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WHO SHOOTS WHAT GOOD?
I’ve never known a first-rate shotgunner who didn’t have terrific reflexes and hand-eye coordination. If you lack these qualities, you can train yourself to the point where you are good, but you are never going to be able to compete with the really gifted scattergunners.
On the other hand, I know a number of excellent rifle shooters who are dull, plodding fellows, whose reflexes have more to do with sloths than with cats, but give them the chance and they will put a bullet in whatever you want on the first try.
Back in the 1970s, I saw member of the New York Knicks professional basketball team pick up a trap gun and break something like 20 out of 25 birds. He had never fired a shotgun before, much less shot trap, but his coordination was so good, and his sense of distance and timing so acute, that it was possible for him.
I’ve never seen the equivalent of that in rifle shooting. Everyone, it seems, has to go through a period where they get their technique down, and develop a feel for what happens to a bullet at long range.
The only thing both disciplines have in common, it seems, is this: Unless you have complete mastery over your nervous system, you will never be a great shot with either rifle or shotgun, and you will probably never even be a good shot. The demands of the two guns take different forms, but both require that you be able to piss ice water in times of stress.
I just knew that when this subject posted that it would be entertaining at the very least. See second post at the top. Have a great week!
Posted by: Mtnhunter | June 04, 2007 at 09:58 AM
Perseverance and Humility
What am I thinking of?
Have a blessed day!
Clay
By the way Michael
Back in 85, we took on a young teen named Sandra Worman, a Colonels Daughter that wanted to shoot competition. Didn’t see any harm for her to be along side with us the Holloman Air Force Base High Power Team. All of us were NRA Instructors, so what be the problem. Colonels Daughter? Colonels do great things for you when you keep them happy! In 86, she was at the Whittington for the Olympic tryouts.
Yes Michael,
Small bore at 50 Meters?
She kicked this ol’Sarges ass to, she did!
Posted by: Clay Cooper | June 04, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Some folks' names are engraved on plaques and trophies at Camp Perry. Other's are scribbled below "For a good time, call.." in the latrines.
Posted by: Mtnhunter | June 04, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Geez, JA, you used to have a sense of humor. I don't need to wave anything, or boast of long shots. I'll just take my piddly little firearms and continue to sneak up on deer and hogs and shoot 'em up close and personal.
Posted by: KJ | June 04, 2007 at 12:57 PM
I still do, KJ, or I hope I do anyway. You're a funny guy, too, and I've always enjoyed your posts. Forget I said anything. You and Clay are grown men and don't need anyone else to tell you what to post.
Posted by: JA Demko | June 04, 2007 at 01:28 PM
What is this crap, another cease fire? Just when things were heating up too!
Posted by: Dr. Ralph | June 04, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Can’t I go anywhere without you guys going off on each other.
DADBURN!
Posted by: Clay Cooper | June 04, 2007 at 08:03 PM
Where is my water hose at!
Posted by: Clay Cooper | June 04, 2007 at 08:05 PM
Clay, I was one of the Air Force's reps at "Team Spirit" In Korea. I got to meet alot of other shooters from all branches of the Military. I learned alot and had a blast. I also directly experienced the affect of partying all night then trying to shoot the next day. My Boss almost art 15'd me
Posted by: Michael | June 05, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Michael
Team Spirit" In Korea?
Been Dar, Dun Dat!
I was the Senior Scheduler and worked with the Reps.
One of the Reps was there first time there. Lucky for him, he brought SSgt Miller and I with him to go shopping downtown.
Watch out on that OB Beer?
You can drink 12 one night with little or no buzz and the next night 3 beers?
You are wasted! Percentage of alcohol varied allot.
To bad I wasn’t there, We would have had a blast!
Never got a 15 in my 20 years. Been threatened a lot for holding my ground for following regulations and safety of the mission.
Posted by: Clay Cooper | June 05, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Clay, one day last fall, I was talking to an ole friend and asked him if he had ang guns for sale,... yes i do he said, I've got a little shotgun I'll take ten dollars for, wellI said ,here's ten dollars. He took my money and came back out of his house with a little 20 Ga. Winchester single. I tossed it in the car and left not really knowing who got the best deal. The next day i was at a friend's house shooting clays. (NOT COOPER) when a little boy about 12 asked if he could shoot the 20 Ga. in my car, He laid down his nice Rem Pump and began shooting. he never missed a bird with it and even went inside and got another box of shells. still never missing a bird. now was it the Gun, the skilled shooting of the little fellow or a little of both? I shot a few clays withit after that and it really is a good shooter doing the same as those expensive 870,s. (10.00)
Posted by: Gary Smith | June 06, 2007 at 06:07 PM
Gary
I think it was the shooter and the gun.
It’s like finding a pair of gloves that fits so good; it becomes a part of your hand.
Should have seen me. When I was 14 years old dove hunting with an old 410-bolt shotgun. I’m right handed and my right arm was broken and in a full cast shooting left handed. Raised a few eyebrows I did!
Gary you got me thinking? I wonder what would have happened if someone followed up teaching that young man. If you read my posts, I talked about a young teenage Girl we started training here back around March-April of 85. In June of 86 she was invited to try out at the Whittington Center in New Mexico for the Olympics.
Something to think about.
Take a young person and teach them.
Read the following story,
IT SAYS IT ALL!
A Historical Story About Fathers and Sons
Contributed by Rev. Gary Taylor
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of." And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill . . .!!!
Posted by: Clay Cooper | June 06, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Good things do come around!
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Cheating Is, is not Unacceptable!
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