]

 You got it! sometimes I've forgot about staying down on the rifle when shooting. Bad follow through results in bad shooting. I've been guilty of this a few times.    Two days ago I went shooting, did a lot better than last time because I remembered to stay down on the stock an follow through instead of lifting my head as soon as I shot.