First competition @ Camp Perry-WAG, advice?

[Shady Pines Ma]

My first competition this week at Camp Perry - Winter Air Gun. Could use some advice about anything. I’m flying up from Florida and would hate to get DQ’d or something and not have this count. Any and all advice welcome. Tips, pointers, anything. I’ve only been shooting for four months. I don’t expect to win anything, going for the experience. From the looks of the roster I’m 1 of only 4 adult women competing so maybe I’ll place, idk.


I’m shooting Pardini K12 in the upper 400’s. 10x count is low but getting better.

[Rover]

Relax and have fun. As you say, you're going for the experience. You may have the opportunity to get a little coaching from top shooters. Offers of beer will work wonders.

[PirateJohn]

The only piece of advice that matters: have fun

I'll be there, too, shooting one position over from an Olympic alum. It is such a blast to be around so many great shooters and picking their brains.

[PirateJohn]

Offers of beer will work wonders.

And if you drink enough beer, it becomes easier to hit a ten because now you have five or six targets to shoot at.

[Shady Pines Ma]

Offers of beer will work wonders.

And if you drink enough beer, it becomes easier to hit a ten because now you have five or six targets to shoot at.

Noted LOL

[PirateJohn]

Noted LOL

:-D

If you're in the 10am relay, feel free to come say hi during PET on Friday. I'm in lane 69.

[rmca]

Someone from the US can give you more details on the specific range, but were are my "general" recommendations.
I may be forgetting something, but this will get you on the right track...

Find PirateJohn and talk to him. Someone with experience in the venue can answer a lot of your doubts.

Before the match:

• If you can attend the PET, do so. It gives you the opportunity to shoot in a new place in a less stressful time (it's not a match!!).

• Get there early, and if possible watch a previous relay. Pay attention to the voice commands and try to absorb everything you can. This takes the surprise out of your match.

• Talk with the jury/referee and tell them it's your first (big) match. They will keep an eye on you, not to punish, but to help if you need it. Listen to what they say...

• Have your kit ready as soon as possible, preferably before you get to the range. Gun, pellets, safety flag, water, stopwatch, PPE, etc. And you don't want to be needing to fill your cylinders just before the match start.

• Check BEFORE the match if your pistol has the 500g trigger weight (travelling does wonders on triggers!), and if it fits in the box.

• Wear low sided shoes that do not cover the ankle bone, and avoid jeans, camo, etc.

During the match:

• Shoot, as you practice. Have fun, and don't count the score.

• Keep your gun pointed downrange ALL THE TIME. Insert safety flag (string) when you are not in the firing point.

• If anything happens, just raise your hand and wait for the referee to get to you (don't call out loud!). Tell him/her what went wrong, and do as he/she tells you to do.

• When you finish, insert safety flag and leave the gun on the bench. Only remove it when the referee tells you to.

After the match

• When it's over, listen to see if your line is called to go to post competition control.

• A snarky remark to a friend who scored less than you is a good habit to get!

And have fun at the match, that's why you went there in the first place!

P.S.
Read the ISSF rules...
https://backoffice.issf-sports.org/getf ... ersion.pdf
Chapter 6 - General Technical Rules
Chapter 8 - Pistol Rules

[OSCEthan]

I'll be there. I shot my first airgun match last month at the Camp Perry monthly, but I competed in bullseye for several years as a junior.

Biggest thing I noticed about the Perry airgun range specifically is how well lit it is. It can be an adjustment if, like me, you're used to shooting at home/in a basement/etc with variable light. I made some changes to my lighting and pellet trap to more closely mimic the Megalink systems to help with that - being prepped for a specific thing helps me with the match jitters.

[Shady Pines Ma]

Someone from the US can give you more details on the specific range, but were are my "general" recommendations.
I may be forgetting something, but this will get you on the right track...

Find PirateJohn and talk to him. Someone with experience in the venue can answer a lot of your doubts.

Before the match:

• If you can attend the PET, do so. It gives you the opportunity to shoot in a new place in a less stressful time (it's not a match!!).

• Get there early, and if possible watch a previous relay. Pay attention to the voice commands and try to absorb everything you can. This takes the surprise out of your match.

• Talk with the jury/referee and tell them it's your first (big) match. They will keep an eye on you, not to punish, but to help if you need it. Listen to what they say...

• Have your kit ready as soon as possible, preferably before you get to the range. Gun, pellets, safety flag, water, stopwatch, PPE, etc. And you don't want to be needing to fill your cylinders just before the match start.

• Check BEFORE the match if your pistol has the 500g trigger weight (travelling does wonders on triggers!), and if it fits in the box.

• Wear low sided shoes that do not cover the ankle bone, and avoid jeans, camo, etc.

During the match:

• Shoot, as you practice. Have fun, and don't count the score.

• Keep your gun pointed downrange ALL THE TIME. Insert safety flag (string) when you are not in the firing point.

• If anything happens, just raise your hand and wait for the referee to get to you (don't call out loud!). Tell him/her what went wrong, and do as he/she tells you to do.

• When you finish, insert safety flag and leave the gun on the bench. Only remove it when the referee tells you to.

After the match

• When it's over, listen to see if your line is called to go to post competition control.

• A snarky remark to a friend who scored less than you is a good habit to get!

And have fun at the match, that's why you went there in the first place!

P.S.
Read the ISSF rules...
https://backoffice.issf-sports.org/getf ... ersion.pdf
Chapter 6 - General Technical Rules
Chapter 8 - Pistol Rules

Great info, thank you!

[Shady Pines Ma]

I'll be there. I shot my first airgun match last month at the Camp Perry monthly, but I competed in bullseye for several years as a junior.

Biggest thing I noticed about the Perry airgun range specifically is how well lit it is. It can be an adjustment if, like me, you're used to shooting at home/in a basement/etc with variable light. I made some changes to my lighting and pellet trap to more closely mimic the Megalink systems to help with that - being prepped for a specific thing helps me with the match jitters.

The range I practice at is low-lit. It's outdoors but under a building, so the setup is flood/shop lights. It's different, but it's the only air pistol range in Florida.

[Dcforman]

and avoid jeans, camo, etc.[/list]

Per the match bulletin, jeans and camo are allowed. Good ole USA!

Dave

[rmca]

and avoid jeans, camo, etc.[/list]

Per the match bulletin, jeans and camo are allowed. Good ole USA!

Dave

That's why I said general recommendations... ;)

We don't enforce the jeans part either, but give a strong "suggestion" to anyone wearing camo that's not an active service member...
Other that that, boots are the main reason for DSQ on newbies, but they pick up on that very quickly.
Trigger weight is what gets more DSQ that it should... but people tend to set their trigger weight right at the limit...

[atomicgale]

Tips, pointers, anything.

Don't shoot your eye out!

(. . . and for a first competition, there's NO POSSIBLE WAY you could perform worse than some of my epic disasters over the years . . . . )

[Shady Pines Ma]

Tips, pointers, anything.

Don't shoot your eye out!

(. . . and for a first competition, there's NO POSSIBLE WAY you could perform worse than some of my epic disasters over the years . . . . )

Perfect! LOL I just described the sport to someone as worst case you shoot your eye out.

[Gwhite]

A friend of mine was once describing a free pistol match to some visitors who knew nothing about competitive shooting. Part of the follow-through process involved the shooter looking through his scope after every shot and shaking his head in disappointment...

[Ramon OP]

This is not a competition for you: this is training for competition. Curiosity is your ally.

Focus on your technique and ignore score. What maters is your appreciation of the shot.

Don't worry about what others may think, they don't really care. I love seeing new shooters at competitions and root for them.

Referees are very helpful. When in doubt just talk to them.

[elbthesurfer]

Watch out that you don't rush through your first series or the match because of the adrenalin.

[PirateJohn]

Perfect! LOL I just described the sport to someone as worst case you shoot your eye out.

However, an official Red Ryder carbide-action 200-shot range-model air rifle won't fit in the box during inspection