My 1st shooting competition ever at 57

mbliss57 · #1 03-08-2014, 07:44 PM

Well I at my 1st USPSA indoor competition last night. 1st competitive shooting of any kind besides US Army M16 quals in 1976.
It's an unsanctioned match at Gem City Gun Club in PA. For people like me and mostly for those honing for outdoor when weather clears.
All I can say is I had a blast. I don't know how well I did against others as they don't post until Monday on website.
Don't skewer me but I m a D&W collector and own many pistols and revolvers but chose to use my CZ75BD. SinceI had to buy the international holster they are gun specific. My wife went and shot as well. We both would have used SW if we had shot single stack.
She would have used her Shield and I would have used my 3904.

Bkreutz · #2 03-08-2014, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbliss57

Well I at my 1st USPSA indoor competition last night. 1st competitive shooting of any kind besides US Army M16 quals in 1976.
It's an unsanctioned match at Gem City Gun Club in PA. For people like me and mostly for those honing for outdoor when weather clears.
All I can say is I had a blast. I don't know how well I did against others as they don't post until Monday on website.
Don't skewer me but I m a D&W collector and own many pistols and revolvers but chose to use my CZ75BD. SinceI had to buy the international holster they are gun specific. My wife went and shot as well. We both would have used SW if we had shot single stack.
She would have used her Shield and I would have used my 3904.

Once you get to a "certain" age, score is kinda irrelevant. I have no illusions that I can keep up with the young guys anymore so I just shoot at whatever speed that I can. Just have fun.

m657 · #3 03-08-2014, 10:05 PM

Congratulations on having fun & cheers to discovering yet another reason to 'have to buy a new gun'.....

....and at my age most of my pistols are twice as old as the other shooters...so go, shoot, enjoy. Reload, do it again.

wantmoresmiths · #4 03-10-2014, 11:09 PM

The important thing is that you are out there competing. I'm a year older than you, and started about 6 years ago. Started with steel, then progressed to USPSA, once the local USPSA matches faded away, I found an IDPA match within a half hour drive every weekend of the month. Then I discovered ICORE, so I guess that makes me an official competition junkie. I recommend that you try all the different types of competition available. Then you can decide which you like best. My preference is Steel, ICORE falls into second place, and a tie between USPDA and IDPA. Don't worry about score as Bkreutz noted, no sense trying to keep up with the younger guys, just go out and have fun.

S&WIowegan · #5 03-10-2014, 11:47 PM

Good for you....most people are so worried about embarrassing themselves they never get involved. I am 72 and didn't get started until I was 48 yrs old. I improved rapidly at first, then flattened out and in decline now. That said, I still beat people younger than I am. I shoot USPSA, IDPA, steel and indoor .22LR in the winter. I especially enjoy competitive revolver shooting.

oldafsp · #6 03-11-2014, 05:03 PM

Congrats and good for you!

I went back into competive shooting last month for the first time in 15 years. At age 62. I chose IDPA due to the fact it's more in line with how I trained and shot matches (PPC and CPC) back in the 1970's.

Our eyes and reflexes are slower and the other parts (back,knees, hips) don't work so well anymore. But I find myself out scoring alot of the shooters in the stages that don't require movement, like the Bill Drill and El Presidente.

It is a hoot. And I shoot twice a month. Both clubs are a 30 minute drive from me. And that works for me. I pack my cooler and have lunch after the match and get to know the other shooters.

Besides I love overhearing the younger guys telling each other "Watch this old guy with the revolver"

BigCityChief · #7 03-11-2014, 05:25 PM

Congratulations, mbliss57!

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mbliss57 · #8 03-11-2014, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the encouragement. My wife actually started 1st with "A Girl & A Gun Club" I have been keeping my eyes open for a chance to do some competition. I finished the 2 stages about the middle of the pack. Not in last place!! But lots of room to improve. I can't wait to get outside. I really want to shoot steel. What could be more fun? I taught the Mrs to shoot over 2 years ago. She is a deadeye. We split in 2 stages in the match just a couple of points apart. She is more accurate and I am faster.
I need to work on the accuracy as I gave it up for speed. I need both..and I am talking 57 year old speed. I would also love to shoot a revolver match.
Or at least walk through a course. My model 64 DAO is the most accurate pistol I own at distance s I can see. More than my sighted pistols. It's just naturally hits what it points at. If I had to shoot distance I would need optics.