Rifles Only - my epiphany

[glock24]

I had the opportunity to train with Jacob last year when he visited West Michigan. I enjoyed his class very much, and learned a lot. However, many of the concepts were very strange to me. Support side shooting and some other unorthodox shooting positions were the most foreign. I admit that I found myself questioning the value from time to time.

Fast forward a year, and I just recently had the opportunity to compete in my first ever precision rifle match. We shot fourteen stages of various distances, target sizes, and scenarios. I have now realized that Jacob's training was pure gold;

- My practice with natural point of aim and getting straight behind the rifle allowed me to spot my own impacts better and faster than the RO throughout the courses of fire. It was absolutely priceless feedback.

- There was one event that required us to shoot from an elevated and cramped balcony. The common shooting stance seemed to be leaning precariously over the railing to steady the rifle. Not me. This balcony was also the natural choice for some support-side prone, which I assumed almost instinctively. My shooting position felt rock solid, and the ringing steel was the testimony. Like a boss.

- Many of the stages involved compromising shooting platforms. While many shooters were simply trying to balance their rifle across the closest horizontal surface, I was exploiting my bipod legs and body parts against as many solid surfaces as possible. Priceless.

Thank you again Jacob for making not just a distance shooter out of me, but a precision rifle competitor. I'm proud to tell you that I scored in the top five at this event.

Keep up the great work, and know that I have been singing your praises to the many Michigan shooters that I met at this event. I hope they get to meet you next year.

Team Poodle Shooter in da house!

 

[FALex]

Practical precision matches should have you shooting from all kinds of wacky positions. When you receive formal training, and during the training, you shoot from awkward and unfamiliar/weak side positions. When you're making hits from those positions, did you think to yourself, "shit, if I can hit the target shooting upside down, I could probably hit it from the prone without even looking..."?

I just got done shooting combat pistol techniques, and shot from the fetal position, upside down, in a crunch position, etc, etc...when it was time to shoot strong side again, I had an absolutely amazing amount of confidence.

 

[Layton]

Congrats on a great finish! Waiting my turn to take his courses.

L

 

[E. Bryant]

While I placed a few spots behind you (7th or 8th, maybe? I was kinda zoning-out at that point in the day!), I still have to give a huge amount of credit to the fine instruction I received from Rifles Only this summer. It probably doubled my score.

 

[Supergyro]

I personally love it when I come back from a class with something I questioned the value of and then find it's amazingly helpful or I use it all the time, etc... That's what I'm going to the class for. All the stuff I never figured out myself. (alot)

 

[soupsandwich]

I teach a lot of handgun courses and one of the points I always try to get across to students is to learn everything you can even if you do not like the technique or it does not seem to work for you. Place it in your bag of tricks because you never know when it will come in handy.

 

[Rifles Only]

Thanks for that! I am delighted you did well and more delighted that you could think your way through the shooting problems. That's what it is all about!
Less gear, less whiz bang accessories, more thinking!
Good job!

Check our website for an upcoming competition course. This will be dedicated to competition events and ways to increase your score

 

[Graham]

We limit these classes in order to provide a proper instructor to student ratio, so they fill up quickly and not everyone can get in.

When we started the Michigan class last year it was intended as a one-time thing. But there was so much interest for the next year that we did one in August of this year as well.

I have since had inquiries about doing yet another one next year. No guarantees, but I will ask Jacob to check his schedule and anyone interested in attending should get with with Lisa at Rifles Only about when/whether he will be doing another class.

If we can get the range time I am willing to set it up.

 

[DroidSniper]

That is some awesome feedback on the course. it's on my short list.

 

[tostado22]

I teach a lot of handgun courses and one of the points I always try to get across to students is to learn everything you can even if you do not like the technique or it does not seem to work for you. Place it in your bag of tricks because you never know when it will come in handy.

I tell my students the same thing. This thread has made me really want to get after some quality precision rifle training