Do you shoot in all kinds of weather or choose not to, to protect your average?

I have heard that some think this is a form of "sandbagging"...but don't "flame" me for this. Just saying...not agreeing. Regards, Ed

Well If I go to a shoot and it rains, I shoot. My clothes will dry and the gun can be cleaned, dried and oiled. If the wind picks up, I shoot. If a cold front moves in, I put on more clothes and shoot. If it gets hot I hydrate and shoot. If I am in the mood to shoot trap, I shoot. Heck if you don't learn to shoot trap in inclimate around here, you will never get to shoot.

I try to shoot year around unless the heat gets too bad. After my third heart attack I found that the 95+ high humidity days really drain me.

--- Chip King ---

I shoot to protect my health ,not my average--In Fl you have to shoot in wind & rain sometimes. I don't do well in the heat, passed out once. The other day there was extreme smoke from a local brush fire, I had to split since I have pleural scaring from asbestos exposure.

Phil Berkowitz

I know a fellow shooter who drove 2 hours and got out of his car, then decided that the wind was to strong and drove right back home. This shooter was in contention for the state team.

I have never been in any contention for this type of award, so I have always shot in all types of weather. I know another trapshooter who shoots in all types of weather, and still has made the state trap team. He deserves the greatest amount of respect from fellow team shooters as well as the rest of the trapshooting fraternity.

In my opinion, fellow shooters know who cherry pick the days that they shoot, and know the shooters who shoot in all types of weather. Here in the Wisconsin area, we have very few days to shoot in pristine conditions. To each his own, as they pay for their own entry fee, and they can choose to shoot in any conditions they like. Steve Balistreri

Enjoyment does not include shooting in 30 mph wind and 20 degrees temp. That enjoyment means almost certainly your average goes down and you'll be in a lower class or yardage when the big shoots start in the Summer. It's called sandbagging and needs no further interpretation!!

I am a class C shooter, and I shoot in all the meets I enter. Would it make a difference in my average if I only shot in Good Weather?....I doubt it! I like to shoot because of the people, the reloading, and my interest in the sport!

I never shot a gun in my life until fall of last year. (except for 50 rounds of a pistol 15 years ago). After a couple months I just started shooting registered trap this year. Each shoot my scores have gotten better and that is with my best scores coming on a windy day, and then this past weekend when it was 90+ degrees. I am glad to shoot in bad weather, because if I can raise my score in bad weather, then it means I am improving. Unless it was unsafe to shoot in the weather, I will be out there banging away at those targets hoping to get better and better.

I've shot in just about every weather condition you can think of. I don't shoot in the rain anymore...too old, sore and arthritic to want to make it worse....

I think years ago there were more shooters shooting for a high average. I don't see that so much anymore with fewer shoots and fewer clubs than there used to be.

No shoot in rain anymore, not any fun at all.

As far as wind and temps, I do very well in wind plus it adds a little more challenge, anything under 40 degrees or over 105 degrees, well, let me know how it went.

I do not believe that if you shoot in all types of weather that you are sandbagging, as some people just like to shoot.

I stopped worrying about sandbaggers years ago. If they are that good of a shot, that they can pick a shoot to shoot well and hit the money, they are certainly better than me and most of us.

What ever happened when you signed up to shoot and the classification committee would through out your abnormally low scores?

I sometimes wonder if we worry more about sandbagging than we need to. Obviously, if you are shooting for $100,000.00 at the grand this type of money will attract every possible person, good and bad. Steve Balistreri

I try to avoid shooting in the rain. I don't like getting wet or my gun for that matter. My opinion is: that its your money, and your shooting time, do it the way you want to. Where does sandbagging come into play?

John

My opinion is that unless you've been in the situation and had to make the call for yourself to shoot or not shoot to protect your average (which a VAST majority have never and will never be in), you have no right to judge anyone else for doing the same.

Lets see, Joe Silcapoke shoots year-round in all kinds of weather. He artificially depresses his real average by shooting "D" class scores in the wind and the rain. He shoots "A" class scores in good weather. He shows up for the state shoot and shoots in "C" class and runs 199. Joe isn't a sandbagger? But the guy who tries to shoot up to his real ability and won't shoot in bad weather because he does not want to shoot a bad score is a sandbagger? Really?

Michael Goines

I don't see anything wrong with people wanting to keep their averages high, how could at be sandbagging???

On the other hand, if a guy shoots a 75 on a rainstorms, or 50 mile an hour winds, then shoots a 99 on a calm, clear day, how many people would be inclined to look at those up and down scores, without any knowledge of weather conditions and then say, " this guy's a sandbagger, shoots a 75 at small shoot, goes to the State and shoots a 99."?????

I shoot to the best of my ability everytime I go out. I don't shoot for a high average but if I end up with one then good for me. With that being said, I shoot for my own enjoyment and for fun. If I go to a shoot where there is bad weather then I have to ask myself if it will still be fun and enjoyable. I'm not going to spend my money to stand out in the rain and shoot and be miserable. Shooting in a little wind is still fun to me and I'm OK if my score drops a little. You have to ask yourself what you are shooting for. Dwayne

If the wind is in my face . . . I leave my gun in the case. If the wind is on my back . . . I put my gun in the rack.

I'm kinda sorry I even mentioned the "s..." word as it really doesn't accurately apply to the thread subject. I am one of those who doesn't enjoy shooting in the rain, etc. or because of conflicting events/priorities, etc.; however, I do admire those who can enjoy shooting when challenged by the weather or other issues (health?). That said, I don't have much of an average to "protect" anyway. So, enjoy shooting however it suits your pursuit of fun. Best Regards, Ed

Refusing to shoot wind blown targets isn't "sandbagging" at all, it's soothing the averages.

It's tough to win a HAA or HOA trophy leaving the gun in the trunk on championship days! Unless management cancels the days event in the name of safety issues.

Hap

Last year shot the state shoot and it was so dang windy everyday walked in the shoot with an 87 average and walked out with a 69 average. it was horrible but I had fun doing it so who cares? I really wish I didnt shoot that shoot looking back but was still fun!

If you think the weather is going to affect your shooting, it will. If you approch it with the thought that you have to concentrate harder, and get after them, I think that more often then not you will still shoot a pretty good score. No excuses. It is more of a mind thing, as usual.

I shoot at Mason, Michigan, wind, rain, tornadoes, hail, did I mention, tornadoes!

18 percentage points at one state shoot WOW! I'm not quite sure how that's mathematically possible....

Guy Babin

I shot every singles event and I shot a score the first day under a 50.... Is that bad:)

BH, the all knowing Swami foresees improvement in your future...

Or, a new gun, the crystal ball is hazy about this...

I looked at my card from last year my average was 87 up to that shoot. first singles event I shot a 46...:( that made my average like a 66.5 and thwn just crappy scores the rest of the shot

I was introduced to trapshooting more than 30 years ago by a great guy and we became quite close. In his final days (cancer), guess what we talked about? No, it wasn't the perfect shooting days where we ran up big scores. It was the 20 degree, blowing snow days where we went out and had a great time. He taught me an important lesson. Enjoy every target like it's your last. Guys at my clubs are probably tired of hearing me say that. I really don't give a damn about my average. In fact, I just took a punch with the Buckeye shoot this week. If I want to shoot, I shoot. I shoot my best and go after every target like it's the last one I'll ever get. Weather is of limited concern. The score is really secondary to the event. I always leave the club with a smile.

Paul

If you shoot enough targets (3,000+ per discipline), one bad day (or four for that matter) will not hurt your percentage (aka average) by more than a hundredth or so. Unfortunately, the converse is also true.

Most of the very best shooters in my region shoot thousands of targets. Target count is how champions preserve their performance metrics.

It's the casual average shooter that tends to claim "average husbandry" due to the elements.

BTW,

I'd MUCH rather shoot in the rain than ride my Harley in the rain....

Guy B.

You can't run with the big dogs sitting on the porch.

Don

kinda defeats the purpose of shooting, which is to have fun.

We don't all have the same motivations. I understand the motivation to win, the motivation to achieve, the motivation for recognition. That doesn't mean those are mine, but I understand them. I also understand the sickness that is the motivation to cheat (in shooting, target management as some call it).

I don't begrudge anyone their honest motivations or what avenues they choose to take to accomplish them. I shoot in any condition, because all I am doing is competing against the others of that day. The only time my average is thought about, is during classifying. I love to shoot, so I shoot. I feel the same about yardage or classification. Tell me where to shoot and I'll shoot there. Others consider their yardage "earned" and have great reluctance to give it up. Why should I care, as long as it makes them happy enough to come out and shoot?

Regards,

Chip Porter

Cherry picking- cherry pie, I'm starting to see a similarity.

I have always shot in all weather conditions, the club that I used to help run we shot registered every month of the year and some of those months were not too nice here in Missouri. If we had enough to shoot, we shot. I think it makes you a more well rounded shooter. And anyone that has seen me and some of my friends would say that we certinaly are round lol. You just go out there and do your thing. I think it makes you a better shooter. Besides, how often do you get to shoot in perfect conditions? Shot my first 100 straight at the Missouri state shoot in the rain. Shoot for the sake of shooting. John