Since being invited by John Marden to go to Camp Perry in 2002, I have shot 7 matches outside of Camp Perry National Matches so far.

An interesting note is the level of comraderie and the amazing amount of offered advice I have received from more experienced shooters. Most sports have a level of ego and standoffishness, but High Power Shooting is not one of them.

Without exception, at each of the 7 matches I have shot, my more experienced scorer has made a point to get off his chair and telescope setup and has approached me to tell me something I was either doing something improperly or not particularly well. Some people might get annoyed if people tell them what to do and how to do it, but not me, man!

I'm a newbie in this sport, still. I make a point with each person who scores my matches to tell them that I welcome any critique at all, and I seek it as a relative newbie. I have yet to meet a shooter who has not offered a tip or five or ten, and even getting out of their chair to come up and show me how to do it better. On Saturday I had a scorer (Bryan Wood) who gave me his $1800 Kowa scope and stand to see my target from prone at 600 yards so I didn't have to change my position. Damn! Seriously appreciated.

Pretty amazing group of people.

I have been keeping a list of tips that more experienced shooters at matches have been teaching me, and I will publish them soon.

--Toneman

Red Wing High Power Regional Championship