As many of you read about my situation and issues regarding my AA Prosport, I finally rectified the problem and ran into another one. I ran out of her preferred pellet which is the AA Field Diabolo 8.4gr. I had some jsb 8.4 (not the best and not the worst) and the jsb 7.87gr (the next best thing after AA 8.4). Well it was Friday night around 8pm, the Field Target match is in 13hrs at the DCFS and I only have 21yds to make a "dope" sheet for these new pellets. So I started shooting at 10yds all the way to 21yds and made wrote down the poi's on my little note book. So far so good.
Saturday morning, I woke up late due to a new phone's alarm. I didn't have the alarm volume up enough to hear it. It's 7:30 and it takes a 1/2hr to get to DCFS from where I'm from. I rush to get there and I am nervous that I won't have enough time to find out the poi's from zero, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55yds. Well Mike Harris & Doug Brustle (sorry Doug if I butchered your last name) gave me adequate time to sight in. Now I will mention that Brian (Brian I wasn't sure if I should put your last name in here) offered to give me some AA 8.4's but I declined. Why? Like an idiot, I did not bring the dope sheet of that pellet (which I have) because "I" thought that I didn't need it and could do just fine w/o it. Brian, thank you for your generosity. Oh yeah, like 4-6 lanes before the end, guess what I found in my wallet? AA 8.4 dope sheet, lol, WTF! Let me explain something for those of you who may not know Brian. He is an excellent shooter who probably forgot more than you know about shooting. Now I can't say that I know everything about the man, but I can say that I bet he could be an excellent teacher. Why? He has explained things to me 2 or 3 times in a row in the same calm and clear demeanor with no hint of agitation or irritation. He explains things in simple terms and will give you the answer to whatever you ask if he knows it. He gave me some sound advice that was so simple that I overlooked it when it was in plain sight. "Live and learn" and "just keep practicing". Simple right? I honestly look forward to seeing him at these matches.
Let me first say that Mike's course is challenging to say the least. It was 56 shots I think the terminology is. 1 shot at each target. There were more like but the ground dwelling bees decided against it. Now I don't know about Troyer ratings and such but I know that the targets are on the ground, at eye level and way up in the trees. Challenging kill zones, a lot of targets from 40-55yds away and targets at varying degrees from the shooting lanes meaning 1 may be straight ahead and the others may be 30-45 degrees to your left or your right. Any most of the targets are down hill at varying degrees. So something that you may range at 30yds will actually be shorter in actual shooting distance. So the course is very challenging, to me. And for those who never shot here, I would like to make it known that invisible devil, better known as the "wind" who plays with our poi was there and in effect. Was it gale force winds? No but none the less, he was there. I could barely feel a wind on my face but at 30yds my pellet would splash a whole mil over and a couple of shots at 50-55yds I would hold off say 2.5 mil because I can feel a breeze on the side of my face and the pellet would hit exactly where my crosshairs are, lol. There is NO SUBSTITUTION to learn how to shoot in the wind but to shoot (practice shooting) in the wind.
Now for the humbling experience. I did crappy. Like 23 or 26 out of 56. Yeah, that bad. No where near as my last score at the practice match. I would like to say it was my rifles fault. From the baffle situation, to the not having the preferred pellet, to using different sticks but in reality the common denominator is me. Yes, me! "I" created the issues w/the baffles (moving em, removing em, reinstalling em and so forth). "I" didn't make sure that I had her preferred pellet by not stocking up on them. "I" was the one who got up late and rushed. "I" chose to use a set of different sticks. "I" didn't take notes on how my preferred pellet and its substitute played in the wind. This is my way of taking self inventory of myself. Could some or one of these issues be from my rifle and caused my low score? Of course. Likely? I say not. The rifle is a proven shooter.
One thing, well really many things that came from this experience that is positive is:
1) A learning experience. I learned what to do and not to do, what I should do, could do, shouldn't do and couldn't do, what I can do and can't do.
2) I also met a man from I think up past Binghamton New York by the name of Greg (Sorry Greg that I forgot your last name) and his lovely wife Mrs. Pat and not Patty. Very very nice people. Mr. Greg was IMO very open and patient with my constant questions about him and shooting. He is a super cool person to talk to. I can't wait to pick his brain again. And Mrs. Pat, Lord bless her, was excellent at keeping score for 3 people.
3) I met new people like Leo and Al. I love how everyone is willing to help each other even if it may help the other person win or beat them. How freaking cool is that.
4) Then you have Mike Harris and Doug. Doug is always smiling and finding the good or the laugh in situations. Mike, a serious shooter who is always asking "how are you doing" or "how is it going" and giving you suggestions and such. Thank you both.
The only thing negative about my experience on Saturday...That I didn't get to shoot the course again after I learned my score, LOL! So humbling.
Saturday morning, I woke up late due to a new phone's alarm. I didn't have the alarm volume up enough to hear it. It's 7:30 and it takes a 1/2hr to get to DCFS from where I'm from. I rush to get there and I am nervous that I won't have enough time to find out the poi's from zero, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55yds. Well Mike Harris & Doug Brustle (sorry Doug if I butchered your last name) gave me adequate time to sight in. Now I will mention that Brian (Brian I wasn't sure if I should put your last name in here) offered to give me some AA 8.4's but I declined. Why? Like an idiot, I did not bring the dope sheet of that pellet (which I have) because "I" thought that I didn't need it and could do just fine w/o it. Brian, thank you for your generosity. Oh yeah, like 4-6 lanes before the end, guess what I found in my wallet? AA 8.4 dope sheet, lol, WTF! Let me explain something for those of you who may not know Brian. He is an excellent shooter who probably forgot more than you know about shooting. Now I can't say that I know everything about the man, but I can say that I bet he could be an excellent teacher. Why? He has explained things to me 2 or 3 times in a row in the same calm and clear demeanor with no hint of agitation or irritation. He explains things in simple terms and will give you the answer to whatever you ask if he knows it. He gave me some sound advice that was so simple that I overlooked it when it was in plain sight. "Live and learn" and "just keep practicing". Simple right? I honestly look forward to seeing him at these matches.
Let me first say that Mike's course is challenging to say the least. It was 56 shots I think the terminology is. 1 shot at each target. There were more like but the ground dwelling bees decided against it. Now I don't know about Troyer ratings and such but I know that the targets are on the ground, at eye level and way up in the trees. Challenging kill zones, a lot of targets from 40-55yds away and targets at varying degrees from the shooting lanes meaning 1 may be straight ahead and the others may be 30-45 degrees to your left or your right. Any most of the targets are down hill at varying degrees. So something that you may range at 30yds will actually be shorter in actual shooting distance. So the course is very challenging, to me. And for those who never shot here, I would like to make it known that invisible devil, better known as the "wind" who plays with our poi was there and in effect. Was it gale force winds? No but none the less, he was there. I could barely feel a wind on my face but at 30yds my pellet would splash a whole mil over and a couple of shots at 50-55yds I would hold off say 2.5 mil because I can feel a breeze on the side of my face and the pellet would hit exactly where my crosshairs are, lol. There is NO SUBSTITUTION to learn how to shoot in the wind but to shoot (practice shooting) in the wind.
Now for the humbling experience. I did crappy. Like 23 or 26 out of 56. Yeah, that bad. No where near as my last score at the practice match. I would like to say it was my rifles fault. From the baffle situation, to the not having the preferred pellet, to using different sticks but in reality the common denominator is me. Yes, me! "I" created the issues w/the baffles (moving em, removing em, reinstalling em and so forth). "I" didn't make sure that I had her preferred pellet by not stocking up on them. "I" was the one who got up late and rushed. "I" chose to use a set of different sticks. "I" didn't take notes on how my preferred pellet and its substitute played in the wind. This is my way of taking self inventory of myself. Could some or one of these issues be from my rifle and caused my low score? Of course. Likely? I say not. The rifle is a proven shooter.
One thing, well really many things that came from this experience that is positive is:
1) A learning experience. I learned what to do and not to do, what I should do, could do, shouldn't do and couldn't do, what I can do and can't do.
2) I also met a man from I think up past Binghamton New York by the name of Greg (Sorry Greg that I forgot your last name) and his lovely wife Mrs. Pat and not Patty. Very very nice people. Mr. Greg was IMO very open and patient with my constant questions about him and shooting. He is a super cool person to talk to. I can't wait to pick his brain again. And Mrs. Pat, Lord bless her, was excellent at keeping score for 3 people.
3) I met new people like Leo and Al. I love how everyone is willing to help each other even if it may help the other person win or beat them. How freaking cool is that.
4) Then you have Mike Harris and Doug. Doug is always smiling and finding the good or the laugh in situations. Mike, a serious shooter who is always asking "how are you doing" or "how is it going" and giving you suggestions and such. Thank you both.
The only thing negative about my experience on Saturday...That I didn't get to shoot the course again after I learned my score, LOL! So humbling.
