Hey everyone!!! So here's what's up lately... I'm competing in the Pacific Fleet (Navy) Marksmanship Tournament. Saturday and Sunday were the pistol matches and Monday through Thursday are the rifle matches.

Although I am a skilled shooter, "Marksmanship" shooting was an entirely new arena for me.

So far, I was not real successful during the pistol matches as "marksmanship" style shooting is very strange!!! This is the type of shooting where you shoot at a target long distance (10 shots in ten minutes at 50 yards) with a pistol but with one hand, kind of like you're on a beach pointing off to the horizon. Or perhaps maybe a body builder type pose/position...

Ordinarily, I am a combat shooting and tactics man. Combat shooting is two hands on your weapon, getting it up fast and getting two rounds center mass and one in the head in a matter of a couple seconds - usually within 10 - 15 yards maximum distance but generally at contact distance when you can't use your primary weapon/rifle (i.e. you run out of ammo in your rifle and you need to transition to your pistol to stay in the fight).

Anyway,  I finfished at the bottom/middle of the middle two/thirds of the group. I thought it sucked but most of the tournament veterans said I did very well for my first tournament. I guess I'll have to take thier word for it and be happy with that.

So far, for the rifle portion, I am doing much better and I'm in the top half of the top one/third of the group (about /- 170 shooters). Today we completed the 200 yard standing slow fire (10 shots in ten minutes), the 200 yard rapid fire (10 shot in 60 seconds), and the 300 yard rapid fire (10 shots in 60 seconds). By the way, did I mention that these service rifles have only iron sights??? No scopes/optics... This, also, is a new style of shooting for me.

Tomorrow we will be doing the 500 yard and 600 yard slow-fire relays (10 shots in 60 seconds) and then finishing the day off with 800 yard and 1000 yard slow-fire relays. based on how I'm doing, I expect that I'll finish in the top 5f the group. I may even win a trophy rifle as the top score "New Reserve Shooter". I'm not too sure of that but that's what people kept telling me today... Being a "new" marksmanship rifle tournament shooter, I guess I'll have to take thier word for it and be happy with that.

Win or lose, I'm having a blast!!! And although I always thought these things were kind of boring and silly, I think I'll do more of these tournaments. Anyway, I'll keep you all posted as the tourny progresses.

Take care!!!

BTW, Next week I'll be competing in the All-Navy Tournaments in a bid to win a spot on the United States Navy Marksmanship Team... Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers!!!