If I do something I try to do it well - no point in doing something badly. Striving for 'continual improvement' has been a constant also; it just makes sense to try and do better, be better.
I was recently shown a shooting target which had bullet holes sprayed over then entire surface, no grouping whatsoever. Considering the main objective of shooting is accuracy...well, there wasn't much accuracy to be found on that person's target. It made me think about my own shooting journey and how I've progressed throughout almost thirty five years of being a shooter. From the moment I began I wanted to do better and actively sought out ways in which I could be - I got very good at it. That's me above with a steel gong I tagged at almost 1,300 metres, you can see my two shots in the dinner-plate sized target....it took a lot of effort to learn to shoot at that range with accuracy and repeatability.
I'm often asked if I ever miss and, yes, sometimes I do, is the answer.
I don't miss much though and that's because I work constantly at honing my skills. I'm a trained long range rifle shooter and am also trained on handguns, both of which are perishable skills, and I have to work at staying at a high level of competency. I instruct others now and one things I look for in shooters is the desire to improve, if I don't see that I don't waste my time because there's no point in doing so. Wanting to be better is one of the keys to actually becoming better.
I remember showing off targets as a young lad once or twice in the very early days; embarrassing but true. There was a certain pride-factor when I had a target on which my groupings were ok and it felt nice to show someone. Thinking back though, those groupings opposed to how I was able to group shots later on after all that training I mentioned...those early groupings make me wish I'd crawled under a rock and hid in shame...or that I'd not showed anyone those targets.
Shooting accurately is not easy; it takes years of training and practice. Shooting accurately at a range is easier than shooting in the field and under duress and there's many other factors that can cause a shooter to be inconsistent or simply shoot badly...the greatest of which is the shooter himself, or herself which is partly a mindset thing.
I've seen many people out there at ranges and other places who fail to keep the form, forget (or neglect) their training or instruction or who apply the principles incorrectly - some just lack the aptitude...I can accept all that, some just want it more than others I guess. What I don't like is when people simply don't try to improve and accept bad results - I see it as poor character and figure it permeates other aspects of their lives.
I don't mean someone who will probably only shoot once in their life, I mean people who are regular shooters and especially those who show off their targets which are covered with scattered bullet holes without any thing that even resembles a group. Idiots.
Shooting is a serious business and can be dangerous, firearms are unforgiving and when things go wrong they go very wrong...in my opinion, there's no room for showboating and certainly no room for those who don't respect firearms and the fact that they could actually die operating them, or kill someone else. It's not a video game where one can respawn and continue from where one left off. It needs to be respected and one, in my opinion, needs to focus on improvement because doing it badly may end up costing more than a person wants to pay.
I believe a person who operates a firearm has an obligation to understand what they are doing including the safety aspect and general operation and to seek to improve their skills.
The above situation is not always the case though and many times I come across people who just want to blast away and brag that they hit the target regardless of the lack of skill and accuracy; it's poor form in my opinion - firearms are not toys and if shooting them can't be done properly it shouldn't be done at all. Not wanting to improve, not trying to, is irresponsible when it comes to firearms and there's a lot on the line, life itself. It's all about grouping and if one doesn't work to tighten up their groups one should stay away from firearms.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
Very nice groupings. Definitely giving me the itch. I haven't enjoyed the smell of gunpowder for several months now with all the work issues, move prep and moving/unpacking. I have located a few ranges near me, I think the furthest 770 yards so far, but I've heard there is a longer one within an hour drive. It won't be long now until I get back out.
Me and my girl took our certification training class over near you. We have also done some shooting @ Bunnell FL range not far from you. It has been 10+ years. We need to get a few sessions in also.
Looks like Bunnell Range is only about 20 minutes from me. May be good for a quick trip or new scope sight-in, 6 50 yard lanes, but only 2 100 yard lanes. Doubt that I'll pay the annual fees for that one, but open to public and may be ok for a quickie. Looks like I'll likely be going down to Volusia County Gun Range that has more slots and the longer ranges up to 900 yards. I like to do most rifle practice at 200 or more. It's about 40 minutes south of us, so still not a bad drive for the extra options.
I went through several weeks of not shooting and was so glad to get back to it (hand guns) and am planning to get the long guns out in a week, I mean my heavy hitters, including the 300WM that I talk about in this post and others. I'm looking forward to it and it'll be great to send it out to past a mile.
I hope you get out soon mate, and that you find a suitable range.
I have done some shooting in my life too. I actually took the Canadian possession and acquisition course and was going to get my license. So great to learn about safety and respect what you are doing before heading to the range.
Most firearms owners and operators I have met are the most careful and responsible people you will meet. With that environment, it was so much fun to shoot whether it was paper at an indoor range or a car at the annual Knob Creek shoot down in Kentucky.
A neat hobby now, food for some, and a skill I will cherish once the zombie apocalypse hits! ;)
It's not something everyone wants to do but it can be a rewarding endeavour for many reasons. It's quite difficult to obtain a firearms licensee here, especially for handguns, and so many don't go down that track which is fine by me; so many people simply shouldn't.
Like you, I find most firearms users to be responsible and certainly believe I'm one of the responsible ones; it's a big responsibility to have firearms (I have many of them) and I believe people should be acting accordingly. So many of the problems that arise are with those who are unlicensed (criminals) and those who don't take the time to learn correctly and maintain skills.
😉
Incredible results, friend. It kind of reminds me of the book of the five rings of Miyamoto Musashi, where he starts not by talking about swords, but about carpentry to try to explain what it means to develop skill, the patience, the time it takes. Although, it was a teaching book mostly.
What is the experience in shooting that made you invest your life blood in it? Is it perhaps like riding a very dangerous beast?
Seeking to continually improving should part of everyday life for all of us, the benefits are clear, physically and emotionally (mentally also) and it helps life become more fulfilled. It's a mindset and one which can be applied to many different aspects of life.
I don't like doing things by halves so it makes sense to me to want to be good at it. It's not about mastering something dangerous, it's about moving towards the mastery of myself and the many complicated elements of shooting (at great distances) which all culminate in the flight of a small lead projectile through the air and onto a target a mile or more away. Doing that is very satisfying when one considers what goes into making it happen.
Your post talks about your passion for the use of weapons, I understand that it is about the mastery you have achieved through study, effort and dedication to them .... as I get absorbed in a book, you are passionate about a team of these ....
However your words can be very open and could be interpreted in many ways and in various contexts.... and in the center of them is you with an attitude of a cautious and demanding teacher....
It must be exciting to master a weapon and its power.
I am demanding on myself, I want to operate at a high level so push myself towards it, which I guess can also spill over to others; I am mindful not to expect too much from people in business and personal life or even when I'm training them how to shoot which doesn't mean I don't want them to achieve good things, just that I allow them to creep up on it rather than to set the standard at an unattainable level which can be demoralising.
It is. Being able to put accurate round on things at long range is very rewarding.
🙃
You shoot well nutbag, and she does too.
I'm not a nutbag when I shoot.
Well, yeah I probably am. A safe one though.
This firearms business is a serious matter and it is unfortunate that some people are so reckless.
But, come on, whatever you want to do in life you should do well. And group your shots in the sense of gaining mastery in whatever it is you do.
Te mando un abrazo.
Yeah, I agree and choosing to do well, or wanting to do well and doing the work to make it happen, tends to speak highly of a person's character.
🙃 Happy weekend!
The cloverleaf grouping is really awesome. It's almost how they show it in the movies. I was gonna joke that there were 2 other holes on the right of the picture where you 'missed' haha. I didn't know they used lead targets, seeing it take those rifle shots and barely have any dent is impressive.
Yep, it's what we all seek to attain, a serious long range shoot I mean. If a rifle isn't zeroed like that it gets more inaccurate the farther out one wants to shoot. It's also very rewarding knowing the rifle shoots at 0.25MOA at 100m.
Not lead targets...the projectiles are lead. The targets are steel (AR550 steel is what mine are made of.) The lead splash on the target you see is the projectile (bullet) disintegrating on impact. Imagine that hitting you in the head or chest - With the 300 Winmag rifle I mention it means no more head and the chest is an empty cavity as it all gets blown out ones back.
Oh wow. That is very powerful indeed. Images of seemingly over the top Hollywood depiction of bullet hits come to mind, and no longer looking over the top.
The movies aren't really a very good indication of what happens but some of them get close to it I guess.
Practice is the only thing that can make us do all the things in this world. But as soon as I get it, I will definitely drive it and get this experience
Practice makes a person better...provided the right things are being practised.
Shooting is something i would really want to try on someday too. But i agree on that fact of firearms being handled seriously and not taken as a joke or play toys.
I hope you get a chance to give it a try.
Oh yeah! And would write about it too😍😍
I like the continuous improvement you made in doing what you like, honestly, we don't have to do what we like anyhow, but we should always aim for the best of us in the activities, it brings excitement when a shooter knows he is on point, I saw it on places where it's done, although, I am not a shooter myself, but I do sense fun in it, people who brag about being a good shooter, when they're not, has just shown they can't perform greatly, so they're using their mouths to cover it up.
If one has no ambition to improve I think life might be quite limited.
Absolutely true, improvement is a called for self betterment.
The fact that firearms are so dangerous is part of the reason I don't own more of them. It's not that I don't like them or support people's right to own them. I've thought about picking up a handgun over the years, but I have never been able to justify the expense. I don't have the time to put into being on a target league. My long guns already sit around without being used, so I'd hate to do that with a handgun. If I ever got anything I think I would get a .38 revolver, but not the special style. I am not a fan of the snub nosed barrels. I'd want to join a target league or something though so I know it was worth it.
It's sensible to know when to have a firearm and when not to...and ti want to be able to use it correctly and with skill. So many acquire them without thinking about why and then fail to build the right skills which is a waste of money and somewhat dangerous.
I totally agree with you there.
As I read I can see the passion for this game/hobby/vocation and it's good to get better at what one does or have passion for, and not be a charlatan. I like your spirit, keep it going. 🤗
Firearms are not a game and should never be treated as such.
You are right! Something that could snuff life out in a jiffy should not be handled as a game. My bad!
Lol...I haven't seen someone use in a jiffy for a while. My mum used to say it a lot.
Maybe I belong in that era... 😄
Possibly.
Handling a gun is no joke and must be taken with a lot of responsibility and learning and improving is fundamental. If someone doesn't know how to do it as you say, they just want to show off, it's a serious matter.
Unfortunately there are such people.
Yep, that's what I said.
Fortunately the few people I have met in my life who have personally owned guns have been highly trained and responsible.
Good night Galen! See you tomorrow!
Yep, the only way to be. ✅
You have very good shooting skills because you have been doing this for a long time . Many cannot. I am impressed by your shooting skills
Thirty five years is a long time to be doing something and I have kept learning all the way through so sure, I've picked up some skills.
First of all, one hell of a gun you've got there G.. and I love that attitude of doing things to your best of ability. And lastly a question, I know big guns have a kick to it .... I do you stand your grounds while shooting a big gun and have you held a machine gun before? I'm just asking 😂😂😁😁😁
Yes I have.
😳 you're different kinda man bro 😂😂 #respect
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