Top qualities of a competition shooter

[Bottom Fodder]

Don’t overcompensate for one bad shot
don’t pick a nice pretty day to go to the range, match are not scheduled on nice pretty days

 

[acbrunton55]

Could agree more. Shooters often tell me they are not ready to shoot matches yet. I tell them the only way to improve and learn is to shoot matches.

^^^^^^ This^^^^^^^^
Shot the 2023 SWN for my first time at a big match. I learned a lot from the experience in addition to soaking up all the advice, guidance and help from my fellow competitors. A truly rewarding experience. Looking forward to the US Nationals in October, and then the 2024 SWN.
In the meantime, club matches, State and Regional matches. Learning each and every time out.
My top quality of a competitive shooter, applied experience.
Am I learning with each match, with each outing? Am I applying what I learned to improve?

 

[diego-ted]

Shoot with the Best Shooters you can Find! Watch, Listen, Learn!

 

[DR_2297]

1. Be humble
2. Sportsmanship
3. Always be the first to help new shooters and match orchestration.

Shooting discipline doesn’t matter. If you win or lose doesn’t matter. Your character as a human being and competitor are the most important.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Be honest with your calls. Don’t lie to yourself.
Make 22 good first shots.
Learn something every time you go to the firing line.

 

[Stumpy1]

1. Be humble
2. Sportsmanship
3. Always be the first to help new shooters and match orchestration.

Shooting discipline doesn’t matter. If you win or lose doesn’t matter. Your character as a human being and competitor are the most important.

I can't like this enough.

I was a coach for Special Olympics for about 13 years, and learned a lot about sportsmanship there.
From the Special Olympics Oath "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

I reflect on this when folks that just tossed a bad shot start acting poorly on the line...

Frank

 

[Liven The Dream]

Know when to holdem know when to fold-em
Your head Right,keep Jodie out of it
That target owns you a X

 

[DaveTooley]

I gotta work on the first one. I did shoot a ten shot group in 20-40mph gusts once. I'm not going to share the group.

You can only get what the condition will give you. Get all you can but understand there are limits.

 

[JFrank]

Just a couple thoughts from my observation of the top competitors I have been around , they are always moving forward, willing to experiment, not afraid to fail, dedicated to the craft, maintain focus and perform under pressure, humble yet confident and enjoy the success of others and display sportsmanship win loose or draw.

 

[Karlandco]

Be honest with your calls. Don’t lie to yourself.
Make 22 good first shots.
Learn something every time you go to the firing line.

Interesting comment, what do you mean specifically by making 22 good first shots?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Amen Jackie.

True story...a local friend of mine had 5 top end BR guns built over several years by a well know accuracy 'smith. I shot all of them and they were all killer good. All he would do was practice to get good enough to go to a tournament. He died having never competed in one single event.

Now that will make you sit back and think about things.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Interesting comment, what do you mean specifically by making 22 good first shots?

For me - On the first shot of the day - you are watching conditions extremely closely, settling in behind the rifle and checking your position and NPA repeatedly and taking a very focused shot to get good feedback on your call of the conditions.
I have found that when shooting a string of fire when I have shot several 10's and X's in a row I can get sloppy and start feeling bullet proof. Something may be just slightly off but I will send it anyway and be rewarded with a less than perfect shot.

So what that means to me is to treat all shots like the first. Follow the process completely every time.

 

[jelenko]

I have found that when shooting a string of fire when I have shot several 10's and X's in a row I can get sloppy and start feeling bullet proof. Something may be just slightly off but I will send it anyway and be rewarded with a less than perfect shot.

Let me count the times!

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Many of you come from a professional background. That is, in your line of work you bring skill and commitment to your job that others don't or can't. Its necessary to carry that over personally to a hobby to keep the pace level. I'd like to hear your top 3 traits of a competitive shooter that's hard to beat. Please state your discipline, I'm interested in answers from all of them. No secrets, or keep em, doesn't matter. Ill start..

F-Class
1. Know your ability, and expect to exceed it
2. Know your rifle, and expect it to perform
3. Know your plan, and expect to change it

Everybody's 3 likely are different but this may help some new guy's 'ahem' out with learning.

Thanks

#1...know the range rules, front and back, as well as the conditions of each individual course of fire.

#2...when pulling pits and scoring....find a way to be the fastest and most accurate pit puller of anyone on your relay. Know YOUR duty and do it better than anybody. If you do not give your fellow competitor every possible advantage in this regard, how will you ever feel good about the victory if you were to win? Be diligent about scoring and pay attention to detail.

#3...it's a game. Have fun or find another sport.

 

[dcali]

In my experince, the best shooters:

1. Shoot a lot of matches. And a lot on their own. They just shoot a lot.
2. They test a lot.
3. They do not mix their ego with their test results - they're willing to be wrong and change course.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Drive is the main thing you need. There are people who can't stand losing and want instant gratification. BR is not for either of those groups of people. You have to understand that you won't win all the time and that the harder you work, the more you'll win. Patience. I think patience comes with age and it's one reason why young guys or gals can struggle at BR.....be it patience during a single target or a lifetime career in BR. It takes time and discipline. There's a very long learning curve to it. It's not linear. You can rise fast at first and then reach a point where it seems like you do go backward or at least not progress but hard work and patience...perserverence, will get most people over that hump and on to the next one. Some, longer than others but we're not talking about a game you peak at in a season or two. It takes many years and I think we keep learning until we quit, or well...die.

 

[Bryan Blake]

Watch this from EC and I, we hit on a lot of the points on what makes successful F class shooters.

 

[Karlandco]

#1...know the range rules, front and back, as well as the conditions of each individual course of fire.

#2...when pulling pits and scoring....find a way to be the fastest and most accurate pit puller of anyone on your relay. Know YOUR duty and do it better than anybody. If you do not give your fellow competitor every possible advantage in this regard, how will you ever feel good about the victory if you were to win? Be diligent about scoring and pay attention to detail.

#3...it's a game. Have fun or find another sport.

Your are absolutely right. This is really what it's about and shouldn't be forgotten. It's what keeps me in it and looking forward to participating. I always meet good guys at a match.

 

[Karlandco]

For me - On the first shot of the day - you are watching conditions extremely closely, settling in behind the rifle and checking your position and NPA repeatedly and taking a very focused shot to get good feedback on your call of the conditions.
I have found that when shooting a string of fire when I have shot several 10's and X's in a row I can get sloppy and start feeling bullet proof. Something may be just slightly off but I will send it anyway and be rewarded with a less than perfect shot.

So what that means to me is to treat all shots like the first. Follow the process completely every time.

Gotcha, and I can relate. I usually drop the ball near the end of my string. That ole wind keeps a level playing field and if I miss a condition I've cought myself many times sending rounds without proper consideration. I feel I need another 20-30 matches before it sinks into my thick skull to take my time. Thanks

 

[CaptainMal]

Couple issues not mentioned yet.

Machinest ability and equipment. It is a major help if you can do your own gunsmith work.

Having a business interest in the game. That allows you to use your performance to promote your products and gives you a tax opportunity to write-off your expenses.

Wealth and time. It is very expensive to shoot in quantity. Add on all the travel expenses and time needed to be a top shooter to the huge cost of equipment and components. You better be financially solvent to do any more than just participate.

Lots of respect to those that can be top shooters in any of the venues. There is no financial reward of any consequence yet oh so many do it for the love of participation and shooting. Top shooters are a special group most of us can only admire.