I have been attending training classes since 2002. I have been teaching basic pistol and carbine classes since 2006. Because of this, I have seen a lot of shooters. New shooters that just bought a gun to people that have been shooting for over 50 years. The biggest problem I see is incorrect grip, stance, trigger manipulation and gun handling skills. Remember that "you practing your bad habits isn't training!"
Below are some thoughts I have put together to get people off their butts and into training classes and to get trained shooters to help out new shooters.
C4
1. Dedicate yourself. Develop a plan to making yourself a better shooter. This could be simply attending your first training class or growing a special skill set. If you have had several classes, then practice what you have learned with a focus on your weak areas.
Establish goals for yourself. If you want to be able to draw and fire (hitting the A zone) at 7yds in 1.2 seconds, then work towards it with a set practice schedule.
2. Eliminate distractions. The most common things that keep you from attending a training class is money and time. Money. The easiest way to save money towards a training class is to STOP buying guns, gear and ammo! If you have never had any professional training, then you shooting your guns is doing nothing more than creating bad habits that will be painful to fix at a later date. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that they couldn’t afford a $400 dollar training class, but just purchased a $700 dollar gun, I would be rich!
Time. So you want to go to the range, but just can’t fit it into your schedule? How much time do you spend sitting in front of the TV? The computer? Got a spouse that gives you a dirty look when you leave them at home? Take them with you! Got kids? Take them as well. My 6yr old LOVES to run the shot timer for me.
3. Evaluate your ability. We tend to practice what we are good at because it makes us feel good about ourselves. We avoid training classes with hard or accuracy driven instructors because we know that we won’t do very well. Be honest with yourself and acknowledge what you are poor at. Struggle with offhand shooting? Drawing from concealment? Mag changes? Moving and shooting? Everything? If this is the case and you are weak in everything, then focus your attention on accuracy (trigger manipulation). This is the hardest thing to master so you might as well get started!
4. Work with others. Do you avoid shooting with people because you are a control freak and have to have everything your way? Does the local gun club/range have a “rifle night” or training events, but you don’t go because you don’t like ONE person or how they set up the drills? Get over yourself and go shoot!
Develop a shooting “accountability partner.” This is someone that will be honest with you about what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. Write down your training goals and give them to your shooting partner. Ask them to hold you accountable for what you have promised to do.
5. Become active. Is your local gun club or range dead? Are there no training options or competitions available in your area? Start something! The fact is that many “gun and rod” clubs are dying. They offer Skeet/Trap shoots and not much more. So they are generally eager to get new (read young) blood into their club.
A lot of folks are afraid of teaching or running a competition or training session because they are afraid that they will make a mistake or that attendees/participants will be better than them. WHO CARES! We all started somewhere and people will be thrilled that someone took the initiative to do something in their area. Remember that you don’t have to be a Delta/Ranger/SEAL/Ninja to teach or run a basic pistol/carbine class or competition.
Establish a basic match or training curriculum and invite your friends. Take turns running or teaching it. Ask the club/range if they have an e-mail distribution list that you can use to notify the members when you are putting on any events. Use the home town/regional forums on the various gun boards to find folks interested in training.
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Originally Posted by C4IGrant
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