Formula for team shooting success

[Erik Cortina]

“What makes Team Lapua-Brux-Borden so strong?” I asked myself as I was holding the steering wheel on the way back home from 2018 Berger Southwest Nationals.

Maybe it’s the top notch team members?
In individual matches, last year we had one member in second place at BSWN. At FCWC in Canada, we had two members in top 10. Two members were also members of the gold winning Rutlan Cup team.
In 2017, we had one team member tie the 1,000 yard National record of 200-17X. At 2017 F-Class Nationals, we had two members in top 3 and all attending members in top 8. This year at Berger SWN, we had a member win and another in 3rd place and we had three members in top 10.

Maybe it’s our equipment?
We are sponsored by some of the best manufacturers in the industry (Lapua, Borden, Brux, Cerus), so our equipment is top notch. We maintain it well and it always performs as expected.
But that can’t be it. Many of the other teams have great shooters and great equipment as well, so there must be something else.

Maybe it’s our wind coach?
Although we have an excellent wind coach, other teams have World class coaches as well. What is it then?

It finally came to me. We have learned to shoot as a team and our only focus is the success of the team. This year we had one of our scheduled shooters step down because he felt the non-shooter had a better shooting rifle. The shooter that replaced him posted one of the highest scores on the team. Another member used his individual matches to “test” wind conditions to gather data for the team and tested different loads to make sure he had the best load for the team match. Another team member shot multiple rifles during individual matches to sort out the best one for the team match. Our team members share load information and techniques with the rest of the team that have improved our rifles accuracy. They know it will increase the teams chance of winning, but at same time decrease their chance of winning an individual match because all of the team members will know their “secret”. But none of that matters to them as long as the team succeeds.

That is what has made our team very successful. We have learned to shoot and function as a team, and that is what team shooting is all about.

Team Lapua-Borden-Brux
2016 BSWN Champions
2017 BSWN Champions
Broke 1,000 yard BSWN team records in 2015, 2016, and 2017
2017 Midrange National Champions
2017 Long Range National Champions

Team Lapua-Brux-Borden members:
Bob Sebold
Tod Hendricks
Pat Scully
Steve Harp
Jay Christopherson
Erik Cortina

Team sponsors:
Lapua
Brux barrels
Borden Rifles
Cerus Rifleworks

 

[mkokopuff@comcast.net]

Very well said Eric.

 

[Joe Salt]

Eric you are right! If I had all that going for me I'd be down right dangerous.

Joe Salt

 

[ShootDots]

Erik, I think it is the cumulative effect of all your observations combined! I don't think it is any ONE thing. Y'all have some of the best equipment>>>others have great equipment too. BUT is ALL their equipment at peak performance when the match is on? Y'all have excellent shooters and all contribute to "the cause". Not EVERY team, even the really good ones have ALL their members as excellent shooters. The "Wind Coaches". When I saw that wind call after waiting better than 20 minutes for conditions to change that never did, and it came up a 10, I was VERY, VERY impressed at that call! Few, if any others, would have or could have made THAT call! Then "acting as a team". That is of vital importance! There is no doubt that your team operates as ONE UNIT! That is hard to overcome. Although, I don't think it rests just on that point>>> I believe it is the combination of ALL of those attributes working in unison, is what sets your team apart! It's like a 3 legged stool, take any one leg off and the stool will not stand!

 

[Bamban]

Back in 98 I shot in the Scotland Championship in Blair Atholl. Over some pints and malts after the match on Saturday, the older shooters were giving me a hard time for being from the US, the only one in the match. One thing I remember from what they said was this when we talked about international shooting, "You Yanks are a team of champions, but not a championship team"

 

[BP1]

Very well said,I would always choose to win as a team over individual just means more to me.

 

[BIG D]

I've watched and shot against and with 2 of these team members in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Pat Scully and Bob Sebold. Over the course of many years I have set my goals to be competitive against these guys. Not much success as far as points go. They usually trump me in the end. Although I have gained success because I consider both Pat and Bob close friends. They have helped me become a better shooter, reloader, conditions reader and all around competitor. I only first met the rest of this great teams members at 2016 f class nationals and then again at 2017 f class nationals both which were held in Lodi Wisconsin (Bobs home range). I've had small talk with every team member and they are all top level guys, as shooters and in general. It takes team work to be a team. These guys have all the fundamentals and what it takes to be a great team. Not only that they swallow their pride and do what it takes to win. That's what puts them at the top of their sport. Great job team lapua, Brux, Borden on your past wins and keep raising the bar as individuals and as a team because you make me and many others press ourselves to become better at this sport that all draws us together. Thank you.

 

[Erud]

You Lapua/Brux guys definitely have a good thing going. Team shooting is different, and good teams need to be team-focused. You clearly are that. Sadly, for most shooters in the USA, the team match is just something that gets thrown together in the afternoon after the important match is over. I wish it wasn’t that way.

 

[spclark]

You Lapua/Brux guys definitely have a good thing going. Team shooting is different, and good teams need to be team-focused. You clearly are that. Sadly, for most shooters in the USA, the team match is just something that gets thrown together in the afternoon after the important match is over. I wish it wasn’t that way.

Hard to overcome (though not impossible, as Team Brux proves) the inescapable fact that team efforts here have to deal with vastly greater handicaps of time + distance (= $$$$) for travel than almost anywhere else, save maybe for Canada.

That the distance between coasts here is close to 3,000 miles (Seattle WA to Norfolk VA) compared to about 500 miles between London & Dundee (half the distance from where I am in WI to Raton NM) certainly affects what kind of numbers can engage in a sustained effort.

I'd have to think a more regional approach would help move things in a direction we'd benefit from? Overcoming what is a 'national' state of mind may take some doing.

 

[Erud]

Steve,
I’m not even talking about the national level. Most shooters in general are not that interested in shooting team events. At a lot of the MN matches, we are lucky to get 3 or 4 2-person “teams” after a match with 30 or more shooters.

 

[effendude]

You Lapua/Brux guys definitely have a good thing going. Team shooting is different, and good teams need to be team-focused. You clearly are that. Sadly, for most shooters in the USA, the team match is just something that gets thrown together in the afternoon after the important match is over. I wish it wasn’t that way.

I'd love it if the team match was first in the am. We would have more participation.
Scott

 

[jim1903a1]

Erik, you're describing what is called in project management a "high performing team." You've led your team to the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Getting to that level is every good leader's goal and it's a real pleasure for every team member. Truly a case where the total is greater than the sum of the it's parts. My favorite part of Spirit of America was the three days of team matches, wish we had more of that.

 

[Bob Sebold]

It is the TEAM thing. These guys save their best ammo for the team match. If you watch, we act like the US team, helping guys off the point, advise, loads etc. One thing I thought that was really impressive and not brought up was Pat Scully. We have 5 shooters and myself when we have the full team as we did at BSW. That means somebody has to sit out. Jay got the short straw and said he would step out. We take turns on this when everybody shows up. First time it happened tho. Pat's gun was shooting awesome as usual, but Jay was absolutely on fire, so he stepped down so Jay could shoot. I do not know to many shooters that shoot as good as Pat that would have the ego to that. That is why we won, by one thin point! Not many shooters with that big a set of brass balls! Just my opinion.

Bob

 

[Erik Cortina]

It is the TEAM thing. These guys save their best ammo for the team match. If you watch, we act like the US team, helping guys off the point, advise, loads etc. One thing I thought that was really impressive and not brought up was Pat Scully. We have 5 shooters and myself when we have the full team as we did at BSW. That means somebody has to sit out. Jay got the short straw and said he would step out. We take turns on this when everybody shows up. First time it happened tho. Pat's gun was shooting awesome as usual, but Jay was absolutely on fire, so he stepped down so Jay could shoot. I do not know to many shooters that shoot as good as Pat that would have the ego to that. That is why we won, by one thin point! Not many shooters with that big a set of brass balls! Just my opinion.

Bob

I agree Bob. If I was asked to select the Team MVP at BSWN 2018, I would no doubt pick Pat Scully.

 

[Immike]

I agree Bob. If I was asked to select the Team MVP at BSWN 2018, I would no doubt pick Pat Scully.

He was working the line during palma practice on Sunday also...Congratulations guys!

 

[Joe Silvia]

Great dialog! It hasn't really changed much in the 40Yrs I've listened. Same things being said.
Most of the Big Mil teams in Traditional XC and LR operate in the proper way because of their structure. Everyone knows its about TEAM success. Americans are wired for individual orientation. Hard to get everyone on the same page.
It's as much about attitude as it is performance!