Gus' Seven Steps for How to Shoot Real Good
1. It is a good idea to get plenty of sleep the night before. However, it is even better to make sure you have several friends over on Friday evening to discuss which model of 10/22 makes the best Liberty Training Rifle. From there move on to debate the merits of which AR platform is best for Known Distance. These conversations are sure to go well into the night, which of course will make you tired enough at bedtime to fall asleep on your way down to the pillow at around 1 a.m.
• A suitable substitute to having friends over the night before is to work the graveyard shift right up until the time you must race home to perform Step 2.
2. Always get up early on the day of your shooting match. This gives you time to settle into the recliner and ease into the morning with several cups of coffee. After you wake up from ‘drifting off' you can use your new found desperation as motivation to run around the garage/mancave and throw all that you need into your range bags and totes. Things like ammo, rifle, ammo, spare rifle, more ammo, WD-40, and ammo. Just grab all the ammo you can find and go.
3. Do not bother with making checklists. Right at the time you need it the most you will not be able to find the darn thing. Save yourself that aggravation. Trust and rely on your years of experience in quickly packing up for a day at the range.
4. Always leave the house early for the range. This gives you time to run back to the house once or twice to grab those things that you know you'll need because you couldn't find the checklist you didn't make.
5. Just before you arrive at the front gate of the range is a good time to check your wallet and see if you have enough cash for entry and range fees. You will find one of three things: No money at all, two one dollar bills, or a one hundred dollar bill. Since you left early for the range, you will now have just enough time to turn around and go find a store with an ATM or that can break that $100 into something the match director can handle.
6. It's a good thing you left early for the range because now you have just enough time to pay your entry fee and fill out the range waiver and shoot paperwork for the day. Unfortunately the first three pens you try to write with have no ink. You will wind up filling out the forms with a red sharpie from your range bag.
7. When you hit the line with your rifle and ammo is the best time to actually look at the ammo you brought. Whatever ammo your rifle is zeroed for will not be with you. It's back on the shelf in your loading room. So, you now get to figure out if the factory 62 grain FMJs you do have will fly more or less with the same speed and trajectory as the match grade 77 grain BTHP ammo you have come ups for. Think of this situation as an opportunity to excel.
And that is Gus' Seven Steps for How to Shoot Real Good.
In the picture is me on the right and my son Nathaniel. Last summer we took a hike up a nearby mountain called Flattop here in Anchorage.
Happy New Year and we'll see you at the range!
Gus, AK Rifleman #151
Hey Gus,
Hope you will be coming out soon with a sequel, "How to Hike Real Good". ;D
Happy New Year!
This was a hoot to read, thanks for sharing ;D