Pistol, question of technique.

[derekm]

A question for one or more of the more expert on here (Robin C, Zooma?). When I started, some 18 years back, I was taught to raise the pistol above the target and lower down onto aim, the logic being explained that it is easier and more precise to control the slackening of muscles than applying tension to them.

I've just watched some clips of the 10m air pistol and .22 sport pistol in Paris and eveyone I saw was raising to the target.

Is this a recent fashion (for want of a word); what are the presumed advantages and can one or other technique claim to be "best"?

[magicesperanto]

Good question, I was taught (by a book) the same as you.

I can only assume that the time above target is now deemed wasted effort.

[rapidboy1]

I think its because they also shoot 25m disciplines

[derekm]

I think its because they also shoot 25m rapid fire.

The best pistol guy in our club shoots 10m rapid, but he lowers to aim point; it was him that got me doing the same and explained the then reasoning.

[Turnup]

I was taught to lower on to target, but I have found that it seems to make no difference.

Some ranges have only marginal backstop above the target and with the "lowering" technique it is easy to initially raise above the upper edge of the backstop, which can be problematic on some ranges.

Also when rapid firing, raising above the target is a waste of time and I was taught to fire on the move while raising through the aimpoint.

[thirdwheel]

It's all to do with timings, with sport you do not have enough time to mess about, same with the rapid part of std pistol with precision most raise above the target and sink slowly to the area of aim below the black, rules were changed a while ago to stop those exaggerated lifts for safety reasons so it will be difficult now to see the raise above the target and slow controlled lower. If you watch any gold cup or Olympic final after a while you will tune in your eye and see they are dropping in from above - mostly. The mixed 10m is getting a lot of enthusiasm which is great, and 10m is really seeming to have a lot of new people coming into it.
Try both ways and see what you think yourself.

[RobinC]

Derek

You are closer with some modern techniques being "fashion" than you think!!

I have seen some crazy "modern" contorted positions, and lifting /lowering techniques, BUT despite modern equipment technology aiding performance, you will still see top level shooters shooting at the highest level with what is considered old school basic techniques, and in all classes including timed such as standard pistol and those with a dueling aspect.

Wasted time, once fashionable, with exaggerated rises, slow lowers, ups/downs, even twists, now seem to have significantly reduced, but having shot when we did more events than now, Air pistol, Free pistol, Standard pistol (with 5 in 10 seconds string), and Centre Fire match (with 30 shots dueling, that's lift/aim/fire in 3 seconds), I believe the last part of the present to the target in any pistol discipline is best as a lower, even if it is a small one.

And the world level scores? The've not significantly risen since the "good old days". I think he has now retired, but I'm sure Ragnar Skanaker would have had some interesting comment on this!!

Have Fun
Robin

[mikec4]

See "Pistol shooting as a Sport" by Hans Standel, coach to the German national team at the Munich Olympics in 1976. Technique from a master....

Ragnar Skanakar was notorious in free pistol competitions for leaving the firing line to chat to friends and colleagues during the competition ( 60 shots at 50 metres in 2.5 hours ). There was a video if I remember correctly of this happening. He held the World record of 576 ex 600 for some considerable time.

At CLSTSA events, mid to high 530's were regular scores from Vic Kelston, Laslo Antal and others.

[RobinC]

Ragnar Skanaker is still with us aged 90, some years ago, a few years ago he was not amused with the national standard in Sweden, and made some uncomplimentary comments, which was greeted by the " can you do it better then", so he returned when he was 83!

Then won their championships at 83, and then took over their national squad, quite successfully, not sure if he still does, or has retired again!

Back in my day when I was a 25 year old, he used to come to the BPC events at Bisley, and it was quite disconcerting to find you were shooting next to a legend!

And, in free pistol, yes, he did wander off from the point, have a fag, a chat with the RO, and returned to continue knocking the middle out! Nice guy though, and great fun!

My other clash with a legend was I was at the European Air Championships in 1975 when Nina Stolyarova was there. She was an attractive blonde, and had a full length leopard skin coat, no PC mock stuff, made of real leopards!!
She literally breezed into the range, the whole range room just stopped and everyone looked, she shrugged off the coat onto the floor, went to her point, took out her scruffy FWB 65 with black standard plastic grips, and bits of filler, and proceeded to shoot 392 ex 400, I think she's still about now as well, and was coaching the Russian teams at one point.

You don't need silly fashion fads, just talent, and work hard at pointing the gun at the middle!

Have Fun
Robin

[mikec4]

Fascinating information and stories - thank you Robin.

My contact with National squad shooters were Tony Atkins, Steve Howarth and Mick Meggison - who kindly modified my Hammerli 230 rapid Fire pistol to the same spec as his by asking his father to drill out the barrel with 3 vent holes on each side forward of the breach to avoid the dreaded time consuming task of drilling out the lead from the vent holes in the standard configuration.

At the National Pistol Championships held at Bisley I asked a Hammerli technician to check it out ( "no charge, it's a Hammerli" ). Ah! he said a Meggison conversion....

Mick used to close the shop on Thursday afternoons and practice at Burnley. I was lucky enough to watch his high scoring practice sessions with both pistol and running boar rifle.

A naturally talented shot with anything which had a trigger at one end and the requisite orifice at the other.

ATB and happy shooting,
Mike.

[derekm]

Thanks for the advice, information and anecdotes guys! More practice as part of my (mis? managed decline!