I decided last winter to take this game a little more serious while I was waiting for my arm to heal after elbow surgery. We live in the country, so I abandoned the "square" range and thought I would try and learn something out in the "real" world. Every day that I could, I would drive a 2/3 scale steel IPSC target out into the field near our home and set it up. From our deck, I would range it using the mil-dot reticle in the scope, come up with a firing solution using a mil-dot master, and take a poke at it. I wanted to keep it as real as possible, so the only unrealistic thing was that I could "feel" the wind at the target area while setting up. I tried to go in different directions on different days so I wouldn't get used to shooting from the same position, the wind would always be different, I wouldn't "know" the range to target, etc... I kept detailed notes on weather conditions at the time of the shot, and pulled weather AFTER the shot to see how well I was calling the wind. I had a blast, and there were some "frustrating" days as well (can you say bad wind call). I did this both with my AR in .223 and my bolt .308. Nearly all the shooting was done between 250 and 600 yards. I'm curious to hear your ideas on how I can mix it up with some new stuff this year to keep improving.
Advanced Marksmanship How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
- Thread starter tnichols
- Start date
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
I've had this same idea, wanting to set up and shoot 3 or 4 times a week, a single round on a steel plate. I have six acres and would love to do something like this, just not as versatile, but the neighbor lady is a nut job and threatens to call the Sheriff on me when I do any shooting. It's generally safe but they could rule either way so I won't risk it. I think it's a great idea what you are doing, but I have to stick to the local ranges for my own training.
I've had this same idea, wanting to set up and shoot 3 or 4 times a week, a single round on a steel plate. I have six acres and would love to do something like this, just not as versatile, but the neighbor lady is a nut job and threatens to call the Sheriff on me when I do any shooting. It's generally safe but they could rule either way so I won't risk it. I think it's a great idea what you are doing, but I have to stick to the local ranges for my own training.
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
- Fire offhand
- Fire kneeling
- Fire Sitting
- Fire from your couch with sling
- Fire from your couch with the rifle rested on the back of a chair
- Command fire
- Use a timer - discover how fast you are to mount and fire, split times involving multiple follow up shots (and record the group size), set a minimum group size and run a PAR time for a given number of rounds, make it hard - add a reload.
- Fire in failing light
- Fire in darkness with the lights of a vehicle only partially beamed on the the target
- Rig movers
- Multiple targets
- Drag a car door out - set it up so only the head and shoulders are exposed
- Drag a clean windshield out
- Shoot through a loop hole
- Run up and down the stairs a few times before mounting the gun
- Don't dial any dope - just hold
Sky is the limit.
In short - MSU (make shit up)
Good luck
- Fire offhand
- Fire kneeling
- Fire Sitting
- Fire from your couch with sling
- Fire from your couch with the rifle rested on the back of a chair
- Command fire
- Use a timer - discover how fast you are to mount and fire, split times involving multiple follow up shots (and record the group size), set a minimum group size and run a PAR time for a given number of rounds, make it hard - add a reload.
- Fire in failing light
- Fire in darkness with the lights of a vehicle only partially beamed on the the target
- Rig movers
- Multiple targets
- Drag a car door out - set it up so only the head and shoulders are exposed
- Drag a clean windshield out
- Shoot through a loop hole
- Run up and down the stairs a few times before mounting the gun
- Don't dial any dope - just hold
Sky is the limit.
In short - MSU (make shit up)
Good luck
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
Thanks Mo Zam Beek. I shoot USPSA all summer, so I'll have to incorporate more/different positions just like showing up at a new stage (course of fire) at a pistol match. I may not be able to get too elaborate with the "props" as I have to set-up and tear down after each shot. One thing I have switched to for this year is a full size IPSC target. I don't care about the fact that it's easier to hit, but it is certainly easier to range. Tonight I had a nice hit (first round) at 692 yards with a quartering tailwind. It felt good. It gives me Forest Gump face (the part where he's sorry about her room mate's bath robe).
Thanks Mo Zam Beek. I shoot USPSA all summer, so I'll have to incorporate more/different positions just like showing up at a new stage (course of fire) at a pistol match. I may not be able to get too elaborate with the "props" as I have to set-up and tear down after each shot. One thing I have switched to for this year is a full size IPSC target. I don't care about the fact that it's easier to hit, but it is certainly easier to range. Tonight I had a nice hit (first round) at 692 yards with a quartering tailwind. It felt good. It gives me Forest Gump face (the part where he's sorry about her room mate's bath robe).
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
An IPSC is only easier to hit if you allow yourself to think that the whole area is a scoring area. Shoot eye boxes only..... No shoots in front and obscuring....etc
I often use an MGM Precision Rifle Target (2/3 of the way down the page)
http://www.mgmtargets.com/products/product_page.php?cat=15
Which is dandy except for the days when I am beyond 1k and have not been able to close the COM door (becomes the size of the T zone when it is open). Other days I have felt like Tony Montana when I made 5 shot back to back eye box runs at 850 - with witnesses to spread the word of my steely eye (LOL - I was on a tear and the wind was with me - in short I got lucky a few times one day at band camp).
I usually use a paper IPSC as well and stick a 1" orange plaster on the COM A zone and base group size off of the radius to the center of the sticker. (In good light and with good optics you can see the contrast of the sticker at over 1k).
Have fun
Good luck
An IPSC is only easier to hit if you allow yourself to think that the whole area is a scoring area. Shoot eye boxes only..... No shoots in front and obscuring....etc
I often use an MGM Precision Rifle Target (2/3 of the way down the page)
http://www.mgmtargets.com/products/product_page.php?cat=15
Which is dandy except for the days when I am beyond 1k and have not been able to close the COM door (becomes the size of the T zone when it is open). Other days I have felt like Tony Montana when I made 5 shot back to back eye box runs at 850 - with witnesses to spread the word of my steely eye (LOL - I was on a tear and the wind was with me - in short I got lucky a few times one day at band camp).
I usually use a paper IPSC as well and stick a 1" orange plaster on the COM A zone and base group size off of the radius to the center of the sticker. (In good light and with good optics you can see the contrast of the sticker at over 1k).
Have fun
Good luck
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
I switched to the full IPSC because for a rookie like me, it's easier to range than the 2/3 with the mil-dot. I'm still always striving for upper "A" zone hits. I've seen MGM's target you are talking about and might have to give one a try. I've got alot of Mike's stuff on my pistol range. Until I get one, maybe I'll incorporate a head shot after my initial shot just for grins. Sounds like you were dialed in when you were getting consistant eye shots at 850!
I switched to the full IPSC because for a rookie like me, it's easier to range than the 2/3 with the mil-dot. I'm still always striving for upper "A" zone hits. I've seen MGM's target you are talking about and might have to give one a try. I've got alot of Mike's stuff on my pistol range. Until I get one, maybe I'll incorporate a head shot after my initial shot just for grins. Sounds like you were dialed in when you were getting consistant eye shots at 850!
Re: How I Train - Good , Bad or Indifferent
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tnichols</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It felt good. It gives me Forest Gump face (the part where he's sorry about her room mate's bath robe). </div></div>
Now that is just down righ funny. I about pissed myself.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tnichols</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It felt good. It gives me Forest Gump face (the part where he's sorry about her room mate's bath robe). </div></div>
Now that is just down righ funny. I about pissed myself.
Similar threads
