My 2020 Pre-Season Progress Report

The 2020 competition season is starting to heat up, so I thought I’d take a moment to document my progress up this point, much like I did last year at this time.

MY OFF-SEASON

I have to admit that I really did enjoy my off-season.  I did next to no dry fire.  I didn’t do much with my competition firearms either.  Instead, I shot a lot of my defensive firearms, and did “fun stuff.”  After several months of intensive competition training, it was a welcome reprieve.  I started diligently dry fire training in February (my first major match is scheduled for March 21st) and the weather permitted regular weekend trips to the range starting late February.

The only other thing I did during my off-season was stock up on ammo, deep clean all my guns and magazines (using my ultra sonic), do some wear parts replacement, and change out some gear items (new pistol holster, new belt, shoes, etc.).  The only major new gun acquisition going into the competition season was replacing my S&W M&P 15-22 that I acquired last year for Rimfire Rifle Open division in Steel Challenge with a Magnum Research Switchbolt.  I’m about 1000 time more thrilled with this change than I thought I would be.

 

Here’s the video review I did on the Switchback:

 

In years past, I’ve shot some indoor matches during the off-season.  But this year I didn’t – I was feeling quite burned out by the end of the shooting season.  I needed a break.  I needed to recharge.  I did shoot one indoor USPSA match in February, but that’s been it.  I’m scheduled to shoot my first local Steel Challenge match next weekend, with my first major match (the Tennessee State Steel Challenge Championship) the following weekend in March – all weather permitting of course.  I’ve signed up for several major matches this year in Steel Challenge – state championships in TN, IN, and MI, as well as the Area 5 Championship and the World Speed Shoot.  Later in the year I’m sure I’ll shoot the KY state match, as well as a couple of other Level 2 matches.  And I’m planning on traveling to California for the Area 2 Championship, which should be exciting.  Right now I’m only planning on a couple of USPSA majors, including the USPSA Area 5 and the KY High Cap sectional.  We’ll see if any others present themselves.  I may have the opportunity to shoot some more local USPSA matches this year.

From a training perspective, I’m training quite differently than I did last year in dry fire thanks my using the Go Fast Don’t Suck Dry Fire decals for Steel Challenge.  I have four complete stages set up – my four worst stages in about every division I shoot.  Each morning I’m shooting all four stages with my Carry Optics Pistol, and in the evening I’m shooting every stage with one of the other guns I shoot in Steel Challenge – PCC, RFRO, or RFPO.  In terms of a par time for each stage, I’m shooting the minimum time required for each stage to reach GM.  Those times are particularly difficult on Pendulum and Smoke & Hope.  But I’m seeing big improvements in dry fire over the last month or so.  Improvements that have definitely translated to live fire as well.  With my CO pistol, I shot a plate rack in under 3 seconds – something I’ve never done before.  With my rifles, I’m doing the same plate rack in under 2 seconds – something I started doing late last year, but not to this extent.  I saw times in the 1.7x second range, while easily doing 1.8x times.  I’ve only been out on the weekends about 3 times, so I don’t feel “dialed in” yet.  But I’ve never looked as strong pre-season as I did this year.  That said, I’m trying to temper my expectations for the first couple of matches I shoot.

From a physical training perspective, I’m doing 20 min. on the treadmill every morning.  In the evenings, we take our dogs for a good long walk – I’m pretty good about getting my 10,000 steps in daily.  I want to try and work in weight training again, once I’m confident I won’t re-injure my back.

GOAL SETTING

I could kick myself for not documenting my classifications and percentages at the beginning of last year, so I’m certainly going to do it this year.  Here’s where I currently stand:

CO:  A Class/75.43%
*PCC:  M Class/82.46%
*RFRO:  A Class/76.33%
*RFPO:  B Class/57.47%

With the exception of CO, every division I shoot experienced a reduction in the par times necessary to move up in classifications – something that USPSA/SCSA does every year to ensure classification thresholds are keeping pace with increasing shooter performance.  That’s why many of my percentages are less than what’s needed to qualify for the classification I’ve achieved.  Still for this year I want to move up in classification in every gun I shoot.  I honestly think I can get my first GM in PCC.  I’ll easily make Master in RFRO – likely within the first few matches I shoot.  Making Master in CO however is going to be more challenging.  A class in RFPO should be easily achieved.

Last year I set a goal of making B class in CO, which I did.  That puts me in B for both CO and PCC and I’m in no hurry to class up in either gun for USPSA – it just won’t be my focus this year.  But beyond classifications and moving up in performance, I have another goal – relax.  Enjoy the shooting sports more.  It’s a game – it should be, first and foremost, fun.  It’s easy to forget that – and just get caught up in the grind of increasing your performance and placements.  Taking the time off that I did between last year and this year did me a world of good.  I’m signed up for some great matches and am looking for to having great fun, and yes, moving forward as a competitive shooter.  I’ll check back in around June/July to assess how my performance has been against the goals I’ve set, and see what tweaks I need to make in my training to finish strong in the back half of the 2020 season.