Levergun challenge.......its October! Sit up and give us a

ScottT · Post by **ScottT** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:32 am

report.

How are you coming with the challenge and has it helped you?

It has helped me tremendously. I did the challenge with my Sharps rifle because I really wanted to see improvement with something that had some recoil thrown in. Sitting groups off the cross sticks went from about 6 inches (yes, cross sticks take a little learning to shoot well, at least in my case!

) to around 1 inch consistantly. What is not yet consistant is the placement of that group, but I am working on that. (For example, I might sit and shoot a 5 shot group, get up, clean the rifle and shoot another 5 shot group that is a couple of inches from the first. I think it is an inconsistancy in position problem and it may be self curing as I pay more attention to position.)

The most important thing I have learned is to properly follow through during the recoil. I had a tendancy to lift my head during recoil and I think I have that cured now.

The test will come during deer season this year and Africa in May. It is tougher than one might think to burn that much powder, but it can be done if you want to badly enough.

I'm working on range cards for various 10 yd increments from 100 to 300yds right now.

Please tell us about your progress.

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:08 am

I haven't gotten to shoot at all consistently. I have an "excuse" but that doesn't improve my shooting. The system will work and normally I'd being doing something similar.

engravertom · Post by **engravertom** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:29 am

I missed this one. Where is the info on the challenge? I just joined a range, and now i have a rifle to shoot!

Tom

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:35 pm

I was doing it( the challenge) hardcore for about a month. I was able to get all the shots in but, only a month was not enough.

Don't get me wrong, I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I was earlier this year, just not as good as I was immediatly following the 1000 rounds.

I can't remeber the last time I got to go to the range, actually. Wow. Kind of sad.

I even have 400+ of 7.62x54r sitting in a box. Just sitting there. In the box.

Man I'm a loser.

engravertom · Post by **engravertom** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:13 pm

OK,

A search found the details for me.

I'll get on it.

Tom

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:53 pm

Andrew wrote:Man I'm a loser.

No, you're not a loser. Your a husband and a dad. Unfortunately for the shooter in you that has to take priority sometimes.

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:30 pm

I've kept up with the challenge. My shooting has improved. I pulled out an old target and compared them with the most recent. Shooting from a cross ankled sitting position my groups are close to half the size.

For me a big lesson was slowing down, slowing down my thinking. Stopping myself from thinking about my next shot, next target, next mortgage payment, taxes, or whatever and concentrating on my sights. I had been in a habit of concentrating on the target, but for me it is much better if I concentrate on my sights. Striving for consistently perfect alignment.

For the challenge I have been shooting a 22lr. Hunting season is 2 months away for me I am going to be using a Marlin 1894 44 magnum, I have decided on a load that shoots good. I am going to start using this rifle for one target per range trip starting next week.

My daughter is eight,sometimes she shoots with me. I have been kind of using the challenge as a teaching aid for her. She has been using my rifle which has a long legnth of pull and a 24 inch barrel. She cannot handle the rifle properly without the use of a front sandbag, but standing behind the rifle with just the front end resting on a sandbag, she loads, unloads, operates the action, safety, aims and fires all on her own. Her targets are impressive, her focus and concentration when sighting and squeezing the trigger have greatly improved.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:11 am

Wished I could say I've kept up with the Challenge. But while I have about 25 targets, I am far behind schedule. There is some improvement, but I'm convinced it would bbe greater if I'd been able to br more consistent and not tried to play catchup with the numbers. There's practice, and then there's quality practice.

centershot · Post by **centershot** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:15 am

I haven't quite made the 1000 round mark yet, got 250 to go, but I've seen a great improvement in my shooting! I started shooting cowboy lever action silhouette this year, and used the challenge as a training aid. I started out shooting 5" paper plates @ 50 yards from the standing position - no sling or support of any kind. For me, a hunter and new silhouette shooter, it was a question of hit probability. I was hitting the plate 4 times out of 10 when I started out, now it's up to 9 out of 10. High power and smallbore rifle competition in years past helped out too, especially with the concentration needed, as already mentioned by dr walker. All in all it has been a success for me!

centershot