Earlier on these pages, I have discussed shooting styles and gun choices. Tonight I am going to discuss competition.
As should be obvious to regular readers of this page, we here at the Tattler shoot. A LOT. Yes, like many of you, we spend some time at the range working on the basics - which I will call target shooting - grip, stance, group shooting, etc. We also spend an inordinate amount of time at home dry firing, perfecting and refining our skills. Target shooting and dry firing are done to make us better competitors, and the stronger competitors we are, the better shooters we become.
I have stressed before, and I’ll stress again, if you carry a gun whether you’re a cop on the street, a CHL holder, or in the military, then you should participate in whatever kind of competition that you can get to.
Sadly, it has been my experience that the vast bulk of people who carry guns as part of their daily routine could be much better shooters than they think they are. Now, as a side note: this is not a blanket statement. I know that there are MANY shooters out there that DO compete, and if they aren’t regular competitors I know there are MANY guys and gals out there that do have a regular routine and take their training seriously. I applaud you folks and wish that there were more.
Now, if you’re not competing, why should you start?
- Competition brings out the best in you. If you don’t compete, and you learned to shoot from the gun rags or from your uncle who served back in the big war, then chances are that you are a shooter, but that you don’t know how to shoot. Using myself as an example - I learned to shoot as a kid from my Dad, who served as a SEAL in Vietnam. And pretty much everything that he taught me, with the exception of how to line up the sights, was wrong. Competition has brought out the best in everything where it has been allowed to thrive. Things that work are used, and things that don’t are discarded. By regularly competing alongside capable shooters, you will learn the way that the best shooters in the world shoot. For a more detailed description of that style, see my earlier post on shooting.
- Does your gear work? Frankly, outside of actually learning to shoot, I think the single greatest benefit of shooting in competitions is learning if your gear works or not. By competing, you’ll quickly learn if your gun works, your holster works, your mags work, your bullets work, etc etc etc. I have personally seen many new shooters step to the line and draw their holster with their gun, their mags with their mag pouches or have their latest and greatest gun break. The sad fact is that there’s a lot of junk out there that’s being sold to you - and that includes everything from guns and equipment to the oil you use.
Think about it. Where would you rather find out your equipment isn’t up to the task of defending you? On the street, in your house, or on the range where you might be embarrassed a little, but no one gets hurt. There are things that have proven to work and things that have not. Chances are, if you are not putting the stress of competition on your equipment, you’re not going to find out if your gear works while you are standing stationary at the line firing no more than 1 round per 2 seconds.
- Have you ever run with a loaded gun in your hand? Again, it would be a fair guess that if you aren’t competing, the answer is no. It’s very likely, if you have to use your weapon to defend yourself, that there will be some degree of movement involved. And standing there target shooting will not prepare you for that challenge at all. Learning how to move with a gun in your hand in a fluid environment is a vital skill that should not be overlooked. Participating in action shooting will allow you to do this and learn to do it safely.
- Speaking of safety…. As I’m sure you know, people do all kinds of stupid stuff. Largely, when it comes to shooting, it’s more a result of ignorance than willful idiocy. Partially to blame is equipment that, at best sucks and at worst is downright dangerous. Specifically, holsters that are not rigid or that require two hands to put the gun in the holster cause more problems than I’d care to recognize. Here’s a tip - if you have to point the gun at any part of your body to holster the weapon then you need to find another holster.
When you participate in a match, you will either learn good muzzle discipline and trigger control or you will not be hanging out at the match for very long. Period, end of story. If you can’t control the muzzle, and can’t control your trigger finger, you have no business carrying a firearm. Shooting competitions will help you to learn both - I can think of two occasions where I have busted my ass coming into the next shooting position and slipped on loose brass or gravel and wound up feet in the air, ass on ground and muzzle kept downrange and no AD because my finger wasn’t wrapped around the trigger. If you think something like that is not possible in the “real world”, then you’re only kidding yourself.
- Learning. If you compete, you’re going to run into shooters better than you; regardless of what level of shooter you are - members of this blog included. You’ll quickly learn who the local stud is at the matches you go to and you’ll likely be able to learn more from him than all the gun rag articles in the past 10 years. Shooting is one of the few sports where you can rub elbows and bullshit with the best people in the sport. And almost to a man (and woman), they are easy to talk to and willing to share. How many other professional atheletes are available via cell phone to discuss a technique question? How often can you participate next to the greatest in the sport and then sit down and eat lunch or drink beer after the game is done? I’ve watched Robby Leatham - The Great One - who is arguably the greatest shooter in the world, take questions for about 30 minutes after the end of a loooong day’s shooting at Nationals. The questions ranged from everything from what kind of sights he liked to what kind of springs to put in your mags to how to look at attacking a particular course of fire. He answered them all with grace and panache and it was something he clearly didn’t have to do. If you don’t learn anything from your fellow shooters you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. However, as a note of warning - be careful who you seek advice from! Pick the shooter that is doing well, not the shooter who just looks good.
- Stress. Shooting at a competition will place signifigantly more stress on you than target shooting. Between the timer and the peanut gallery, you'll face a fair amount of stress, especially your first few times. If you can't handle the stress of shooting a match, can you handle the stress of having to defend your life?
- And let’s face it. Shooting is FUN! If you’re not having a good time shooting at a match, there’s something wrong with you. Go home and drink beer.
So, to summarize - by shooting at matches you’ll learn speed, accuracy, safety, what’s reliable and what’s not, how to handle stress and get good quality advice. And the topper is, you’ll have fun and hang out with like minded individuals. If you want to take the plunge and start shooting, you can find a local club at either idpa or uspsa.
If you were paying attention, you'll see this is Part I. Part II will discuss who competes, why some won't, and what's "tactical".... stay tuned.
And, as usual, if you have questions, ask. We’re here to help, folks.
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