Second place is first loser

[Bongo Lewi]

I admit I haven't been practicing as much as I should. I took second in a somewhat local race gun match. I felt even worse that the winner was a guy with a big belly, 70's mustache, sideburns and wearing suspenders.

I hung my head in shame. The good news is this was not at my regular range so I was not humiliated iun front of friends. My time was better but his accuracy won the day. Two flyers fucked me. I had almost two hours to drive home to get over my self-loathing.

 

[Racer88]

How my son felt coming in 2nd place for physical fitness test at boot camp. Out of 277 recruits, he placed 2nd, only 2 points shy of 1st place out of 600 points. At boot camp graduation ceremony, they only recognize 1st place.

The two points were lost on the 3-mile run by 18 seconds. He ran an 18:18 (6:06 mile pace). To get the other two points, he needed 18:00 flat.

Second place sucks! LOL!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers.

- Vince Lombardi

 

[bkbrno]

Did you train for weeks and thousands of rounds or was it a "that looks fun, I'm going?

If for fun, the winner probably trained hard all summer and barely squeaked by some chump that showed up with a Hi-Point an WW White box ammo. He should hang his head in shame.

I'm more in the Lee Trevino camp. When Johnny Carson asked him if there was a lot of pressure on the final putt. He said that if he made the putt, he won $50,000, if he didn't he won $30,000. How much pressure can it really be?

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Did you train for weeks and thousands of rounds or was it a "that looks fun, I'm going?

If for fun, the winner probably trained hard all summer and barely squeaked by some chump that showed up with a Hi-Point an WW White box ammo. He should hang his head in shame.

I'm more in the Lee Trevino camp. When Johnny Carson asked him if there was a lot of pressure on the final putt. He said that if he made the putt, he won $50,000, if he didn't he won $30,000. How much pressure can it really be?

I have a training/drilling ritual but had not been as shooting as frequently as usual. In the past it wasn't unusual for me to shoot between 1000-2000 rounds a month. Mostly pistols and subguns. Some precision shooting with long guns tossed in. I considered it an occupational requirement. Last 2 or 3 months, more like 200-300 a month. I briefly debated not going to the match because the drive was kind of long. I didn't expect to place because I have been lazy. But once the shooting began my competitive juices started flowing.

I can be as focused and serious as a heart attack when I need to. However, I don't get uptight or nervous about a competition. Pressure isnt a factor. It's hard to explain. For me shooting well - either sporting or defensive - is mostly mental. It's more like a frame of mind or maybe some might call it a zone. Once the timer beeps (or a threat appears) I'm focused like a f-$%ing laser on the target. The rest is pure instinct that comes from training and drilling like a mofo for 20 plus years.

Ty Webb explains it all here:
View: https://youtu.be/I3akC_INsFc?si=59c-8uuCBjjImBqC

The closest competitor, who won, was good. The rest were average shooters, mostly range rats enjoying the event. My nemesis was so intense I couldn't imagine this game - and it is a game - being any fun for him. He was a big dude, sweating like a horse and moving like he had a load in his pants. Even so, he had otherwise very good form, excellent eye/hand coordination and the gun was obviously dialed in. If he wasn't obese and slovenly, he could probably be a serious competitor. Also... he acted rather dickish toward people there even the officials. I got the impression he's not very popular with the regulars at this range.

 

[Alex]

Range rat here, usually finishing mid pack, overall. If I want to finish first in a class I shoot big auto or revolver.

 

[bkbrno]

If someone is a jackass or stupid, it kind of inspires me to beat them. Competition never inspired me much. It's too rote and lacks problem solving but I'm wired different. I like a lot of unknowns and working out a solution. Sometimes you have seconds, sometimes weeks. Figuring out a problem, with the simplest solution possible drives me. In collage, I was taking a FORTRAN class. I had the assignment down to about 20 lines of code. The person next to me was typing like mad, she was up to 20 PAGES of code. Pretty sure she wrote a line of code for every possibility in the assignment and probably needed 40 pages of code for that. Anyway, I thought about it for a few minutes and took advantage of inner FORTRAN workings and got the programming down to 13 lines of code. It was tiny after it was compiled. Sadly, the professor didn't grade on compiled size or speed, just output. I got no extra points for my brilliant programming. I doubt the girl next to me saw it as a competition so all I got was the personal satisfaction of whittling it down to the bare minimum.

Train so you can beat this guy. He gave it his all and just barely beat you. You know what tripped you up in the contest, should only take a few minutes to hone that skill. The cherry on top would to be pleasant and polite to the officials and spectators when you beat this guy. That would get in his head.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

If someone is a jackass or stupid, it kind of inspires me to beat them. Competition never inspired me much. It's too rote and lacks problem solving but I'm wired different. I like a lot of unknowns and working out a solution. Sometimes you have seconds, sometimes weeks. Figuring out a problem, with the simplest solution possible drives me. In collage, I was taking a FORTRAN class. I had the assignment down to about 20 lines of code. The person next to me was typing like mad, she was up to 20 PAGES of code. Pretty sure she wrote a line of code for every possibility in the assignment and probably needed 40 pages of code for that. Anyway, I thought about it for a few minutes and took advantage of inner FORTRAN workings and got the programming down to 13 lines of code. It was tiny after it was compiled. Sadly, the professor didn't grade on compiled size or speed, just output. I got no extra points for my brilliant programming. I doubt the girl next to me saw it as a competition so all I got was the personal satisfaction of whittling it down to the bare minimum.

Train so you can beat this guy. He gave it his all and just barely beat you. You know what tripped you up in the contest, should only take a few minutes to hone that skill. The cherry on top would to be pleasant and polite to the officials and spectators when you beat this guy. That would get in his head.

Same with me. I find joy in jerking the chain of someone who has a permanent bug in their ass. How's that for a mixed metaphor!

I can beat that guy easily if I am on my game. His score was good but I've done better. No idea if I will ever see him again. But that would be fun. Unfortunately he's seems like type that goes home and kicks the dog if he loses. He can't beat his wife anymore because she left him for the lesbian waitress from the local diner.

Speaking in generalities... The guy that tries too hard and gets his butt all puckered about winning is easy to rattle. It gets under his skin if you beat his score in the first round. The rest of the match he's thinking about you instead of the target. In this match I mentioned, I saw nobody congratulate the guy other than the officials declaring him the winner at the end. That tells me something. Others there - who I didnt know - were very friendly and welcoming to me. As it should be.

So... yea. It did bug me a little I wasn't shooting as well as I should and didnt send this guy home with the piece of paper Vince Lombardi would call "first loser".

 

[Alex]

From one loser to another, do better next time Bongo!

Here's a practice target, print it out and shoot it till you don't suck any more.

One of the things I like about shooting revolver is the camaraderie amongst the wheelgunners, at least in my club. Plus everybody else looks at you as a curiosity for playing with such an archaic, inefficient toy. And I do think of it as play while taking it as a opportunity to become more familiar with my guns.

We have one devious stage setter that forces us shoot from awkward places. The saying on his stages is "shoot em IF you see em". And lots of us walk by his targets without engaging them.

 

[brian]

Second place sucks! LOL!

"Remember Boys, No Points For Second Place." -- Top Gun.

 

[BeerHunter]

Ever since this thread started, all I've been able to think about is a great book a respected trainer strongly suggested I add to my personal library and read:

No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan

"Be first or be dead ... there is no second place winner in a gun fight! The subject of this book is the way and means to stay alive when using guns in mortal combat."

 

[One Ping Only]

“Whatever’s in second place is far behind”

Better luck next time, Bongo Lewi!

 

[One Ping Only]

From one loser to another, do better next time Bongo!

Here's a practice target, print it out and shoot it till you don't suck any more.

View attachment 21642
One of the things I like about shooting revolver is the camaraderie amongst the wheelgunners, at least in my club. Plus everybody else looks at you as a curiosity for playing with such an archaic, inefficient toy. And I do think of it as play while taking it as a opportunity to become more familiar with my guns.

We have one devious stage setter that forces us shoot from awkward places. The saying on his stages is "shoot em IF you see em". And lots of us walk by his targets without engaging them.

Such a great target!! lol. Whatta confidence builder!

 

[Bobster]

Even so, he had otherwise very good form, excellent eye/hand coordination and the gun was obviously dialed in. If he wasn't obese and slovenly, he could probably be a serious competitor.

I've been going to a monthly "Action Steel" match in Orlando every month for over a year now. I'll be going this Saturday. At first I was happy to not place last. Now I place about in the middle of 50-60 shooters. I've been shooting my S&W 15-22 and Sig P322 the past few matches. Double the effort, double the fun! I tend to do better with the rifle in the standings. But all it takes is one malfy to blow my score for the stage... Since I help set up, both entry fees are "comped", otherwise it would be $20 + $5 for the extra gun.

There is a guy that routinely wins or places at the top and he is like you describe: overweight and slovenly. To look at him you would never guess he can do so well or move so quick. In his late 30s, he is a nice guy so I don't think he is your nemesis... Part of his success is he will "hose" the targets since misses are not counted and the time is what determines placement.

We have one devious stage setter that forces us shoot from awkward places. The saying on his stages is "shoot em IF you see em". And lots of us walk by his targets without engaging them.

I usually go to the steel match with my neighbor, who is one of the guys that envisions the stages. We get there early to set up. He is a twisted Brit and definitely NOT PC. I'm surprised no one complains but they all know him. He will set plates between "no-shoots". If the no-shoots are hit, you will get a procedural (+5sec). Some stages are more complex and difficult than others. One time, we had to engage targets while seated on a toilet (lid down)!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I'm going back next month. I'll be better prepared and practiced this time. No idea if I will encounter Pigpen again.

I don't compete that much anymore. Like I've mentioned before I compare shooting to golf. Mainly, I'm competing with myself. I know what my best times and accuracy performance is. I mainly focus on the draw and accuracy when it's just me. I have some steel targets but it's not quite the same as a steel match @Bobster described. Those are more difficult.

Now and then I practice shooting prone or sitting. With handguns. I switch the guns a lot. My thing is to be able to shoot any gun well. Not just a favorite EDC or duty-sized pistol that my hand loves. I also have a made-up drill where my back is to the target and I have to draw and turn 180 degrees. No range would ever allow that. An advantage of being able to shoot on your own property.

 

[Alex]

One time, we had to engage targets while seated on a toilet (lid down)!

They must be brothers from another mother - we routinely have to start from a desk with empty gun and all ammo on the desk. Last month we started with a coffee mug in hand. One time we had to tote a baby carrier through the entire stage. I'll let you know whenever we have to start on a toilet with American Rifleman in hand.

 

[Bobster]

They must be brothers from another mother

In honor of the Kentucky Derby (which was happening that weekend), one stage had us start sitting on a half (lengthwise) corrugated drainage pipe about 3' dia. to emulate sitting on a horse. Then we had to say "high-ho silver away" (or something like that otherwise a procedural is assessed), dismount the horse then grab our gun off the table and continue the stage...

 

[bkbrno]

Tell me again who won the Gold in the Olympics shooting? Everyone is aware of the Silver medalist.

Came in second but won the game of life.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Tell me again who won the Gold in the Olympics shooting? Everyone is aware of the Silver medalist.

Came in second but won the game of life.

Serbia took the gold in that class.