TargetTalk

am I being counter productive?

Or does it help in learning the gun?

Also I was told that it's only possible to shoot 2 guns well, so is shooting my sporter airguns along with my match pistol counter productive also?

Thanks

James,

The way I see it, trigger time is trigger time. Your thoughts and actions about the trigger time determine if it is the strictist controlled environment of pushing your performance envelope (higher learning), training practice (fine-motor upkeep), or relaxed enjoyment of popping cans (entertainment).

Doing it is still releasing a controlled shot (hopefully). How you think and act about it can be double-edged. Are you moving new skills TO the plinking range or moving lax plinking TO the 10M or 25M range? I see where they could compliment one another, i.e. prevent burnout, re-addressing basics with different equipment, and still honing the desire to hit the target square and in the center.

Only you know for sure. Be honest with yourself.

As to how many guns you can get good with? I say one-great, 2 or three more-good, more than that-OK. Just me, understand. Others shoot one discipline and that's it. I shoot all international pistol disciplines, even NRA related bullseye- but never spray and pray action stuff.

As to shooting your lesser-quality sporter stuff... you will find that not hitting as often is a bummer compared to nearly always hitting with the olympic grade stuff. It will gravitate to the back of a gunsafe or closet on its own. You will pull it out to teach others or equip others for group shooting. You'll see.

Lonnie Meyers

I think doing something that encourages you to shoot well , have fun , and not obcess about score is good for both your shooting and mental health .As to how many disciplines you can shoot , I think it's a bit like sex ; a question of desire and capacity . Budget also figures into it , it's pretty pricy to shoot a lot of disciplines . Some disciplines seem more closley related , Ie: Air and free pistol .

Chris

I think it tends to be counterproductive. You'll lose interest in plinking anyway as your skills improve. The challenge isn't there. You may go into demonstrations or trick shooting, though.

The number of guns you can shoot is intensely individual. Some people can only shoot one gun well. Others can do two (that's about my limit). I've seen shooters who could do great work with four to six guns, mixing rifle and pistol. Lenny's right about keeping disciplines consistent, though. It gets much harder if you are shooting events with fundamentally different mental requirements, or which demand physical events as well.

I tend to agree with Mike. I do however think it depends on what level of preficiency you want to progress to. You cannot shoot rifle and pistol to the same amount and expect to become a national champion. You can however do both and still become good at both. I would suggest you pick one as your main discipline and use the other as a minor one. Concentrate on the important one and developing those specific skills and use the other one as a bit of light relief and more for relaxation.

Rob.

Why do you shoot? What is the mix of reasons? If you enjoy the plinking then, at some level and in some way, it is serving your needs.
I shoot for the enjoyment of making a hole where I want it to be.
I shoot for the camraderie with the other people who shoot.
I shoot for the joy of mastering technical challenges.
I shoot because it is wonderfully relaxing.
I shoot because it gets "the office" out of my head.

James1:

In my country (Bolivia), I have two weeks for holidays at the end of december each year. In the holidays I go to the rural area at my ranch. For two weeks I have shooting for fun, plinking to cans or any other minor object.
I am looking at the return, my scores in air pistol are the same, for me, plinking is a way to maintain your skills, is impossible to improve, but is good to shot, to maintain your trainning, looking for the same basics like stand, trigger control, etc.

Thank You,

Nano

Try something a bit more challenging than a can , an empty 12ga hull is good . It's close to the width of the 9 ring , try it both vertical and horizontal . It will loose a bit of it's allure over time . A bit of variety doesn't hurt , but it's questionable how helpfull it is .

Chris