USPSA Classifier “Tight Squeeze”

As I’ve mentioned before my USPSA classifiers have not been as good as I would like. Today, at the Lewiston (Idaho) Pistol Club, was a step up:

Draw: 1.27 S
Reload: 2.03 S
Total Time: 8.59 S
Hits: 11 A-Zones, 1 C-Zone
Points: 59
Hit Factor: 6.8685
Stage Win.
USPSA Limited Classifier: ~66.38%

Even though it was a classifier from 1999 (99-48 Tight Squeeze) with the issue of all the top shooters slowly ratcheting up the best scores over the last 18 years I did fairly well on it with an estimated 66.38%. This is better than I have done on a classifier in over seven years! This is solid B class shooting instead of all the C class results I have been turning in the last few years. It was the stage win for all divisions, including Open! I won Limited Division for the match and came in second overall. If I hadn’t overlooked one target on the first stage and racked up all those penalties I would have won the match.

The video shows my transitions between targets is almost painfully slow and I could do much better reloads. And with more practice I think I could do a faster draw as well.

Well, I know what I need to work on this week when I go to the range.

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4 thoughts on “USPSA Classifier “Tight Squeeze”

  1. Anything specific you can point to in explanation of the improvement? You have a list of things that you think need work, but what is offsetting those? Perhaps a change in thinking or perception of the shooting process? A mental change can sometimes show remarkable results in an activity, especially competitive ones.

    • About 2000 rounds of partial (from a high ready position) Bill Drills at various distances. This was done with the following modifications…

      1) I changed the position of my trigger finger. Instead of putting the pad of the end of my finger on the trigger I moved to the first joint. This made for a straight pull on the trigger instead of a slight push to the left (I’m right handed) as I pulled the trigger. When I was shooting fast the shots would go to the left even though I had the sights lined up when I started the pull. Now the shots go nearly where the sights were pointing when I start the pull.

      2) I practiced pulling the trigger as rapidly as I could and still keep the bullets on target at five yards. Once I would find my maximum rate of fire for six consecutive shots (partial Bill Drills) at that distance I would move it out to seven yards, then ten yards and occasionally 25 yards.

      3) Relax. I found that I could avoid “trigger freeze” on the extremely rapid fire if I didn’t get tensed up. When everything is relaxed things go smoother, much more consistent, and faster.

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