For my first go at the Steel Challenge I managed a 1.8 second "beep-to-bang" reaction, with an average of about 0.8-0.9 between shots on a new steel target.
That's quite good for a first-time attempt, particularly the draw-to-first-shot. There is a 6-stage Steel Challenge match coming up at ENGC in October, by the way....
...and there is also a full 8-stage official Steel Challenge match in Grand Island on the 15th of this month. (Have they advertised that here yet?)
Shooting steel is addictive.
This definitely was a learning experience and I am REALLY looking to make some time to do more practice and hopefully attend a training class from PRT AND MWTS!
{brief advertisement}We have an HT class (working shooting skills) coming up on Sept 20-12. See the post in the Firearms Training sub-forum for details...{end brief advertisement}
Back on topic...
Claude Werner, just today on Facebook, said:
"The Dunning-Kruger Effect; something firearms instructors deal with on a regular basis. It's one reason I like to introduce a skills based performance test early in my classes, although I usually do it informally. Without being subjected to some kind of performance standard, many people, including the vast majority of men, will continue to wallow in their own incompetence."One of the comments added to that was:
"I've noticed instructing at the local range that being born in America with a penis automatically makes you a capable shooter."...it is amazing how many people think that. Apparently many males think that, by virtue of their gender and having watched lots of action movies, they automatically both know how to shoot, AND are
really really good at it.
(The Dunning-Kruger Effect:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolved-primate/201006/when-ignorance-begets-confidence-the-classic-dunning-kruger-effect --this article references "Unskilled and Unaware of It" which is an article/research study that I have my advanced science students read every year.)
Why do I push competition so much? (Other than because it is a ton of fun?) Because for most people, it is the FIRST clue they are ever going to get that they are not as good as they think they are---AND that getting much much better is possible.
Plinking at soda cans at 10 feet with a .22 doesn't make you a good shooter. And getting a 4-inch group at 10 yards with a revolver shot single action doesn't mean you have sufficient skills for effective self-defense. (And it certainly doesn't mean you have the knowledge.)
Competition is one way to find out---it gives you a metric against which to measure your shooting. Taking a class from someone (not the state class, that isn't a technique class) regarding effective techique for CCW is another way. Getting yourself a timer (or downloading the Surefire Shot Timer free for your iPhone) and running some range tests is another way.
What's your draw time, from concealment, to a 6" plate at 3 yards?
(I note: if you just shoot for fun, and you aren't interested in pistol skills for self-defense, keep plinking at cans. It's a good time.
)
Hmm...you know what? I
don't actually know what my time is right now for that particular skill. I know what it USED to be---but I haven't timed it recently. I may have to do that. And yes, I'll post what it looked like and how much I screwed up.
