Loading a pistol - when?

[kurak]

Does it matter during competition when we load the air gun?
When it should be done during a qualification match?
Does it matter if we load right before the shot - possibly losing concentration and getting distracted by it. Or maybe immediately after the previous shot - risking problems when the referee orders to unload (I know it's a small problem, but it can be a problem sometimes), or getting a bad habit of loading the gun during the finals too early. As we know, in the final we do it only on command.

I know this may be a silly question, but it just doesn't give me peace of mind. I'm a very beginner and don't want to get into bad habits.

[william]

I'd say it doesn't matter, as long as you do it the same every time. The less to think about....

[McMadCow]

Make sure your same-every-time process also includes a plan of action for when you abort a shot and lower the gun. If your abort includes opening the gun, have some way of ensuring you don't double load when you start over.

[PirateJohn]

I always load immediately before the shot. I think of it as part of my shot process.

I take a lot of breaks during a match to go sit down, so I don't want to leave a loaded pistol on the table.

[atomicgale]

. . . so I don't want to leave a loaded pistol on the table.

SAFETY/RULES: At no time should your hand leave the pistol if the action is closed - loaded or unloaded. Just setting the pistol down with the loading lever in the closed position is a SERIOUS safety violation resulting in instant disqualification.

I take a lot of breaks during a match to go sit down

Should you venture from your position, you must insert your safety flag into the pistol, visible both from the chamber and muzzle end of the barrel.

Hope this helps!

[kurak]

Thank you. So, I will stay with loading right after my previous shot.

[JamesHH]

When you're ready to start the process of firing the next shot.

[Azmodan]

you can look on youtube, on the ISSF channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/issfchannel/videos), at all the finals - the 5 shots series, where shots are fired one after the other without waiting for commands.

you will see that all athletes load right after the previous shot and than start preparing for the next one.

[kurak]

@Azmodan, yes i saw that. But I did not found any ISSF videos (I was too lazy?!) from Qualification. So I asked this question.
Anyway, it is very confortable to me to load right after the previous shot.
Actually, I tried to not do this ight after the previous shot and that was very hard. My hand goes to the action by itself automatically after the shot. So thats why Im afraid about bad habits during single shot phase in finals.

[Xman]

This question on when to load has another technique question on when to load.

All of the posters (I think) are using PCP APs. What about those with SSPs? We still count don't we? LOL

Lift the loading port and load? Then charge the AP with the lever.

Or operate the lever with the port opening up, return the lever with the port already open and then load.

[atomicgale]

What about those with SSPs? We still count don't we?
Lift the loading port and load? Then charge the AP with the lever.

You'll shoot your eye out.

[PirateJohn]

What about those with SSPs? We still count don't we?
Lift the loading port and load? Then charge the AP with the lever.

You'll shoot your eye out.

But if you win, you get a major award

[Azmodan]

@Azmodan, yes i saw that. But I did not found any ISSF videos (I was too lazy?!) from Qualification. So I asked this question.

some footage from a qualification match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAHhCdpW1c

[atomicgale]

some footage from a qualification match

Wow! Almost as exciting as watching bread go stale.

[Gwhite]

some footage from a qualification match

Wow! Almost as exciting as watching bread go stale.

Wait for the mold to grow...

[JamesHH]

Lift the loading port and load? Then charge the AP with the lever.

Absolutely not!

[JamesHH]

you can look on youtube, on the ISSF channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/issfchannel/videos), at all the finals - the 5 shots series, where shots are fired one after the other without waiting for commands.

you will see that all athletes load right after the previous shot and than start preparing for the next one.

In finals yes you need to start right away.

In the rest of the match there may be a wait between the end of the last shot and the start of the next.