Natural Points Of Aim Matter

I was a little sloppy when I shot the Postal target with pistols and I shot a four and a three.  That's not bad, but I was muscling in the sights and I should have used Natural Point Of Aim to at least center up the windage for each nut before I squeezed off.  I wobble enough it might not have mattered, but it matters more when you move out to 25 yards and shoot with a rifle.  I lined up on the top left nut, squeezed off; and missed high and left.  I was shooting with my elbows on the bench and using a hasty sling for steadiness, but when you break that trigger the rifle will drift toward your natural point of aim before the bullet leaves the barrel.  If that spot is somewhere other than your intended target, you will miss.  I adjusted my position for the remaining nine nuts, breathed, paused and shot, and made all of them.

These nuts are just a little bigger than a 1 inch circle, so at 25 yards you just need the ability to shoot into 4 minutes of angle to make a respectable score.  With a pistol at 25 feet you need to be able to hold your shots inside of 12 minutes of angle.  These numbers have been my guide behind putting these targets together.  If you make the required minutes less than those you make the target more about luck than good shooting technique.  You should utilize NPOA for pistols, too.  Adjust your stance so your windage is dead on the center, and then adjust your grip and holding method so your elevation wants to center vertically.  I use a close-in hold with my left forearm on my chest when I am shooting .22 pistols, and it keeps me closer to the center of the target than shooting with my arms extended.  I do the same thing when I shoot a rifle offhand, and also use the sling to tighten up my hold.

I enjoy watching Hickok shoot his gong at 80 yards, and he can hit it with just about any pistol he tries.  Do the math.  It is a 24" gong at 80 yards; that is 30 minutes of angle.  At 25 feet where we have been shooting our e-Postal targets, that is equivalent to a 2.5" circle. You all have been hitting 1" circles at that distance with your pistols, so you could do the same as Hickok with ease after you learn your holdover for the relatively slow pistol bullets.

You can go to the Label section of this blog, bring up the e-Postal matches, download the targets still out there on the Internet, (All of mine are there.) and relive all the good times we had here shooting against each other.  Make up your own rules for shooting them and keep up your shooting skills.

September E-Postal Scores Are Up...

...at Mr. Completely's blog.  Click Over, and for Heaven's sake, shoot the October target and send in your results.  You need the practice!

E-Postal Deadline Is Coming Up!

Mr. Completely will accept your entries up through Sunday night, October 2, 2016.  You can surely do better than I can.

The E-Postal contests are a lot of fun, but they are also important for keeping up your skills with the targets being changed every month.  September will soon be over, so CLICK, get your target, read the rules, and go to the range.  You know you need the practice.

August e-Postal Results

Participation is definitely down this year.  Billll, Merle, Susan and her Mother, and me. are the only entrants this month.  This target looks deceptively easy, but I couldn't seem to shoot a perfect score.  I always pulled off for a shot or two, and I threw away a stack of targets where I did poorly.  Here are a couple of Billll's.  I tend to bump up scores where the shooters have been reluctant to go for close points.  Billll broke the line on both of the close ones, so I gave him another point on each one.

Class 1; Air Pistol, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 2; Air Pistol, Magnified optical sights	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 3; Rimfire Pistol, Iron Sights\ non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Susan, Mrs. TBS	Ruger 22/45 Lite, red dot	25 ft	29/30
David, TBS	Ruger Mk III red dot	25 ft	27
Billll	Ruger Mk I Iron	25 ft	25/30
Pattie Ann	Ruger 22/45 Lite/ red dot	25 ft	23/30
Class 4; Rimfire Pistol, Magnified optical sights
No Entries
Class 5; Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sights/Non magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	CZ-52, 7.6x 25 Tokarev	25 ft	22/30
Merle	CZ-82 9 x 18 Makarov	25 ft	20/30
Class 6: Centerfire pistol, Magnified optical sights
No Entries
Class 7; Rimfire Rifle, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	Iver Johnson M-1 .22 Carbine	25 yds	29/30
Class 8; Rimfire Rifle, Magnified optical sights (25 yds)	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	M39A Mountie, Bushnell 4X	25 yds	30/30
Class 9: Centerfire Rifle, Iron Non-magnified Red Dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	4095 HiPoint 4095 Carbine	50 yds	3/15
Class 10: Centerfire Rifle, Magnified optical sights	Firearm	Distance	Score
Billll	4095 HiPoint 4095 Carbine, 4X	25 meters	15/15
Merle	Yugo M24/47 4X	50 yards	14/15

September Mr. Completely e-Postal Match Is Up At....

....the Mr. Completely blog!  Mike is hosting September, and he has returned to the target that started his matches in 2005.

The target has twenty flies, and you get to shoot twenty times.  Mr. C points out that this is a difficult target and everyone should expect a low score.  Click Here to go to his contest, read the rules, and download the target.  Tomorrow is the end of August, so I will be compiling the August e-postal scores.  Send them in  this week and see if you can beat me!

Mr. Completely's August 2016 e-Postal Contest

Merle, one of the regulars in the e-Postal contests, is the host for August, right here on True Blue Sam.  It appears to be an easy target, but since I seem to blow easy shots regularly I will have to try it and see how difficult it is.

Here is a taste of bowling pin shooting. It requires a solid hit, as the pin must be knocked off
the table – not just knocked down.

Go here for the target. http://targetz.com/targetzlib/20022.pdf

For each handgun and rimfire rifle print two of these targets.

For centerfire rifles print one target, to keep ammo costs down.

PISTOL DISTANCE: 25 ft/10 yards, whichever is available

RIFLE DISTANCE: as noted in Classes

PISTOL SHOOTING POSITION: Standing, unsupported.

RIFLE SHOOTING POSITION: bench, prone, sitting, any other safe position that does not
include a cradle.

Folks with disabilities may make the necessary position adjustments.

 Take five shots at the bowling pin. Try to get them off as quickly as safely possible, as a real
match is a timed event. Repeat for handguns and rimfire rifles.

Classes:

 1. .177/22 cal air pistol, iron sights/non magnified red dot (air or CO2 powered)
 2. .177/22 cal air pistol, magnified optical sights (air or CO2 powered)
 3. rim fire pistol, iron sights/non magnified red dot
 4. rim fire pistol, magnified optical sights
 5. center fire pistol, iron sights/non magnified red dot
 6. center fire pistol, magnified optical sights
 7. rim fire rifle iron sights/non magnified red dot (25 yds)
 8. rim fire rifle magnified optical sights (25 yds)
 9. center fire rifle iron sights/non magnified red dot (50 yds)
10. center fire rifle magnified optical sights (50 yds)

Anything else; airguns, crossbow pistols, airsoft, muzzle loaders, etc. Shoot it and send it in.

Shoot as many guns as you can, multiple guns per class are fine (as inspired by Mr. C) but only
one entry per gun please.

SCORING: 3 points for shots totally inside the body of the pin, not touching the line at the
edge.

2 points for a shot inside the body of the pin, but touching the line of the edge.

1 point for a hit on the outside edge of the pin; as marginal hits may just knock the pin down,
but not off the table.

Mark each target with:

The name you want used

Distance

Score

Firearm make/model

Sights

Caliber

Ammo

Any comments that apply.

List your score for each target, plus the grand total for both targets.

Make a scan or take a photo of your targets and send to: truebluetravelinman (at) gmail (dot)

com (Do the translation.)

Include photos from the range and your gun if you like.  Good luck!!!

July e-Postal Is Up At Billll's Idle Mind!

The June match will go on through the weekend, so you can do two of these skill-building contests in one range trip.  Billll, of Billll's Idle Mind has posted a match for July, and it is a good one.

You only will burn twenty rounds per entry, and you will gain great benefits from shooting two-handed, strong-handed, and weak-handed.  CLICK HERE to get your targets and to read all the rules.  Go to the left side of this blog for the link to Zeke's June contest, or CLICK JUNE HERE.  Next month (August) will be hosted by Merle, right here on this little blog.

June e-Postal Is Up At Engineering Johnson!

Zeke has posted the June contest, and it's a good one with a great new concept to screw up your aim and provide entertaining misses.  You will need to print two for each turn that you shoot, and each turn is twenty shots.  CLICK HERE to read all about it.

April e-Postal Scores

Color me disappointed.  Susan, Pat and I all shot a target, and Merle shot several.  We were the only entries for the April target.  Merle should get a medal for his consistent participation and for his marksmanship skills.  I have said it many times before; we all need the practice, and these monthly contests are one of the activities you can use to stay sharp as a shooter.  They are a fun family activity, too.  Thank You for your support, Merle!

Class 1; Air Pistol, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 2; Air Pistol, Magnified optical sights	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 3; Rimfire Pistol, Iron Sights\ non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
David aka TBS	Ruger Mk III Billll’s Ghost Ring Sight	25 ft	3
Susan aka Mrs TrueBlueSam	Ruger Mk III/ Bushnell	25 ft	4 – 1 = 3
Merle	Ruger Single Six 22 mag	25 ft	2
Pattie Ann	Ruger 22/45 Lite/ Bushnell	25 ft	1 – 2 = -1
Class 4; Rimfire Pistol, Magnified optical sights
Merle	TC Contender .22 LR  2x	25 ft	4
Class 5; Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sights/Non magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	Enfield 38/200	25 ft	7
Class 6: Centerfire pistol, Magnified optical sights
Merle	TC Contender 9mm 2x	25 ft	5 – 1 = 4
Class 7; Rimfire Rifle, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 8; Rimfire Rifle, Magnified optical sights (25 yds)	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	Marlin M 39A, SK ammo, 4x scope	25 yds	6
Class 9; Centerfire Rifle, Magnified optical sights (25 yds)	Firearm	Distance	Score
Merle	Russian M44, 2x scout scope, 1946 ammo	25 yds	8!!! Way To Go Merle!!!

Click Over to the Smallest Conservative for your May challenge!

March Mr. Completely e-Postal Scores

Besides being fun, and good practice, one reason we like to do the monthly e-Postal contest is because it is good therapy for Pattie.  Her stroke in 2012 gave her what the doctors call "left deficit."  She doesn't see or perceive things to her left, and fighting that is part of the rehabilitation process.  We have found that when shooting plates she does better if she goes from left to right, and the back and forth movement of this target was a challenge for her.  You can see the effect of the left deficit in the two targets above.  It is eerie the way many of the shots line up vertically between the left and center circles.  She settled down after a few warmup targets and we talked her through the one where she shot 9/10.  Pattie shot all of these off her rest that she uses for rifle shooting, and I think that is OK for someone over 90.

Billll of Billll's Idle Mind, Susan, Pattie, and Merle all entered, and we had a new participant.  Kevin showed us how to shoot a 10/22 at 25 yards.  A big Thank You to all who entered.

Class 1; Air Pistol, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Kevin Ellis	Crosman 1377	25 ft	8/10
Class 2; Air Pistol, Magnified optical sights	Firearm	Distance	Score
No Entries
Class 3; Rimfire Pistol, Iron Sights\ non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
David aka TBS	Ruger Mk III Billll’s Ghost Ring Sight	25 ft	10/10
Billll	Ruger Mk I Iron	25 ft	9/10
Pattie Ann	Ruger 22/45 Lite/ Bushnell	25 ft	9/10
Merle	Ruger Super Single Six 22Mag	25 ft	8/10
Merle	Ruger Mk II 6 7/8” Red Dot	25 ft	8/10
Susan aka Mrs TrueBlueSam	Ruger Mk III/ Bushnell	25 ft	8/10
Class 4; Rimfire Pistol, Magnified optical sights
Merle	TC Contender .22 LR  2x	25 ft	6/10
Class 5; Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sights/Non magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
Billll	Glock 22 .40 S&W	25 ft	8/10
Class 6: Centerfire pistol, Magnified optical sights
Merle	TC Contender 9mm 2x	25 ft	7/10
Class 7; Rimfire Rifle, Iron Sights/Non-magnified red dot	Firearm	Distance	Score
No entries
Class 8; Rimfire Rifle, Magnified optical sights (25 yds)	Firearm	Distance	Score
Kevin Ellis	Ruger 10/22 UTG 4 x 16	25 yds	10/10

Good Shooting, Kevin!  That 10/22 will do well on the April target!