“A Different Kind of Shooting, Part 4″
Since we started firing from one Stage to another at 10:00 a.m., all of us followed strictly all the safety rules in handling our guns. Nobody was disqualified by the Range Officers. It was then that I realized the importance that a gun owner must belong to a Philippine National Police-accredited gun club. I guess that the value of cultivating the individual discipline being inculcated in us owners of gun during the entire process from attending seminars on gun safety, to applying the knowledge that we learned in actual shooting tournament is priceless that all gun owners must have to experience. Moreover, this experience I am sure would soon become part of our consciousness which would then become part of our lifestyle.
It was already 3:00 p.m. when I completed all the 5 stages of the shooting tournament. However, when I finished, I estimated that still about 75% of the participants have not yet completed the tournament! I realized that this sport is something that you have to savor slowly, and just like eating a steak, it should be done taking ones time feeling the juiciness of each marbling as you slowly chew it.
As soon as the score sheets of the shooters were completely filled up by the Range Officers, these were taken to the Camp Karingal Office where the raw scores are being computed to get the individual final scores.
The final individual scores of shooters who participated in the tournament were completed only at about 7:00 p.m.
For the Standard Category (calibers 45 and 40) there were a total of 38 shooters who participated in.
For the Production Category (lower calibers like 9 mm and my gun CZ 380) we were only 16 shooters. The Armscor Lady Shooter Ms. Peachie de Leon ranked number 1 with a total of 580 points. I placed number 13 with 18.7377 points. The last shooter, the 16th placer got only 4.4507 points.
It was a learning process in my case. First, I should have taken my time once I am at the firing line. I was too in a hurry to aim and shoot. Although it is both an accuracy and speed game, the misses that I committed where plenty. It could have been avoided had I slowed down. Second lesson, I would like to reiterate what I mentioned earlier, I should take my time in completing the stages. This way, I hope to improve my accuracy with a well-rested self in between the firing. Third, I should look for a good leather gloves to protect my hand from minor cuts (I sustained cuts between my thumb and forefinger) caused by the movement of the slide and hammer of my gun and every time I reach for magazines at the back portion of my holster. You see, the 380 magazines have sharp edges that could cause cuts if one is in a hurry to get it during magazine replacements.
Bottom line is, I think I am falling in love with the sports!
