Sometimes you will see a shooter in competition, whether seasoned or novice, be all over the place, high right, then low left, then high left, then low right. You will think how can he miss so often. What is happening is he is thinking about it and trying to adjust his draw to hit the target.
Never, ever, adjust your draw in competition. Adjusting your draw is normally fatal. Thinking about it is normally fatal. That is why most often we lose to slower shooters when we try to adjust to slow down.
All adjustments need to be made before the set command. All adjustments need to be to our alignment and not to our draw.
Horizontal adjustments are made by moving the feet. If you are shooting right turn your shooting toe to the left slightly. If you are shooting left turn slightly to the right. I have told novices to turn their toe and invariably they will lift the ball of the foot moving in the proper direction then raise and move their heel in the same direction and final alignment is the same or worse. When you change your alignment raise your the ball of your shooting foot and turn it slightly. Do not move your heel. After adjusting the shooting foot you can move the off foot to where it comfortable. All this is done prior to the set command. With practice you should be able to move your shot across the target in small increments, say 3 inches.
Vertical adjustments are made by changing your balance. If you are shooting low, balance back slightly. If you are shooting high, balance forward slightly. Again this is done before the set command. Again with practice you should be able to sweep over the target from bottom to top in small increments. Again all adjustments are made prior to the set command.
Let me repeat. NEVER EVER ADJUST YOUR DRAW IN COMPETITION!!!!!!!!!
When the "shooter on the line" command is given you are done making adjustments. You just draw your normal draw, each and every time. I have heard other mentors tell their shooters to change where they are aiming. I think that is bad advice. We do not aim. We should not try to adjust our draws or adjust our aim.
A good practice drill would be to start with a blank card board with no aiming spot set at 6 feet. The 6 feet helps so that we hit the cardboard most of the time. Then practice walking your shot string across the target in 1 inch increments from left to right. Left to right since most of us are right-handed and have a cross-shot. You practice making the pre-set command horizontal adjustments. Likewise you can next walk your shot string from bottom to top. When you are done hopefully you will have a big plus sign on your target.
In competition if you hit the fringe of the target make an adjustment to move your shot towards the center. If you have been practicing making small adjustments (3 inches), you should have the confidence to walk your shots to the light. A fringe hit may be a fringe miss without an adjustment.
Again, NEVER EVER CHANGE YOUR DRAW IN COMPETITION!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Monday, April 27, 2015
The Saga Continues or Can we go faster?
When we left this tale, CowboyAverage had just be infected with grailfever and had changed his alias to WRorBust. Being a keen observer he notes that there are at least 30 shooters in his club in the State of Neverhappen that have a draw speed of about 200 mls and therefore are capable of setting a new world record. He organizes a new club dedicated to setting records. To be a member all you have to do is demonstrate by the triple 7 that you have a draw speed of about 200 milliseconds. The club picks the name RecordBusters. They organize daily practices at their practice facility. They have a timer display over their targets that begins when the set command is given. The club is divided up in 10ths with 1/10th of the club practicing to shoot at 2000 mils after the set command, 1/10th shooting 2100 mls after the set command, 1/10th shooting 2200 mls after set command, and so on. WRorBust says we going get it or die trying, since that Knowitall or the Commish took it away from me.
The RecordBusters have weekly shoots that are no X, since only speed matters. They toy with the idea of eliminating gunfighter against gunfighters since its no X. Places in pot shoots are determined solely on fastest time. They scour the internet for "nutritional" advice for what will increase reaction times.
Meanwhile, the Commish gathers his trusty advisors, those that he has determined to be capable of setting a world record, and considers what further can be done to protect the integrity of the world record. We can't have some 4 shooter getting lucky like happened in the State of Neverhappen or let the RecordBusters do it on a weekly basis as they are now doing because of special trick practice techniques.
One of the advisors suggests disqualification for anticipation which is met with a outcry of "you can't do that." Why not, they do it in High School Track. Opponents reply but not in Professional Track. We need to think like the Big Boys do. Instant Replay!!!! We probably also need to start random drug testing, some of those RecordBusters look might twitchee.
The Commish decides to start video replay by requiring every titled event to have the capability of videoing every draw and the start of the timer on every draw. A decision is made to disqualify every draw that commences sooner than 125 mls after the clock starts. Host club to provide a video replay judge. Random drug testing will be started for all shooter shooting a round faster that .5.
Meanwhile, one old timer asks the other, back when that "kid" set the record, did he win the event. His pardner responds "I wonder if he even won the match."
The RecordBusters have weekly shoots that are no X, since only speed matters. They toy with the idea of eliminating gunfighter against gunfighters since its no X. Places in pot shoots are determined solely on fastest time. They scour the internet for "nutritional" advice for what will increase reaction times.
Meanwhile, the Commish gathers his trusty advisors, those that he has determined to be capable of setting a world record, and considers what further can be done to protect the integrity of the world record. We can't have some 4 shooter getting lucky like happened in the State of Neverhappen or let the RecordBusters do it on a weekly basis as they are now doing because of special trick practice techniques.
One of the advisors suggests disqualification for anticipation which is met with a outcry of "you can't do that." Why not, they do it in High School Track. Opponents reply but not in Professional Track. We need to think like the Big Boys do. Instant Replay!!!! We probably also need to start random drug testing, some of those RecordBusters look might twitchee.
The Commish decides to start video replay by requiring every titled event to have the capability of videoing every draw and the start of the timer on every draw. A decision is made to disqualify every draw that commences sooner than 125 mls after the clock starts. Host club to provide a video replay judge. Random drug testing will be started for all shooter shooting a round faster that .5.
Meanwhile, one old timer asks the other, back when that "kid" set the record, did he win the event. His pardner responds "I wonder if he even won the match."
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The World Record
This tidy tale starts with the premise that the world record is .295 held by some kid. The story is set in the State of Neverhappen and it is a tale about CowboyAverage. He is newcomer to the sport starting late in life after the ravages of age had already set in. He practices a lot and get his draw speed to just a little over 200 milliseconds and his reaction time of just over 200 mls and therefore is a pretty consistent low 4 shooter.
CowboyAverage has been lobbying the powers to be for several years for a state championship to be held in the land of Neverhappen to no avail. Finally, a small club in an outlying area musters its resources and punks down the down payment for a state championship. CowboyAverage is elated. He immediately begins a new training program and gets his draw time to 150 mls. He still struggles with his reaction time but through keen observation notes that some of the fastest shooters use "the Shift." He begins using "the Shift" and finds he can cut his reaction time by 60 mls or so but losses some accuracy. One of CowboyAverage 's advantages is that for 40 years he was the anchor bowler for the Sandhills Rollers. He knows how to perform under pressure and to reach down into the reservoir of adrenaline when needed.
The day arrives for the State Championship of the State of Neverhappen and the turn out is good. Apparently most of the world record chasers have come, among them a young shooter, NeverQuit. NeverQuit cares nothing about championships, wins or Xs, he is solely in pursuit of the world record. He shoots right at .300 and is so close he can taste it.
The shoot progresses normally. CowboyAverage is so fortunate that he can use the words of William Munny, "I was lucky in the order, but then I have always been lucky when it comes to ......"
CowboyAverage has generally forsaken the "Shift" in favor of accuracy and throughout the match has been shooting in the high 3s or low 4s. He reaches the Magnificent Seven clean and is therefore seeded #1, all of the pursuers of the grail having shot each other up.
NeverQuit survives to the final match. CowboyAverage knows he has no chance on speed and begins as planned without the "Shift." NeverQuit, still in pursuit of the grail, promptly goes down 0-2. He then finds the target with two rounds and the match is tied 2-2. CowboyAverage knows it is now or never and he speculates the NeverQuit will slow for accuracy. CowboyAverage reaches down into the reservoir for adrenaline and also decides to use the "Shift." The light turns, both draw a perfect draw, two hits .294 to .296. Neverhappen finally has a State Champion and new World Record.
In the elation CowboyAverage turns to NeverQuit and says, "I said I didn't have much use for it (the Shift), I didn't says I didn't know how to use it." To which NeverQuit replies, "Anticipation, Anticipation!"
Into the fray comes Knowitall who immediately calls a meeting of the arbitration committee, consisting of Knowitall, Idontknow, and Idontcare, each of whom pulls out their copy of the rule book, each having a different version. After serious consultation but without listening to anyone, Knowitall, pronounces that indeed the fat lady has not yet sung, and declares a provisional anticipation. CowboyAverage will have to back it up.
The shooters again take the line, both knowing what is about to happen. Both draw on that reservoir and both make a perfect draw except CowboyAverage's bullet just grazes the top of his holster. NeverQuit hits the target at .294. World Record!. NeverQuit can not contain himself and proceeds to dance a 360 jig forgetting to holster his gun. The Range Master, Nononsence, calls a safety violation and disqualifies NeverQuit. CowboyAverage's hand judge correctly calls a boot shot.
Again Knowitall is called upon make an announcement. He proceeds to say CowboyAverage is the State Champion due to the disqualification of NeverQuit. The World Record of .294 by NeverQuit stands even as he was disqualified, because he had back it up all day long.
The Comish gets wind of the goings on at the State Championship of the State of Neverhappen and promptly disenfranchises the shoot for a lack of institutional control. The Comish demands the return of the state championship buckle from CowboyAverage who responds, "You can have it back, I just been using it for target practice for my deer rifle. By the way I no longer exist!" CowboyAverage having been infected with grail pursuit himself has change his alias to WRorBust.
Meanwhile somewhere on the plains a group of old timers are sitting round the fire lamenting the good old days when it was safety first, fun second, and competition third.
Bloggers Comments:
1. Some of you will comment that "Neverhappen" is an apt name for the state since this will never happen. The name comes from the prophecy that the blogger doubts he will ever see a state championship in his lifetime. The rest of the scenario may be historical. CowboyAverage may exist in Neverhappen or "maybe it means" that bronc stomper from north of the river who bought the 160 acres of hard land and got the name also, now wearing the black badge. It may also mean the Comish hitting a .275 at nationals and declaring it an anticipation when eight grade math tells you that he has a draw quicker than a 200 mls and therefore the Comish actually started his draw 75 mls after the light came on. We are now calling anticipation by arbitrary rule rather than eye witness hand judges.
2. Some of you may comment that the blogger does not know the rules, to which the blogger would response "Don't assume I don't know the rules." An author is granted "certain literary license" to which Little Bill says, "Quick don't count for much in a gunfight."
CowboyAverage has been lobbying the powers to be for several years for a state championship to be held in the land of Neverhappen to no avail. Finally, a small club in an outlying area musters its resources and punks down the down payment for a state championship. CowboyAverage is elated. He immediately begins a new training program and gets his draw time to 150 mls. He still struggles with his reaction time but through keen observation notes that some of the fastest shooters use "the Shift." He begins using "the Shift" and finds he can cut his reaction time by 60 mls or so but losses some accuracy. One of CowboyAverage 's advantages is that for 40 years he was the anchor bowler for the Sandhills Rollers. He knows how to perform under pressure and to reach down into the reservoir of adrenaline when needed.
The day arrives for the State Championship of the State of Neverhappen and the turn out is good. Apparently most of the world record chasers have come, among them a young shooter, NeverQuit. NeverQuit cares nothing about championships, wins or Xs, he is solely in pursuit of the world record. He shoots right at .300 and is so close he can taste it.
The shoot progresses normally. CowboyAverage is so fortunate that he can use the words of William Munny, "I was lucky in the order, but then I have always been lucky when it comes to ......"
CowboyAverage has generally forsaken the "Shift" in favor of accuracy and throughout the match has been shooting in the high 3s or low 4s. He reaches the Magnificent Seven clean and is therefore seeded #1, all of the pursuers of the grail having shot each other up.
NeverQuit survives to the final match. CowboyAverage knows he has no chance on speed and begins as planned without the "Shift." NeverQuit, still in pursuit of the grail, promptly goes down 0-2. He then finds the target with two rounds and the match is tied 2-2. CowboyAverage knows it is now or never and he speculates the NeverQuit will slow for accuracy. CowboyAverage reaches down into the reservoir for adrenaline and also decides to use the "Shift." The light turns, both draw a perfect draw, two hits .294 to .296. Neverhappen finally has a State Champion and new World Record.
In the elation CowboyAverage turns to NeverQuit and says, "I said I didn't have much use for it (the Shift), I didn't says I didn't know how to use it." To which NeverQuit replies, "Anticipation, Anticipation!"
Into the fray comes Knowitall who immediately calls a meeting of the arbitration committee, consisting of Knowitall, Idontknow, and Idontcare, each of whom pulls out their copy of the rule book, each having a different version. After serious consultation but without listening to anyone, Knowitall, pronounces that indeed the fat lady has not yet sung, and declares a provisional anticipation. CowboyAverage will have to back it up.
The shooters again take the line, both knowing what is about to happen. Both draw on that reservoir and both make a perfect draw except CowboyAverage's bullet just grazes the top of his holster. NeverQuit hits the target at .294. World Record!. NeverQuit can not contain himself and proceeds to dance a 360 jig forgetting to holster his gun. The Range Master, Nononsence, calls a safety violation and disqualifies NeverQuit. CowboyAverage's hand judge correctly calls a boot shot.
Again Knowitall is called upon make an announcement. He proceeds to say CowboyAverage is the State Champion due to the disqualification of NeverQuit. The World Record of .294 by NeverQuit stands even as he was disqualified, because he had back it up all day long.
The Comish gets wind of the goings on at the State Championship of the State of Neverhappen and promptly disenfranchises the shoot for a lack of institutional control. The Comish demands the return of the state championship buckle from CowboyAverage who responds, "You can have it back, I just been using it for target practice for my deer rifle. By the way I no longer exist!" CowboyAverage having been infected with grail pursuit himself has change his alias to WRorBust.
Meanwhile somewhere on the plains a group of old timers are sitting round the fire lamenting the good old days when it was safety first, fun second, and competition third.
Bloggers Comments:
1. Some of you will comment that "Neverhappen" is an apt name for the state since this will never happen. The name comes from the prophecy that the blogger doubts he will ever see a state championship in his lifetime. The rest of the scenario may be historical. CowboyAverage may exist in Neverhappen or "maybe it means" that bronc stomper from north of the river who bought the 160 acres of hard land and got the name also, now wearing the black badge. It may also mean the Comish hitting a .275 at nationals and declaring it an anticipation when eight grade math tells you that he has a draw quicker than a 200 mls and therefore the Comish actually started his draw 75 mls after the light came on. We are now calling anticipation by arbitrary rule rather than eye witness hand judges.
2. Some of you may comment that the blogger does not know the rules, to which the blogger would response "Don't assume I don't know the rules." An author is granted "certain literary license" to which Little Bill says, "Quick don't count for much in a gunfight."
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Learning from winning and from misses
I have been somewhat dishearten for the last 45 days because I have been shooting so poorly. I have been trying to learn the "Shift" and my accuracy has suffered for it. Saturday it all came together at Rio.
There were 30 shooter there, 4 of which were substantially quicker than I, 2 were as quick as I, and the rest were substantially slower. I won every match in a 3x 3 out of 5 shoot. My draw was the same from the first shot to the 77th shot. I didn't think about it, did not tinker with it or worry about it. I got in the zone. My bucket work seems to have paid off.
My training partner accused me of slowing down for the slow shooters. I did not! What I did do was not to use the Thirsty Shift for four shooters, two faster and two slower, than me. When I use the Thirsty Shift I am 30-40 mls faster, but may be less accurate. It make no sense to use it against someone who is 100 mls faster or 600 mls slower.
What the shift is is that you shift your balance from forward to back after the set command. In effect you are starting your draw before the light comes on by the shift in balance. The negative is a loss of accuracy. If the light is quick, you may shoot low, if the light is long, you may shoot high. But with practice on timing you should be able to hit 80% with quick lights hitting low on the target and long lights hitting high on the target. On facebook it was noted that Parttime was falling backwards on his .309 shot. That is the "Shift." (I only know what I see, have not been told this, but if you watch you will see it)
Now what the bucket does for you is help you with this timing function. I shoot at cardboard at 5 feet with two lines, one at 40 inches and one at 45 inches (my target height is 42.5). I want my hits between those lines. Right or left makes no difference since that is a pre-set command alignment issue. By shooting on cardboard I can see exactly how high or low I am shooting and to get a feel for where my balance needs to be. I get used to adjusting my balance to adjust my shot height. Your 50 shot string should move into the hit zone as you practice.
Back to Saturday's shoot, for four shooters, one being a nine year girl, I intentionally abandoned the shift. I tried to get my balance in the center of the target and then proceeded with my normal draw. If I don't need that extra 30-40 mls why abandon the accuracy. When I was shooting against a shooter as quick as me and I needed every millisecond I found that generally my first shot was 12 o'clock high just over the target, I had to tell myself at the set command to balance forward, but once the set command was given I was on auto-pilot, no thinking after the set command.
Anyway my thoughts for now! Got to go shoot on the mtn.
There were 30 shooter there, 4 of which were substantially quicker than I, 2 were as quick as I, and the rest were substantially slower. I won every match in a 3x 3 out of 5 shoot. My draw was the same from the first shot to the 77th shot. I didn't think about it, did not tinker with it or worry about it. I got in the zone. My bucket work seems to have paid off.
My training partner accused me of slowing down for the slow shooters. I did not! What I did do was not to use the Thirsty Shift for four shooters, two faster and two slower, than me. When I use the Thirsty Shift I am 30-40 mls faster, but may be less accurate. It make no sense to use it against someone who is 100 mls faster or 600 mls slower.
What the shift is is that you shift your balance from forward to back after the set command. In effect you are starting your draw before the light comes on by the shift in balance. The negative is a loss of accuracy. If the light is quick, you may shoot low, if the light is long, you may shoot high. But with practice on timing you should be able to hit 80% with quick lights hitting low on the target and long lights hitting high on the target. On facebook it was noted that Parttime was falling backwards on his .309 shot. That is the "Shift." (I only know what I see, have not been told this, but if you watch you will see it)
Now what the bucket does for you is help you with this timing function. I shoot at cardboard at 5 feet with two lines, one at 40 inches and one at 45 inches (my target height is 42.5). I want my hits between those lines. Right or left makes no difference since that is a pre-set command alignment issue. By shooting on cardboard I can see exactly how high or low I am shooting and to get a feel for where my balance needs to be. I get used to adjusting my balance to adjust my shot height. Your 50 shot string should move into the hit zone as you practice.
Back to Saturday's shoot, for four shooters, one being a nine year girl, I intentionally abandoned the shift. I tried to get my balance in the center of the target and then proceeded with my normal draw. If I don't need that extra 30-40 mls why abandon the accuracy. When I was shooting against a shooter as quick as me and I needed every millisecond I found that generally my first shot was 12 o'clock high just over the target, I had to tell myself at the set command to balance forward, but once the set command was given I was on auto-pilot, no thinking after the set command.
Anyway my thoughts for now! Got to go shoot on the mtn.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Back to the Bucket
I have found a new practice site in a near by river bed. Time for me to go back to the bucket. I have been experimenting with different trigger springs, have reworked my pre-draw routine, and developed a slight sway, all of which means that my accuracy has suffered. So it is back to the bucket. (See earlier practice tips)
I have two young shooters in training, age 8 and 6. The 8 year old is about ready to move from draw developer to the comfortable gunslinger. His draw is nice and tight, and we can't see much room for improvement until he is free of the two handed restriction. What he needs now is bucket work. His shooting height is 36 inches. So the bullet must travel upward 14 inches to hit a 50 inch target height at 21 feet. So 14 inches divided by 21 feet is .66 inches for each foot from the target. If he shoots at a 6 inch target at 6 feet it should be set at 40 inches which is 36 inch shooting height plus 4 inches (.666 x 6 = 4). Makes no sense to practice missing. His PR is .915. I will post his PR 500 rounds from now.
Bucket work for him at 6 feet will solidify his draw and move him into the comfortable stage. We shoot at a 6 inch target on cardboard set about 4 inches in front of ballistic material. The wax falls down into a bucket. The cardboard shows where the misses hit and as the shooter goes through a 50 shot session his accuracy will tighten into the 6 inch target. We want to shoot quick, but speed is not important, getting the draw comfortable and repeatable is important. Speed will come naturally was the shooter gets comfortable.
The 6 year old is still on the table and is about ready to transition to the holster. He is a point and shoot shooter and hits are important to him. Shooting at 89-90% now. I intend to hold him on the table for 3 or 4 months to make sure of his gun handling skills. I see other mentors load their shooter's gun. I think it is important that the shooter, even at age 6 on the table, load and unload his or her own gun. Loading and unloading is valuable time learning and becoming comfortable in handling their gun. They need every opportunity to exercise of their hand muscles and gain the strength necessary to be a safe shooter. Don't take this valuable time await from them.
I have a issue to resolve with the 6 year old. Trying to decide whether to move him directly to his two handed hip level shot from the table and skipping the draw, point, and shoot, stage. I see two brothers with tons of mentoring struggling with moving from point and shoot stage to hip level shooting.. It stems from their competitiveness. Even at 6, 7, and 8, they want to win so much, the target just draws them back to the point and shoot stage, especially boys.
I think I will keep the 6 year old on the table shooting point and shoot until he gets his fast draw holster. Then I will transition him to the holster directly to shooting from the hip. Will never let him shoot, point and shoot, from the holster. It will difficult for him because hits are really important to him (always has to report how he beat grandpa) but I think that is the best for him.
New adult shooters may want to consider this. Start with two handed hip shooting. Skip the point and shoot stage all together. Watching new adult shooters, they all struggle moving away from the point and shoot stage. Generally, if left on our own, we spend a lot of time learning to be quick at point and shoot, then spend years trying to unlearn this stage and move to shooting without aiming or pointing. Just skip it all together. Going to try it with the 6 year old. Will post how it goes.
I have two young shooters in training, age 8 and 6. The 8 year old is about ready to move from draw developer to the comfortable gunslinger. His draw is nice and tight, and we can't see much room for improvement until he is free of the two handed restriction. What he needs now is bucket work. His shooting height is 36 inches. So the bullet must travel upward 14 inches to hit a 50 inch target height at 21 feet. So 14 inches divided by 21 feet is .66 inches for each foot from the target. If he shoots at a 6 inch target at 6 feet it should be set at 40 inches which is 36 inch shooting height plus 4 inches (.666 x 6 = 4). Makes no sense to practice missing. His PR is .915. I will post his PR 500 rounds from now.
Bucket work for him at 6 feet will solidify his draw and move him into the comfortable stage. We shoot at a 6 inch target on cardboard set about 4 inches in front of ballistic material. The wax falls down into a bucket. The cardboard shows where the misses hit and as the shooter goes through a 50 shot session his accuracy will tighten into the 6 inch target. We want to shoot quick, but speed is not important, getting the draw comfortable and repeatable is important. Speed will come naturally was the shooter gets comfortable.
The 6 year old is still on the table and is about ready to transition to the holster. He is a point and shoot shooter and hits are important to him. Shooting at 89-90% now. I intend to hold him on the table for 3 or 4 months to make sure of his gun handling skills. I see other mentors load their shooter's gun. I think it is important that the shooter, even at age 6 on the table, load and unload his or her own gun. Loading and unloading is valuable time learning and becoming comfortable in handling their gun. They need every opportunity to exercise of their hand muscles and gain the strength necessary to be a safe shooter. Don't take this valuable time await from them.
I have a issue to resolve with the 6 year old. Trying to decide whether to move him directly to his two handed hip level shot from the table and skipping the draw, point, and shoot, stage. I see two brothers with tons of mentoring struggling with moving from point and shoot stage to hip level shooting.. It stems from their competitiveness. Even at 6, 7, and 8, they want to win so much, the target just draws them back to the point and shoot stage, especially boys.
I think I will keep the 6 year old on the table shooting point and shoot until he gets his fast draw holster. Then I will transition him to the holster directly to shooting from the hip. Will never let him shoot, point and shoot, from the holster. It will difficult for him because hits are really important to him (always has to report how he beat grandpa) but I think that is the best for him.
New adult shooters may want to consider this. Start with two handed hip shooting. Skip the point and shoot stage all together. Watching new adult shooters, they all struggle moving away from the point and shoot stage. Generally, if left on our own, we spend a lot of time learning to be quick at point and shoot, then spend years trying to unlearn this stage and move to shooting without aiming or pointing. Just skip it all together. Going to try it with the 6 year old. Will post how it goes.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
The Sewing Basket
Well, I just can't help myself. See the Warning on the sidebar!
A while back I attended a "titled shoot" on the banks of one of my favorite rivers (name omitted for political correctness.) As one of my prizes I received a beautiful hand made sewing basket. It was just an awesome gift. I brought it home thinking that my granddaughter could store her dolls in it. The little woman told me that it was not going to clutter up her house, we are at the age of discarding clutter for the heirs benefit, so the beautiful work of some woman on the plains was banished to a closet in the mountains, where I see it on occasion and lament not having a better use for a sewing basket.
It also reminds of a shoot a few years ago, with maybe a thousand shooters, (nofpc) when I received a $50.00 gift certificate as a prize from a custom ammunition vendor. I took my gift certificate down to the vendor who was on site to redeem it and found that the minimum order for ammunition would exceed my normal cost of ammunition by tenfold. I have had a recent similar experience from another shoot (nofpc) with another gift certificate.
The point of all of this lament, is that this stems from a certain rule requiring a certain level of prizes for approval of a shoot. The only way for a host to meet this level and keep the entry fee reasonable is to give prizes valued at retail from donors. Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate the hosts, I appreciate the donors, I like the shoots, I like the prizes! I don't like someone telling a host what they have to do to put on an event.
Seems like a lot of running around going in circles sort like a dog chasing it tail. People wonder why we have states with many shooters but no titled matches. Well, maybe the state is better off without a titled match.
Hope no one is offended!
A while back I attended a "titled shoot" on the banks of one of my favorite rivers (name omitted for political correctness.) As one of my prizes I received a beautiful hand made sewing basket. It was just an awesome gift. I brought it home thinking that my granddaughter could store her dolls in it. The little woman told me that it was not going to clutter up her house, we are at the age of discarding clutter for the heirs benefit, so the beautiful work of some woman on the plains was banished to a closet in the mountains, where I see it on occasion and lament not having a better use for a sewing basket.
It also reminds of a shoot a few years ago, with maybe a thousand shooters, (nofpc) when I received a $50.00 gift certificate as a prize from a custom ammunition vendor. I took my gift certificate down to the vendor who was on site to redeem it and found that the minimum order for ammunition would exceed my normal cost of ammunition by tenfold. I have had a recent similar experience from another shoot (nofpc) with another gift certificate.
The point of all of this lament, is that this stems from a certain rule requiring a certain level of prizes for approval of a shoot. The only way for a host to meet this level and keep the entry fee reasonable is to give prizes valued at retail from donors. Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate the hosts, I appreciate the donors, I like the shoots, I like the prizes! I don't like someone telling a host what they have to do to put on an event.
Seems like a lot of running around going in circles sort like a dog chasing it tail. People wonder why we have states with many shooters but no titled matches. Well, maybe the state is better off without a titled match.
Hope no one is offended!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Winter Range, Tombstone Revisited!
I did not mean to say, but did say, that one of the top four should have intentionally lost for a competitive advantage. That is not the cowboy way. I apologize. My wife has said for years that my thinking is a half of bubble out of plumb.
Having said that, we are now in the planning stage for next year's shoot, be it a jackpot or state championship. It is informative to look at this year's shoot at Tombstone (Last Man Standing) as compared to Winter Range (Magnificent Five).
Had Winter Range been a Last Man Standing shoot the results would have been completely different. Last Man Standing would have resulted in Marshall Cooper 5th, Cobb 6th and Brasanda Spur 7th. Most likely Cowboy Up would have won since only he had no Xs among the top four shooters, although you never know because he would have been shooting the top four in every subsequent round, two of whom were as quick as he. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th places would have been determined on the line between the Draw, Short Keg and Hyde Hunter.
Which do you prefer? Last Man Standing is the fairer of the two. (To highlight the unfairness, 1st place had 4 Xs while second place had only 2 Xs at Winter Range) Magnificent Five/Seven is the more entertaining. Magnificent Seven is used as nationals and world so that is a good reason to use it here. I have been to other State Championships that use Last Man Standing format.
Having won a Magnificent Five I prefer that format. We can do either in a jackpot shoot or a state championship. I have been lobbying for a major shoot with 17 Magnificent Five shoot-offs, I find that format so much fun, even if a little unfair.
Think about it then let the board know which you prefer. I suggest an e-mail to a board member, something in black and white has more staying power than word of mouth.
Thanks for reading the ramblings of an old fool.
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Having said that, we are now in the planning stage for next year's shoot, be it a jackpot or state championship. It is informative to look at this year's shoot at Tombstone (Last Man Standing) as compared to Winter Range (Magnificent Five).
Had Winter Range been a Last Man Standing shoot the results would have been completely different. Last Man Standing would have resulted in Marshall Cooper 5th, Cobb 6th and Brasanda Spur 7th. Most likely Cowboy Up would have won since only he had no Xs among the top four shooters, although you never know because he would have been shooting the top four in every subsequent round, two of whom were as quick as he. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th places would have been determined on the line between the Draw, Short Keg and Hyde Hunter.
Which do you prefer? Last Man Standing is the fairer of the two. (To highlight the unfairness, 1st place had 4 Xs while second place had only 2 Xs at Winter Range) Magnificent Five/Seven is the more entertaining. Magnificent Seven is used as nationals and world so that is a good reason to use it here. I have been to other State Championships that use Last Man Standing format.
Having won a Magnificent Five I prefer that format. We can do either in a jackpot shoot or a state championship. I have been lobbying for a major shoot with 17 Magnificent Five shoot-offs, I find that format so much fun, even if a little unfair.
Think about it then let the board know which you prefer. I suggest an e-mail to a board member, something in black and white has more staying power than word of mouth.
Thanks for reading the ramblings of an old fool.
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