The 365 Days of Training project has been going strong for a month, and I’m making some decent progress. I started with a cold three run F.A.S.T. average of 10.60 seconds, and in the last month I had a best three run average of 7.61 seconds. Additionally, I’ve had 5 sub-seven second advanced level scores (6.61, 6.98, 6.51, 6.59, 6.32). However, I haven’t shot it clean (no misses on either the 3×5 card or 8″ circle) in my last eight attempts. I’m not sure if this is due to fatigue or if I’m simply trying too hard to show progress. I suspect that it’s likely a bit of both.
There’s been essentially no change in my IDPA classifier score. I started the month with a 122.65 and I finished with a 125.06. However, I’ve seen a good improvement on The Hackathorn Standards. I started with a 200 and shot a 236 this past weekend. With a little SOM and multiple target work, I should easily achieve IDPA SSP Expert and 250 on the Hack.
Here is a summary of my training so far:
- One training class (AFHF)
- 14 hours
- 1,183 rounds fired
- 8 live fire practice sessions
- 26 hours: ~3.25 hours per session
- 2392 rounds fired: ~300 rounds per session
- 29 dry fire sessions
- 16.5 hours: ~34 minutes per session
- 7327 repetitions: ~253 per session
I’ve been struggling to put some additional observations from the past month into a cogent narrative for the past couple of days. Since I can’t seem to make that happen, here they are in bullet-point form:
- I need a better way to carry my gear to the range. I’m currently using a combination of a backpack, ammo cans, and a bunch of stuff carried loose. It’s a mess and it’s annoying.
- Shooting is easy and fun. Documenting everything is tedious and really slows things down. I’m currently writing everything down in a small notebook at the range and then transcribing the data when I get home. This is inefficient and error prone. I really need to be permanently recording the data at the time of collection. I have some ideas and hope to make this easier soon. More to come…
- I’m glad I purchased all the ammo for this project up front and I don’t have worry about replenishing my supply after a long range session. Of course, I’ve probably also permanently changed my perception of what’s an acceptable quantity of ammo by at least an order of magnitude.
- Speaking of ammo… I sold a bunch of guns in my safe and toys in my garage (think motorcycles) that I never used to fund this project. I only mention this because people have asked.
- Others have said it far better then I can, but I completely agree. Proper press-outs are the key to fast, accurate shooting. This is something that I still need to practice since on the clock I revert to my previous bad form.
- At times in the past month it has seemed that my visual awareness had increased, that I could see things (like pistol sights) faster, as a result of working on the speed/explosiveness of my gross muscle movements and doing lots of dry fire. However, after shooting eight bad F.A.S.T. runs in a row, I’m not so sure.
- During this first month, my training effort has mostly focused on press-outs and increasing the speed of my draw/first shot. There are many more things that I need to work on, but these two seemed to be the most lacking. Over the next several months I expect that my practice sessions will be much more varied and interesting.
- I’ve been to more than a few fairly high round count training classes and I’ve never had a problem with my hands developing blisters or abrading the skin off of my knuckles. I’m surprised at how big a mess my hands have been this past month mostly due to dry firing. They are healing up and I’m developing calluses in all the appropriate places so hopefully this is a thing of the past.
- It was really hard for me to post the videos of myself shooting. I’m not the kind of guy that likes to draw attention to himself. However, having the videos to review has been extremely useful so far. I’ve watched them hundreds of times at 1/4 speed and it’s obvious that what I think I’m doing (or trying to do) isn’t always the same as what I’m actually doing.
- Picking up brass sucks. Picking up brass on gravel really sucks. Using a Brass Wizard, at least indoors, makes it suck substantially less.
This first month has been a lot of work, but I’m enjoying it and my shooting is, at least, a little better. More importantly, I feel better and more confident about my shooting — better than the scores on the standards would indicate. Training everyday (and documenting it) seemed like a very daunting task when I first started. After a few weeks it’s just mildly daunting. I had my doubts in the beginning if I could actually pull this off and practice everyday. While it hasn’t always been easy, this month has proven to me that it’s possible.
If anyone has any questions, comments or suggestions please leave them in the Tom Jones’ Shooting Journal thread on FirearmsTrainingAndTactics.com.
What? I was reading this, and not to seem inconsiderate, but – what was this about?
It was a rambling about a training experience. Too long, too much commentary, not stuff don’t know. Sorry to be so direct, but, other than a personal story, pretty pointless.
I meant, “Too long, too much commentary, not stuff I don’t know”.
Again, not to be harsh, but people read info and access this site to share new and useful information. Let’s keep it that way.
I’ve been following Tom’s “365 Days of Training” series from the beginning and think the article is a well executed summary of the last month. I think most of the folks that “access this site to share new and useful infromation” will find Tom’s series as just that, useful information. I also think most folks that access this site are familiar with Tom and his program and would not consider his one month summary as “Too long, too much commentary, not stuff I don’t know” as you commented. Tom, I applaud you for your endeavor. Best of luck to you for the remaining eleven months, I’ll be reading along with you.
Yeo — “what was this about?”
It’s about a year long project that Tom is doing in conjunction with pistol-training.com. If you follow the very first link in the post, it should make sense if you weren’t already aware of it.
The point of the project is to document Tom’s extraordinary commitment to practice every single day, without exception, for an entire year. The insights he is gaining about shooting from both the mechanical and mental sides of things are worthwhile to many of the readers here.
Okay, Matt D, I respect your opinion but don’t agree. I’m not someone who spends endless hours blogging, tweeting or otherwise. My favorite writers are Ayoob, Clint Smith and other notable gun authorities.
As a matter of fact, I prefer my wife’s cliff notes version of her day; direct and to-the-point.
I like substance and information that is useful. That’s all. Tom has a good story, but that’s what it is. I think this is perfect for people who are interested in reading and being entertained by Blogs or Blog-type material.
Nothing more or less. Just sharing my opinion.
Yeo
Yeo-
No problem, different strokes for different folks.
I enjoy the blog. It’s great to see daily updates about an individual making the a commitment to train daily and documenting it. It has motivated me to become more active in my training and I’ve picked up a lot of useful information from Tom.
Yeo — Thanks for the feedback, I really do appreciate it. However, I trust that you’ll understand why I won’t be tailoring my training plan or documentation style to suit you. It’s a big internet. I’m sure you’ll something more aligned with you interests elsewhere.
Matt D — Thanks for the kind words.
Tom,
Regarding hauling stuff to the range and back I went through the same dilemma. Look into the Husky tool bags at Lowes or Home Depot. They’re MUCH cheaper than an official range bag, don’t look like they’re full of guns, made to haul rough tools and have lots of various pockets. I have found the down side to be it is one large pit of shooting kit, but some Ziplocs and Crown Royal bags later it isn’t that big of an issue.
Keep up the good work!
Sean
Sean — Thanks for the tip! The next time I’m near a Lowe’s or HD I’ll check those out.
I noticed that your goals for this year also include making Master for Conventional Pistol (Bullseye). So far, I have not seen any time devoted to that on your blog. Have you dropped that?
sirhcton — I’ve done some bullseye shooting (for example on Day 25); however, I’ve not spent nearly as much time with it as I would like (mostly due to a comedy of errors). So, no, I haven’t dropped it and I do hope to work a dedicated bullseye practice day into my weekly schedule in addition to shooting in my bullseye league.
Todd,
“•I need a better way to carry my gear to the range. I’m currently using a combination of a backpack, ammo cans, and a bunch of stuff carried loose. It’s a mess and it’s annoying.”
I’m in the same situation. Check out:
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATIC&PAGE=StanleyGuard.htm
It secures in the back of my pick-up truck, has wheels and a strong handle.
Also:
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=ZAG+ROLLING+WORK&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=020800R&SDesc=FatMax%26%23174%3B+4%2Din%2D1+Mobile+Work+Station
I use this for 4H Shooting Sports equipment, guns, and supplies.
I realize they’re toolboxes, but they work for me. Kind of a non-cowboy action cart.
I found a pretty good size range bag from Midway USA. Less than half of just about any others on the market. Good luck and keep up the great work!
First off, love the concept, and execution of this whole thing. I’ve also stepped up my practice regimen as a direct result of it.
For a shooting bag nothing beats the Tournament series bags from Shooters Connection. They are purpose made for hauling guns and gear. Mine is now 6 years old and has traveled the globe. It is still in great shape. The biggest thing for me is the shoulder strap connection points. They are large D rings that are sewn into a strip that goes from one side to another, under the bag. Almost every other bag out there just stitches them to the side. Don’t waste your time on bags meant for hammers and saws, get one that is designed for guns and ammo and mags.
How are you liking your brass picker upper now? I bought mine in July and I’m ready to throw it out. It picks up maybe 10 casings now before they start falling out. POS is my personal opinion on them. A squeegee on little wheels or a plastic snow shovel and a broom work much better for me on cement, and a lawn rake works awesome in grass and sand. On gravel its fingers.
Okay Tom,
I’ll take my crow whatever way you’d like to serve it up.
After repeated visits to this site and your article, post my initial e-blurt, I am “learning things I didn’t know I didn’t know or didn’t know to ask”. How’s that?
Range bag and gear, come to think of it, it’s a source of irritation – you and the responders have some really good ideas.
I just hope you don’t get that pile of ammo too close to a heat source!
I appreciated your calm response, and don’t know, thinking about it a little more, if I would have been as much of a gentleman to what could have been perceived as an inappropriate or unjust critique.
Sincerely,
“Mr. Looking forward to your next update” (a.k.a., Yeo)
now that I am not typing on my Blackberry I’ll go into a bit more detail on the range bag I use.
Could it be better? hell yeah, some of the pockets aren’t set out quite the way I’d like, but of any bag on the market, the Tournament series kicks ass. Unlike a lot of shooters (up here at least) I don’t carry my guns in the bag, just my ammo, parts, mags, notebooks, some targets, eye pro, ear pro, and all the other crap I feel the need to carry with me. The guns are carried in their own locked hard case. At a match I’ll stuff the gun in there in a soft case though. A 1000 rounds in factory boxes or Dillon ammo boxes is easy to do, and this is where that shoulder strap really excels. Wrapping all the way down and under the bag, means the bag doesn’t sag like so many others, and it also means the D ring strap won’t tear off the side of the bag like I’ve seen dozens of other bags do. The mag pocket is nice, as it keeps your mags all in one place, separated from each other, and protected. The outside pockets are perfect for large timers, video cameras etc.
do not hesitate to get one of these bags.
Rob — I like the brass wizard. I haven’t been using it as long as you have, but so far it works well. However, it’s likely not as fast (or as durable) as the squeegee or shovel & broom methods.
Yeo — Thanks for the followup. It takes a big man to admit he might have been wrong. I respect you for that. I agree that my updates are a little different from the normal fare here at PTC. I’ll only be posting them once a month so I doubt they will detract too much from ToddG’s usual content.
I’ll be the first person to tell you that I’m not Captain Awesome. I’m just a regular guy who wants to be better with a handgun. This project is about documenting that process. If others can gain a little insight or motivation as I (hopefully) progress, that’s great. At the very least, my daily posts and monthly updates will encourage me to reflect on what I’m doing. Hopefully, I’ll occasionally get advice and suggestions from readers of PTC. I’m more than happy to learn from anyone I can.
Regarding range bags and gear — I’m not sure what I’ll end up doing but you guys have given me a lot of great suggestions. Thanks!
Tom,
I’m not really a competitive shooter (I shoot a few steel matches for fun), but I am a competitive runner and coach, and have been for years. Reading your blog has been interesting, a pallet of ammo certainly sound like a fun delivery. But, one thing I always teach my runners is that it’s quality over quantity. I have a lot of runners who, in an effort to run a marathon, will over train and ignore the important rest days. Rest days are not just for physical rest but also mental rest, which is often overlooked. I always stress that a practice session where you just go through the motions is a quantity session with little value. I push them to focus on quality sessions where gains are made. So what I’m getting at is this. If your not seeing improvement or your seeing some negative gains, day 49, take a day or two off and focus on mental rest. When you come off this mental rest, I’ll bet you’ll see some amazing improvement in your scores and time.
Hi Tom,
I just got caught up reading here about your training activity and want to commend you for your serious commitment to improving your shooting skills. What do you think about Andy’s comment? I read it with an open mind, and I think he may have some good logic there. Just wondering what you think. Good luck and best regards.
Tom S.
Andy — Thanks for the advice. I agree with you 100%. I do try to make all of my practice count. There have been days where I’ve cut a range session short because nothing was working out. For example, on Day 32 I was having such a bad day I left early from my bullseye shoot. I was in a foul mood, didn’t get back home until almost midnight, and didn’t include that in the post for that day, but perhaps I should have.
In the next couple of months there will likely be several day long stretches where I do little more than light dry fire. This is partly out of necessity (busy work/travel schedule) and partly to give myself a break. I probably haven’t done a good job of articulating the “rest” days in my posts (the vast majority of which are written between midnight and 02:00). Pretty much any day where I do less than 30 minutes of dry fire and no range time is me intentionally taking a break.
TS — Good to see you here! Hopefully I’ll see you at the range. Feel free to join me sometime.