Practice makes...Perfect?

By guest blogger Jim Bogle

We are all familiar with the adage “Practice Makes Perfect”, but what if you are practicing something with poor technique?  You are reinforcing that poor technique by repeating it and building the muscle memory.  It is a lot more difficult to modify a learned behavior than to do it correctly from the beginning.

 

Depending on the source, it can take from 50 to 2000 repetitions to form a habit.  The one thing all the sites agreed on was it takes 2-3 times that many to break the habit.  What does this mean for a shooter?  Ammo and time are precious.  So we need to make the best use of our practice time.  This includes the serious drills, focused on a particular skill, and the days when you just want to plink or make holes in paper.  If you are using poor technique, even when just having fun, you are reinforcing that habit.  Everyone has a bad day from time to time.  If you're at the range & find that you are having a "bad day". Pack up your gear & go home or some other happy place, but don't keep "practicing" bad technique & reinforcing or creating bad habits. Your future performance will be the better for it!

 

Next time you are at a range, glance around you at other shooters.  I’m not advocating staring or even offering “friendly advice”.  Just a quick glance and you will see a multitude of poor practices on any average day.  People leaning backward instead of forward, someone who is so tensed and hunched up their shoulders are almost touching their muffs, the tea-cupper, the person who fires and adjusts their grip…repeat.  These are habits and many people, unless they are working with a competent instructor, don’t even realize they have formed these habits. 

 

If you aren’t sure, go back to your fundamentals and work from your feet up.  I was shooting with a friend who is usually a pretty good shot.  She was consistently shooting low.  We talked, she went back to her fundamentals.  She knew shooting low usually means anticipating recoil.  Talking it through we recognized she was recovering from tendonitis and was skittish about aggravating it.  Once she realized what she was doing, she was able to correct and start getting better shot placement.  But had she not stopped and talked it through, the anticipation could quickly become habit and be very challenging to break.

 

Enjoy your shooting time, don’t over think, but remember, you will do what you practice, so if you practice poor technique, you will have poor technique.  If you aren’t sure what you are doing, an hour with a good instructor can be a great investment.  Small changes can be worked in improving your technique, your shooting and often your physical comfort.

 

Shooting is fun, practice smart and enjoy it.

Old Dog - New Tricks!

By Guest Blogger Jim Bogle

I’ve been shooting for years, long guns and pistols, even competing in steel plate matches.  My focus has always been accuracy at distance.  On a recent trip to the range my shooting partner demonstrated her defensive tactic practice and I was intrigued.  Then she really got my attention by sending the target carrier out to 25 feet, hitting the “home” button so it started to travel back, drawing and unloading 16 rounds into the high center chest before the target made it all the way back.  This was something I had never seen before and was intrigued.  I had to try it.  Fresh target, out to 25 feet, “home” and I started shooting.  At that speed you are point shooting but I was pleased to find I had a fairly tight group in the center.  More than that, it was FUN! 

 

It reminded me that we should always be learning and trying new techniques.  Even if you’ve been shooting for years, there is something new to try, and you might even enjoy it.  I’m looking forward to the next trip to the range so I can do it again!

 

 

Gun Bunnies Redux - Your Measurements Have Nothing to do With Your Caliber

There has been some debate lately about what a female shooter looks like.  My question is why does she have to look a certain way?  There is the uber-sexy Gun Bunny, all big breasts, tiny waist, skimpy outfit, hair blowing in the wind…and a grip that would probably cause her to bruise if not break something if she actually fired the gun.

Then there are the real shooters.  Some of them are gorgeous, slim, properly attired and showing safe handling.  I’m thinking of some recent photos of Julie Golob, Annette Watcher, Julianna Crowder, Becky Lou Lacock… to name just a few.  Then there are the rest of us.  We can be tall, short, slim, chubby, physically impaired, young, old.  We are your neighbors, your Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend.  We are real women, as are the ladies mentioned above.  We are a lot of things, but most of all we are smart, sassy, genuine, and safe.

I believe there is a type of woman who shoots.  She is smart, empowered, and aware.  She knows (forgive me L’Oreal) she is “Worth It”.  We are shooters, and we enjoy the sport, the fun, the empowerment and camaraderie.

Personally, could I stand to be in better shape?  Absolutely.  Could I rattle off the major life issues, physical and emotional, from the last couple years that contribute to my measurements?  Yes, but it doesn’t matter.  I shoot for the joy of shooting.  I teach to share that joy.  I practice defensive shooting because that is my chosen focus.  I write to share my passion.  You don’t have to like it, but if you are going to critique me, critique the facts, not the hips.

Remember, your measurements have nothing to do with your caliber! 

Reviews

          

How hard is it to read the reviews people post on your books?  BRUTAL!  I had no idea.  But now, 3 books out, and I’m finding that it can be brutal.  Most of them are great, but every once in a while you get someone who was looking for something else, and they blast your book because it wasn’t what they were looking for. 

People can be brutal.  I’ve asked other authors, they experienced the same thing.  The great reviews are the highs, the trash reviews are the lows.  Many don’t read their reviews, I have not gotten to that point yet.

What have I learned?  The people who write the books you review have feelings.  Reminds me of Thumper’s Mother; “If you can’t say something nice…”

 

Thank you to those who left positive and encouraging comments.  For those who were looking for something else…I’m sorry that you didn’t get what you were looking for.  Perhaps you can read the descriptions and reviews more carefully and find the right fit for you, or you can contact me and ask for a recommendation.

 

Thank you, stepping off the soap box now

Can Can Holsters Can!!

I’ve always liked the idea of a belly band, no belt, wear it under sweats…but until now I hadn’t found one that I really liked.  Note the “until now”!  Can Can calls theirs a Compression Holster
or a HipHugger Holster, which is actually a better name as it fits where you need it, not where is wants to go!

Can Can Concealment (www.cancanconcealment.com) have created an impressive selection of carry garments, and I have a short list of what I want to try next.  I really liked the sport belt and
after contacting Darlene Cahill, she agreed to make it for me in my signature pink!  Yes, within reason, they do customize!  It was Delight at First Wear.

 

This is not your ordinary Compression Holster.  It is extremely well made, closes with Velcro.  There are silicone strips on the top and bottom of the inside that help it hold its place.  There are
so many pockets you can carry everything you need for the day without a purse!  I wore mine with a Ruger LC9 in Appendix position and a spare magazine, and a cell phone.  Under a T-
Shirt…No one had a clue.  It was comfortable, it didn’t shift, it didn’t roll, and it was secure all day, up and down stairs, carrying boxes, all the day to day life activities, yet the gun was within
quick access had I needed it.  I feel comfortable carrying something larger as well, but probably on the side.

One thing that is unique to Can Can, they use of Rare Earth Neodymium magnets.  Darlene explains; “We decided to use Rare Earth Neodymium magnets instead of thumb breaks
because our holsters have multiple pockets and the thumb breaks would be a nuisance on the holster pockets that weren't being used.  The Rare Earth magnets have a strong pull (over 7.5 lbs.) and hold the barrel firmly in place.”

This is sturdy, secure, functional, well made and pretty!  What more can you ask for!!  I LOVE
IT! 
They have an impressive assortment of holster styles, all done in their signature style with a lacing accent.  I’m looking forward to trying the garter holster next.  I’ve carried in a thigh band
before, successfully, but Can Can takes it to the next level by giving you an optional garter belt to ensure no surprise slip of the holster.

If you are changing sizes, they have extenders that you can use to make the belt bigger.  They have taken into account that not all of us are tiny, and accommodate a wide range of sizes from
petite to plus. 

The service was awesome, everyone was very friendly.  They are a relative newcomer to the market, but are quickly catching on among the ladies, and for the guys, there is a camo trim
version that is gender neutral.  I suspect we will be hearing a lot about these folks going forward.
 
Check out photos below of some of the awesome products and visit www.cancanconcealment.com
for more information and to find the perfect concealment garment for you!