R-U-S-T-Y!

[S391]

Give me an "R".......

We had out last ourdoor IDPA match for the season last week Saturday and I cannot even begin to tell you how rusy I was. I realized that the only time I've shot in the last 2 months were the last 2 matches I shot.... Wow, pretty sad.

So I'm getting my gear together and laying out a plan to get back to the range and try to get back into some sort of shooting shape.....

Am I the only one that this happens to?

[Chris]

Steve,
Don't feel lonely. It happens to all of us. When my game goes into the dumper I tend to fall back to practicing fundimentals... Gunsite Drills from 25 yards to 3 yards (with a timer)... weak & strong hand.. and El Prez. That seems to get me refocussed and back in shape.
Chris Christian

[Daeglan]

What is El Prez?

[Jerome from California]

JARGON ALERT!
Chris, explain the El Presidente Drill please.

[S391]

The most frustrating thing for me is trying to figure out HOW to practice. I shot competitive sporting clays for over 15 years and I know what to do if part of my game is in a slump. However, I'm still fairly new to the world of action shooting and I'm still trying to figure it all out. I need a step by step training plan that lists out what drills i need to run, how often I need to run them and what I should be looking for as I go forward.

[Chris]

Ok.. Jargon Alert - El Prez Drill. This features three targets (spaced anywhere from one target width to as much as 12 feet apart). Range? I've seen them anywhere from 5 to 15 yards. THE DRILL. Start facing up range with the targets at your back, loaded & holstered. At the BEEP,
turn, draw, engage each target with two rounds... reload.. and engage each target with another two rounds. 12 rounds toal, score four per target. This works on footwork, reloading, multiple targets, transitions, etc. Good drill. Covers a lot of fundimentals.
Steve.....as far as how to practice... that could take a book. But.. you can't go wrong with the fundimentals on a timer. JARGON ALERT!!!
The Gunsite Drill is simple: 1 target, draw, double tap, time and score. Run this at 35, 25, 15, 10, 7 and 3 yards. This covers key fundimentals (draw, target presentation, sight picture, sight alignment, trigger press, etc) in one easy to score drill that will measure your progress.
I find it invaluable for getting out of a slump.... and if you every watched me run it you'd see me run three strings (6 rounds) checking the time on each... score... cuss... walk around and think... back to firing line... check foot position... ask myself how the hell I threw that 3. Do six more... think more... and probably spend less than 30 rounds in a half hour. But, I'm back to where I need to be when I leave.
Beyond that, I would certainly include weak and strong hand practice (strong hand from the holster, weak hand from low ready) on three target array at 7 and 10 yards. Those are fundimentals. Look at your hits... think why you made them... and think how to make them faster and more accurately.
Just shooting a lot of rounds doesn't build confidence. Hitting with the rounds you do shoot does.
Chris Christian

[S391]

Chris,

Thank you very much!!!! I've been meaning to buy a timer and now I know why I need one. I have an indoor range close to my house and they will let me draw from the holster but I cannot shoot multiple targets.... I'll keep looking for an outdoor range where I can set up some of these drills.

If nothing else I can work on drawing and dry-firing in my basement.... it has to be better than nothing.....

[Chris]

Steve,
IMHO timers are an invaluable training aid because they will show you the fastest way that achieves good results. You can learn a lot about technique by looking at the target and the timer. Some things work better than others. With that said, they are worthless on an indoor range because they'll pick up the sound of the other shots. Find an outdoor range.
Chris Christian