Governor's Twenty Tab: Advice for a first time competitor?

2015-06-25T17:18:27-04:00

I just signed up for the Governor's Twenty competition this July with the PA Guard. It's on Saturday the 25th, just after I get done with my Annual Training. I'm a decent shot, 38 on my last qualification, but I've never done any competitive shooting outside of the Boy Scouts. I've read over the events and know what I will be doing, but having never done it I am looking for some practical advice. What can I expect? What can I do to prepare? Thanks for your input.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 5:32 PM

2015-06-25T17:32:37-04:00

What kind of shooting is it? Stress shoot? Long distance? Pistol/carbine/rifle? Let me know and I believe I may be able to offer some advice!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-06-25T17:40:36-04:00

Seek out your BN/BDE Master Gunner. Typically he is involved or has shot the course many times (in addition to advanced training).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 8:13 AM

2015-06-26T08:13:33-04:00

See if you can get thte courses of fire you will have to compete in and practice them. Next, have faith in your own ability. You may be nervous, but remember your basic marksmanship fundamentals.

Sgt, just keep in mind that you got this. That is going to be 80% of your battle.

Good luck.

Response by Sgt Ron Danielowski made Jun 26 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-06-26T11:17:18-04:00

Hey Jason, congrats on being selected to shoot a competitive event.

Regardless of the type of shooting event (I assume the "Governors Twenty" will mirror the "Presidents Hundred") here are 3 recommendations that will serve you well:

1. Buy read and live Lanny Basshams book "With Winning in Mind" (http://bit.ly/LB_WWIM). Follow his instructions religiously. I took this advice from shooter and instructor extraordinaire Gene Rucks, and it served me well.

2. Master the basics. No kidding, there are no advanced "secret" techniques or equipment that will get you into the winning brackets as surely as mastering the basics.

3. Practice properly, practice properly, and practice properly... (see Lanny's book)

When you master the three points above your competitive shooting career will shine.

Response by SSG Albert Robertson made Jun 30 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-06-30T16:18:17-04:00

Will you be competing in just 1 match or will you be firing pistol as well? If you do shoot any other matches they will take a combined score of all matches you shoot. And only the top 20 eligible will get the tab. If you can shoot the EIC pistol and rifle. And whatever points tou get from those matches will earn you points toward your distinguished marksman badge in both. Just remember B,R,A,S,S. Breathe, relax, aim, slack, squeeze.

Response by SGT Greg Gold made Jun 30 at 2015 7:50 PM

2015-06-30T19:50:26-04:00

If your Governors 20 match is anything like the TAG and MAC matches I've shot you're going to be moving with loaded weapons and shooting from standing, kneeling, and prone positions. You will be drawing from the holster and changing magazines on your own to stay loaded for the next stage of the match. You are also going to be starting with your rifle at the low ready with no sight picture.

I found that working on getting a good sight picture and recovering that sight picture during rapid fire stages helped a lot. This is not your typical qualification type shooting where you start each shot looking down your sights. You are going to need to be able to shoulder a rifle, then crank off three to five shots in a row.

You are going to need to be able to break a shot with the rifle in a less than ideal position, i.e. while wearing a promask. There also may be sprinting stages between shooting stages, so you will have to be able to recover your breathing in order to get your sight picture under control.

Good luck with the match. This is a different kind of shooting that will make you a better shooter.

Response by SSG David Gordon made Jul 1 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-07-01T13:00:08-04:00

Having competed in Arizona's Governor's Dozen event multiple times, placing at least in the top twenty each time and ninth on my last attempt, the best advice I could give mirrors what others have already said, practice, practice, practice. Get a copy of the event standards, and practice to those standards religiously. Don't cut yourself any slack, your fellow competitors and the range officers certainly won't.
Aim Small / Miss Small. Good Luck.

Response by 1LT Richard C. made Jul 1 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-07-01T13:37:34-04:00

I have had the honor of participating in quite a few when I was in NJ. They are a lot of fun, but very quick. The best part is they are a stepping stone to the Nationals which is a week of shooting. I would recommend checking out past competitions for your state, who attended, contact them for some 'one on one' walk through.

1. Enjoy the experience.
2. Follow ALL instructions.
3. Talk your self through each stage. (ok, the target will come up from left to right, I take one shot standing, one shot kneeing, and one shot prone, make my weapon safe.)
4. Go last if you can, and watch others go through the stages.
5. Work on breathing, and getting on target (you don't need ammo for this). Get the heart rate up, and work on improving your sight picture, bringing everything back under control.

Last but not least, find out the crew who is running the competition and let them know you are willing to help out with set up, etc.., even if you don't make the team. This crew will be some of the best shooters you will ever meet. They can help you out for next year, get you range time and bring you into the fold..awesome stuff.

Response by MSG James Bianco made Jul 1 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-07-01T15:43:09-04:00

Since I haven't competed in a while, although I have the honor of being one of the Governors Twenty for both Pistol and Rifle in Delaware, I'm not sure what advice to give on the courses of fire. However, the biggest problem with competition shooting is being patient.. but accurate. Trigger squeeze and breathe control are the big hitters. If you are shooting pistol, I'd buy / borrow an M9 and do dry fire exercises in your house while watching TV. Just constant trigger pulls. Muscle memory is what you need to make your accuracy improve and help with not anticipating the shot and pulling away.

As far as rifle shooting, it is similar to pistol in that regard. Maintaining good breathing control and trigger squeeze are paramount. Once you have those down pat and are comfortable... then you can work on memorizing the courses of fire.

Practice... Practice... Practice.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 4:29 PM

2015-07-01T16:29:02-04:00

I know I'm a few days late on this, but looks like you have some pretty good advice so far. I have shot at the Louisiana TAG, MAC V Regional and Winston P. Wilson Matches over the past 6 years or so. The only thing I would add to what has been said is know your courses of fire. From the Guard MTU in Little Rock's page I found the WPW match program for this year which lists the courses of fires. It can be found at this link: http://www.arguard.org/mtu/Documents/2015WPW-AFSAOMP_cctd15JAN_15.pdf (Courses of fire found between pages 41-50)
The outline for the match should already be drawn up. You may be able to contact your State Marksmanship Coordinator for this info to confirm the exact matches that will be shot. Traditionally, Louisiana shoots 6-7 matches over a long weekend. I would say focus on learning the starting position for a stage as well as the load out for the magazines. For example, the Pistol Anti Body Armor match you will have 2 stages. The first stage is 12 rounds fired with the second stage having 24 rounds fired. We know that we can't load an M9 magazine with 24 rounds, therefore you will need to have 3 magazines prior to the match while being aware that there will be a mag change during the second stage. I know it seems like common sense, but I've found the more I could ensure the little things were done, the more time I had to do my mental walkthroughs pre-match. The best thing from all of this, you don't have to pay a cent and it can be done inside or out. Lastly, I would try to shoot later in the orders so you can watch the match being shoot live. It may give you a good idea of the timing needed for transitions.
My first match ever I received the coveted Couldn't Hit the Broad Side of a Barn Award (second to last place shooter). Three years later I was one on the winning overall combined team, and the following year I finally made the 20 and won the EIC Rifle match (all at state level). Good luck, and please update us with your results/experience.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2017 8:06 PM

2017-01-10T20:06:25-05:00

A few of us in my unit are trying to find any information we can about how to apply for the governor's twenty competition in pa along with rules and regulations, advice etc any help wound be greatly appreciated. There isn very much about it on the Internet

Response by John H Green Jr made Jun 10 at 2020 11:08 AM

2020-06-10T11:08:18-04:00

How do you find a competition and sign up? I am in MD.

Response by John H Green Jr made Jun 10 at 2020 11:09 AM

2020-06-10T11:09:14-04:00

How do you find a competition, I am in MD.