Competition - Does It Help Prepare You For More Than Winning?

[BrokenolMarine]

I know I'm not the only one who has shot some form of Competition. I'm sure there are those who have shot in Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays.
Those who competed in Falling Plates, IPSC, Bullseye, or High Power Matches.
Archers, You are out there.

I have often been asked the question, is there any other benefit to competition than the trophies or the fun?

I can tell you that as a Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, I told my students that one thing they would need to learn to deal with in a Stressful Situation, was Stress. By competing, you learn to function under stress. When you are new to the pressures of time and performance, there is stress. You will fall to it at first. Your first big match where you can win something you are likely to drop a key shot or miss a reload. Stress, match pressure and the desire to win will cause you to lose focus or fumble that load, and ... But continued practice and exposure to the pressure of the match, and the stress will bleed away, you'll step to the line calm and collected and the win will come. You learn to function under stress.

When you attend the various competitions, you shoot with / against shooters with higher skill levels and most will be willing to share tips and information that will help you to build your skill levels. Between your strings, if you are wise, you watch the other shooters and learn what TO do and what NOT TO DO. You learn at every match and build your knowledge base. You improve your skill levels.

No matter the discipline, by attending the competition you have immersed yourself in an environment where like minded people have gathered. You will meet people from all walks of life who share a passion for your hobby, your niche in life. Between matches you can talk to folks who may be interested in Practice Sessions, trading equipment, joining teams or groups, offer insights, or will mentor or interested in being mentored because YOUR skill set has grown. You build your network.

Competition teaches Rules, Safety, and new performance. Builds Confidence and ability. This carries into daily life.
You don't have to win... to win.

I'm old and tired and my memory sucks. I'm sure I have forgotten much. come on folks, help me out here....
... I know you are out there.

[Hatchdog]

You make some great points BOM. The bulk of my competition shooting has been in low stress matches, handgun silhouette five shots in two minutes at stationary known distance targets and F Class rifle again 20 shots in 20 minutes and known distance targets. I found this really helped me with my shooting mechanics and of course loading ammo for extreme accuracy.

Not competition but when I have taken handgun self defense courses where we had the ability to move and shoot and with the instructor shouting and creating confusion it was a great learning experience.

[220]

Interesting topic, when I first started shooting comp I would often shoot PB's or close to it, No stress at all wasnt until I had been shooting comps for a few years that stress became an issue.
When you have no expectations then there is no stress, once you have expectations then its easy to focus on the end result instead of what is required every shot to get there. Same in any situation really do the basics right, focus on them not the end goal or outcome.

Hard to replicate stress, when son was in a state squad they used to do some training where they would get them to do short sprints in between shooting. Idea was when under stress you heart rate increases your breathing will be more rapid etc. The sprints replicated some of the physical symptoms of being under stress.

[cooperhawk]

I can also relate for you that returning enemy fire is quite stressful.
It is very difficult to be accurate but it is essential that one tries.

I used to shoot competition skeet. I don't much anymore due to shoulder pain and I'm a little burned out on it,
however, I was once in a sudden death competition. We started with fifty shooters. The rule was, one miss and
you're out. Now I was a pretty good shooter. I shot many 25s and some 50s as well, but this was a whole new
ball game. There was a big crowd which didn't help either. By the time we got to station six there were only
two of us left. Myself and a friend that actually worked for me. Station six was always my nemesis. I fired at
the doubles, and missed one. He fired at the doubles and got both. Game over.

He looked at me and said, "Man am I glad that's over. The stress was killing me." I felt the same way about it.
We both knew how to handle stress because we were both Air Traffic Controllers.

Sadly, a couple of years ago this friend drank himself to death. His liver stopped functioning, he checked himself
into a hospital and died within 24 hours.

[Headhog]

I've been a competitor for my entire life. Not that I had any expectations of being a world class competitor, but rather for self improvement. True competition brings out the best in all participants. As BOM pointed out you form a bond and camaraderie with you fellow competitors that goes beyond winning.

I still actively compete in action pistol matches and much enjoy the conversations, tips and discussions we have. I'm still learning and hope that I will never stop. As for winning, I'm getting too old and slow to keep up with the younger shooters, but I'm not going to stop. I have many placks and awards from matches over the years for Bullseye, PPC, IPSC and IDPA matches, but those go back many years. In 2018 at a state level match I won the high senior award and that one award keeps me going back for more.

It's all about dealing with stress and improvement.

Paul

[BrokenolMarine]

It's difficult to replicate incoming fire, I'll grant that one.
I shot a training simulator called FATS back in the day that was pretty good for the time, you were in a room with a wrap around screen, and the scenario was projected 180 degrees around you. Think IMAX. You use customized firearms, and interact to the action. The controller can alter the direction the action takes based on YOUR actions.

You properly challenge, take cover, communicate with your back up, and sweep for additional threats, the bad guys on screen, surrender. You fail to react properly, he hits a different ket and they attack.

I was in a corrections escort scenario, at a funeral. The prisoner was thrown a gun by a family member, fired at my partner and I, and ran toward the exit. I tracked him and fired. Then shot his female accompliss.

Scenario froze.

Controller hit a key, my shots appeared... Red dots. Tracking as the prisoner moved. Four of six hit. Two hits for two shots on the female. I automatically reloaded. P220 45acp. "You shoot competition don't you?" The controller asked.

PPC.

"They usually do when we see this, PPC, IPSC, Action Matches; Accurate Shooting and automatic reloads."