Tips on Pistol Shooting

[hvj1]

hey hvj
how about a little detour to jaipur. would be honoured to host u
jitu

Hi Jitu,
Just today, i was discussing visiting Jaisalmer and other Rajput forts, if you are still posted in Jaipur, then definitely I will let you know. Thanks for the offer.
Best Regards

[jitu sati]

heyhvj will be honoured if u vis me. i will around some more time in this place
airgun_novice, u have done much better than many of us novices. i hit just 324 in my first comp. so lage raho.
jitu

[fantumfan2003]

AGN

Some good shooting here.........It will only get better........

hvj1, dev, jitu and all.....

Some real nice exchange happening on this thread.....

Keep it coming......

M.

Dear hvj1 Guruji, dev, jitu et al,
Though I promised "I will be back" after kissing 90, felt ought to share this one with you. 89, 73, 88, 89, (339/400) at Parle Mahotsav. "Royal Falooda" on the 2nd set. I continue to mess up in mid-sets. Pulled back on the third one after taking a "prolonged" break of 5+ min. Kept myself hydrated throughout.Though I was not at all tensed or under pressure (after all, I am a "nimboo-timboo" - a novice ), heavy sweating and increased heartbeats did me in. Mind was under my control, heart wasn't. And there wasn't a beautiful damsel around to lay the blame on - ah! Anyway, before the CE year turns over a new leaf, I want to practice on taking off a few kilos and increase my physical fitness. Thence shall I pedal the gas to 90 ! And then - "I will be back". In the interim, bros, good luck for your efforts and subsequent results.

[tirpassion]

Hello everybody,

A good feedback AGN! As I read the post I imagined myself in your position and I tried to find causes and remedies. It was nice. Please keep us posted with your experiences.

As per instructions of Guruji, I took a break yesterday. A nice experience of today.
I did 60 reps of SA box drill today. The concentration work on the SOA did wonders. From the 14th lift, I firmly made up my mind to meticulously follow my SOA and bingo I did not do a single error till the end. It was as if the perfect SA was a natural thing. My mind was telling me from before that I will see the perfect image and I found myself very happy to do it. I felt that a very light smile of contentment appeared on my face everytime my mind showed me the image before I reached the blank card. I was feeling nothing but the SA, to the extent that I was regularly exceeding the 10sec period unconsciously. The sensation was extremely pleasant and I had never felt like that before. I finished with 96.6%, 47 times at a stretch without any error.

It is just to tell you all that a systematic and meticulous work give results. The main problem is to make the mind do that good work each and every time. Shooting is not a match of 40 or 60 shots, it is '40 or 60 matches' of one shot each. So one should prepare for and execute as many matches during the stipulated time.

best regards to you all

[jitu sati]

that is gr8 tirpassion,
i need to work harder. the long break of 6-8 months has had drastic effect and i have had to go back to the drawing board. but it is improving. nice to hear that such high % can be achieved. will keep trying and with gurujis advice would surely improve. what exactly are you all doing to reduce lateral movement. presntly even if i get the SA right there is too much lateral movement. so i end up getting a somewhat straight horizontal line in the black. some hit the 10 ring but rest wander into 7-8-9. any sugggestions
jitu

[hvj1]

Keep up the good work tirpassion, mind you Jitu, 100% should be your goal in % Box drilling for all elements.

[fantumfan2003]

Going slightly OT here but guess there is nowhere else where I can get an audience to view.....

Shot 238/400 in a local shooting match in peep sight air rifle category......Still a long way to go...probably even missed MQS by a whisker.....that apart.....happy to say that have reached a stage where I am able to "call" my shots most of the time.......and definitely for the fist time in a match (only my third BTW) where I knew what was happening....with everything about my shooting.....there were even those golden (for me) moments when I knew that everything was going right and I would shoot a ten and I did......And also those moments when I was stupid enough to not cancel my shot, push my luck and was rewarded with some 6s, a 5 and even a 4....So that needs to be ironed out.....Of course inputs on this thread have helped but I only wish someone like hvj1 helped us out with some serious and methodical air rifle shooting like hvj1.......

Thanks for the view....

M.

Keep up the good work tirpassion, mind you Jitu, 100% should be your goal in % Box drilling for all elements.

[tirpassion]

Hello Friends! How are you?

I participated in a local match today. First live shooting after one week. I was positive and relaxed. We shoot 2 shots on each card here and it is a normal match of 60 shots in 1h45m.

2 sighter cards only where I shot 3 shots (Two 9s & one 10 ten) on the 1st, gave a click to correct and shot another 2 shots (two 10s) on the second sighter card. I started to fly high in my mind. The heart started to beat faster and off I go with the first card. 9 & 10. Flew off again higher and forgot the good work. Came crashing on to the ground reality with a '8'. Concentrated on the good work again and another '10'. Yo yo... in the first series. 92.
Second series: 97 (Eight 10s, one 9 & one . The reward of good work.
I was determined to do a good work on the SOA. I did it quite well and found out after 2 series that I had taken a hell lot of time (45 mins for 2 series). I started to panic and lost the concentration totally. 89 in the 3rd series (3 jerks resulting in two '8's & one '7').
Pulled myself up a bit and got 92 in the 4th series. The time taken being 1h14m for 4 series. Score 370/400.
I finished the match in 1h43m and did 90 & 93 in the last two series. Total 553/600.
I can not help but narrate the last series.
9, 8 (I was lost), pulled myself again and did the SOA correctly; 10, did the same work but 8 again (problem of zone),
9. I was left with almost 10 minutes for the last 5 shots. I smartly took an break of 2 minutes. Came back to position and shot 10, 9, 10, 10 & 10. I was very happy to finish with two 10s on the last card.

In the beginning, I took a lot of time to imagine every shot and feeling if I was ready to go to take the shot. I aborted many a times. Then I started off with whole process of SOA and imagination. It was too long and I need to do something faster. I need to focus more on the SA and the trigger control.
I have an important official match next Saturday, the 10th of December. It is our Regional Championships of 10m disciplines.
Guruji, your advices please!

best regards
tirpassion

[hvj1]

Hello Fantumfan,
You can use some of the techniques, like box drilling to train yourself to CANCEL.
BR

Hello Tirpassion,
1. Besides your skill trg. sessions, whenever you wish to shoot live. TREAT IT EXACTLY LIKE A MATCH. Even if its a half match or a 40 shot match. Do everything EXACTLY as you would do in a match.

2. For this write down your script for a match, example:
45 min ...... arriving at the range before the match.
Break up of 45 mins (suggested and for direction only...)
10 mins, unpacking, checking lane No.s, try avoiding too much chit chat.
10 mins , toilet, occupying the lane , drinking sufficient water
20 mins, warming up alone, absolutely no chit chat.
5 mins, going through SOA mentally after cooling down.
Occupying your lane.
Things to do in preparation time - prepare checklist and tick mark each item.
and so on till order to commence fire.

3. Even in your dry shooting , aiming exerces and sighters, follow your SOA, strictly.

4. Set yourself a GOAL of % to be achieved for this match, regarding SOA correctly followed.

5. I had told you earlier, to prepare a time line for each Step in SOA against actual time taken in seconds. Ideally your shot cycle should not exceed 30 seconds. With practice, your shot cycle timing will reduce.

6. The key is to get your SOA and shot cycle going with CONSISTENT, timings. The moment you deviate from the norm, you will never achieve RHYTHM.

Hope I have been helpful.
Best Regards

[tirpassion]

Hi Jitu,

Thanks for your words.

what exactly are you all doing to reduce lateral movement. presntly even if i get the SA right there is too much lateral movement. so i end up getting a somewhat straight horizontal line in the black. some hit the 10 ring but rest wander into 7-8-9. any sugggestions

This what I feel.
I found out that if you keep your SA perfectly, lateral movement diminishes or you do not see it much. But if you keep on holding for a long time the lateral movements increase (more towards the left). The more you move the more you make your muscles work unconsciously to move less, your muscles start to crisp and your lateral movements increase further. You start to doubt and think whether to abort AND there the bloody pellet goes off.....
I think that during the SA exercise on blank card, larger arcs do not pose a problem (normal because you hold for longer periods). But during live shooting the hold should be limited to 5/6 seconds maximum. Ideally, the shot should go off between 3 to 5 seconds after you are in the aim zone with a perfect SA.

Hvj1 Sir, please correct and add on for your help.

best regards

tirpassion

[nmoharir]

Hi Hvj,

Its been more than a yr since I logged into this site (I even had forgotten my pswd) but I wanted to share my progress with my guru .

I see that Dev and Jitu are still very active members of this forum, feels nice to learn from their ups and downs too.

I started training seriously when GFG was announced in July. By aug I was scoring more than 90s consistently but couldn't qualify for nationals through GFG (scored 358 due to match pressure). Finally qualified through GVM at ahmedabad (367/400) and followed that with 546/600 at the NSSC. I could achive this only through your guidance as there's no one else to guide me at the local range. Thank you for the lessons you have been sharing in this forum.

On an average my score has been consistent at around 92 per series. But I have time constraints for practice (with regular corporate job and the time that I need for wife and kid ) so am not sure how do I take myself to the next stage with the given constraints- its a long way to go before I clear the next stage (570 for Trials !).

My routine for GVM and NSSC was as follows: Light Yoga in the morning, push ups, sit ups and weights for biceps, triceps and shoulders (all within an hour). At night I do fig 8s, aiming area hold and dry fire (again only for an hour between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm). On weekends I do live firing at the local range (2 to 3 hrs). Guruji, what modification should I do to the above routine so that those two hours everyday become more fruitful.

your blessing awaited

Regards,
Nikhil,
Pune.

[tirpassion]

Guruji,

Thanks a million for your advice. I will stick to it.
In general, I do not shoot a lot on the visual target (the one with the point rings). I shoot more on blank targets to practice the trigger pull & shot release. I get good tight groupings on the blank card but when it is shooting on the real visual target, there are more errors. Maybe it is high expectation which is the nuisance.
I have planned 2 days of live shooting next week (Monday and Wednesday in the range) and rest of the days of technical skill exercises at home. Nothing on Friday, the day before the Regionals. Would you suggest me to shoot on visual targets in these two days?

Congratulations Nikhil!
Voilà an example of hvj1 method working even on internet.

warm regards
tirpassion

[hvj1]

[quote="tirpassion"But during live shooting the hold should be limited to 5/6 seconds maximum. Ideally, the shot should go off between 3 to 5 seconds after you are in the aim zone with a perfect SA.
[/quote]

Absolutely agree on what you say and always recommend the same. Ideally the shot should go between 3-5 seconds NOW to achieve this consistently, you need to do the following;
1. Define your Shot cycle and SOA.
2. Your shot cyle time line for each step in your SOA, should be clearly defined and STRICTLY FOLLOWED.
3. Use Box Drills to inculcate discipline for cancelling whenever you deviate from your SOA.
Best Regards

[hvj1]

Hi Hvj,

My routine for GVM and NSSC was as follows: Light Yoga in the morning, push ups, sit ups and weights for biceps, triceps and shoulders (all within an hour). At night I do fig 8s, aiming area hold and dry fire (again only for an hour between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm). On weekends I do live firing at the local range (2 to 3 hrs). Guruji, what modification should I do to the above routine so that those two hours everyday become more fruitful.

Amazing, Hats off to you, with all the above mentioned constraints, you will inspire those who read your post and find themselves in a similar situation.
1. First and foremost, have patience.
2. Read up a little on Time Management techniques ( I used to lecture on TM to the Corporate Sector donkeys years ago) hence I am sure you will benefit. ( Now I hope I dont have to start a new thread on TM here)
3. Read and re-read the lessons from start to end, make notes and work on them.
We are all very fortunate to have somebody as dedicated as you on this forum. Keep posting.
Best Regards

[hvj1]

Guruji,


In general, I do not shoot a lot on the visual target (the one with the point rings). I shoot more on blank targets to practice the trigger pull & shot release. I get good tight groupings on the blank card but when it is shooting on the real visual target, there are more errors.
I have planned 2 days of live shooting next week (Monday and Wednesday in the range) and rest of the days of technical skill exercises at home. Nothing on Friday, the day before the Regionals. Would you suggest me to shoot on visual targets in these two days?

Ultimately my friend, whatever skills we master need to manifest on the 'black' target, so why not practice always or at least most of the time on the 'black' ( as we call it here competition target).
Practice all your skill always on the 'black' target.
Best Regards