Rough day on the range so far.

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

There is absolutely no need or reason for John to feel like he disappointed anybody! John needs to remember that he is shooting because he enjoys it, not because some guys donated money to the cause.
Aside from that, he is using a new gun that I'm sure he is still getting used to and the people he is shooting against are there for a reason. I'm sure the competition is tough.
In trap shooting, it's a common belief that it takes 5000 rounds (shells) or more to learn a new gun.
Copy and pasted from an article:
It takes me 5000-10000 rounds and 6 months to get proficient with new equipment. This includes a new gun, new shells, even minor adjustments to the comb or butt pad. I only make changes once a year starting in December and ending by January or Feburary. From then on I stick with the load and equipment I have and practice a lot until I’m proficient with it. This consistency pays off in that I never go into long slumps. I may have a bad day but since I started this routine I’ve never had 2 consecutive bad days.A lot of my trap shooting friends are changing guns or loads every week. They might shoot good one week but lousy the next week so they change something and keep changing things until they have a good day. But then a few days later they are shooting poorly again. They don’t understand that the changes they have made in the past days/week/month is what is causing their inconsistent shooting.

Thanks John has tournaments next 3 weeks, but then we talked and he is going to bench rest the gun and ammo test first. Then play with positions of the gun adjustments. Then get lead down the line. He will figure it out. He also gets to see his mentor in 2 weeks so he will have a trained person looking at him. By june/July he will be rocking it again. Precision - Sporter-- Small bore is too many masters right this second. One more day of standing 60..

 

[270guy]

I like the fact that your young fella, does feel like he may have disappointed his supporters from here. He doesn't need to, as already stated by others. Does suggest to me that he is a young man who is not oblivious to what it means for others to give him support and take an interest in his progress. I hope this is coming across the way I mean it.
I think John (if he doesn't already), should think about any support he gets, as just that...support / assistance / help and not something extra he has to worry about carrying around with him. Just my thoughts, all the best.

Brendon

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

I like the fact that your young fella, does feel like he may have disappointed his supporters from here. He doesn't need to, as already stated by others. Does suggest to me that he is a young man who is not oblivious to what it means for others to give him support and take an interest in his progress. I hope this is coming across the way I mean it.
I think John (if he doesn't already), should think about any support he gets, as just that...support / assistance / help and not something extra he has to worry about carrying around with him. Just my thoughts, all the best.

Brendon

I get what you are saying Brendon. I think its because John hasn't gotten a lot of top of the line stuff in his life. After I had my accident we went to 1 income, & a farm income. I always made sure John got what he needed, weather I got eBay or second hand stores he was always outfitted. That often ment ever other hair cut was mom's cut, or eating out of the cooler at events, reduced lunch at school (it embarrasses John, but $4 a day adds up) John has always been good about understanding our life, he helps a ton on the farm. This weekend He was upset because he was nailing 570s in the barn so he was shattered at 537. I videoed him today and we identified several breaks in form he is going to work on. Reproduceable consistent trigger pull, prolonged follow thru, fire within 8s of target acquisitions. He is also heavy on his standing position just like Riflewoman said, but with American Legion shoot next Sat. I'm not going to mess with is stand.

I know a lot of you think I'm strange mom, helping a son in shooting but my husband works sun up to sundown on the farm. He just can't help like I can. Shoot I caught baseball last 4 years as John learned to pitch (they won't let lefts catch) sit in a lawn care with leg protectors & a mask. He has a nasty slider I can't catch. Our lives are different than most people's but you can cry about it, or you can figure out how to work around road blocks. So this mom knows baseball, shooting, whatever I have to learn to get through life.

 

[DirtySteve]

The only thing John owes us is to have a good time and enjoy shooting. I once shot 14-16 X's in a 500 yard match. The guy beside me said man did you shoot all x's. I said all but a couple tens and the 5 and 6. What happened with the 5 and 6 he asked. I told him well I did not think I missed a wind change and failed to believe the score and shot the 6. In my defense it was just barely a 5. lol.. A bad day is just that a bad day.. There are more days a head of him than behind him...

 

[riflewoman]

Paula,

It’s not unusual to drop 25-30 points in the first big competition you shoot. Too many things new.

It sounds like you’re a mom worthy of the honor. And he sound like a fine young man.

I’m glad you’re taking my comments for what they are. I too struggled with standing until I learned to be aggressive on the trigger. When I “shot the first ten I saw”, the scores began to improve dramatically. Kneeling is what killed me. I never could get my score above 180.

 

[Zero333]

I think it's awesome that you, the mom is doing all this with him. Your husband is doing what good fathers are supposed to do. That is not giving up providing for your family no matter how hard things get. It's the best exemplar your son can have of a father.
You go above and beyond and always find the energy to support your son. That's the only thing that really matters.

It's a good idea you're going to test different ammo.

I only shoot the good 22lr ammo at 100 meters.
---------------------------------------------------------

Top 5 performers I've shot...

RWS-50 & RWS-100, could not tell any difference in accuracy between the 2.

Eley Match & Eley Tenex, both shot the same.

Lapua Midas+
-----------------------------------------

Lapua Center-X & Eley Team can be as accurate as the top 5, but are not as consistent.
-------------------------------------------------

Once the mercury drops below 40 f (5 celsius), they all visibly shoot bigger groups, and it's where the Eley Biathlon and Lapua Biathlon shoot better than the top 5+2 i mentioned.

 

[270guy]

I get what you are saying Brendon. I think its because John hasn't gotten a lot of top of the line stuff in his life. After I had my accident we went to 1 income, & a farm income. I always made sure John got what he needed, weather I got eBay or second hand stores he was always outfitted. That often ment ever other hair cut was mom's cut, or eating out of the cooler at events, reduced lunch at school (it embarrasses John, but $4 a day adds up) John has always been good about understanding our life, he helps a ton on the farm. This weekend He was upset because he was nailing 570s in the barn so he was shattered at 537. I videoed him today and we identified several breaks in form he is going to work on. Reproduceable consistent trigger pull, prolonged follow thru, fire within 8s of target acquisitions. He is also heavy on his standing position just like Riflewoman said, but with American Legion shoot next Sat. I'm not going to mess with is stand.

I know a lot of you think I'm strange mom, helping a son in shooting but my husband works sun up to sundown on the farm. He just can't help like I can. Shoot I caught baseball last 4 years as John learned to pitch (they won't let lefts catch) sit in a lawn care with leg protectors & a mask. He has a nasty slider I can't catch. Our lives are different than most people's but you can cry about it, or you can figure out how to work around road blocks. So this mom knows baseball, shooting, whatever I have to learn to get through life.

Not a strange Mum at all. Its not strange to want the best for your children. Please believe this, John may be a little embarrassed at packed lunches and bringing food to events, now. A ways down the track, long after he has stopped being embarrassed, he'll sit back and appreciate that you were able to give him this, and other experiences. Sorry a bit off topic. And as I say, "All too often, good luck, is the result of hard work". A "Strange Mum (Mom)", doesn't hurt one little bit.
Look forward to hearing how John is doing in competition, and life. Brendon

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Paula,

It’s not unusual to drop 25-30 points in the first big competition you shoot. Too many things new.

It sounds like you’re a mom worthy of the honor. And he sound like a fine young man.

I’m glad you’re taking my comments for what they are. I too struggled with standing until I learned to be aggressive on the trigger. When I “shot the first ten I saw”, the scores began to improve dramatically. Kneeling is what killed me. I never could get my score above 180.

I learn from any & anybody I can learn from. I don't have time for pride. Useing my phone to video John works great. In my Bible of shooting book there is a great selection on standing with pictures. I took my phone & put it beside the book, wamo, can't argue with pictures.

Told him it should be like a ballet picking up his gun & settling into his shot, smooth and fluid,but currently he looks like a tap dancer. At least he admitted there's several form breaks & is willing to work on fixing them. Not a total loss, he is currently 3rd in 3p with 1 weekend to go.

 

[TAJ45]

What time for Seymour Sat? One day shoot?

 

[riflewoman]

I learn from any & anybody I can learn from. I don't have time for pride. Useing my phone to video John works great. In my Bible of shooting book there is a great selection on standing with pictures. I took my phone & put it beside the book, wamo, can't argue with pictures.

Told him it should be like a ballet picking up his gun & settling into his shot, smooth and fluid,but currently he looks like a tap dancer. At least he admitted there's several form breaks & is willing to work on fixing them. Not a total loss, he is currently 3rd in 3p with 1 weekend to go.

Paula, here is a homemade standing position stand idea. Shooting standing from a stand to hold up the rifle is a godsend to developing a good position.

http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/Offhand_Stand.pdf

 

[fyrewall]

Small bore shooting is an exacting sport, in fact, it is too much for me. My suggestion would be to get your son into .22 silhouette shooting in addition to the serious, miniscule target small bore. Silhouette shooting is all standing, hit or miss - those 77 meter turkeys are a challenge. His standing technique should improve and be transferred onto paper small bore. I like the thought of a bunch of hungry teenagers scarfing down a barbeque following some match.

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Paula, here is a homemade standing position stand idea. Shooting standing from a stand to hold up the rifle is a godsend to developing a good position.

http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/Offhand_Stand.pdf

Thanks rifle woman, I found the guy who makes the original stand and ordered one. Going to put a chocolate bunny in the crate and call it Easter.