Julien Boit

Whether it is the gun or the ammunition, reliability is the key. Accuracy is the counterbalance. As far as ammunition is concerned, I use GECO factory 9mm with 124gr bullets for matches. The reloaded ammunition I use for training consists of GECO components (brass, bullets, primers) and Reload Swiss RS12 powder. Both give me the performance I need to be confident in accuracy and reliability. For my rifles I use of course the "good old" 55 grain 223 ammunition from GECO. My pistols are Phoenix Drake for the Production Optics division with a Trijicon SRO on top. My rig is from Guga Ribas and I use the best ear protection available from Sordin.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE DURING THE OFF-SEASON? 

What do you look for in dry fire training and what areas do you work on? How much time per week do you spend on dry-fire training (weapon handling, target acquisition, changing body positions, different shooting positions, etc.)? 

I do not do a lot of dry firing. However, I try to manoeuvre my weapons as much as possible. Whenever I take it out of the safe, out of the bag, clean it, I try to get a couple of sightings with it. Feeling the trigger, racking the slide. 

Do you do any physical work? If so, what kind? (Endurance or cardio, strength endurance, maximum strength, speed, agility, coordination exercises, core stabilisation, etc.) 

I do Crossfit every week. It helps a lot in all the areas mentioned. Strength, cardio, flexibility, speed, agility etc. What about mental training? What methods do you find most helpful? (Visualisation techniques, breathing exercises, etc.) 

I am still trying to find a technique that works best for me. I try to do some visualisation, programming my brain for the task. What to do, what to focus on. 

WHAT INVENTORY CHANGES ARE PLANNED AND WHEN?

Changes to the gun or sights? 

The main change for this season is to switch to a new division, Production Optics, and to use a new pistol, the Phoenix Drake. I am also learning how to use the red dot properly. 

Are there straps or other equipment you would like to change/improve? 

I may upgrade my equipment to the latest products offered by one of my partners, Guga Ribas Company.

What is your favourite piece of equipment and why? 

This might sound strange, but it is a sentimental piece and it is one of my very first internal harnesses, which I am still using after probably 20 years of use! 

What is your favourite firearm and why? 

That is like asking which of your children your favourite one is, I cannot say! Besides guns, straps or the obvious, what equipment do you think every IPSC shooter should have? Good quality eye and ear protection. This is mandatory to save your eyes and hearing in the end. 

HOW DO YOU OBTAIN AND TEST YOUR AMMUNITION?

If you load your own ammunition, which components are most important to you? Factor, performance/accuracy, recoil?

It's a balance of all of them. I want my ammunition to be accurate, reliable, clean and safe. 

How much ammunition do you use per year for each firearm? 

It depends on the shooting schedule and if there is a big match like the European or World Championships. It can vary from 10,000 to 30,000 rounds per year. 

Are you separating training ammunition and special competition ammunition, or do you use one type for everything?

GECO factory ammunition for matches and reloaded ammunition with GECO components and Reload Swiss powder for training. 

SEASON PLANNING

How many matches do you shoot in a normal year?

Depending on the year, usually 4 to 6 matches. If it is a championship year, probably more. 

How many international trips have you planned for the coming year? 

So far, I have four trips abroad planned. Italy, Germany and maybe Finland. 

What is your main competition for the coming year? 

French Nationals is always a target for me. I will try to defend my title in Classic and place as high as possible in Production Optics, which is new to me. 

How will you prepare for the main competition? Will there be any rest periods, test competitions or other special phases? 

Every match is a test match before this event. Therefore, I will focus on each match and learn from them. I will also try to have some big training sessions more often. 

SUCCESSES AND DEFEATS

What is your motivation to participate in the ISPC sport or what is the special attraction? 

IPSC is always a challenge. Stages are never the same, matches are never the same! It is a new challenge every time you go to the line. It makes you travel all over the world, meet some great people, and discover new places. 

What was your most successful/pleasurable competition (last season) and why? 

Probably the last European Championships in Greece. Even though I did not achieve my goal, it was a great moment with teammates, friends and members of the national team. 

What was your worst competition and why? 

It was not a competition; it was a training session with our national team at the Eric Grauffel Academy. I started to have problems with my eyesight and found it difficult to see my target. Therefore, it was quite a tough week both physically and nervously. 

PARTICIPATION IN A COMPETITION

What is your focus during the walkthrough? 

My focus is on programming my brain for the task. Strategy, movement, reloads, target focus, etc. 

How do you deal with being the first shooter in the first stage? 

Everyone has to shoot. You just hope it is not a complicated stage. Just concentrate on what you can do, stick to the plan and try to execute it as well as you can. 

How long before the first competition shot do you arrive at the shooting range? 

I am usually at the range about an hour before the first shot. Preparing the gun, loading the magazines, warming up physically. 

What diet do you follow or how do you keep fit during a competition? 

Nothing special. I just try to eat healthy for breakfast. Then small snacks throughout the day and staying hydrated. 

Do you have a formula/basic attitude for approaching a competition? (Do you focus on speed or hits; do you occasionally push your own limits/step out of your comfort zone or take deliberate risks; do you prefer to be in a team with 'better shooters' or vice versa etc.?) 

When approaching a stage, I try to assess the type of stage it is. 

Is it a high hit factor stage which rewards speed or is it a low hit factor stage, which rewards points?

Then you can decide if you want to sacrifice a little accuracy for more speed, or vice versa. Of course, it can be a good thing to pair up with the top shooters against whom you compete. You will see their strategies and results and act accordingly. 

If not, you have to go out and find the information, which is both time and energy consuming. Which stage elements/designs do you like best, and which ones not so much? (Long courses, short courses, moving targets, memory stages, field courses with lots of running, stages that require good accuracy, spray and pray stages, etc.)

I like them all because that is what makes IPSC so much fun. However, I have to say that I like long stages with some running and a mix of easy and hard targets. It tests many of your skills in just one stage. Memory stages are not my favourite. 

What wisdom would you give to an IPSC novice or anyone interested in the sport on his or her first day? 

First, master the fundamentals. In addition, have the discipline to apply them every time. Above all, try to have fun! That is all about what IPSC is!