Makeup Steel Challenge Match...

Today was the makeup date for the rescheduled July Steel Challenge match at ENGC. We had 25 shooters (Well, 26 initially, but one quit two stages in---I must admit, I don't understand that. If you aren't shooting well, stopping isn't going to make you better. Since you've already paid the fee, why not stay, not worry about placing, and work on better accuracy/timing/speed?) covering pretty much every division.

In Production, Dennis, Zeeb, Shawn, and I were all shooting, and we were squadded together---so (not trying to be immodest) it was fun to watch everyone check each other's score to see who was going to win Production.

Today went GREAT. Let me say that again---it was FANTASTIC. Pretty much all day, I shot to my level. Watching the videos, I don't think I shot better than I normally do, nor faster---I just consistently shot like I am able to. On all stages.

I wish I could have shot like that at Area 3!

Here's a video of my shooting today:



I won! High Overall! Beating three high-level Open division shooters! Two A-level and one Master class! (Enough exclamation points there, do you think?) Even better, they all said that it wasn't that they had a bad day---they had thought their day went pretty well.

Excellent!

Of course, we have a regular pistol match in one week, and another steel match in 3 weeks---so we'll see if I can do it again. :)

Looking at the video a couple more times, I see some things I can work on. (Not surprising---there are actually a LOT of things I need to work on.) First off, more dryfire practice--basic trigger control, don't-move-the-gun, stand there and click again and again, dryfire practice. I haven't been doing that, and it shows.

I was out shooting the other day (for once), and after shooting a string, dry fired once, and the pistol dipped about 3 inches. Ug! My trigger control is slipping badly. So, dryfire practice.

The other thing I'm probably going to practice (because I will probably only be able to get to the range once before the next steel match) is my draw/first shot speed. I seem to have two gears---either I do both slowly, or both quickly. What I'd like to get solid on is drawing quickly, then carefully taking that first shot. In the video, I'd draw fast and take a fast first shot--often missing, or draw slowly and take a slow first show, often hitting--but having the whole process be S L O W.

I need to smooth my draw and make it faster, then make sure I take the time to aim before the first shot. So, more dryfire practice of a different style. Mostly, once that first shot is done, I do all right. But if that first shot is bad, I tend to keep making bad shots until I settle down. Rather not do that...

So, dryfire practice it is...

Julie was out shooting today, and she had fun. She might even come and shoot the pistol match next Sunday. Both she and Ardi are currently planning on coming to the next steel match in three weeks---I'm going to make everyone buy NHA Firearms shirts/hats and wear them to the match. Team NHA! :)

What do you think?