Tell the Truth.

[boscoebrea]

How many times have you taken the same gun, shot the same ammo with all the same settings, and shot an outstanding group, only to fail to do the same thing the next time you took out the same gun?
Everything is the same; you ask yourself, what the heck happened? You stare at the gun, thinking, why have you failed me? What has changed? What has caused this?
You go on this or that forum and ask questions. Why?
You get many answers, but none seem to help you; what now?
If everything is, in fact, the same, wouldn't the answer be YOU?
What brought this to my attention was the post about showing me your best group.
My best group is not with my most accurate rifle, yet it is my best group, this is a ten-shot group, so the rifle is in fact accurate.
Maybe this rifle is very accurate but more challenging to shoot accurately;I had a good day taming it; it was me.
I better stop. My ADD is taken over now, What I am trying to get across: Some day,s the shooter is better or not as good, it has nothing to do with equipment, it has to do with how your Mind has overcome the distractions in it to focus on shooting "tight groups".

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

You are exactly right; it is a focus issue. It's happened to me more than I'd like to admit.

 

[Bramezy]

Some days sure seem better than others. Its hard to swallow and admit maybe it is the shooter and not the equipment. Just human nature maybe to seek answers and not accept fault? I know I am guilty of it as well as every other shooter ive met.
Humans have so many outside factors that affect us and we don't even realize. Agree, its us.

 

[sekiar]

Some days sure seem better than others. Its hard to swallow and admit maybe it is the shooter and not the equipment. Just human nature maybe to seek answers and not accept fault? I know I am guilty of it as well as every other shooter ive met.
Humans have so many outside factors that affect us and we don't even realize. Agree, its us.

So very true. Charles

 

[bowwild]

Agree. I've experienced this more in archery than with firearms though. The "process" is of vital importance to consistent accuracy. The process is much less subtle when shooting a bow than when shooting a firearm. At least for me it is. However, if I think about it they are probably the same.

Example: These are the 11 Steps to Archery Success.

1. Stance
2. Nock
3. Draw Hand Placement
4. Bow Hand Placement
5. Pre-Draw
6. Draw
7. Anchor
8. Aim
9. Shot Set-Up
10. Release
11. Follow Through & Reflect

I think there is an order to successful firearm shooting also.

 

[Impact701]

If I could shoot perfectly every time I picked up my rifle I would be at RMAC every year bringing home some cash ! XOXO

 

[DeanB]

Too much coffee one day, bad day at work, personal problems they can all effect your shooting. Plus just thinking your going to have a bad day can make you over think the process.
As long as I can hit where Im aiming at hunting 99 percent of the time Im good, target shooting I take what I get. Good process when target shooting equates to good shooting hunting so always try my best.

 

[WorriedMan]

Guilty of taking consistently accurate airguns for granted. Complacency too easily sets in, figuring my part doesn't matter, whatever I fling down range will hit the mark. After a few wild ones reality sets in and the partnership returns. WM

 

[ChuckHunter]

How many times have you taken the same gun, shot the same ammo with all the same settings, and shot an outstanding group, only to fail to do the same thing the next time you took out the same gun?
Everything is the same; you ask yourself, what the heck happened? You stare at the gun, thinking, why have you failed me? What has changed? What has caused this?
You go on this or that forum and ask questions. Why?
You get many answers, but none seem to help you; what now?
If everything is, in fact, the same, wouldn't the answer be YOU?
What brought this to my attention was the post about showing me your best group.
My best group is not with my most accurate rifle, yet it is my best group, this is a ten-shot group, so the rifle is in fact accurate.
Maybe this rifle is very accurate but more challenging to shoot accurately;I had a good day taming it; it was me.
I better stop. My ADD is taken over now, What I am trying to get across: Some day,s the shooter is better or not as good, it has nothing to do with equipment, it has to do with how your Mind has overcome the distractions in it to focus on shooting "tight groups".

So true
And so many just jump right to blaming there equipment to feed their ego I guess! Lol. I especially find this to be true with springers in my own experience.
Takes that much more concentration and remembering the technique that that particular rifle likes! It what's makes it all worth it in the end! Take a deep breath and think and try it again!

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

The gun never misses, but I sure do!

 

[Treefrog]

You make an excellent point Boscoe. We do seem to spend a lot of time and money chasing problems that only exist in our heads.

It took me a lot of years to realize who was the first person on the scene of every single one of my motorcycle crashes.

Me...

Cheers,

J~

 

[Vana2]

Yeah, you can drive yourself crazy asking why... the simple answer is: GREMLINS

Kidding aside, there's lots of subtle things that cause inconsistencies in shooting and trying to eliminate all (most?) is what keeps me coming back to the bench.

I shoot a five groups of 5 shots and 25 single shots on one target face for a session. After shooting/scoring multiple sessions I've learned to "read" the results and can often see when my focus slipped and I start making mistakes, canting the rifle and such. On a good shot I can "feel" the shot knowing it's good before the impact on the target. It's really hard to have that kinda focus for a whole session.

So, if I was totally honest I'd admit that I was the weak link in the ammo/equipment/shooter system... since I'm not totally honest with myself I will blame on those dam GREMLINS jerking the pellets around

Cheers!

Here's a repost of one of my "report cards". I've "X 'ed" out a couple of pulled shots, some are fliers from unsorted pellets and most of the rest I can take credit/blame for. When I have my act together the Wolverine will put 15.89s in the 1/2" circle at 40 yards, we do better with JSB 18s .

 

[MJS]

This is true about any pursuit we take seriously. Some days we have it...some we don't. (Anyone who plays guitar is painfully aware of this.)
Too much ego to admit it's you? Then you have more to learn than shooting, Grasshopper.

 

[Vana2]

Agree. I've experienced this more in archery than with firearms though. The "process" is of vital importance to consistent accuracy. The process is much less subtle when shooting a bow than when shooting a firearm. At least for me it is. However, if I think about it they are probably the same.

Example: These are the 11 Steps to Archery Success.

1. Stance
2. Nock
3. Draw Hand Placement
4. Bow Hand Placement
5. Pre-Draw
6. Draw
7. Anchor
8. Aim
9. Shot Set-Up
10. Release
11. Follow Through & Reflect

I think there is an order to successful firearm shooting also.

Interesting, I shoot my homemade bows instinctively and I put "aiming" very near the top of the list... most everything else happens without conscious thought.

Cheers!

 

[Troy Bakel]

Accuracy is from the rifle.
Precision is from the Marksman.

 

[bowwild]

Vana2
I started instinctive in 1968. Most if not all those steps are taking place subconsciously after a lot of shooting. I'll bet you know where your draw hand is after you have released the arrow. Did you creep, pluck, let your hand pull to the side of your anchor or did it slide along your face towards your ear/shoulder? YOU know when you are shooting your best and I'd say you can "call" your misses based upon the feel of the shot?
Roy

 

[cahil_2]

Don’t concentrate on what you did wrong, concentrate on what you are doing right.

 

[Gerry52]

TRUTH? It's a given that from day one my guns are way better than me. Being a musician for 62 years I've learned that no matter how badly I WANT to play my best at gigs sometimes the stars just don't line up. Such is life & existence in this physical form. I'm good enough in both shooting & music that my proficiency shows through & I'm way past embarrassing myself but don't we all wish we were the best we can be, all the time, on demand? Ain't happening in this life or this body brother. Glad I can accept that fact & not be a narcissist about it. "Pilot error" is the FIRST thing I look at when it doesn't go right.

 

[Ranchibi]

To me shooting is similar to golf and when my focus is good I shoot well or score well and when I don't, well, both suffer in accuracy. It is rarely the equipments fault, I know it's me...

 

[Vetmx]

I never judge a gun or jump to conclusions with one bad day of shooting. I just put it away. Two or three shooting sessions? Now I start with the simple stuff like cleaning and looking at numbers. And yes, bad guitar night last night. I didn’t restring or schedule a brain scan. I always give a spot on gun a chance and blame the bozo behind the trigger first. But with PCP’s, it’s not always the case. They can be stinkers because even the most robust gun is still sensitive compared to the powder burning brethren.