Exceeding Yearly Goals

     So one of my goals for the year was to shoot over a 650 on the 700 point pistol aggregate.  I thought this was a reasonable goal for me and one I should reach with some work.  More mental management than pistol fundamentals but something I would have to work toward.  I have been shooting just below this for months. 

     I had taken the past few weeks off of my training to relax and not burn myself out.  Yes I have shot but no real training.  This morning I thought I would shoot the 700 to get a baseline for the year.  Not having trained I wasnt trying to set a record.  Simply shoot the test.  As I did, I never shot a clean string however never got wrapped around a single shot or string. 

     The end result was the highest score I have shot to date and I have exceeded my goal for the year.  I am pumped and now I am ready to put the 700 behind me for a few months and concentrate on all the other skills I need to work on: draw times, split times, shooting on the move, etc.  I want to really work on my footwork while shooting on the move because lets face it.  We aren't going to be standing still in an engagement.

As you can see, nothing clean, just semi consistent

     Be posting some new stuff soon on a few pieces of my new kit and a few items I saw at SHOT.

     Die Well
     DAV

Shoot more guns

     I was hosting a few guys at a facility I work with and had a few pistols out for them to shoot and some ammo.  Nothing big.  A meet and greet and a little shooting.  Afterwards I decided there was no reason not to shoot what was left.  Plus its easier to throw an empty box away than to put a full box back in the safe.  Laid out was a VERY stock Glock 17, M9 and a Sig P226.  As well as 150 rounds of 9mm.

     I decided to shoot 50 rounds with each pistol and see how I could group them and how the weapons felt.  I will admit to ALL that I shoot and prefer the Glock over anything else and because of that I do not put the time in to the other guns as I should.  Like everyone else my ego gets in the way and I shoot what I am comfortable with and shoot well.  ( I will have to brag on my friend Kyle Defoor and say that is one of the things I admire about him is he is willing and does shoot different guns during courses and on test. He is willing to put his ego aside to do it.  That is a big deal)  The targets had been set up by someone else and they were at 15 yards so I left them.  My group sizes were decent for 15 yards putting all 50 rounds in a hole a few inches round.  NOT THE POINT OF THE POST

M9, Sig P226 and Glock 17

     The Glock shot as any stock 17 would however I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the M9.  Everyone complains about this gun and although it isn't my GO TO gun it shot accurately and I was extremely pleased with how it performed.  I definitely need plenty of reps with the double action and that tiny MAG release but was overall impressed.  I am going to make an effort to shoot it more often and during more classes.  Specifically my ARMY courses.  The Sig P226 on the other hand did not perform as well as I would have liked although to be fair I do not shoot Sig's very often and this wasn't a real test of the gun.  Really it just didn't "feel" as comfortable in my hands as the others.  So it was a "feel" thing and although you can't hang data on that, it matters to me because I am the one shooting and I want the weapon to feel as if it is an extension of my body.  I did however find the SIG shot about an 1 1/2 inches lower than the site blades were aimed.  I hear that some Sig's are sited in for the dots but that is not how I shoot.  I shoot blades.  I will have to gather some date from some high speed Navy guys to get the word.

     So the take away I got from this and really just proved a point I already knew was if you execute the basic fundamentals of marksmanship whether pistol or rifle you can make accurate shots.  Yes, you may shoot better with one gun but with reps and proper training we can all shoot well with any weapon.  So I want to challenge everyone to shoot multiple guns this year and train outside of your own comfort zone.  Put down that favorite gun because it is the one you beat your buddies with and be willing to be humbled by learning new skills.  Believe me.  There is always someone out there who can kick your ass at something.  I training to be that guy who does it to you.  haha    

      I will be at SHOT so I hope to see you everyone there.
      Die well.
      David