Classification

[theunsv]

I will be shooting in my first real match next week. (The South African Silouette nationals) Hopefully I will get a classification at the match. I shoot Air Gun and Small Bore. (Silhouette and Light Class)  Some questions:

- Is the classification for air rifle the same as for small bore light? If not, can anyone tell me what they are?
- Most of the old timers at the club advise me to shoot until I have qualified for the B class. (Max 17 for 22 light and 19 for 22 silouette). On average I shoot in the lower 20's especially with the air gun. The guys explained to me that if I do this it will be good for my confidence. However, is there any serious downside to this?
- Is there anything apart from concentrating on my breathing and stance that I can do to prevent jitters at the match?

Your kind advice will be appreciated.

Theuns Venter
South Africa

[stsbuyer]

First good luck at the nationals that you plan to attend. The classification in NRA smallbore and air rifle silhouette are different. There are three guns in air rifle and only two for smallbore, not sure if it would be the same were you live. My advice to you would be not to hold your score down just to enter a lower classification. You need to go to the line with the attitude that you plan on hitting ever target. I moved to master in sporter air rifle silhouette last year the weekend before the state championship and never did the thought enter my mind that if I just missed a couple of targets I could have stayed in AAA. Just go to your match and do the best that you can, compete against your self and always do your best. For what it's worth thats my opinion.

Good Luck, Paul

[dave imas]

so much of this game has nothing to do with the actual shooting transaction.  most of what determines success for people is what goes on in their head.  you can go to most matches and watch people warming up.  they have hit after hit after hit during the warm up session.  sometimes i think i'm surrounded by an entire olympic team of shooters during the practice session.   then someone says go and the shots now count.  amazing how many of those folks struggle at that point.  

go to matches.  as many as you can and as many as you might enjoy.  as soon as you can.  don't wait.  the more often you shoot in match conditions the better off you will be.  go to as many big matches as you can.  more people, more prestige, more pressure.  when you learn to deal with that pressure, make it work for you, turn it into something that actually helps you...  then you do well.  There are lots of people that never get past A or AA class...  not because they can't shoot, but because they can't manage the mental aspects of the game.
good luck.  dave imas

[shootingpaul]

Hey Buddy,
go out and enjoy!
do not worry about breathing and wind and rain, just go and shoot the best, funniest match that you can ever imagine, and score will follow its own road, and as long as you will worry about your score you are somewhat handicaping yourself; my point is : enjoy the game, and score will follow its own way, after all done you will classifie in one of the classes and that will be your great start!
good luck!