An interesting scenario today. I went to my usual outdoor range and at the pistol range, there was one guy teaching another. They had large white paper (about 10x14?) on the target board (range-10ft), one for each, and each had a compact Glock 9mm.
I can only speculate that this was a non-professional instructor... I didn't ask. Both of them were all over the place on the paper. They were practicing fast sight aquisition and double-taps some times, but few of their medium-speed shots were within five inches of one-another. They were also practicing the hunched Iso stance.
I chose to shoot the longer range adjacent to the 10ft range, as I didn't want to interupt their lesson. I really didn't do well with either pistol at 25yds, but at least my 40 I had on paper at that range.
Finally, after using up most of my 40cal ammo, and 20 rounds off the M44 (did much better), I decided to get to know them. I asked if I could join in on the far right of the line. They accepted and I posted my IDPA target.
My first 20 rounds(minus two impatient strays) went into a 4" group dead center. I'm fighting a trigger jerk as it breaks, as well as not taking time to line up sights on quick follow-ups. What can i say, I'm an excitable shooter.
Guy one: "That's pretty good." (not being sarcastic)
Me: "Eeh....I'm self taught. There's a few things I'm still working on."
I reloaded the mags and put both into the target head in one-per-second shots. Once I get a few rounds on target, I settle down and start making them count.
On I went to finish off the 150 rounds I brought with me. My last mag of ten went centered on the -3 of the target's left arm. 2.5" group in shot/second fire.
They gave me their 9mm brass and were still practicing when I left.
Did I do wrong? Do instructors sometimes throw the game to avoid making newbs feel bad? Or did I likely set a (admittedly weak) standard to which those guys could shoot for?
I can only speculate that this was a non-professional instructor... I didn't ask. Both of them were all over the place on the paper. They were practicing fast sight aquisition and double-taps some times, but few of their medium-speed shots were within five inches of one-another. They were also practicing the hunched Iso stance.
I chose to shoot the longer range adjacent to the 10ft range, as I didn't want to interupt their lesson. I really didn't do well with either pistol at 25yds, but at least my 40 I had on paper at that range.
Finally, after using up most of my 40cal ammo, and 20 rounds off the M44 (did much better), I decided to get to know them. I asked if I could join in on the far right of the line. They accepted and I posted my IDPA target.
My first 20 rounds(minus two impatient strays) went into a 4" group dead center. I'm fighting a trigger jerk as it breaks, as well as not taking time to line up sights on quick follow-ups. What can i say, I'm an excitable shooter.
Guy one: "That's pretty good." (not being sarcastic)
Me: "Eeh....I'm self taught. There's a few things I'm still working on."
I reloaded the mags and put both into the target head in one-per-second shots. Once I get a few rounds on target, I settle down and start making them count.
On I went to finish off the 150 rounds I brought with me. My last mag of ten went centered on the -3 of the target's left arm. 2.5" group in shot/second fire.
They gave me their 9mm brass and were still practicing when I left.
Did I do wrong? Do instructors sometimes throw the game to avoid making newbs feel bad? Or did I likely set a (admittedly weak) standard to which those guys could shoot for?
