Top qualities of a competition shooter

[hpshooter]

Let me add you have to have natural ability. I know a bunch of people who practice every week and they don't shoot any better than they did when they first started many many years ago. Boyer had natural ability right from the start and he practiced a lot. So did Faye and Tony said she rarely practiced at all because she didn't like to but she had natural ability. Alvin York, Auty Murphy and Carlos Hathcock all had natural ability in marksmanship when they were very young. My first benchrest rifle that I bought I bought from Dean Breeden. Anyone who knows Dean will tell you he's a naturally gifted shooter. No matter what he picks up he does very well. We all know how well he shot SR score. He's also an accomplished trap and skeet shooter winning many matches and also handgun competitions.

Just read this and I will agree! Have a close friend that had the darn-est ability to excel at anything that involved propelling anything thru the air or across a pool table from A-B. Didn't give a thought to technique he couldn't understand why most of the rest of the world couldn't do it including shooting.

 

[marchx]

What is natural ability? I happened to compete this year against a swimsuit model in an F-class match. she placed 3rd at 1000m. maybe it's magic, maybe it's maybelline.

 

[Dkk37058]

I’m a 67 year old shooter that’s been shooting all my life. I have some good equipment that took me years to get. I started out in across the course competition shot that until F Class came along then got into that . I win a small match every once in a while no one is intimidated when I set up on the line but I do the best I can have fun and enjoy being around other people with a similar passion for the sport.

 

[coldboreshot]

Stop playing the "blame game". It's not always the rifle or the load.

 

[JimPag]

Stop playing the "blame game". It's not always the rifle or the load.

BINGO and that's the trouble with A LOT of people. I hear it all the time from the same people always blaming EVERYTHING BUT THEMSELVES. They just can't fathom that it could possibly be them.

 

[coldboreshot]

More of a bottom quality I’d say.

For some that I have seen, this quality usually prevents them from reaching higher qualities. Its why I think it should rank higher than bottom.

 

[ebb]

Having enough primers and powder to shoot enough matches to win at the end of the year??

 

[6fatrat]

Work on wind calls and condition recognition. There is a well known condition shooter who is deadly in moderate or consistent conditions. When conditions are tough and rapidly changing, he does not do well. Be prepared for both.

This is it.
Steve Bair

 

[Karlandco]

BINGO and that's the trouble with A LOT of people. I hear it all the time from the same people always blaming EVERYTHING BUT THEMSELVES. They just can't fathom that it could possibly be them.

I was that guy for a long time, then I started changing the way I shoot. Now I very seldom find the gun or loads have much of anything to do with the target.

 

[Karlandco]

What is natural ability? I happened to compete this year against a swimsuit model in an F-class match. she placed 3rd at 1000m. maybe it's magic, maybe it's maybelline.

Every once and a while I read something on here that really cracks me up. You'll never know how bad I needed to hear a good one

 

[55fairlane]

Rifle matches aren't won at the reloading bench or with X ammo or raw talent....it's practice, practice, practice.....when you pick up your rifle your muscle memory should take over and you instinctively do X & X & X .....by this much practice you don't have to think about, how to load, fire the shot (all 9 steps) ,sight picture or cadence (rapid fire) or buildingthe position....you can concentrate on the wind & when to break the shot. I practice 2 times a week with my rimfire & once a week with my match rifle .....and may I add rifle matches are won or lost on the offhand portion of the match ......drop 20 or 30 points in offhand , your not gonna on the leader board......marksmanship comes with practice practice &practice

 

[Rat Rifle]

how about the ability to tune a rifle
and being able to recognize when it goes out of tune and being able to adjust

Buddy, You had the “tune” at Memphis!

Congratulations !

 

[majohnson]

Seen guy wrap shotgun barrels around a pole after shooting a bad round on the trap shooting range. Just throw shot gun in the trash and drive off. These were 5 figure shotguns and this was back in the 80’s.

But like previously posted it takes money to be able to practice, practice, and more practice. Along with confidence in yourself and your equipment. Shooting has such a mental component.