File Not Found

[Chris]

   There is a term often used by Mas (who may have coined it for all I know) that has been adopted by Team Pro Arms, when we talk about performance. The term is “File Not Found”. A lot of folks understand what that means, but some don't. Since this is the beginning of NFL football season, an analogy occurred to me that might define it well.
   The San Francisco 49ers have a middle linebacker named Takeo Spikes. He's been in the league for 10 years and is one of the best linebackers (LB) in the game. He can do everything (at a Pro Bowl level) that a LB is expected to do... rush the passer, tackle a runner, block a pulling guard, drop into short pass coverage, etc. In short, he's a smart, talented, accomplished veteran that has proven himself on Game Day (The Real World)... for over a decade.
   He signed with the 49ers a couple years ago... because he was a top Free Agent. In one of the first games he played they put him on the punt return team on the left inside wing. His job was to move to the punt returner after the punt was received, and block the closest opponent to him on the return. For a veteran, that is simple. But, the punt was errant and came right to him.
   He muffed the punt, fumbled the ball, and the other team recovered it.
   When asked about it after the game his response was “For as long as I've been in the league I've never caught a punt. I've watched others do it and know how it should be done. But, it's something I've never done and when the time came to actually do it, I blew it.”
   Spikes is a superb athlete, and if he had just one hour of catching punts in practice he would have it down pat. But, he didn't. Never had. So, when it counted, he didn't do it properly.
   The analogy here, IMHO, is that a shooter who spends a lot of time carefully shooting at a target on a square/static range may become quite good at that. But if something “outside” that box crops up (malfunction, strong hand impeded/disabled, etc) the response may not be effective because, without having experienced it there can be “File Not Found”.... never done it... don't know how to properly respond to that situation.
   That's one of the reasons we are big proponents of IDPA (or to a certain extent, IPSC). They bring “Outside The Box” scenarios to you... make you complete them... and stick that experience in your “Files”. It makes them easier to find when you really need them. Just a thought.
Chris Christian   

[Steve]

Jeez Chris...the ya go THINKIN' again!!!

You know who 

[Oldguy]

I know what you mean.  I can shoot at the range, but when I go to my buddy's place with a "private range" and we set up different scenarios, it's all different.  We move at some, double tap some, a lot of different things.  Tend to be a little less successful at it.

I watch "Wednesday Night at the Range" and marvel at how good those guys (and I'll include the ProArms folks in there as well-you don't win or place in just about every event you enter because you're lucky) really are.  How they can shoot on the move at variuos target and various distances is amazing.  I'd be lucky to not shoot myself, or someone else.My local club has just started an action pistol practice where we can do that kind of stuff.  I'm really looking forward to it.

So Chris, does your analogy mean you are part of the 49er Faithful?  I keep hoping they return to the glory days of the 80's.  I think drafting 2 offensive lineman in the first round was a huge step in the right direction.  Go 9ers.

[Chemsoldier]

I have had that moment more than a few times.

In particular I was playing Opposing Force (the bad guys) at a field exercise for my unit.  We had several blank fire adapted weapons (an AK and an SKS)  Me and my OPFOR compatriot did a drive by of the unit we were aggressing against.  I fired the AK out the window till I went dry, there was another group just ahead looking at us with incredulous looks of "what the hell is this" on their face.  In a rush I grabbed the SKS and stuck it out the window, I could not get the weapon to fire!  I was fixated on the targets and could not look down at the weapon.  I had left it on safe.  Now I know perfectly well how the safety of an SKS works, but I had never tried to flip it off while I was looking elsewhere before.

"File not Found"

and that was just a training exercise.

-Chem

[Matt G]

Jeez Chris...the ya go THINKIN' again!!!

You know who 

Just in case his Avatar didnt give it away.

+1  Well said.

Matt G

[Chris]

Oldguy,
I watched my first 9er game at Kezar Stadium in the late 1950s. Yes... I'm one of the Faithful. And, you're right Davis and Iupati were very smart draft choices. I've watched them in all three pre-season games so far and they don't really look like rookies... at least not all the time.
GO 9ers!
Chris Christian

[BikerRN]

Chris,

This should be copied and handed out to all shooters, old and new. I'd offer to tattoo it on my body, but I'm running out of room.

As for being a member of the faithful, we can all be forgiven a youthful indescretion or two. I'll continue to be a fan of God's Team. GO DALLAS!

Biker

[Chris]

Biker,
I forgive you, but I understand that there are several 12 Step groups that might help you with your affliction.
Chris Christian

[Matt G]

If you rearrange the letters in "Dallas Cowboys", you get "woody ball sacs". I'm just sayin.   

Matt G

[Chris]

OK... this is not a football forum. I (GOF!!) will tolerate no flaming of the noble NFL teams (even the Cowboys... my hated rivals). Let's ease up on the football stuff unless you can tie it ... logically, reasonably, and educationally... to a gun issue.
Chris Christian aka GOF

[HighPockets]

For me "Blind Stages" are worth their weight in ammo, to show you your weak links.  Most everyone finishes the stage and comes out and can't recall haft of what they just shot. Throw in darkness and well everyone has a different take on it.  Shocking the realty of it.  Good stuff to keep your "Files not Found" to a minimum.  Dale Gikiere

[Matt G]

If you rearrange the letters in "Dallas Cowboys", you get "woody ball sacs". I'm just sayin.   

Matt G

W.B.S. are ballistically tougher than reg ones.   

*OUT*

Matt G

[Chris]

Nice recovery, Matt.
GOF