Author Topic: newly aquired target panic...... (Read 746 times)

wijim · « **on:** April 06, 2006, 08:27:58 AM »

this is so weird i can hardly explain it.

i shoot 7mm rem mag with browning a-bolt. its a true tack driver.

i have been a pretty good shot with it and my problems come at more distant ranges. i am good with the recoil and it really has not been an issue.

yesterday shooting at the range i was perfect at 100 yards (where im zeroed) i mean my shots were no further than 1/4" off true bullseye. then at 150 i was still very respectable......just a hair over 1/2" groups.

at 200 yards though....i was thinking i was having a malfunction i was so bad. i mean my group was literally 8".

now i was having a friend test me on flinching by loading for me miscelaneously laoding a dead cartridge to dry fire. no problems....he was watching me shoot and saw no issues. he shot at 200 yards and was hitting great groups at 200 yards with my gun. i went back to 150 and 100 and pulled em tight again.

it is obviously me and not the gun. but prior to yesterday i have been pretty comfortable out to 300 yards with it for several years.

i think im suffering from target panic similar to archery.....what gives ya think?

Don Fischer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2006, 11:46:20 AM »

Sounds like maybe you were just having a bad day. It happens!

beemanbeme · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2006, 12:46:07 PM »

I wouldn't angst about it too much. As they say, "crap happens". If you make too big a deal of it, you'll put a block in you mind that will be hard to get rid of.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2006, 12:53:43 PM »

Got any wind flags? You may have a bad cross wind, up or down draft that you can't catch up with. Happens at our range all the time and it'll frost ya right quick! Go back and try it again.

Your bullets aren't going thru sideways are they? Did your buddy try shooting at this distance with the same gun and load?

HWD

nasem · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2006, 01:46:35 PM »

I go to my rifle range alot, the ranges that I usually shoot with are 100, 200, and 300 yards is max. Most of my time I spend shooting my 30-06 in remington 7400 or my winchester model 70 black shadow.

My warmups are usually 10-15 rounds at 50 yards, take a 15 min break (cigarette / walk around), then I sit down at 100 yards, and shoot either every bullet I have, or Only 10 and move up to 300 (or 200) but once I get to one of the higher ranges (like 200 or 300) I don't go down or up, I stay there until all my ammo is finished.

And Yes, I do exerpeience "target panic" where I get SUCH NICE groups at 50 and 100 yards, that my mental image says "wow im gonna get great groups at 200 or 300 yards" and..... without noticing my self doing it, I don't try as hard and I tend to flinch the instant I pull the trigger. When I start to get terrible groups at 300 yards (more than 6 inches apart), I either call it quits, OR, I walk it off for 20-30 min, go the bathroom, have a cigarette, talk to girlfriend on the phone, just something to keep your mind off of it. Then go back, sit down, relax, open the bolt, stick an '06 in there, close the bolt, aim, and squeze genetly. Alot of times with me, my groups get smaller right away, and I continue until Im out of ammo

corelokt308win · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2006, 03:38:49 PM »

Is it maybe a parralax thing and your eye alignment moves around? Also, is the scope power to low and you just can't aim as precise?

wijim · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:51:16 AM »

Quote from: huntswithdogs

Got any wind flags? You may have a bad cross wind, up or down draft that you can't catch up with. Happens at our range all the time and it'll frost ya right quick! Go back and try it again.

Your bullets aren't going thru sideways are they? Did your buddy try shooting at this distance with the same gun and load?

HWD

buddy was shootin my gun with the same loads. it was breezy...about 10 mph (but not gusting) very consisten wind so the groups should have been at least in the neighborhood.

we cooled it down several times etc.

im gonna wait till a calm day....and give it awhile so im not just letting the thoughts of panic...panic me even more...lol

bullets were going through just fine..not sideways or keyholing in any way.

wijim · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:54:30 AM »

Quote from: nasem

I go to my rifle range alot, the ranges that I usually shoot with are 100, 200, and 300 yards is max. Most of my time I spend shooting my 30-06 in remington 7400 or my winchester model 70 black shadow.

My warmups are usually 10-15 rounds at 50 yards, take a 15 min break (cigarette / walk around), then I sit down at 100 yards, and shoot either every bullet I have, or Only 10 and move up to 300 (or 200) but once I get to one of the higher ranges (like 200 or 300) I don't go down or up, I stay there until all my ammo is finished.

And Yes, I do exerpeience "target panic" where I get SUCH NICE groups at 50 and 100 yards, that my mental image says "wow im gonna get great groups at 200 or 300 yards" and..... without noticing my self doing it, I don't try as hard and I tend to flinch the instant I pull the trigger. When I start to get terrible groups at 300 yards (more than 6 inches apart), I either call it quits, OR, I walk it off for 20-30 min, go the bathroom, have a cigarette, talk to girlfriend on the phone, just something to keep your mind off of it. Then go back, sit down, relax, open the bolt, stick an '06 in there, close the bolt, aim, and squeze genetly. Alot of times with me, my groups get smaller right away, and I continue until Im out of ammo

i should take up smoking...lol

just kiddin'.

lilabner · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2006, 06:09:56 AM »

Shooting is very much a mental exercise. My guess is that your state of mind could be affecting your basic mechanics - hold, breath control, trigger pull etc. Competitive shooters learn to make each individual shot a match in itself. They concentrate on that shot, not thinking about the flyer they just had or worrying about the shots remaining in the match.

doncisler · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2006, 08:34:18 AM »

lots of things show up at longer ranges.
when the bullets slow down they are affected by wind much more.
when they slow their rotational velocity they can destabilize (try a longer bullet).
loading inconsistancy really shows up. where 100fps makes little difference at 100 yards it will make a big difference at 300.
scope cross hairs or dot cover a lot more of the target.

wijim · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2006, 09:18:33 AM »

yeah....im back. lol.....i did pretty good yesterday. i punched em in there with three shots at 200 yards right away....grouped at 1.5" 3" low and a hair left of bull.

i quit right then as my confidence was back.

musta been a crappy day before and i worried too much.

corbanzo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2006, 06:23:09 PM »

In all seriousness, they say that sex before public speaking calms you down more, and makes you relaxed to the point of not being so edgey and nervous. Seems like on the range that might calm the nerves and settle the hand too!

Doublejake · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2006, 09:20:49 PM »

The mental game of shooting a gun, or bow is the biggest battle, I used to shoot archey at state and national levels. I was beat by one of my friends everytime. This guy would sink 58-60 arrows in the x-ring every 60 arrow round with a plain pin. How many deer had he shot? Zero. Mental game is the biggest factor to shooting a gun and bow if you plan on driveing tacs. If you would have dwelled to much on that day it could have come a barrier. My barrier is that I am a good shot, but will nver be great, because when I put those expectations on myself,( Winning ) I loose, and when it's for fun, I excell. Just shoot and don't worry, to many factors, to many questions. If it was an every outing occurance then diagnose and fix the problem. I had bad days just because of an empty stomach, or my mind was on something else. Glad to hear you kept your confidence.

wijim · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2006, 03:25:51 AM »

Quote from: corbanzo

In all seriousness, they say that sex before public speaking calms you down more, and makes you relaxed to the point of not being so edgey and nervous. Seems like on the range that might calm the nerves and settle the hand too!

"honey.....do it for the game. you dont want meto make a bad wounding shot do you dear?"

what you say is very coincidental to my situation.....lol

Don Fischer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2006, 05:17:27 AM »

Quote

yeah....im back. lol.....i did pretty good yesterday. i punched em in there with three shots at 200 yards right away....grouped at 1.5" 3" low and a hair left of bull

Just a thought, why do you have a 7mm Mag shooting 3" low at 200 yds?

? :?

wijim · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2006, 06:16:27 AM »

Quote from: Don Fischer

Quote
yeah....im back. lol.....i did pretty good yesterday. i punched em in there with three shots at 200 yards right away....grouped at 1.5" 3" low and a hair left of bull

Just a thought, why do you have a 7mm Mag shooting 3" low at 200 yds?? :?

cuz most of my shooting is under 200 yards (actually under 100). unless i go out west...then i re-zero to 250.