10 meter air rifle match #5

Change is the only constant.  Time to minimize or at least manage change better!

I arrived to the match somewhat unenthusiastic.  Or, perhaps less intense.  Slice it either way you want to.  Heck, I am still trying to figure it out.  Get my gear, targets, spotting scope set up.  Pellets...hum, 50 H&N left in tin.  Then start on my supply of JSB.  Not perfect but tests (I thought) suggested JSBs were the best.

Put the gun up and crud!  I forgot I still had my 3.2mm insert in from my 10m silhouette challenge.  Damn!  My box of inserts were at home so here I am going smaller when my plan was to go larger.  Guess that underscores the fact I don't write down my match plan.  Too late now.  Trudge on with the small insert and learn from the experience.

To make a long story short, the small insert did not cause as much difficulty as I had expected.  I actually shot my best match of the season. Change seems to bring odd discoveries.  Now I have to process them.  Here are my key discoveries.

• Relax, don't try so hard.  Just shoot well with focus on position and correct what is wrong and do more of what feels right.
• Chicken finger goes away when I just shoot without high expectations.  
• At home practice works.  Working on white paper helps focus on position, NPA issues.
• I was "unfed" and just beginning to have the hunger feeling. Impact?
• After two bad shots, put gun down and walk away for a break.  Stop! 
• If the hold does not feel/look steady, rebuild position.  Again, STOP! 
• Don't switch pellets in the middle of a match.  Duh!
• At home practice works.....likely helped with chicken finger.

So, I think the results points to a general "unorganized" effort.  I think I am serious yet I am not.  If a smaller insert brings counter-intuitive results, pellet chaos, just think what a more organized, analytical, deliberate approach will yield?  Things to ponder.  Things to ponder.

Pellets.  Although I am the first to admit, remind myself, and then do both again, my 5th and 6th string of 20 shots with the JSB SCHaK was very different than my vintage H&Ns.  For the first 40 shots with the H&Ns my call and POI was scary accurate.  As I switched to the JSB, I found the exact opposite.  So much so I started to adjust my sights.  I became unsettled and now I need to re-test my pellet supply.  Sigh.  Poor organization?  Poor position and I was unable to correct?  Started to get tired?  Things to sort out.


2012-13 Season score log

#1 501 (81 81 84 85 82 88)
#2 515 (87 88 89 83 85 83) 11 7s or lower, 15 10x.  previous practice 1x
#3 485 (82 82 80 77 86 78) 19 7s or lower,  7 10x. Daisy pellets, reduced barrel weight.
#4 494 (88 74 87 88 76 81) 14 7s or lower, 11 10x. JSB SCHaK pellets. First Tuesday night. 12/11
#5 522 (89 88 90 88 82 88)  7 7s nothing lower, 11 10x. Many high value 9s! H&N + SCHaK

2011-12 Season score log

#1  515 (87 83 87 88 90 80)
#2  510  (85 89 85 86 82 83)
#3  532  (94 87 83 91 89 88)  (season high, 94/100 tied best ever 10 shots)
#4  530  (87 90 90 93 89 81)
#5  524  (86 84 88 91 85 90)  
#6  517  (88 85 88 87 90 79)
#7  524  (82 91 88 91 84 88)  

Personal Top three 600 scores.  Goal, 540.

539  (93 90 90 85 87 94).  11x 7 or lower, 22 10x.  11/??/08
532  (94 87 83 91 89 88)   3/??/12
530  (87 90 90 93 89 81)   3/??/12

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