T-18 and counting

[ole95]

My goals:
I may not be a fierce competitor but I do won’t to get better and I do set goals
Like a normal goal of not embarrassing myself or family. But most of the time
It’s new high score or try to match leg up or jump class with a gun or today
NOT miss any chickens, get 50% of the Turkeys etc. But my Favorite Goal one that fits me to a tee
is the 3 gun agg. 100 club . I 1st. learn about this a few years back when I spent some time with Rich Hawkins “agg shooter” @ the Reg. II match. This goal is perfect for me for multiple reasons.
1. It involves my 3 favorite guns Standing, Unlimited and Production (ok maybe BB pro is not a favorite).
2. It has nothing to do with anyone else’s score
3. It has nothing to do with who won the match most matches don’t even recognizes it
4. The only thing you’re competing against is the #100
Last year @ the WCC I discussed this with Joe and the Other Joe and both gave me some great advice
And after posting a converted (from 60 round match) 97 there in small bore I knew it was reachable
In small bore at least. BB for me anyway is a different ball of wax (me and BB production have problems)
Atomicdogg is one of the best at 3 gun agg that I have ever shot with and has made the 100 club many times. A couple months ago shooting with Robert I made my 1st. 100, I also shot my 1St. perfect score 60x60 but the 100 club means more! My Goal for the INT.
Is to make my 2nd. But if I don’t My world will not end
it's time for someone else to take the lead on this count down I've ran out of crap to talk about
T-10 days and counting

[KickBass]

Thanks for starting this great thread, Ole95. I love the countdown and the breakdown of individual guns, days, and goals. It is this methodical approach that you have, keeping sight of only the things you can control--meaning YOUR shooting and not worrying about the performances of others, that has allowed you to rise so fast in this sport, both as a shooter and just a well-respected person in IHMSA.

So I'm not going to even try to approach going to the detail that Richard has done with this thread. But I do have some goals too for this World Championship, which will just be my 4th. And none of them have to do with winning a World Championship--I won my first last year, so I can check that off the bucket list.

One thing I have slowly learned to appreciate it the great deal of effort many members of this volunteer organization put in. For those that know me, if I go to a shoot, I pour through the guns at a state/regional shoot. With Practical Hunter now in the mix, there are 21 sanctioned classifications that a person can shoot, and that doesn't include other unsanctioned classes such as Bordello or various rifle classes that some ranges offer locally. My goal for a couple of years has been to shoot 21 guns at any shoot. I would skip on sighters just to make sure I got all those in, because sometimes it is tough to do. I've done that, and I think it has helped me in a lot of ways as a shooter. But that is not my goal for OKC in 2014.

In looking at all it takes to make this all-volunteer organization to work, and having mentors that have done so much for so long to make it work, my goals are different for this year. I'm signed up for 14 guns, which may seem like a lot to some, but that is just 2 guns per day. Shoot early, and I can have those two guns done by around noon. I'm only decent at a couple of events anyways, so 14 should be more than enough for me. My goal for this year is to do a better job at "giving back".

What I want to do different this year is remind myself that this is an all-volunteer organization, and those volunteers deserve to have a good time or get a break too. The OKC shoot is going to be run extremely well, that is how Jim Fields operates. The OKC gun club has volunteered to run the shoot, whereas at Ft. Stockton lasted year, that was not the case--and those who were at Ft. Stockton will appreciate the OKC efforts. This match is going to run flawlessly, because Jim Fields is going to have the volunteers in place from the OKC gun club to make it work. Region Directors are not going to have requirements on their time like at Ft. Stockton, which really if you think about it is unfair. Our Region Directors work so hard during the year, yet they are still shooters, and they are typically among the best in their area. Yet at Ft. Stockton, their time which they are volunteering is taken away from shooting because they have responsibilities in running the match. Jim Fields has eliminated that--those officers and region directors can shoot, just like all of us want to do, and he will take care of the details with his club volunteers.

So my goal for this year is to remember that. Those club volunteers don't necessarily WANT to spend 10 hours out in the hot and humid weather, but they do it. I want to be done by noon or so, and then see where I can help out. Relieve a line officer, help in the club house if needed, call the line if necessary. Otherwise, I can help spot somebody who may be there by themselves. 14 guns isn't 21 guns, but it is more than enough, because I can't compete at that level in that many guns anyways. At best, I have a 3-4 guns which on my very best day I may have the slightest of chances. So instead of wasting time on the other guns by just throwing ammo down the range because that is how I'm wired, I want to try to be more of a part of the "whole experience".

I'm not trying to sound like some "better than thou" or "feel-good" type of person. If this is somebody's 1st or 2nd trip to the Big Show, or if it one of your only vacation trips of the year, then absolutely go there and throw as much lead down the range as you can. Make it YOUR trip, do everything you can to make the most out of the experience.

I'm lucky. Being a teacher, I get the summers off and I get to travel more than a lot of people, and it works great for being involved in IHMSA since most of the big shoots are when I have that time off. So if you are somebody who is traveling by themselves, doing it on the cheap just because you want to chase this dream for the first time, look me up. I'd love to spot for somebody who may be flying solo--I've been in that situation plenty of times, and I've learned that without a spotter, you are pretty much hosed unless everything is going perfect. In an 80 round match with this level of competition, there is no margin for error. So that is my main goal--just to broaden myself to the "whole experience" and maybe help make it better for another shooter or for those volunteers that are making the entire event possible.

I do have one more goal… but in the fashion which Ole95 started with this thread, I'll save it for another day!

Until then, be safe, and keep shooting everybody!

[ole95]

thanks Joe
Funny as I was thinking about how to added a 3rd. gun one day. It hit me there's more to do than just shoot at the INT. there's a world of knowledge there just waiting to be taped. People to meet and guns to drool over . And as you said people who need a break.
I kinda wished now I was just shooting one gun a day.
Oh put me on your list to spot for I figure I will need several . I figure I will go though one a gun after they get frustrated with me and fire me as their shooter.

Trivial time.
Who is credited with introducing the blast shield that made it safer for not only but mostly for revolver shooters to switch from the prone to the Creedmoor position

Bonus question prior to the blast shield and besides the prone what was another popular freestyle position that your back did not touch the ground
hint there is/ was a picture of me shoot from this position almost 30 year ago at what we shot locally as Silhouette post on this forum
T-9 and counting

[jcunclejoe]

You know Tina is a keeper--if I took my wife to an 8 day shoot for our honeymoon… well, anyways… I'm glad we went to the mountains of Estes Park 18 years ago or else we might not be here now!

While Tina is willing to repeat our honeymoon each year at the World Championships she has said that she expects a real honeymoon one of these days in Hawaii, (with Dave Silva of course). 2 years ago at the West Coast the day before the wedding Dave asked where were going on our honeymoon?. Tina said "we are going to spend it with you Dave, in Oklahoma City."

Most certainly a keeper.

Be well and travel safe.

[KickBass]

That's funny--I was just talking to Dave a couple of days ago about Hawaii. Pam & Meghan already have a plan that we go there for Meghan's 16th birthday, so Dave was giving me some insight about it. Granted, we still have four years to plan it (and save $$$ for it).

[mugs]

Take your guns and shoot a match while your there. Bev and I shot a match there back in the 80's. They have a nice range.
Mugs

[jcunclejoe]

That tactic might actually get me shot. Although I did build and ship 80 half scale targets to them a few years ago.
Tina says we could go see the range and I could borrow a gun but she would not be spotting for me.
That trip would be better spent on honeymooning.

Joe

[ole95]

Two weeks after we return from OKC me and my bride with celebrate 40 years of marriage
@ 61 and 2 heart surgeries we've had to tone down the "honeymoon reenactment "

T-8 and counting

[ole95]

projected weather for the 1st. day high 80 low 63 10% chance of ran
T-7 and counting

[braud357]

Richard - want to wish you safe travel and good shooting at the Internationals. Next trip you plan - you need to come shoot .22 and Field Pistol at our match in South Louisiana. That way, I can buy you that meal I owe you !