Transitions

[Shooting Bull]

One of my father’s favorite sayings was, “too soon old, too late smart.” Unfortunately this apple didn’t fall too far from that tree. 
 

I’ve reached the point in my SASS journey where I can fire my guns about as fast as I’ll ever be able to fire them. So, how do I shave extra tenths or thousandths of a second off my stage times? Transitions. That’s a fact that’s been known for about as long as this game has existed.

 

So, what epiphany finally struck me? It finally hit me exactly what a transition is. I’ve always had it locked in my head that shooting the last round from gun A and grabbing gun B counted as a transition. So that’s exactly what I practiced. Now, based on my amazing realization, I understand I was only practicing about 50% of the transition. A FULL transition includes getting rid of and getting you hand(s) off of gun A and also getting gun B into firing position and breaking the first shot. If you practice anything less than that, you’re not truly practicing transitions. 
 

Now that I understand that, I guess I have to go make it happen. If I keep making these discoveries, I might actually get pretty good at this game.

 

Thanks, Dad. 😁

Edited June 8 by Shooting Bull

[Stump Water]

Don't miss the holster.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Shooting Bull and I have debated this point for years...

 

Firstly - Shooting Bulls Dad was correct.

 

And Bulls takeaway from his Dad's advice is correct as well.

The only meaningful measure of whether a transition is good or bad is the TIME either between the Beep and the 1st round fired or the time between the last round from one gun to the first of the next.  

Not how cool it looks or how "smooth" it is.

 

Just because something "seems" like it would be faster doesn't mean it is.

Also doing it ONCE is not proof; until you can demonstrate it on the clock REPEATEDLY - it ain't faster.

Gaining a quarter second every stage for 12 stages and then ONE TIME losing focus because of your hokey pokey action and eating a miss gains nothing.

 

And just because you are doing two things simultaneously doesn't mean, that dual activity is faster than doing the same actions one at a time.

Two individual actions at full speed is just as fast as two simultaneous actions at half speed.

Too many folks have bought into the "You have two hands - they both should be doing something" mantra without understanding that picking the "right" two things to be doing simultaneously is the most important part of that direction. 

And "If" the two hands are diverting focus from the primary task or incapable of doing these actions at the same speed - you are not gaining anything. 

 

An example I point out to Bull regularly is he LOVES the pistol to long gun transition (Bull is a Duelist and a very good one) - so while he is acquiring /firing his 2nd pistol - he reaches down and grasps the wrist on his rifle/ shotgun preparing for the transition.

Sounds good, right?

Excepting I actually watch and his pistol shots prior to reaching for the long gun and after it is in hand are differently paced.

It's a gorgeous "transition" and it costs him time.

 

Maybe (maybe, I don't  think so, but maybe) he gains a quarter second in long gun pick up, but if he gives away a half second shooting - that's a net loss.

 

And even after the super cool, made for pictures transition; he still has to wait for the pistol hand to holster and return to support the long gun.

So after all that - there is still a period of time where two hands are not performing simultaneously.

 

Bull would be better served to finish his shooting string and do his long gun grasp at the SAME TIME as his holstering.

This does not slow his shooting and allows for the correct pairing of simultaneous actions.

 

And like everything - easier said than done.

 

Edited June 8 by Creeker, SASS #43022

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

C,

Very interesting post and exactly along the same line I something I have been considering about myself.  I have all this down time while healing from surgery so have watched numerous videos of myself because, like Bull, feel something is missing.  In my case, a change from "my glory days".  The big change is that of reaching for the long gun while firing second pistol.  Something about it just is not right although it seems cool and often looks good to those observing.

When I am healed I plan to work with timer more to come to a better reward.

bb 

[Shooting Bull]

I’m not going to quote Creeker’s novella, but I will acknowledge our debate concerning pistol to long gun transition.
 

I’ve actually run drills using different techniques. As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It turns out Creeker was absolutely correct that I’d shoot my second pistol slower as I was bringing the long gun up to my shoulder. 

 

Based on “testing”, my fastest technique is to holster the first pistol and grab the long gun but finish firing the second pistol before bringing that long gun up to my shoulder. I’m gaining time by being able to fire my second pistol at full speed. And I’m not losing any time because the long gun comes up at the same time the second pistol is being holstered. 
 

Thanks Creeker. I owe you a few fractions of a second. 🤠

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

I believe that true for me also. Getting hand on rifle is no waste of time and fairly easy to become habit but the picking up seems to stall me. There are those such as TN Williams that do it with such though. Truth is, for me, the pickup practice for so few SAD stages encountered, might be better spent  in getting rifle & pistol speed somewhat faster.

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

9 minutes ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

I believe that true for me also. Getting hand on rifle is no waste of time and fairly easy to become habit but the picking up seems to stall me. There are those such as TN Williams that do it with such though. Truth is, for me, the pickup practice for so few SAD stages encountered, might be better spent  in getting rifle & pistol speed somewhat faster.

Billy, I tried TW's technique a few times but when I reach for a long gun while trying to shoot my left pistol I'll end up with a miss. TW said it's easy to learn to keep your left hand steady while reaching for and picking up your long gun. He said always practice reaching for the long gun with a cup of hot coffee in your left hand and you'll learn to keep your hand steady! I'm not dedicated enough to practice it! 🤠

 

Randy

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

8 minutes ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said:

Billy, I tried TW's technique a few times but when I reach for a long gun while trying to shoot my left pistol I'll end up with a miss. TW said it's easy to learn to keep your left hand steady while reaching for and picking up your long gun. He said always practice reaching for the long gun with a cup of hot coffee in your left hand and you'll learn to keep your hand steady! I'm not dedicated enough to practice it! 🤠

 

Randy

He be young man also.😁

[watab kid]

i have no secrets to impart , at 75 im happy to be shooting and completing the stage [if clean its a benefit] there comes a time in life when we need to afdmit our shortcomings and compensate as we can , my current place is wanting to continue as best i can , id like a few more years if i can have them , 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

15 hours ago, Shooting Bull said:

Thanks Creeker. I owe you a few fractions of a second. 🤠

You never owe me a thing, my friend.

 

It is always easy to look at another shooter and critique - it is infinitely more difficult to look inward and examine our own foibles and challenges.

And harder still (by a power of 10) to actually take steps to correct.

 

I applaud your journey.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Mongo, remember this, you're get'n OLD  

[Texas Maverick]

14 hours ago, watab kid said:

i have no secrets to impart , at 75 im happy to be shooting and completing the stage [if clean its a benefit] there comes a time in life when we need to afdmit our shortcomings and compensate as we can , my current place is wanting to continue as best i can , id like a few more years if i can have them , 

Same here. Just hope to get a few more years of shooting in before mobility ends my shooting.

 

TM

[Shooting Bull]

24 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Mongo, remember this, you're get'n OLD  

As bad as that is, it sure beats the alternative.😁

[Sixgun Seamus]

15 hours ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said:

 but when I reach for a long gun while trying to shoot my left pistol I'll end up with a miss. 

BTDT....last Saturday on last stage and TWO misses taking out my clean match.

[slow poke gear]

I find a really great way to figure out what i need work on is to have someone film me. In the moment I think I am doing everything right, but after the fact and I can sit down and watch it, I find I maybe use 2 hands to set down a rifle instead of one. Or while putting one pistol away the other hand freezes and is not doing anything.  I try to film my whole family and then use them to see where we need improvement.

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

6 hours ago, Shooting Bull said:

As bad as that is, it sure beats the alternative.😁

Wait till you're my age, 74. 

My age his higher than both of our IQ's put together.   

[watab kid]

11 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

Same here. Just hope to get a few more years of shooting in before mobility ends my shooting.

 

TM

ive only this year started thinking about mobility , im starting to have pains in my hips that ive never had before , i will admit ive had the pains in my hands for a few years now , i have fingers starting to deform from the arthritis , this gettin old is not what was promised ....but im still upright and still signin up and still showin up so far , leaving on wed for PITV , planning and registered for WOWS , i may get another in this year but with everything going on in life im not certain 

[Texas Maverick]

9 hours ago, watab kid said:

ive only this year started thinking about mobility , im starting to have pains in my hips that ive never had before , i will admit ive had the pains in my hands for a few years now , i have fingers starting to deform from the arthritis , this gettin old is not what was promised ....but im still upright and still signin up and still showin up so far , leaving on wed for PITV , planning and registered for WOWS , i may get another in this year but with everything going on in life im not certain 

Yeah I have 5 bulging discs between L1 and L5 with one being perforated and a cyst between L3 and L4. I have to get epidural shots about every 6 months to stay mobile. So far it has been working but the doc said they are getting worse so who knows for how long I can keep it up.

 

TM

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

15 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Wait till you're my age, 74. 

My age his higher than both of our IQ's put together.   

Just a kid.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

I see posts about SASS on other gun forums. People expressing an interest or having questions. There will be mixed answers favorable and unfavorable.  A lot of the negatives are from shooters who are making wildly inaccurate assumptions from what little they know about the subject. The thing I'll add to the discussion is that the most impressive thing the best shooters do are the transitions between firearms. It's amazing.

 

One common thing they assume is that you are required to walk around dressed and talking like Gabby Hayes or Festus to participate.  You can tell them 100 times that you can dress simply, jeans, long-sleeved workshirt but the next post ignores it and still claims you have to wear an elaborate, period correct costume.

[watab kid]

13 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

Yeah I have 5 bulging discs between L1 and L5 with one being perforated and a cyst between L3 and L4. I have to get epidural shots about every 6 months to stay mobile. So far it has been working but the doc said they are getting worse so who knows for how long I can keep it up.

 

TM

hope we both are complainin but still doin for a good number of years yet , my father played banjo in a dixieland band he had to give it up in his early 70s - im well past that now , i never really understood that till now , i find i cant do fine detail things that require fine motor skills any more , im a year from when he passed away , im hoping to do a bit better than he did - would like another decade or more