Participated in my first PRS match last weekend at the Northeastern Kentucky Fish and Game association, and the results were educational, if not impressive. They say their is no substitute for experience, and I will agree with that 100%! I felt like a complete idiot at the end of the day, hopefully another new shooter will benefit from my failures.
I learned some important lessons that day. I knew this would probably be a painful experience and I was right. I have very limited opportunities for long range practice, but I would have done much better if I had worked on some basics first.
1. Make sure all of your equipment works!
I forgot to test one of my 10 round magazines I am using Magpul AICS 10 rounders that have to be modified to work in my MDT Savage Chassis. By chance, the first one I loaded, did not seat properly, allowing the bolt to ride over the round, crushing the side of it. I lost invaluable time on the first target of the PRS skills test, clearing this jam and changing magazines preventing me from completing the stage. Very stupid mistake on my part.
2. Practice the Basics.
My times to get behind the gun, load a magazine and acquire targets were woefully long. I needed to spend more time in the garage doing load and engage drills.
3. Don't do stupid shit.
On the speed stage, I engaged the wrong target on my first shot, hitting the 300 meter target instead of the 200. very easy to do, as it was directly behind the 200 meter target. I wasn't the only one to do so that day, but still...
4. Know your dope.
Not sure what I could have done about this, but I had no dope on the 675 yard target, due to the way our range is set up, we have to move to a hillside behind the firing line to engage this target, I had to estimate my dope on this target, and missed. Had never fired at a target this far away before, as I have no place to practice at these distances, and our practice match we were unable to use this firing position due to safety reasons.
5. Don't let the clock beat your ass, or, Make haste slowly.
I am sure the time pressure was a key factor in making me rush a few shots I should have made easily. Impossible to anticipate the pressure the clock can have on your nerves until you are on the range, Has been a long time since I had fired at pop up targets in the Army, very similar feeling.
All in all, was a fun day, and I am sure I will do better next month!
I learned some important lessons that day. I knew this would probably be a painful experience and I was right. I have very limited opportunities for long range practice, but I would have done much better if I had worked on some basics first.
1. Make sure all of your equipment works!
I forgot to test one of my 10 round magazines I am using Magpul AICS 10 rounders that have to be modified to work in my MDT Savage Chassis. By chance, the first one I loaded, did not seat properly, allowing the bolt to ride over the round, crushing the side of it. I lost invaluable time on the first target of the PRS skills test, clearing this jam and changing magazines preventing me from completing the stage. Very stupid mistake on my part.
2. Practice the Basics.
My times to get behind the gun, load a magazine and acquire targets were woefully long. I needed to spend more time in the garage doing load and engage drills.
3. Don't do stupid shit.
On the speed stage, I engaged the wrong target on my first shot, hitting the 300 meter target instead of the 200. very easy to do, as it was directly behind the 200 meter target. I wasn't the only one to do so that day, but still...
4. Know your dope.
Not sure what I could have done about this, but I had no dope on the 675 yard target, due to the way our range is set up, we have to move to a hillside behind the firing line to engage this target, I had to estimate my dope on this target, and missed. Had never fired at a target this far away before, as I have no place to practice at these distances, and our practice match we were unable to use this firing position due to safety reasons.
5. Don't let the clock beat your ass, or, Make haste slowly.
I am sure the time pressure was a key factor in making me rush a few shots I should have made easily. Impossible to anticipate the pressure the clock can have on your nerves until you are on the range, Has been a long time since I had fired at pop up targets in the Army, very similar feeling.
All in all, was a fun day, and I am sure I will do better next month!
