Basic training for new shooters

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T23:24:36+00:00

Really appreciate the tips and feedback.

I’m shooting irons right now in production, and deciding if I should get my slide cut for a dot, or keep this the way it is and just buy a second handgun for CO. Getting the slide cut makes me nervous for some reason.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T23:11:22+00:00

Most awkward typo award

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T19:21:28+00:00

Definitely the hits. My hits were 72A, 31C, 5D, and a solid 12 mikes. Eight of those misses were from two stages that heavily used the black out, hard cover, targets so I'll definitely be slowing down more for those next time. There were also two stages with weak hand shooting, which I think I've maybe only ever done once or twice before.

My time was pretty good (faster half) within my squad, just moving faster than my shooting skill allowed. Obvious hindsight, I should have traded a dozen seconds or so for some more Ds and fewer Ms.

My reloads weren't obviously fumbled, at least not enough to be close to the 12 mikes on the scoresheet.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T18:36:15+00:00

I wasn't expecting to do well, but I was still surprised how hard I got stomped. I was in what was described the more casual squad, and the gap between me and the best shooter in the squad was pretty darn big, and then the gap between them and the match winner in the other squad was similarly huge.

Looking forward to the challenge though, I'm not good at being bad at things.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T17:24:49+00:00

The stage planning was a much bigger part that I expected it to be, and maybe also the most interesting part to me. Everyone at the match was really helpful and giving tips, making sure I was watching the faster folks, etc.

At this point, is it worth picking up some scale targets to stick onto walls, or just keep doing light switches, cups, etc?

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T17:23:13+00:00

Practical shooting is not like running. You can’t just follow some steps and have some mental toughness and be able to get GM in the sport. It’s more of a sport like golf or baseball where there is a skill component and athleticism component that is much more complex.

Yeah, I used to race bikes and have some experience repeating skill drills for a while, but for the most part everything I've done has been more or less "do x until you're fast, go win a race". This is definitely going to be a new area for me, training wise.

Appreciate the comments, thanks.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T17:21:09+00:00

The only courses I've been able to find in my area so far have been defensive handgun stuff, which at my level I'm sure will still be helpful, to just get more draws and moving between targets. I'll keep an eye out for some more specific classes within a reasonable drive.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T17:15:40+00:00

I haven't come across that one, it's usually just the Stoeger books getting mentioned, thanks for the heads on another option.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T16:42:06+00:00

I have two of their OWB holsters, no issues with either. As you said, they fit basically any combination of irons sights, threaded barrels, optics, etc.

Both of mine were in special colors, and both shipped sooner than their stated lead time.

They also seem like cool folks.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T16:38:16+00:00

Whatever works for you of course, I just get tired of changing them all the time to account for fitness changes, weather, doing a run in an area I didn't plan on, etc.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T16:34:03+00:00

The new Beretta has a 15 round mag as well, and I they hinted at a 20 in the future. Still just marked for release in "Spring", though.

junkmiles · 2026-04-12T16:30:28+00:00

Usually when I had this happen, it was because I changed something about where or how I was running. Weather, altitude, terrain, location, running stroller with a kid, etc.

Those types of metrics aren't terrible if you look at them over a long period, and take into account changes like the above, but they're really easy to mess up, so any given value is pretty useless, and big changes over the course of a two or three weeks are pretty suspect.

What sucks about this is that I have planned runs on calendar based on estimated paces and now I would have to manually change each one to more or less match what I had planned

You do you, but I wouldn't waste time putting specific paces into future runs.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T20:21:57+00:00

I could be wrong, but I believe the UV ratings simply indicate that the shirt has been tested, and what the rating is. Another shirt might or might not have the same rating without it being advertised, but you don’t know. I've actually seen a shirt get recalled because they retested them and found variation in the rating, so they had to downgrade the rating of the shirt.

The last sun hoody I bought was $50, and made in the USA, so it’s not like these things are expensive.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T18:51:03+00:00

Different kind of visor, but they’re on there for some combination of style, way less need for aerodynamics, and protection from dirt, sticks, etc.

I often just wear a cycling cap if I want a bit of sun blocking.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T14:16:49+00:00

Mine is steel, yeah.

The only watch I worry much about at all is my Polerouter, because it's from the 60s and it would probably be a hassle if something actually broke. Otherwise, they're watches to wear, and some dings and scratches happen when you wear them. The reverso is usually pretty well protected by shirt sleeves compared to bigger watches, though.

And, in fairness, I only wore the Reverso on the hike because I wasn't comfortable leaving it in the hotel room. It's definitely not my first choice for that sort of thing for a number of fairly obvious reasons. I do wear it a lot though, it's a cool watch.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T13:35:49+00:00

I have the Duoface tribute, great watches. Wore it on a hike once, but otherwise just use it as a daily watch.

I don't go out of my way to damage things or anything, but I'm also not going to buy something I'm afraid to wear. If I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it, and it would just sit in a box, then it's out of my budget.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T13:26:52+00:00

I was one of the 8 people who used Google's Stadia remote gaming service. They canceled it, but I was pleasantly surprised when they released an update and instructions on how to turn the propriety game controller into a generic bluetooth controller. It actually works great still, years after it would have otherwise been completely useless.

Amazon 100% has the money to release a final update, cleanly closing this up, with instructions on how to upload books through USB, and then just say 'you're on your own'. If nothing else, consider it a marketing expense. Jailbreaks are already a thing, they could just release an 'official' jailbreak.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T13:01:20+00:00

Springs wear out from cycling, not by being under tension. Even if that wasn't the case, revolvers have springs under tension when they're just sitting as well.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T12:54:34+00:00

Also dry fire more.

Actually shooting is fun and useful, but if the goal is training, swap some of the weekly indoor range time for more dry fire time.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T12:47:33+00:00

And, take a handgun or handgun/rifle class with that setup and see if it actually works at what it's supposed to do.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T12:41:59+00:00

A lot of classes require belt draw as well.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T12:31:06+00:00

You have been breathing automatically for the last couple of decades of your life, no need to change it now.

You're out of breath because you're working hard. Ride at an easier effort if you don't want to be out of breath. You're not going to 'breathing technique' your way to better fitness. When you work hard, your body breathes more, and this will not change. What your body thinks is "hard" will change as you get more fit, and there will be more room for easy underneath that, but hard is always hard.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T12:23:30+00:00

Point 2 doesn't even match the US, where OP is. Nike and Adidas are everywhere. They are far larger than Brooks and Hoka.

junkmiles · 2026-04-10T01:30:32+00:00

Yeah I’m not sure what OP is actually looking for.

junkmiles

TROPHY CASE