My story, in brief:
I've shot less than 1,000 rounds through handguns in my life, to go along with less than 800 rounds through a shotgun and ledd than 100 rounds through a .22 rifle. But, I've become obsessed with competition shooting.
By nature, I'm a rather competitive person and I want a chance to compete in my new sport. I have little interest in hunting, and little interest in carrying for protecion (except maybe when I'm in bear country). I just want to be the Rob Latham of the south-south-west Chicago burbs, or some approximation thereof.
I don't suffer from the delusion that I have the natural talent or time to be a BSD on the national level, but I'd like to be able to wine things locally. Question is, how do I get there?
My assets are: (1) a pretty good natural instinct for shooting handguns, I think, at least comparing myself to others who wander on down to the range and punch some holes in paper, (2) an analytical and disciplined mind, and (3) fairly good financial resourecs and (4) a supportive wife who enjoys shooting also.
My liabilities are: (1) a limitation on my free time (time and financial resources, in my case at least, share an inverse relationship), (2) hand/eye coordination that may be well short of what is needed to compete at high levels, (3) a propensity to become so obsessed with things that I burn out quickly, and (4) unrealistic expectations that lead to frustration and bad habbits.
So, where do I go from here? I've got a nifty stock .45 (Kimber Target in .45), mags, holster, range bag, etc. I've taken a full-day IDPA seminar at Howell shooting club from Jack Manfrie (sp?), and plan to take them through the summer. I've signed up for a full-day reloading class and will begin reloading to cut ammo costs after the class. What next?
1. How often should I shoot? How should I shoot? Does standing in an indoor range shooting slow-fire help? Would my time be better spent on dry-fire exercises at home?
2. Where can I go for good instruction? What books and videos can I use to focus my practice?
3. If I were to buy a gun for my wife that I may use later, either as a frame or stock, what should I get? I was thinking of something in .38 Super since, (a) less recoil for her, (b) more mag capacity, which she likes and (c) it can be shot in IPSC.
4. How often should I shoot tournaments? What should be my goals? Scoring, placing, practice?
5. How can I measure my progress?
6. What should I look for in a club?
Well, if you've read this far, thanks for playing along. If you take the time to respond, thanks double.
I've shot less than 1,000 rounds through handguns in my life, to go along with less than 800 rounds through a shotgun and ledd than 100 rounds through a .22 rifle. But, I've become obsessed with competition shooting.
By nature, I'm a rather competitive person and I want a chance to compete in my new sport. I have little interest in hunting, and little interest in carrying for protecion (except maybe when I'm in bear country). I just want to be the Rob Latham of the south-south-west Chicago burbs, or some approximation thereof.
I don't suffer from the delusion that I have the natural talent or time to be a BSD on the national level, but I'd like to be able to wine things locally. Question is, how do I get there?
My assets are: (1) a pretty good natural instinct for shooting handguns, I think, at least comparing myself to others who wander on down to the range and punch some holes in paper, (2) an analytical and disciplined mind, and (3) fairly good financial resourecs and (4) a supportive wife who enjoys shooting also.
My liabilities are: (1) a limitation on my free time (time and financial resources, in my case at least, share an inverse relationship), (2) hand/eye coordination that may be well short of what is needed to compete at high levels, (3) a propensity to become so obsessed with things that I burn out quickly, and (4) unrealistic expectations that lead to frustration and bad habbits.
So, where do I go from here? I've got a nifty stock .45 (Kimber Target in .45), mags, holster, range bag, etc. I've taken a full-day IDPA seminar at Howell shooting club from Jack Manfrie (sp?), and plan to take them through the summer. I've signed up for a full-day reloading class and will begin reloading to cut ammo costs after the class. What next?
1. How often should I shoot? How should I shoot? Does standing in an indoor range shooting slow-fire help? Would my time be better spent on dry-fire exercises at home?
2. Where can I go for good instruction? What books and videos can I use to focus my practice?
3. If I were to buy a gun for my wife that I may use later, either as a frame or stock, what should I get? I was thinking of something in .38 Super since, (a) less recoil for her, (b) more mag capacity, which she likes and (c) it can be shot in IPSC.
4. How often should I shoot tournaments? What should be my goals? Scoring, placing, practice?
5. How can I measure my progress?
6. What should I look for in a club?
Well, if you've read this far, thanks for playing along. If you take the time to respond, thanks double.