How do you practice ?

[Bugscuffle]

I have three wooden frame stand-up targets of approximately 5' tall with small "4" square hanging, replaceable "head" targets and 6" square, hanging, replaceable torso targets. The frames are wooden with the targets hung by chains from wooden cross piece. I also am in the process of making up two 4" square 3/8" plate steel hanging targets and two 6" square 3/8" plate steel hanging targets. The steel targets are hung from bent pieces of rebar and driven in until they just touch the ground. I use the tall stand up targets for my defensive, carry gun practice and plan on using the steel targets for my CAS shooting practice. How do you guys do this?

[LoneRider]

Oooooooo Noooooooooo somebody said the "P" word

[maarty]

Practice isn't just sending lead downrange (although that's the fun part of practice)
Every night I strap on my belt and draw slowly at least 50 times, sometimes breaking it down into stages or just practicing one part of the draw e.g getting the grip right or pulling from the holster. I do that without dry firing at all then practice drawing and dry firing, eyes open, then practice drawing and pointing with my eyes closed and opening them only when the gun is level i.e. look at a light switch, close my eyes and draw then open my eyes when I think I'm on target.
It may seem tedious but since the only range I can shoot pistols on is an hours drive away (fingers crossed the new range opening up the road will allow big bore pistols) this is the best I can do most of the time.

[Thomas O'Hawk]

I have a similar setup to your metal plates.  I find that the rebar made a nice hanging stand for the target plates.  I drilled the plates so that the chain holds them at a slight slant to minimize the backsplash.   I have these three plates set up in an uneven line.  I also have a "dueling rack" set up a little further out for the rifle action that has 8 plates that swing around when hit.  All of these plates are smaller than those used for CAS so I figure if I can hit them I should be golden with the real thing.

I use a timer when i practice.  I worked on my first shot on target time with either holster using this as well as split times between targets.  I will also start holding a pistol and practice holstering with one hand while drawing with the other hand.  The timer works well for this too.  I find having the timer running helps push me for the transition shots between targets.  It is a quick indicator of how you are doing and adds a little stress (though nothing like a match offers).  I will usually pick a particular element and hit it hard during a practice session.  Before I stop for the session I will make sure I run through a few partial stages to practice that important transition between firearms.   That is definitely the fun time mentioned in the posts above.

I also do a lot of snap cap practice indoors.  My wife often comes through the basement and rolls her eyes as I am standing there in shorts with all my leather gear strapped on (hmmmm....that sounded dirty, didn't it?).   I have an elaborate "brass catcher" system in the basement for controlling the ejected snap caps from the rifle and shotgun.  It is basically an old bed sheet hanging from the rafters that is cupped for catching the "empties".

Where I need the practice is remembering the firing order of stages.  I seem to have more trouble with that than the rest.

[wildman1]

I "practice" by going to every shoot I can get to.  I also shoot at the range alone but usually am working on loads, patterns etc. WM

[Bugscuffle]

From VA Redleg:  "I have a similar setup to your metal plates.  I find that the rebar made a nice hanging stand for the target plates.  I drilled the plates so that the chain holds them at a slight slant to minimize the backsplash." 

I just drive the rebar down into the ground until the bottom of the plate just touches the ground. With the first shot, well with the first HIT anyway, the bottom of the plate is scooted back slightly and is automatically tilted downward enough to prevent the backsplash.

[August]

For live fire, I have some armor steel plates that my brother-in-law made for me.

But, most practice is in the living room.

I need practice at quickly acquiring the guns and getting them to battery -- properly!

Shooting isn't my problem and, frankly, it's not where the time is in this game.

Transitions, loading the shotgun, getting the long guns up to my face, and bringing the pistols to battery in the same, EXACT way every time are the things that I work on.

I can do these things in my living room.

[Bugscuffle]

I agree that the transitions are the real time killers in this sport. I also practice shotgun reloading. I have both a Mod 97 Winchester and a Stevens 311 SXS. I practice with both using dummy rounds that I made up with only shot in them. I still haven't made up my mind which one i like the best or which one I'm faster with, but I'm leaning twords the Stevens.  With the revolvers, I shoot with both hands using a two handed grip. My off hand is my left, and I just use a reverse positioning with the hands rather than trying to switch hands with the gun or using a cross-draw holster. For me the hard part in competition is remembering to close my right (dominant) eye while shooting with my left hand. The rifle gives me the fewest problems, but I have been shooting rifles of one sort or another for 50 years.

[maarty]

Transitions are a killer and it's something else I practice at home.....


little hint though, if you use the kitchen table to stage guns on make sure you put a blanket or something down or you'll wind up in more trouble than it's worth (don't ask how I know this but it takes about three days to sand, resurface and polish our dining room table )

[wildman1]

From VA Redleg:  "I have a similar setup to your metal plates.  I find that the rebar made a nice hanging stand for the target plates.  I drilled the plates so that the chain holds them at a slight slant to minimize the backsplash." 

I just drive the rebar down into the ground until the bottom of the plate just touches the ground. With the first shot, well with the first HIT anyway, the bottom of the plate is scooted back slightly and is automatically tilted downward enough to prevent the backsplash.

I would think ya could tilt it downward yourself and not have ta worry about backsplash. WM

[Thomas O'Hawk]

Ouch Maarty....I shudder to think how the Mrs would respond to that....I'm sure that there is doghouse in the equation somewhere.

I guess you could still say it is practicing....first you practice transitions, then you practice furniture refinishing....

I need to come up with better plates.  I was using 1/4 inch soft steel and it worked fine at first.  Now over time (and with the occasional rifle practice and shotgun hits), my plates have started to take on a semi circlular bow to them.  They also are starting to show a LOT of dimpling with repeated hits.    I am afraid that they are becoming more prone to spitting lead back at me the further this goes.   I have a 4' square of 3/4 inch steel.  I will need to beg or buy a cutting torch from one of my buddies and get that down to usable plate size.

[Bugscuffle]

Never mind the table, I worry about the scratches on my guns!!!