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Smith & Wesson Competitive Shooting All aspects of competitive shooting using Smith and Wesson Firearms. Including: IPSC, IDPA, Silhouette, Bullseye.


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Old 07-09-2019, 09:15 PM
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How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition?  
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Default How do you prepare for a pistol competition?

Okay, I am interested in how competitive pistol shooters prepare for upcoming competitions. Just how much preparation do you do and how far out?

For me the process is the same if I am shooting a club level competition of an Island/Nationals, but the timeframes are much different.

For a club, or inter club, competition I have my ammo loaded and ready about 4 weeks from the day. I make sure I have at least 150% of the minimum round count and usually a little more.

For Island or National level events my ammo is loaded at least two months out (I currently have my ammo for North Island Speed Steel (500 rounds each for 9mm pistol and PCC divisions) competition in October and the IPSC Nationals in late September loaded and sitting in my ammo cupboard) and I ensure I have at least twice the minimum round count on hand.

No more than six weeks out from an Island/National event my ammo is hand checked for obvious faults and chamber dropped in the main pistol I am going to shoot.

Ten days or so from any event I give my pistol a good clean and oil up. A week before I fire two magazines (or cylinders in the case I am shooting a revolver) for function and accuracy checks then put the gun away until competition day (I am lucky I have enough backup pistols I can continue shooting if I wish to).

At least a week before the day I check the tyres are correctly filled on my range cart and on the Sunday beforehand I load up my range bag with everything I will need for the day, including the applicable holster and belt. I also get together my raincoat/umbrella and anything else i may need.

Two days before the event all range equipment is rechecked and except for the guns placed in my car. On competition day I simply remove my guns from storage, put them in the car and set out.

I get to the range at least and hour before briefing time and put on my holster and belt. I then load magazines/speed loaders and head to the safety zone to uncase my pistol. I go through a dozen or so presentation draws and trigger releases just to regain muscle memory then find a quiet place to read through any stage books and make notes.

Usually by that time other shooting friends have turned up and I end up talking rather than mentally preparing for the event, but that's okay. I generally need the diversion.

Sometimes I think I have OCD. How about everyone else?
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Old 07-09-2019, 09:23 PM
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How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition?  
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I only shot locally and shot IPSC about 30 years ago. I loaded ammo all the time. So having certain ammo was not a problem. I cleaned my pistol about once a week. This was a complete disassembly. I did shoot about 1K of ammo a week, each and every week.
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Old 07-09-2019, 11:15 PM
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How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition?  
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I like to prepare for a bullseye match by shooting the best group in warmup
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Old 07-10-2019, 08:56 AM
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I like to have all gear ready and ammo loaded ahead of time, although I don't have a strict schedule for everything. I do a last minute checklist before leaving the house. I always make sure to take extra ammo to the match, and extra ammo to the firing line. A quick dry fire in the safe area helps with warmup before going into the match.

I like to dry fire and practice with live fire whenever possible, the live fire is not very often, but any practice (training) is better than none.
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Old 07-10-2019, 02:16 PM
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How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition? How do you prepare for a pistol competition?  
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I am a pretty organized individual in all aspects of my life. I have a routine for physical fitness, dry firing, range practice, reloading ammo and making sure I have all of my equipment ready and organized before I leave the house. My mental preparation is nothing sophisticated. I am 100% focused on the task at hand and I expect to win. That's it.

I do a lot better and enjoy myself more when I don't overthink things, especially things related to my hobbies.
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Old 07-10-2019, 03:26 PM
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When I was shooting IPSC I loaded My ammo Mon thru Fri and shot Sat and Sun. 500 to 600 rounds a day. On match day the only thing different was magazine pouches. Carried an ammo can half full and 12 magazines. Only carried four on My belt. Finished in the top 5 almost all the time.
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Old 07-10-2019, 04:05 PM
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Kiwi, you are doing everything right. When I would shoot bullseye above club level I would prepare in a similar manner. Today I pack my bag before I go out the door. There is no training or preparation which prevents aging, skills diminish.
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Old 07-10-2019, 04:18 PM
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Well, first you have to be VERY serious about the competition. If you're competing for fun the way I did when I was cowboy action shooting the only preparation needed was to leave the guns and ammunition by the front door. Oh, and to be sure the western garb I planned to wear was laid out so I didn't have to think about it in the morning.

My gun cart used solid rubber tires. I had one with pneumatic tires and they were constantly going flat. Solid rubber was easier.

The morning of a match I'd load the cart into the back of my pickup and when I was ready to leave I'd throw the guns into the truck cab and off I went.

That was the extent of my preparation. I never practiced, I bought professionally made ammunition that was always 600 fps or even less, and sometimes I cleaned the guns, often I did not.

If you want to win you have to be a lot more serious than I ever was!!!!
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Old 07-10-2019, 04:56 PM
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I had separate range bags for the different classes that I shot in... production, single stack, open. Everything I needed for shooting that particular class was kept in that bag, ear and eye protection, holsters, belts, spare magazines. The day of the shoot I loaded that gun, along with its spare and ammo and headed out. I printed out a check list for the top of each bag as a last minute reminder so I didn't forget anything.
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Old 07-13-2019, 11:12 AM
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I might have a two week lead time preparing for a national championship, a few days for a state championship, the day before for a local match.
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Old 07-13-2019, 04:55 PM
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Back some 30yrs for local IPSC I practiced 600 rnds a week. For special matches, like tri-states, I bumped it up to 2500. Reloading ammo was a necessity.
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Old 07-19-2019, 03:05 PM
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On the drive to a bullseye match I would think about holding the dot steady in the center of the bullseye and slowly pulling the trigger. Would try to breathe easy & relax, my job was very stressful. Larry
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Old 07-20-2019, 02:53 PM
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OP: had a buddy with 'not OCD' but a more severe form 'CDO' due to such as 'alphabetic order' etc.


He really was exceptionally compulsive. Even to the point of arranged all his 38 pistol cases with same water volume, same gram weight, in same reload lots, as well as aligning head stamps in same direction.


Congratulations, you are well on the way, but not yet there.

Frankly, I've come to believe some of such gyrations actually contribute to better mental focus on the demands of extracting the best performance out of ourselves.



And yes, with minor variations, I do similar steps as you describe. It has made me a far better participant than ever before. Instead of 'bottom 10%' I've matriculated to "upper quarter, usually". And I get more enjoyment out of it. The 'slowing down' part has affected my scores. I'm far more accurate this last 5 years than the prior decades.



Good luck with your preparations!!!
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Old 08-14-2019, 02:45 PM
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1 week prior to match, I open the closet and see if I have at least 4-5 boxes of the ammo I need. If less than I order more. If more I close the closet.

The night before a match I load a bag with way too much ammo just in case I have an alibi for every round I fire. I then put each of the 3 guns I need PLUS 3 backup guns into my box so that it weighs about 75 pounds.

I wake up at the last possible second before showering and getting McDonald's because it's the only thing open at that hour. #2, orange juice, and large coffee. Routine!

I drive while listening to news or music or having YouTube playing in the background.

When I pull in to the parking lot I start thinking about shooting. And how much I need to use the bathroom.

I shoot personal bests all day long, culminating with splendid long line and timed fire scores in the leg matches and distinguished revolver matches. I then collapse in rapid fire, allowing someone else to crow for years about the time they closed a 15 point gap to claim a much needed leg.

I drive home listening to music or news or YouTube.

When I get home I try not to think about having to clean guns. Having to use the bathroom badly helps with this.

As you can see, I have this routine thing down pat.
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Old 08-14-2019, 02:52 PM
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I shot on my High School and College Rifle Teams........

We shot 6 days a week........ in college before going off to a match ..... I would always check to make sure there was beer in the fridge for when I got back!

Later I shot PPC, IDPA and USPSA....... again...... beer in the fridge for when I got back

Consistent training and preparation is the key to success!!!!!!!

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Old 08-19-2019, 09:11 PM
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Here is a typical competition day:

I like to have at least 300 rounds of 9 and 45 made up in my ammo cabinet at any given time. I also like to have 100 rounds of 44s made up in case there is a steel shoot on the horizon where I may pull a revolver for a few stages.

I check my daughters tire pressures as well as my wife's, I check their tires and wheels for new nicks they got while (not) parallel parking.

I detail their cars and throw Starbucks cups out, clean chewing gum from in between the glass and the door rubber (not kidding).

I casually mention to her that I could go for a few hours if she doesn't mind. If she reacts disinterested or ignores me I jump downstairs, grab my **** and run.

Them when I come home I greet her nicely and ask if she likes to go out for dinner someplace, if all is fine, then I logon and check how I did.
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