Ok, maybe some of you are right - last week probably was not as much of a training topic as it could have been. I will try to make it up this week.
How to become a better shooter? I'll make some assumptions here. For one, I am assuming that everyone knows which end is the busy end and the target audience is anyone from an occasional to a regular shooter that knows how to make a handgun save. If you don't fall into that category, please tread lightly and be aware that guns are serious business.
Anyways, I welcome everyone throwing in their two cents (ok with tariffs in place let's say a dime) as I think that good discussion can lead to a learning experience.
I like to practice my grip and trigger control without firing a single round.
First item on my list of becoming a better shot, is a proper grip. There are various types, and hopefully no one is using the saucer/teacup style anymore. I am not going to advocate for any particular grip style as some of them might be slightly better suited for some either due to their hand/finger size as well as the handgun they're using. Get used to drawing the handgun (feel free to practice at home but even though this is just a draw grip exercise without shooting please make sure that the gun is unloaded, visually and physically inspect the mag well and the chamber) in such a way that you get to the point that when you grip and draw your hands land exactly the same way and you grip it the same way without even thinking.
Second item that helps improve shooting is dry firing. For this part quadruple check that the gun is empty. That there is no mag in the mag well (for those with the mag disconnect make sure it's an empty mag) and visually and physically make sure that there is no rounds in the chamber. Next with the handgun pointed in a safe direction, make sure that your have properly established your trip, release the trigger. This exercise does not require you to aim in as you will have to (unless you have double action handgun) pull the slide back far enough to reset your trigger. Practicing dozens of time each time will help you learn your trigger. Will help you master that smooth release so that you get consistency in taking shots. A lot of shooters accuracy issues come from squeezing too hard, too fast, jerking it and so on. Getting a lot of trigger practice does not require taking a lot of actual shots. I have at times balanced a coin on my slide (I don't have flat slides on top which makes things tougher) and made sure it didn't wobble as I pulled the trigger.
Lastly you can put all of it together. First make sure that your handgun is unloaded and empty visually and physically. Then draw, come on target (safe direction!!!!!!!!!) and deliberately with caculated premeditation smoothly pull the trigger. Your handgun should bexome a natural extension of you from draw through presentation in a smooth repeatable manner.
So what about the rest of you? How do you practice without taking a shot?
How to become a better shooter? I'll make some assumptions here. For one, I am assuming that everyone knows which end is the busy end and the target audience is anyone from an occasional to a regular shooter that knows how to make a handgun save. If you don't fall into that category, please tread lightly and be aware that guns are serious business.
Anyways, I welcome everyone throwing in their two cents (ok with tariffs in place let's say a dime) as I think that good discussion can lead to a learning experience.
I like to practice my grip and trigger control without firing a single round.
First item on my list of becoming a better shot, is a proper grip. There are various types, and hopefully no one is using the saucer/teacup style anymore. I am not going to advocate for any particular grip style as some of them might be slightly better suited for some either due to their hand/finger size as well as the handgun they're using. Get used to drawing the handgun (feel free to practice at home but even though this is just a draw grip exercise without shooting please make sure that the gun is unloaded, visually and physically inspect the mag well and the chamber) in such a way that you get to the point that when you grip and draw your hands land exactly the same way and you grip it the same way without even thinking.
Second item that helps improve shooting is dry firing. For this part quadruple check that the gun is empty. That there is no mag in the mag well (for those with the mag disconnect make sure it's an empty mag) and visually and physically make sure that there is no rounds in the chamber. Next with the handgun pointed in a safe direction, make sure that your have properly established your trip, release the trigger. This exercise does not require you to aim in as you will have to (unless you have double action handgun) pull the slide back far enough to reset your trigger. Practicing dozens of time each time will help you learn your trigger. Will help you master that smooth release so that you get consistency in taking shots. A lot of shooters accuracy issues come from squeezing too hard, too fast, jerking it and so on. Getting a lot of trigger practice does not require taking a lot of actual shots. I have at times balanced a coin on my slide (I don't have flat slides on top which makes things tougher) and made sure it didn't wobble as I pulled the trigger.
Lastly you can put all of it together. First make sure that your handgun is unloaded and empty visually and physically. Then draw, come on target (safe direction!!!!!!!!!) and deliberately with caculated premeditation smoothly pull the trigger. Your handgun should bexome a natural extension of you from draw through presentation in a smooth repeatable manner.
So what about the rest of you? How do you practice without taking a shot?
