Missing on purpose, or, how to prove you are not a gamer!!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

How many of you who are excellent superb or, superior shots like myself, miss on occasion just to prove that you are not a gamer. I relish in the fact that if I wanted to and if my ego warrented it, I could shoot each stage clean and faster then most other gamers out there, but choose not to do so. Those that watched me shoot this weekend at the eastern regional were in awe of how I go out of my way to show that I am not a gamer with my intentional misses and procedurals. Anyway, you can consider this an un-official poll if you want.

Yours Truely,

TIC
OCB

[Forty Rod]

I've never done that, but do you think anyone would believe me if I said I missed on purpose?      

I don't want anyone to think I'm a gamer.  Maybe I'll miss more than one, maybe several.

Yeah, I can try that.     

[Wymore Wrangler]

I did register our Marshal, Tracy Thorpe at Mount Ayr this summer as a weakhand only duelist

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Yea ... that's the ticket.  That's my story (too) and I'm stickin' to it!

[Kayleen]

If I was a gamer, I would short stroke my rifle and look rediculous, tweek my pistols until they went off without pulling the trigger, I would investt in new leather that is cut for fast draws,  and then whine and quibble when I missed a shot or got a procedural. I would complain that the targets were not close enough or big enough. But to top it off I would go out to Prairie Fire range that is only 1/2 mile from my house and practice everyday.
Now in reality, if I have to be a gamer then there is a different part of shooting I need to be doing.
I go out for the fun. I have shot my rifle maybe 20 times this year, my pistols less and my shotgun gets used when there is a critter around that should not be.
  Being a gamer seems to me to take the fun part ouut of shooting. This is just my two cents  worth.
Kayleen
P.S. I don't consider myself a gamert in any respect.

[Major Matt Lewis]

Do I miss on purspose, nope.  Missing on accident seems to cripple me enough.  Am I a gamer?  Well by some's definitions, Yup.  Am I ashamed of that, NOPE.

I do a lot of dry firing practice, to the point where I will work up a hard sweat.  My rifle is slicked up and short stroked.  My Pistols are tweaked, whether they were done by Bob James or myself (in the case of my Hartford Armory's an action job is done by turning two screws, never a better pistol made), I have had my leather cut down to allow easier access over the standard Miller-Flichet holsters that Trailrider makes. 

When I read or watch a stage, I try to think of the most economical way to shoot it and will take what the stage gives me. 

I have a goal.  Goals are good.  Everything I do in Cowboy Action (with the exception of the GAF Muster), is a step towards that goal.  Does that make me nasty, bad, wrong,....No.  Does it make me in it for reasons different from those of you who shoot just to shoot,...Yes, but you don't here me running down folks who come out just to have a good time and make smoke.  Why do you want to ailenate someone who wants to be a bit more competitive than other folks?  Especially when we follow the rules too.

[Bucksaw]

I am not a gamer, and yes gamer is a bad word.  But im friends with a lot of em like Dig'em, Whet leather, Dakota, and the biggest gamer of them all TENSLEEP

[Wes Virginian]

Yep! OCB, I noticed that you were missing on purpose. That was nice of you and we really slow shooter's appreciate it. Even those frown's you put on your face at times weren't real. Especially during some of your better misses.

Hope to shoot with you again sometime.

Wes

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Major Matt and all,
If you'll notice the TIC (tongue in cheek) just above my initials in the original post this was all in jest as most of you got, But Major, since you brought it up, I thought short stroking (not original equipement etc;) a rifle wasn't legal in NCOWS, if not it should be. That will give me something to work on this coming fall........
PS, I don't think anyone was running down or trying to alienate "GAMERS", why so sensitive?

Wes,
Yeah, the grimaces were all fake , even though I tried my best to make them look real, it makes me look real ugly. Fun shooting with you and there is a good chance we will again since I plan on shooting a bunch down there in the hills O' Kentucky. Geezz, I sound just like a gamer.......

Bill

[Wymore Wrangler]

Bucksaw, now I'm going to have to tell your Dad, Cuz'in Sleep that your calling him a gamer in the NCOWS forum....

Major Matt, I'll shoot with ya most places....  Heck I'll even talk with ya in the Head....

[French Jack]

OCB, Wes, to paraphrase Cassius Clay:  " Not even my worst enemy could accuse me of being a gamer!"  However, IF I can convince River City John that a Spencer is the ultimate gamer rifle, I believe that I can beat the socks off him next time.  
Anyway, I was such a bad shot that I hit the targets even when I was trying to miss them-- all of them!  ;P
On a lighter note, I did notice that the moon has reappeared tonight, even though still missing half of it which Grizzle Bear shot off!

[Marshal harpoluke]

 

heh, Heh, HEH!

Use da Holy Black full power loads, Ah miss by my own falt can't blame dem stelth bullets.

[US Scout]

I don't miss on purpose as I come up with enough without trying.  I try to hit the target - after all, if it were an outlaw shooting back, I'd sure what it to be a hit!

However, I don't mind killing my time by other means.  Once shot a stage where you had to ride a (stick) horse up to the line, dismount, and commence to shooting.  Most shooters kind of ran up to the line, threw down the horse, blazing away before the poor thing hit the ground.

My horse turned out to be a bit skittish and it took me a few seconds to calm him down.  I carefully dismounted (on the left side), tied him to the rail, and stretched the ol' leg muscles a bit, and then began shooting.  I probably lost a good 20-30 seconds - and I had a ball!

Whilst I shoot, I talk to the targets, "Hold still ya mangy varmint" and the like.  Of course, I shoot full-power Holy Black loads so I have to do something while waiting for the smoke to clear.

My favorite rifle is my Spencer.  Yep, it takes a bit longer to shoot - but I like to feel it draws me a bit closer to the boys on Beecher's Island in 1868.  They had Spencers and thought themselves well armed.  I feel the same.

[Major Matt Lewis]

Thanks Wymore,

You being a sailor and all, I am afraid of what you would say to me in the head....

Hey why do sailors have tatoo's on their backs??  LOL!

[Silver Creek Slim]

Missing on purpose? I wish. 

Slim

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Major Matt,

Hey why do sailors have tatoo's on their backs? ? LOL!

Why, to cover up the scratch marks, of course!!

OCB

[Major Matt Lewis]

OCB,

Let's just say that's not the answer I had in mind

[Wymore Wrangler]

Major, so that the Marines would have something to read while they were forming the line to get into to shower, after all the sailors used up all the hot water....

[Ornery Orr]

You mean there was hot water on them ships?. 

Anyone that knows me, knows that my brother (Surly Bob) and I have an on going contest to see who can beat who.  The only reason that I haven't beat him in a match is out of concern for the safety of my fellow pards around us.  You see, if I was to beat him, he would start crying which would make his guns slippery causing him to drop it and create a hazard.  I'm all about the safety.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Marshall Harpoluke,
Yeah, I have the same problem when I shoot, those full loads of Goex sure do cloud things up when you are trying to miiss fast

OCB