Pulling Targets - READ

[falconpilot]

I thought that right now, before the Nationals would be a good time to have a discussion regarding pit service. As a competitor, I ALWAYS strive to give the absolute fastest, accurate target service as possible to the shooters. It's a matter of pride for me...by myself, I can generally have a target pulled, scored, marked and back in the air in less than 12-15 seconds. While I understand that not everyone is able to give this fast of service, you should still give it your very best...and your best doesn't include playing grab *** with the pretty lady pulling the target next to you, or talking it up with the boys. You best is playing attention to your target...watching the back stop for impact...if not back stop or a hole has been shoot into the ground making bullet impact hard to see, then watch your target(tip - don't push spotter up flush with target when spotting. Let it stand off a bit so if you have a good shooter who is hitting the spotter often, you can see the hole under the spotter while looking up at target)..learn your shooter..is he a fast shooter or a slow shooter...listening for your shooters round to pass overhead..if you pay attention(key), it's easy to tell your targets bullets from the target on both sides of you...tip...you can't hear it if your busy beating you gums and not paying attention!! Keep your hands on the target frame itself as most times, you can actually feel the bullet pass through the frame..ALWAYS wear glasses in the pits! When the winds are strong and switching, good pit service is all the more important!!!

I know that it seems that everyone should know all of this, but I can tell you that isn't the case from past experience! If you aren't willing to give the type target service shooters deserve, quit shooting and take up golf! There is NO EXCUSE for not providing the shooter with the best you can give! It's not right, nor is it fair to your fellow competitor to give anything less !!

 

[mattt]

+ 1000

 

[arkcomatt]

I fully agree. Coming from someone that has suffered from poor pit service on more than one occasion. Club matches are one thing. You expect to have new shooters from time to time that have not learned yet. But in major matches there should be a standard that is expected and that people are held too.

 

[ShootDots]

I think you are right on! I would like to make one addition.. At Bayou Rifles, we have cantilever target holders. When the wind is blowing either from the south BUT ESPECIALLY the North, the entire target frame moves up and down as the target board itself acts like a sail.. If you don't L-E-A-N into it, it will bob up and down, causing a score towards the 7 point ring! The target boards should remain as still as possible>>>or the shooter will suffer loss of points that was not his fault! Also, I for one, as I score a hit on the target, if I have to scrutinize the call, I just give the shooter the benefit of the doubt and he / she gets the higher score... That's my call..

 

[falconpilot]

Dead on Ben! Thanks for the input. I shoot a 9 myself at this past shoot because the target frame was swaying sideways. Going from 9 to 9 on either side..tried to out guess it..bad guess

I was shooting with arkcomatt in CA in 09 at the Nationals. His pit service was inexcusable, and I know it cost him points!

 

[Steve Blair]

It's a matter of pride for me...by myself, I can generally have a target pulled, scored, marked and back in the air in less than 12-15 seconds.

[br]
12-15 seconds, Jim? Really? Are you an older guy?

 

[falconpilot]

I'm trying to give benefit of doubt to everyone..I'd venture to say its faster ;D

 

[arkcomatt]

I agree. I know Jim gives faster service than that on average. occasionally things happen that slow it down to that range though. A shot close to the line and such. Usually under 10 is the norm. 15 or better is expected.

 

[Coolhand]

I could get a frame down scored pasted etc average 20 seconds. I had a routine where I used to stick pasters on the four fingers of my left hand and pull the frame with my right. Whilst I was relocating the spotter & score disc with my right hand , the left would paste out the previous shot.
On more than one occasion I would get 'target 9 Message 1' which is "turn target and mark" , I would answer back , its done Sir ! The shooter was too busy doing book work and the scorer asleep not to notice the target had been pulled and scored.
One time , they asked me to slow down. This is not me braggin on myself , if you are a shooter then you should provide the best possible target service to your fellow shooters, particularly, those shooters that do not dismount the rifle between shots, as I do , so fast target service is essential for keeping your rhythm and shooting in a " wind condition."
And the best thing you can do after a shoot is, if possible, find out who your marker was and buy him or her a cleansing ale or two, they will appreciate it !

regards
Mike.

 

[whatsthediff]

I see some very seasoned shooters on this feed, just remember everyone needs some correct training and some help even with something as simple as target pulling, next time maybe some help might go further than the complaints. Give of some of your years of shooting and take the time to explain the proper way to service the targets, I see some of the best shooters really get down on the new guy and yet nobody takes the time to train anyone correctly.
Just a thought
Don

 

[Cochran]

Jim
This subject was beat to death here not long ago. I think the only way to get close to decent service for at least most of the competitors is to have four relays with two pulling each target at the same time. Increases the odds that at least one of them will will try to give good service. There are some ranges that are just prone to errors but two pullers will help alot.
The other problem is newbies showing up to state,regional and national matches without club match experience

Don
newbies will get all the training they need if they try a couple of club matches before jumping into the deep end

Jeff

 

[whatsthediff]

Jeff,
I'm not defending poor service or going to the nationals without some club experience, just wanted to segest our best shooters can be the best trainers.
Don

 

[falconpilot]

Don

Not calling myself a "best shooter" by any stretch, but what I'm trying to do here is hoping that shooters, old and new will read this post and understand the importance of doing a good job in the pits. I request that anyone that read this post that has ideals or input to please pass it along.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Don

Not calling myself a "best shooter" by any stretch, but what I'm trying to do here is hoping that shooters, old and new will read this post and understand the importance of doing a good job in the pits. I request that anyone that read this post that has ideals or input to please pass it along.

Now we know who's NOT getting good pit service!

 

[johara1]

Jim, I guess even us old F**** know that, and i would say 15 is a long time. You are right about the BS. down there, just think of of the investment the shooter has in the match so i think he deserves the best you can do…….. jim

 

[ShootDots]

I was shooting at 1000 yards one time 2 years ago and I had a newbie fellow shooter pulling for me who had never pulled a target in his life. He was so slow that I was on "sighter #3" when most everyone else was on their 12th+ shot. Now here is the question: "Why, when the others finished WELL IN ADVANCE of me, did nobody go over and give him a hand"? I did not get mad at him, however, when he got back I gave him info on how I do it and the next time he pulled for me, he was pretty good.. We DO have to help the newbies out...

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have actually been timed while pulling targets and my average is 5 seconds. Fast shooters really like me and I like them as well because I'm done pulling targets faster.

When I'm done pulling targets, I walk down the line and try to help a new shooter out by showing him the difference good technique will make. Last weekend at the TSRA State match, I walked and showed some shooters how to pull targets and score. They would not listen and kept saying "We got it, we've been doing this already". To which I replied that they needed to improve their technique for faster service and also pay attention to increase their accuracy as they were missing many shots. Well, I turned it right back to them after pulling 6 times and guess what, nothing changed! They went back to doing exactly as before. I got pissed and walked away.

One more thing that burns me is when a shooter blows the spotter out and the puller yells "TARGET REPAIR" before they even pull the target down! What I do is grab new spotter, put a a couple of pasters in the hole and run target back up. While target is in the air, I'm putting pasters on all my fingers so I can finish repairing target on next shot. I just hate punishing a shooter for doing a good job!

 

[FatBoy]

I had a guy a few years ago who broke me if shooting 16+lbs rifles from a sling. He literally sat down for every shot. 45 seconds per shot was good service. I ended up getting an additional 10 minutes at a regional!

I don't know if it was this guys age/health (he was seasoned) or if he was just an self absorbed fellow, but I swore that day I would never screw someone like that. He apparently had a history of doing this so the club pulled him aside and told him if he didn't bring someone with him to work his target he was invited to not come back.

Sad that it comes to that, but one guy can ruin several people's day. At the cost if ammo and travel, that is simply inexcusable.

What really pisses me off is when you pull for a guy who's entire wind strategy is to put a hole in the target the second it goes up and then that same shooter gives 20-25 second service. It makes one contemplate doing "unsportsmanlike" things........

 

[ShootDots]

Erik is correct in what he says.. We were at the Palo Alto State Championship and he was next to me in the pits.. I had an excellent shooter who kept hitting the spotter. When Erik was finished, he came over to help me keep the target running! He is EXCELLENT in the pits!

 

[Erik Cortina]

One tip I can offer is to always meet with all the shooters on your point and explain that you expect fast out service and that they will get the same in return. Explain to them that everyone in that point is a "team", and no one else matters as we are only there to take care of everyone on that point. That seems to help a little.