Seeking Expert Help?
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:37 am
All of us shoot the right way I am almost certain of that! So none of us need expert help right? It takes a real man comfortable within ones self to admit that maybe I could just use some pointers and better shooting habits.
It was almost painless for me to figure that out. I met John at a local range and we talked at the range a couple of times. He seemed fascinated with my military weapons and eventually when I as having trouble with one he asked if he could give it a try. Sure why not I said and he proceeded to ask me what kind of a hold and aim point I was using. I told him and he proceeded to shoot about 9 or 10 shots dead on the bull. I said darn what were you a sniper or something? He told me he had never been in the service but he just liked to shoot. I said where did you learn and he said from a fellow who was a NRA graded teacher many years ago. I said where do I get those lessons and he said well I am an NRA graded teacher and I could spend sometime with you if you cared to do that. I was totally out of ammo so we made a date and he worked with me for about an hour. He told me after my first ten shots, two mags that this would not be easy for me. He said I had quite a bunch of bad habits we would have to correct and it would take time and money to do it. I thought this guy is going after my money and I kind of was taken back a bit. He then said ammo was not cheap these days and it takes time and repition to correct things after all I had a lifetime of bad habits. How the hell could that be I shot expert for years in the service and fancied myself pretty good. He told me when I was younger I had great eyes and great reflexes so I could get away with all the bad stuff I did because of that. I said oh and now I can't? Yup he said and after about three sessions for which he refused even me buying him lunch and would not take any money for I realized I was a horrid shooter and was lucky to hit anything with all the things I did wrong. He worked with me awhile longer and then disappeared from the range and I have no idea why. I have not seen him in over 5 years now but I try to remember what he taught me.
The moral of the story is you are really not the sniper you think you are but with proper training and work on your part you can improve even with old eyes and reflexes like I have. First thing you have to do is admit you are not White Feather and start looking for someone who knows how to teach and knows the proper techniques to use. Believe me admitting this was quite a blow to my ego at 60 some odd years old. I have a gunsmith buddy who is a former Army special forces sniper and even he noticed I was shooting better and that really helped my ego. Do I use the right way to shoot all the time? No I get too excited at times and still revert to my old habits even now years later. But I do know the right way when I want to do the best I can. Just a word to the wise when you post your range reports and say this dang old rifle won't hit anything, I almost all the time will be thinking that rifle is probably fine and you are really the cuprit!
Bill
It was almost painless for me to figure that out. I met John at a local range and we talked at the range a couple of times. He seemed fascinated with my military weapons and eventually when I as having trouble with one he asked if he could give it a try. Sure why not I said and he proceeded to ask me what kind of a hold and aim point I was using. I told him and he proceeded to shoot about 9 or 10 shots dead on the bull. I said darn what were you a sniper or something? He told me he had never been in the service but he just liked to shoot. I said where did you learn and he said from a fellow who was a NRA graded teacher many years ago. I said where do I get those lessons and he said well I am an NRA graded teacher and I could spend sometime with you if you cared to do that. I was totally out of ammo so we made a date and he worked with me for about an hour. He told me after my first ten shots, two mags that this would not be easy for me. He said I had quite a bunch of bad habits we would have to correct and it would take time and money to do it. I thought this guy is going after my money and I kind of was taken back a bit. He then said ammo was not cheap these days and it takes time and repition to correct things after all I had a lifetime of bad habits. How the hell could that be I shot expert for years in the service and fancied myself pretty good. He told me when I was younger I had great eyes and great reflexes so I could get away with all the bad stuff I did because of that. I said oh and now I can't? Yup he said and after about three sessions for which he refused even me buying him lunch and would not take any money for I realized I was a horrid shooter and was lucky to hit anything with all the things I did wrong. He worked with me awhile longer and then disappeared from the range and I have no idea why. I have not seen him in over 5 years now but I try to remember what he taught me.
The moral of the story is you are really not the sniper you think you are but with proper training and work on your part you can improve even with old eyes and reflexes like I have. First thing you have to do is admit you are not White Feather and start looking for someone who knows how to teach and knows the proper techniques to use. Believe me admitting this was quite a blow to my ego at 60 some odd years old. I have a gunsmith buddy who is a former Army special forces sniper and even he noticed I was shooting better and that really helped my ego. Do I use the right way to shoot all the time? No I get too excited at times and still revert to my old habits even now years later. But I do know the right way when I want to do the best I can. Just a word to the wise when you post your range reports and say this dang old rifle won't hit anything, I almost all the time will be thinking that rifle is probably fine and you are really the cuprit!
Bill
I shoot with a guy who is older and is starting to get the shakes, but put him behind a bench and let him settle in and he will, as they used to say, "settle your hash"
