USPSA 2nd Attempt at Production

gunrobot · October 19, 2015, 12:50 AM

Production is HARD! So much work to align that damned iron sights! This was my 2nd time shooting in the Production Division and as you can see, I sucked! I only had one good stage and took 4th place which I was pretty proud of

Anyway, looking forward to getting back to hosing in Open.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIDuaFIyepw

g.willikers · October 19, 2015, 10:01 AM

You poor fella'.
Your technique in the video looks pretty good.
So, it's mostly just a matter of refining the little things.
Try improving gun to target techniques.
Then the sights will be aligned on target, all by themselves.
Kind of backwards from what most folks do.
How to do that??
There's the rub.
It takes learning it from someone who knows how and can show you.
Live, videos, books, whatever - it's hard to learn it on your own.
It's a combination of many skills.

gunrobot · October 19, 2015, 03:02 PM

you're right! It's just practicing with the same gun and gear.

I've never shot that gun and it was my 2nd production try so... it was hilarious.

RickB · October 20, 2015, 12:02 PM

You used to shoot iron sights all the time.
It's like falling off a horse, or riding a bike, or something, isn't it?

g.willikers · October 21, 2015, 11:37 AM

There doesn't really seem to be any difference in technique between quickly aligning dot scopes or iron sights.
If all goes well, both kinds just land on the target, kind of automatically.
If they don't, the choice of sights may not be what's at fault.
It could be something else entirely, like grip angle differences in the guns, triggers, 'etc, and, of course, the shooter tripping over his own d.....

MarkCO · October 21, 2015, 12:35 PM

Skilled competitors will tell you that it takes a case of ammo minimum to switch from dot to irons (or back) to be at full potential. If the geometry between the grip and sightline are different, that number goes up. That is why most people who shoot both Irons and Dot pistols use sighting systems that attempt to get the sight alignment, height over bore, the same for all of their pistols.

MarkCO · October 21, 2015, 12:41 PM

Never tell yourself to "slow down." Think positive and get a better sight picture.

gunrobot · October 21, 2015, 03:15 PM

I realized that I had to close one eye to get my hits with the iron sights. 90% of the time I can't see the rear sight. All I see is the red dot up front. Closing one eye made it easier to align the sights.

I'm definitely a red dot kinda person.

g.willikers · October 21, 2015, 03:52 PM

It sounds like you are a candidate for the new Carry Optic category in USPSA.
Check it out on one of the recent powerfactor shows.
Episode 248.

spacecoast · October 21, 2015, 07:36 PM

Does USPSA allow you to wear glasses with one lens blocked? That's what I do for ICORE.

MarkCO · October 21, 2015, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Does USPSA allow you to wear glasses with one lens blocked? That's what I do for ICORE.

As long as you are wearing eye protection, there is no other rule that would prohibit blocking one eye. Heck we have a few guys that only have one eye.

1stmar · October 22, 2015, 12:48 AM

I wouldn't recommend blocking one eye. A lot of movement, running between targets etc. Last thing you want is to misjudge some barrier because your depth perception is off or you didn't see something. For me, the best way to learn a quick site picture was bill drills. 7 shots shots on target at a time. Start out at ~10-15ft and focus on front sight. You will begin to learn the flash sight picture. Run this drill over and over again and eventually you will get into a groove. You will learn to control the pistol, understand the timing, anticipate when you should be back on target and establish a quick sight picture that is close enough to shoot an A but not so precise that you are shooting groups. You only need to be accurate enough to shoot A's. After you develop some speed (you need to time yourself) move to further distances or move to head shots so you learn to adjust to target sizes. No doubt a lot of rounds down range. I was shooting 500-1000 rounds a week. You will burn through ammo but you will get the idea quickly. Then you can focus on big time savers such as draws and reloads, moving between targets and breaking down stages.

RickB · October 23, 2015, 11:20 AM

Quote:

It sounds like you are a candidate for the new Carry Optic category in USPSA.
Check it out on one of the recent powerfactor shows.
Episode 248.

Gunrobot is the behind-the-scenes producer of Powerfactor Show.

g.willikers · October 23, 2015, 04:37 PM

Do you keep him too busy to watch your guys' own shows?
Like the auto mechanics that drive cars that need fixing.

gunrobot · October 24, 2015, 10:52 PM

haha I watch our videos every night, puts me to sleep.

g.willikers · October 24, 2015, 11:46 PM

Lots cheaper than good scotch.

AzShooter · October 25, 2015, 12:13 AM

Yes you can wear glasses with one eye blacked out. Some people find it easier to find their sights this way.

Some people recommend putting a piece of clear tape over you other eye. It works real well.

g.willikers · October 25, 2015, 07:50 AM

Well, if we're back to the actual subject, I found that it isn't necessary to actually close one eye to improve the sight picture.
Just squinting the offensive eye enough to clear things up will do and still allow two eye seeing.

October 19, 2015, 12:50 AM	#1
gunrobot Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2009 Posts: 442	USPSA 2nd Attempt at Production Production is HARD! So much work to align that damned iron sights! This was my 2nd time shooting in the Production Division and as you can see, I sucked! I only had one good stage and took 4th place which I was pretty proud of Anyway, looking forward to getting back to hosing in Open. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIDuaFIyepw __________________ [ http://gunbot.org \| http://www.youtube.com/user/gunrobot ]

October 19, 2015, 10:01 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	You poor fella'. Your technique in the video looks pretty good. So, it's mostly just a matter of refining the little things. Try improving gun to target techniques. Then the sights will be aligned on target, all by themselves. Kind of backwards from what most folks do. How to do that?? There's the rub. It takes learning it from someone who knows how and can show you. Live, videos, books, whatever - it's hard to learn it on your own. It's a combination of many skills. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 19, 2015, 03:02 PM	#3
gunrobot Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2009 Posts: 442	you're right! It's just practicing with the same gun and gear. I've never shot that gun and it was my 2nd production try so... it was hilarious. __________________ [ http://gunbot.org \| http://www.youtube.com/user/gunrobot ]

October 20, 2015, 12:02 PM	#4
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	You used to shoot iron sights all the time. It's like falling off a horse, or riding a bike, or something, isn't it? __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

October 21, 2015, 11:37 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	There doesn't really seem to be any difference in technique between quickly aligning dot scopes or iron sights. If all goes well, both kinds just land on the target, kind of automatically. If they don't, the choice of sights may not be what's at fault. It could be something else entirely, like grip angle differences in the guns, triggers, 'etc, and, of course, the shooter tripping over his own d..... __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 21, 2015, 12:35 PM	#6
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,307	Skilled competitors will tell you that it takes a case of ammo minimum to switch from dot to irons (or back) to be at full potential. If the geometry between the grip and sightline are different, that number goes up. That is why most people who shoot both Irons and Dot pistols use sighting systems that attempt to get the sight alignment, height over bore, the same for all of their pistols. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

October 21, 2015, 12:41 PM	#7
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,307	Never tell yourself to "slow down." Think positive and get a better sight picture. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

October 21, 2015, 03:15 PM	#8
gunrobot Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2009 Posts: 442	I realized that I had to close one eye to get my hits with the iron sights. 90% of the time I can't see the rear sight. All I see is the red dot up front. Closing one eye made it easier to align the sights. I'm definitely a red dot kinda person. __________________ [ http://gunbot.org \| http://www.youtube.com/user/gunrobot ]

October 21, 2015, 03:52 PM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It sounds like you are a candidate for the new Carry Optic category in USPSA. Check it out on one of the recent powerfactor shows. Episode 248. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 21, 2015, 07:36 PM	#10
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Does USPSA allow you to wear glasses with one lens blocked? That's what I do for ICORE.

October 22, 2015, 12:48 AM	#12
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	I wouldn't recommend blocking one eye. A lot of movement, running between targets etc. Last thing you want is to misjudge some barrier because your depth perception is off or you didn't see something. For me, the best way to learn a quick site picture was bill drills. 7 shots shots on target at a time. Start out at ~10-15ft and focus on front sight. You will begin to learn the flash sight picture. Run this drill over and over again and eventually you will get into a groove. You will learn to control the pistol, understand the timing, anticipate when you should be back on target and establish a quick sight picture that is close enough to shoot an A but not so precise that you are shooting groups. You only need to be accurate enough to shoot A's. After you develop some speed (you need to time yourself) move to further distances or move to head shots so you learn to adjust to target sizes. No doubt a lot of rounds down range. I was shooting 500-1000 rounds a week. You will burn through ammo but you will get the idea quickly. Then you can focus on big time savers such as draws and reloads, moving between targets and breaking down stages.

October 23, 2015, 04:37 PM	#14
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Do you keep him too busy to watch your guys' own shows? Like the auto mechanics that drive cars that need fixing. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 24, 2015, 10:52 PM	#15
gunrobot Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2009 Posts: 442	haha I watch our videos every night, puts me to sleep. __________________ [ http://gunbot.org \| http://www.youtube.com/user/gunrobot ]

October 24, 2015, 11:46 PM	#16
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Lots cheaper than good scotch. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 25, 2015, 12:13 AM	#17
AzShooter Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2006 Location: Surprise, Az. Posts: 766	Yes you can wear glasses with one eye blacked out. Some people find it easier to find their sights this way. Some people recommend putting a piece of clear tape over you other eye. It works real well. Last edited by AzShooter; October 25, 2015 at 08:28 AM.

October 25, 2015, 07:50 AM	#18
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Well, if we're back to the actual subject, I found that it isn't necessary to actually close one eye to improve the sight picture. Just squinting the offensive eye enough to clear things up will do and still allow two eye seeing. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”