When I was younger, a buddy and I would, at times, shoot a game to compete pretty much with ourself. The other would either join in to make it a team thing, or would act as a judge (giving each other a hard time was part of it.
We'd start with a tin can or plastic bottle, and just throw it down a sand wash or somewhere with a safe backstop. We wouldn't be able to do this at most public ranges, obvioiusly.
The idea was to shoot the "object" to make it move, and then shoot it again before it stopped moving. If you missed, you were usually done. If you nicked it, you would need to shoot again quick or it would stop (and again, you'd be done). A closer object is easier to hit, but harder to track when it's moving. A farther target is easier to track when moving, but requires better aim to hit.
In the end, the object of this was to "shoot" the object out past a set distance (say, 40 or 50 yards).
Today I was out 'n about, and got to thinking about it. I hadn't tried it in years. I was in a remote area, so I decided to stop and try it. I was sorta worn out, so didn't want to spend much time at it, but I figured I'd try it real quick for fun.
I threw a 32 oz plastic Dr Pepper bottle out to about 15 yards, then drew my G23. First shot sent the bottle sailing to around 30 yards, and I hit it again, not quite as well, just after it hit the ground (it was still moving, but just barely). That sent it to about 40 yards, and I missed, it stopped, and I quit.
I used to have a lot of fun doing this, and over time it really improved my shooting. I'm going to start doing it again, on occasion, simply because my handgun skills just aren't what they once were. I can still hit what I shoot at more often than not, but my speed and timing just isn't what it once was.
So I'm curious; what sort of things, besides just shooting still targets and plinking, do folks do to improve their shooting skills?
Any ideas?
Daryl
We'd start with a tin can or plastic bottle, and just throw it down a sand wash or somewhere with a safe backstop. We wouldn't be able to do this at most public ranges, obvioiusly.
The idea was to shoot the "object" to make it move, and then shoot it again before it stopped moving. If you missed, you were usually done. If you nicked it, you would need to shoot again quick or it would stop (and again, you'd be done). A closer object is easier to hit, but harder to track when it's moving. A farther target is easier to track when moving, but requires better aim to hit.
In the end, the object of this was to "shoot" the object out past a set distance (say, 40 or 50 yards).
Today I was out 'n about, and got to thinking about it. I hadn't tried it in years. I was in a remote area, so I decided to stop and try it. I was sorta worn out, so didn't want to spend much time at it, but I figured I'd try it real quick for fun.
I threw a 32 oz plastic Dr Pepper bottle out to about 15 yards, then drew my G23. First shot sent the bottle sailing to around 30 yards, and I hit it again, not quite as well, just after it hit the ground (it was still moving, but just barely). That sent it to about 40 yards, and I missed, it stopped, and I quit.
I used to have a lot of fun doing this, and over time it really improved my shooting. I'm going to start doing it again, on occasion, simply because my handgun skills just aren't what they once were. I can still hit what I shoot at more often than not, but my speed and timing just isn't what it once was.
So I'm curious; what sort of things, besides just shooting still targets and plinking, do folks do to improve their shooting skills?
Any ideas?
Daryl
