but we didn't walk down after every mag to check so we wouldn't piss off the other shooters.Lollipop vs. Center Hold w/ Irons
No big trick here, it all depends upon how you've zero'd your sights. Use the same sight picture to set your zero as you will in shooting - come-ups are the same regardless of sighting method. Consistency is the key, build your positions, control your breathing & trigger squeeze and have at it. Dry-fire practice is essential. My wife & daughter think I'm nuts lying on the living room floor all slung up in my coat and "oven mitt" running through a dry-fire match, but it helps keep the various positions ingrained in muscle memory to the point where it becomes instinctive and helps maintain my firing cadence.
Don't let distance mess with your head. In Highpower matches, the centers of the targets are sized such that they appear the same to the eye regardless of distance. If you're on a reduced course, the centers are smaller on the prone targets to simulate the difference in distance. What can bite you at the longer distances is the wind.
Yes, the Offhand stage is the toughest - standing w/no support (sling). Last match, we had 20-25mph wind straight at us & my offhand target looked like I shot it with buckshot! It was not easy to hold steady against that kind of wind. Didn't bother me much the other three stages as I shot to average (87.5%), but it was one day I wished I'd have brought my 17.5# Service Rifle and not the 10# 6.8. Today was a different story as I put 3 of 4 rounds in a cloverleaf with the 4th round landing ~ .5" from the other three (burning up the last of my stash of the old blue-box SSA 115gr. match ammo). Two other offhand groups (with Remmy FMJs) were 9s & 10s, with two 8's opening up the second group. Now if I can only do that in the next match...
Also, many Highpower shooters (myself included) will fire their offhand shots as the front sight comes down on the target - similar to pistol shooters. Some will bounce once or twice to get settled first, but the shot breaks on the downward movement. The slow fire stages are where a two-stage trigger is most beneficial. Trigger pull must be >/= 4.5# to be legal, but this is aggregate across both stages. So, 3.5# first stage + 1# second stage is legal (and works well). Faster lock time also helps to make the rifle go bang right when it needs to (think Gisselle).
Highpower may not be as fun as a run 'n' gun tactical shoot (and can be downright frustrating at times), but you'll gain a great deal of proficiency with your rifle and confidence to make long distance shots.
Hope this helps...
No big trick here, it all depends upon how you've zero'd your sights. Use the same sight picture to set your zero as you will in shooting - come-ups are the same regardless of sighting method. Consistency is the key, build your positions, control your breathing & trigger squeeze and have at it. Dry-fire practice is essential. My wife & daughter think I'm nuts lying on the living room floor all slung up in my coat and "oven mitt" running through a dry-fire match, but it helps keep the various positions ingrained in muscle memory to the point where it becomes instinctive and helps maintain my firing cadence.
Don't let distance mess with your head. In Highpower matches, the centers of the targets are sized such that they appear the same to the eye regardless of distance. If you're on a reduced course, the centers are smaller on the prone targets to simulate the difference in distance. What can bite you at the longer distances is the wind.
Yes, the Offhand stage is the toughest - standing w/no support (sling). Last match, we had 20-25mph wind straight at us & my offhand target looked like I shot it with buckshot! It was not easy to hold steady against that kind of wind. Didn't bother me much the other three stages as I shot to average (87.5%), but it was one day I wished I'd have brought my 17.5# Service Rifle and not the 10# 6.8. Today was a different story as I put 3 of 4 rounds in a cloverleaf with the 4th round landing ~ .5" from the other three (burning up the last of my stash of the old blue-box SSA 115gr. match ammo). Two other offhand groups (with Remmy FMJs) were 9s & 10s, with two 8's opening up the second group. Now if I can only do that in the next match...
Also, many Highpower shooters (myself included) will fire their offhand shots as the front sight comes down on the target - similar to pistol shooters. Some will bounce once or twice to get settled first, but the shot breaks on the downward movement. The slow fire stages are where a two-stage trigger is most beneficial. Trigger pull must be >/= 4.5# to be legal, but this is aggregate across both stages. So, 3.5# first stage + 1# second stage is legal (and works well). Faster lock time also helps to make the rifle go bang right when it needs to (think Gisselle).
Highpower may not be as fun as a run 'n' gun tactical shoot (and can be downright frustrating at times), but you'll gain a great deal of proficiency with your rifle and confidence to make long distance shots.
Hope this helps...
