I recently decided that I want to actively train to become a better competitive shooter. Up to this point, my training has consisted of shooting local matches and the occasional simplistic live- and dry-fire session. I've become a lot better shooter since I shot my first IDPA match just over a year ago, but I feel like I've come to the point where I have to make a concentrated effort if I want to get better to the degree and at the pace I desire.
I want a place to track my progress and keep a running journal of the things I do help (or even hinder) my progress. This is mainly for my own benefit, but everyone is free to jump in and question/comment/critique/etc, as long as it doesn’t get too far off topic.
Currently I'm an Expert IDPA shooter in ESP (and probably SSP, but I haven't classified in a while), and I'm unclassified in USPSA. If I had to guess, I'm probably a "B" class shooter.
So let's start:
Wed, July 29th
I did about 30 minutes of "speed mode" dry-fire with my Tanfo Limited. It points better than the STI Edge I had recently, but the reloads aren't as smooth. I believe that's because of the narrowish frame and the grip angle. After a few minutes of practicing reloads, they became much smoother and I suspect that's due to me getting more used to the grip angle after not handling the gun in a while.
I was really pushing my speed, so mags occasionally flew out of my hand and across the room and I managed to smash the hell out of my thumb between the basepad and the magwell. About the only changed I noticed by the end of the session was my reloads were smoother. As I mentioned before, I believe that was just due to me getting back used to the way the gun sits in my hand. Since I was working on speed, I set aggressive par times. Although I rarely hit them, I could do it on occasion when everything went right. I can be plenty accurate when I want to be, so I’ll continue focusing a lot of my training on speed.
Thurs, July 30th
I picked up my new SVI after work and I couldn’t resist doing a little dry-fire with it once I got home. I was amazed at how well it pointed from the first draw! I know the platform is the same as the STI Edge, but it feels different. It actually points better than my Tanfo and reloads smoother as well. Not to say that I don’t need to practice with it, but it just felt… right… from the moment I picked it up. Obviously it’s a new gun that I’m excited about, but I’m trying to be as objective as possible when I describe it this way.
I spent a little time practicing my draws and reloads with it. Everything went pretty smoothly, but I’ve got to work on my trigger control at speed. I tend to jerk the trigger when I shoot fast, and it seems to be especially bad with 1911/2011’s. I found out about a live-fire drill to help with this, and I plan on going to the range this weekend to give it a try.
I need to make up some .40 dummy rounds to I can practice with full mags, so I’ll probably do that tonight. I may spend a few minutes dry-firing as well.
That’s all, for now. Stay tuned for more updates!
I want a place to track my progress and keep a running journal of the things I do help (or even hinder) my progress. This is mainly for my own benefit, but everyone is free to jump in and question/comment/critique/etc, as long as it doesn’t get too far off topic.
Currently I'm an Expert IDPA shooter in ESP (and probably SSP, but I haven't classified in a while), and I'm unclassified in USPSA. If I had to guess, I'm probably a "B" class shooter.
So let's start:
Wed, July 29th
I did about 30 minutes of "speed mode" dry-fire with my Tanfo Limited. It points better than the STI Edge I had recently, but the reloads aren't as smooth. I believe that's because of the narrowish frame and the grip angle. After a few minutes of practicing reloads, they became much smoother and I suspect that's due to me getting more used to the grip angle after not handling the gun in a while.
I was really pushing my speed, so mags occasionally flew out of my hand and across the room and I managed to smash the hell out of my thumb between the basepad and the magwell. About the only changed I noticed by the end of the session was my reloads were smoother. As I mentioned before, I believe that was just due to me getting back used to the way the gun sits in my hand. Since I was working on speed, I set aggressive par times. Although I rarely hit them, I could do it on occasion when everything went right. I can be plenty accurate when I want to be, so I’ll continue focusing a lot of my training on speed.
Thurs, July 30th
I picked up my new SVI after work and I couldn’t resist doing a little dry-fire with it once I got home. I was amazed at how well it pointed from the first draw! I know the platform is the same as the STI Edge, but it feels different. It actually points better than my Tanfo and reloads smoother as well. Not to say that I don’t need to practice with it, but it just felt… right… from the moment I picked it up. Obviously it’s a new gun that I’m excited about, but I’m trying to be as objective as possible when I describe it this way.
I spent a little time practicing my draws and reloads with it. Everything went pretty smoothly, but I’ve got to work on my trigger control at speed. I tend to jerk the trigger when I shoot fast, and it seems to be especially bad with 1911/2011’s. I found out about a live-fire drill to help with this, and I plan on going to the range this weekend to give it a try.
I need to make up some .40 dummy rounds to I can practice with full mags, so I’ll probably do that tonight. I may spend a few minutes dry-firing as well.
That’s all, for now. Stay tuned for more updates!
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