The correctly done approach stops the rifle on target center. There is no overswing, no "shooting on the move."

It's a way to get the front sight to center still for a good shot. It's not done in desperation, and it's not done as a substitute for holding steady. In calm conditions, I can bring the sight over, let it center on the target and then just leave it there if I want to, and sometimes I do.

It is also intentionally not done quickly. It's creeping across. It's 9-ring, (count) one, two, three; 10-ring, one, two, three; X-ring, one, two--shot.

If the wind is blowing, the approach sequence might be faster, but I'm not going to take a shot normally at that point.

My method then is usually that I get to the target off the approach and sometimes then have to hold on it.

Time Management I'm shooting quickly shot to shot, for the same reason I shoot quickly at 600 yards: conditions. At 600 yards it's because I want to be exposed to fewer condition variables. I'm shooting quickly offhand because I want a time cushion to wait out conditions if I need to. Shooting at a fast pace offhand is partly a matter of not wasting time. I see many people reload and wait for the target to come up and then go about shooting. Instead of waiting for the target to come back up and eyeballing it for 15 seconds, why not work on trying to shoot another good shot during that same time? I don't wait to see the target before I prepare for my next shot. I reload my gun and start the mount as the target starts up. I'm assuming that my last shot will be on call. If it shows up within one inch of my call--within my call radius--I'm off and running. If it comes up more than an inch off my call radius, then I'll make a correction.

I have to wait. If I'm waiting, then I'm holding. I'm then trying to shoot the moment the shot is good so that I maximize my energy and time, and I'm not trying to make it better.

Normally, if I try to make it a little bit better, most of the time it gets worse. Don't take any more time that you have to. I am always approaching, though, and the reason is that I'm doing the same thing all the time; I have a pattern. As said, I still approach in very windy conditions--approach and hope but prepare to hold, and let the sight come on and in to get a good shot.

I think the best defense against the wind offhand is to learn and employ judgement on shot quality. Quite simply, I care about 10s and seek to avoid 9s--in the wind or in the calm.

Landing shots inside the X-ring is sensational, and I get plenty of those, but putting together a long string of Xs even on a dead-calm day takes a good deal more effort and time than shooting 20 10s. I'm not going to say that I don't try to shoot Xs offhand, but the Xs I score standing are a product of good fortune and what I like to think is a good offhand hold and technique.

In other words, when I approach the target and ease the sight over and in to center it, it should show an X, but I don't have to see one to go to the trigger. I will see several and will have several on the scorecard, but I will not waste a moment taking a solid 10 and turning it into an X. That's the best way to shoot a 9, by my experience.

You have to learn what a 10 looks like, and shoot every one you see.