There’s a world of difference between having fun squeezing off a few rounds at your local gun range and entering into a competitive shoot where prizes, money, and reputation are on the line. Brian Wilson has not just faced down this challenge but excelled at it, and today is one of the best competitive shooters in Southern California. That’s a reflection not just of Brian Wilson’s profession, given that he worked as a sniper for a Special Enforcement team, but of his commitment and discipline to improving his shot.
Corporal Brian Wilson can tell you all the details how a competitive shoot is different from a regular, relaxed time with friends. For starters, know what you’re competing in, and what the scoring system is, since not all competitive shoots have the same functions and tallies. Brian Wilson’s time teaching and perfecting shooting is a reflection of how different shoots require different focus: for example, the A zone of a US Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) target is the smallest area of a head and chest target. For these shots, it’s necessary for accuracy to be the biggest key, because the scoring system is based primarily on where the rounds hit. By contrast, a scoring system that incorporates time requires painstaking attention to the mechanics of chambering and reloading a shot, given that a shooter like Cpl. Brian Wilson can cut down their reloading time by practicing this fundamental.
A competitive shooter like Cpl. Brian Wilson puts in a lot of time on the range, and for you to succeed, you should also commit a lot of time and ammunition to your local range. A competitive shooter may fire off 500 to 3000 rounds per month in practice, and if he is trying to train for a specific event, Cpl. Brian Wilson will practice dry firing. It’s not just that practice makes perfect, but the more rounds you can fire, the more you become comfortable with your firearm and its behavior. This can make competitive shooting an expensive hobby, but a worthwhile one as well, given that it hones your discipline.
Finally, think about how your body is reacting to your weapon and each shot. Brian Wilson, like other competitive shooters, know the individual pulse of your heart will affect your aim, which is why it is crucial to slow your breathing and try to fire between breaths. This is difficult to do, and requires quite a bit of introspection, but will go a long way towards improving your aim and generating better shots. After all, the gun you fire isn’t changing between each shot, but your stance and your position typically are.
