Course 22 is one of the best stages to demonstrate horsemanship and gun control that we have in the CMSA Course Book.
When a shooter manages this stage correctly he or she can gain a sizable advantage over less efficient competitors.
(You are shooting white balloons first. Jim is taking you from the Start/Finish Line up the right side of the course engaging the single white balloon first and then proceeding to the gate on the left hand side of the course, engaging the two white balloons, and then back across to the gate on the right hand side of the course engaging the final two white balloons before changing guns and heading for the rundown barrel.)
Cross the starting beam at 90 degrees and head straight for the first target. If you try to sweep the target by starting to the right it will add strides and use up time getting over to the target. Let’s get back to your straight-in approach. Timing is very important and you will need to start your turn, towards the first gate, a stride or two earlier, since you will need to shoot the target at the apex of your turn. In other words, you will
fire with your arm straight out in the 3 o’clock position (your horses head is at 12 o’clock). The 3 o’clock shot can save up to 3/10 of a second over a sweeping shot in this case.
After shooting the first target, you need
to keep turning until your horse is running parallel to the first gate. This should set you up for a perfect 180-degree turn back to the second gate. The apex of your turn should be directly in the middle of the gate. Shoot the left-hand target first. This will leave you plenty of time to shoot the right-hand target as you turn to the next gate. Your horse should now be set up running
parallel to the next gate, and in position to shoot the closest target first. Try to have a smooth radius with your turn to set up the right-hand target. Don’t hurry your righthand shot. Take a split second and make sure that you are on the target.
Now, don’t head straight to the rundown barrel, this is not the place to make up time. If you run at the barrel at an angle, you increase your chances of hitting it dramatically. Pick a spot approximately eight feet to the right of the barrel, then head for that spot, but don’t make your gun change until you have your horse lined out to that spot (a minor direction correction will cost you time), build a pocket, and make a smooth radius turn around the barrel to the rundown targets. When shooting the rundown look only at the target that you are shooting, pull the trigger and only then look at the next target. So many people miss targets because they look away before pulling the trigger. Focus on the target that you are shooting, keep your arm straight, forget your horse, he will be where you want him--if you are focused. Most importantly, have a safe and fun time!