True story. A long time ago I used to be one of the match directors for our local 3gun club. Weβd get dudes all the time who thought they were amazing shooters because of passing military/police quals. Theyβd all get humbled. The prideful would never come back. The smart ones would stick around and get good. (Some of our champs were local cops)
So one time we have five dudes from the same SWAT team show up. Cocky. Lots of swagger. All kitted up, talking shit. Thatβs fine. We all start somewhere.
Being newbs I know theyβll have more fun if they shoot together, but they are gonna need somebody experienced to keep an eye on them. So I ask this dude name John L to run that squad.
Now John is an innocuous little guy. Super friendly. Looks exactly like young Barry Manilow. Heβs also an A class shooter in USPSA and another of the match directors.
So the SWAT cops go off with John and some other regulars to shoot all day. And they get absolutely fucking smoked. They get crushed. They are at the bottom of the barrel here. And as the day goes on they realize it.
John hasnβt just outshot these dudes, heβs done it easily, and thatβs when heβs not switched on and trying to win, heβs more focused on being nice and helpful. He still shoots circles around them.
So the SWAT bad asses are asking John βdude, what agency are you with?β None. Iβve never been a cop. βWell what military unit were you? Green beret? SEAL?β And Johnβs like no dudes, Iβve never been in the military. βSo what do you do that you shoot like this?β
John says, Iβm a hair dresser.
And we never saw those guys again.
Their ego and self image just couldnβt handle losing by that much to a hair dresser. The thing about shooting, everybody sucks at first, you donβt know what you donβt know, and quals donβt mean much. Thereβs always somebody better, so if you want to get good youβve got to check the ego at the door.
Larry Correia @monsterhunter45
Post on X January 26, 2024
I could tell lots of similar stories. The cops would come in dead last even when there were new shooters at the match.