Range Report: 2/22/23 and 3/1/23 Practice

[BassCliff]

My fellow Americans,

Yes, it's time for another episode full of mediocre marksmanship, terrible targets, and low left lunacy. I'll combine two range trips into one report so that your brain doesn't explode like Martians listening to Slim Whitman.

On 2/22/23 I made a quick trip to the range ahead of the coming storm, but not far enough ahead. The range was closing early and I had less than an hour. Drat. I was the only shooter on the long range so I thought I'd run a couple of quick 10-10-10 drills on lane #9, my favorite lane!

My first drill was pretty lousy. Actually, I meant to shoot a circle around the 7 ring. Sure.

First shot from low ready was 1.52 seconds. The tenth shot was at 6.98 seconds.

My score was 80. (Fail!) Well, that sucks. Let's run it again while I have time.

OK, that's a little tighter group. If you give me the line breaks, that's only two hits in the 7 ring. What's the total time?

You can tell I slowed down a little. Perhaps that why the accuracy is a little better. Total time is 7.73 seconds and a score of 88, if you're generous with the line breaks. Still a fail.

I started shooting at another target even though the place was closing soon. I didn't even use a whole box of ammo but I didn't want to keep the staff there any longer than necessary. The boss had told them to go home early to miss the brunt of the incoming storm. I'm glad I left when I did. It was getting pretty nasty.

Let's continue in the next post.



Thank you for your indulgence,


BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

Hello again!

The storm came and went. I made it back to the range for some more practice earlier this week on 3/1/23. Guess what? I got my favorite lane again, #9. Woot!

I wanted to try one of my new silhouette targets. For fun I stuck on a couple of 4" reactives. Today I brought out only the XD9 and the Garrison.

I shot up the rest of that Federal 147 grain flat nose from last week, and the WWB. For .45 I brought the Norma. That WWB gave me several FTEs again. I'm going to make it a point to shoot that all up and not buy any more.

First magazine, a bunch of low left. The very first shot actually hit what I was aiming for. After that, too much trigger finger.

I was so disappointed I just patched it up and put a couple more magazines in the same spot, or at least I tried to.

Well, ok, maybe that target is too small. Let's put an 8" target on the head and see if I can at least hit that.

Guh! Let's try something different. I need to practice with my weak hand only.

I managed to get one hit on the 4" circle. I'll do more W.H.O. practice in the future.

Hmm, I'm having trouble with the pictures. One more post to finish up.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

OK, let's end this madness!

I'm down to a couple of magazines. Let's put out a small silhouette and really try hard this time.

OK, that's a little better, but it shouldn't take five magazines to get warmed up to mediocre. Let's see what the Garrison will do today.

I was hoping that big ragged hole would be closer to center but at least they were all on the paper, barely.

OK, it's time to hang my head and slink on out of the range. I hope nobody asks me how I did today. At least the weather is a lot better.

Tell you what, I'll really get serious next week. I'm going to take my time and make every shot count, even if I shoot only one box. I want to fix this. I know I can. I've done better. I've been in the slump for too long now. Thanks for putting up with me.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Bassbob]

Nice report as usual Cliff.

 

[Han Cholo]

OK, let's end this madness!

I'm down to a couple of magazines. Let's put out a small silhouette and really try hard this time.

OK, that's a little better, but it shouldn't take five magazines to get warmed up to mediocre. Let's see what the Garrison will do today.

I was hoping that big ragged hole would be closer to center but at least they were all on the paper, barely.

OK, it's time to hang my head and slink on out of the range. I hope nobody asks me how I did today. At least the weather is a lot better.

Tell you what, I'll really get serious next week. I'm going to take my time and make every shot count, even if I shoot only one box. I want to fix this. I know I can. I've done better. I've been in the slump for too long now. Thanks for putting up with me.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

I feel I cant miss with my springfield .40, but I usually drift to the left with my 9mm hellcat. One of my buds was telling me it is all in finger placement. Same with the Springfield 1911 dead on, great pics

 

[Equalizer]

I feel I cant miss with my springfield .40, but I usually drift to the left with my 9mm hellcat. One of my buds was telling me it is all in finger placement. Same with the Springfield 1911 dead on, great pics

I took a 4 hour course (outside range) taught by a retired NRA instructor last week. He preached accuracy, grip, and finger placement. At 7 yards I was fine. Moved to 10 yards while picking up speed and found I was not achieving the desired results because I was pushing the trigger left instead of pulling straight back. He claims that correct finger placement are key. Learn something new everyday.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi guys!

Nice report as usual Cliff.

I have to poke fun at myself. I sure can't poke holes in paper!

I feel I cant miss with my springfield .40, but I usually drift to the left with my 9mm hellcat. One of my buds was telling me it is all in finger placement. Same with the Springfield 1911 dead on, great pics

I took a 4 hour course (outside range) taught by a retired NRA instructor last week. He preached accuracy, grip, and finger placement. At 7 yards I was fine. Moved to 10 yards while picking up speed and found I was not achieving the desired results because I was pushing the trigger left instead of pulling straight back. He claims that correct finger placement are key. Learn something new everyday.

You guys are absolutely correct. I've developed a couple of bad habits lately. I'm not concentrating on a straight trigger pull, keeping a good sight picture through the process. I'm not paying attention to how much trigger finger I have in the trigger guard. I had a one-on-one session a few months ago. A USCCA instructor looked over my shoulder for a couple hours giving me pointers for grip and other fundamentals. I need to slow down too. I'll get there.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Bassbob]

Squeeze don’t pull.

 

[mikep]

Put the pistols down and pick up the rifle for a bit. You’re getting into your own head. Switch it up a bit to throw your brain off.