What's your shot process?

[John C]

The next thing I'm going to work in improving my shooting is better defining and executing my shot process for air pistol. I am a beginning AP shooter, though an experienced expert level Bullseye and Standard Pistol shooter.

Is there a formalized shot plan you can point me to as a starting point?

I'm interested to hear what your shot process is?

Thanks,

-John

[Isabel1130]

What slow fire shot process are you using now? Have you been to a Zins clinic, and do you have confidence in his methods?
I dont want to over simplify the differences between the two, but you have two choices when it comes to AP.
You can treat it like most dedicated air pistol shooters do, as a sport that is almost all hold, and no triggering. OR, you can bump up the weight on your air pistol trigger, and shoot it just like you would shoot a conventional pistol.

[Russ]

What slow fire shot process are you using now? Have you been to a Zins clinic, and do you have confidence in his methods?
I dont want to over simplify the differences between the two, but you have two choices when it comes to AP.
You can treat it like most dedicated air pistol shooters do, as a sport that is almost all hold, and no triggering. OR, you can bump up the weight on your air pistol trigger, and shoot it just like you would shoot a conventional pistol.

He is asking for help not for endorsement. :) I’m surprised. ;)
Everyone is trying to squeeze few bucks.:))

[John C]

Isabel;

Yes, I have been to a Zins clinic, and I do like his methods. I find your comments interesting, since I have no AP coaching, I assumed that the method of using the trigger to do the final "aim" of the pistol to work. I really am a novice at the precision disciplines (AP and FP).

It's funny that you mention Zins. The reason I took up AP is that my slow fire scores are what's keeping me back from making master level. So I bought an AP off this forum, so I can practice more in my garage. With a wife, kids, etc, I don't get to the range as much as I did when I was single and placing highly in state-level Standard Pistol matches.

Now that I've been shooting AP in my garage for a couple of months, and getting a bit better, I've begun to appreciate the discipline. I intend to shoot a match in the near future to establish a baseline.

Russ;

I've looked closely at your website, and am strongly considering flying out to Michigan to take in a day or two of training. I'm interested in hearing what you have to say. It's not in the cards in the near future, but hopefully in the next year. What class do you recommend?

-John

[Russ]

“Perfect Single Shot Development Class” is what you need. Two days during one weekend. It is good for any slow Olympic Pistol Discipline (Air Pistol, Free Pistol).
You can use PM.
Thank you.
Ruslan

[Isabel1130]

Isabel;

Yes, I have been to a Zins clinic, and I do like his methods. I find your comments interesting, since I have no AP coaching, I assumed that the method of using the trigger to do the final "aim" of the pistol to work. I really am a novice at the precision disciplines (AP and FP).

It's funny that you mention Zins. The reason I took up AP is that my slow fire scores are what's keeping me back from making master level. So I bought an AP off this forum, so I can practice more in my garage. With a wife, kids, etc, I don't get to the range as much as I did when I was single and placing highly in state-level Standard Pistol matches.

Now that I've been shooting AP in my garage for a couple of months, and getting a bit better, I've begun to appreciate the discipline. I intend to shoot a match in the near future to establish a baseline.
-John

John, I discussed air pistol with Zins through a couple of telephone calls while he was the NRA Pistol director. If your goal is to improve your conventional slow fire scores through shooting air pistol, you might want to consider an LP50 with the bullseye trigger. Most of the conventional pistol shooters I know bump their trigger weight up to keep them from getting chicken finger on the air pistol. There are some notable exceptions, such as John Zurek who shoots a light trigger and a heavy one equally well. Were you shooting any LEG matches? Going from a dot to iron sights is a bigger adjustment than the weight of the trigger.
I think Zins is absolutely correct on most of his thoughts, and he has the performance to prove it. There are a couple of things I believe he is right on, but for the wrong reasons. One of those is the so called "steering of the trigger" but if you want to discuss this further, you should probably pm me, as my thoughts are free, and probably worth exactly what you will pay for them.
There are many helpful articles on the Pilkington web site.

This is one of my favorties on shot process

http://www.pilkguns.com/anatoli.shtml

[John C]

Isabel;

I actually have an FWB C55. I strongly prefer a two-stage trigger, and the LP5 and LP50 have single stage triggers, from what I understand. I haven't bumped up the trigger weight to max, which I understand is 1200g.

I'm concerned that I may be trying to pursue two mutually exclusive goals. One is to improve Bullseye and Standard Pistol slow fire scores, and the other, now that I've been shooting AP, is to get better at AP. This may require a change in training plan.

Thanks for the link to the Anatoli article. I'm going to check that out now.

-John

[Isabel1130]

i used to strongly prefer a 2 stage trigger also, however, sometime this last year, I realized that the trigger had little to do with it. The "triggering" is the issue, and if you notice a trigger issue it is usually because you are stopping your trigger pull, which is a bigger issue.

[John C]

Isabel;

Yes, I understand what you're saying. The trigger, within reason, is immaterial. I prefer the two stage because I take up the slack on the trigger while lining up the sights and solidifying the aiming area. I've also shot primarily two stage triggers, so it's difficult to switch. I think I could get a single stage trigger, and then train to use it.

-John