The fundamentals

[SteyrAUG]

In both the closer you train to reality, the more dangerous the training becomes. In both cases, competitions can give you valuable skills like speed, experience and a strategic mind, but you have to be aware that you are learning to master the competition and not necessarily the fighting capacity you seek through competition.

The fundamentals might be very similar, but it is the application and more importantly the mindset that is different. Winning games and winning fights might look very similar but what is needed to be successful is very different.

[YVK]

If you had a friend that you knew would be in a gunfight in an hour, how would you train him?

I'd get him a ballistic helmet and a body armor, and work on accessing and shooting his weapon while wearing those things.

Other than that, see SN's post.

[rob_s]

Just saying "mindset" is too easy an answer. Let's assume that's taken care of one way or the other. I'm talking about mechanical skills here.

[militarymoron]

It is sad how difficult (impossible?) it is for civvys to obtain these type of training tools...

airsoft pistols are readily available as FOF training tools. at close distances, they're pretty effective.

using the old martial arts analogy, i think that 'shooting' is similar to doing katas (learning the proper moves and mechanics), and 'fighting' (or learning to) always involves sparring with a partner where you apply those techniques.

[tgace]

Originally Posted by rob_s

If you had a friend that you knew would be in a gunfight in an hour, how would you train him?

Fundamental gunhandling/shooting and USE OF COVER.

[thopkins22]

In your short time period scenarios(1hr-1day,) I think one of the first things you do is hand him an unloaded rifle and have him hold it unless you are showing him a technique with it.

Some of the biggest problems I've seen with true beginners is a lack of confidence with the rifle, and holding it like it's going to spontaneously do things on it's own. To overcome that requires both learning how to shoot and how the gun operates on a basic level. Those are up to you. The other thing that it takes is time with a gun.

I'm not an instructor or anything, but I've taken a lot of people that were new to firearms out shooting with me. While giving these people basic instructions I noticed a pattern...they largely needed time not just shooting, but holding and manipulating the firearm.

[rob_s]

I think I should have been more clear again, that I was thinking pistol, not rifle.

[thopkins22]

Apologies, but I feel my post is still valid if we just replace the word rifle with pistol. Learning to achieve and maintain a grip requires holding it, understanding sight picture and learning where to focus requires looking at sights, trigger control requires actuating the trigger. I think I would spend a lot of time on strong hand only too.

[SteyrAUG]

Just saying "mindset" is too easy an answer. Let's assume that's taken care of one way or the other. I'm talking about mechanical skills here.

Sometimes mindset is the only significant difference.

Assume two shooters who know the same fundamentals that are about to run the same training drill.

Shooter A approaches the drill with the mindset to win the competition. He is looking to pre evaluate the course as much as possible to plan the most effective strategy and his primary concerns are time and accuracy.

Shooter B approached the drill with the mindset that it is preparation for a real life shooting situation. He will likely try to not learn the course at all so that he forces himself to adapt to the situation as it presents itself (just as a real life shooting situation would occur) and his primary concerns will be correct use of cover so that he isn't shot and effectively eliminating threat targets.

To watch both shooters most will see two men doing the same exact thing. The only time the training becomes different is when those training for the real thing add elements like live adversaries who shoot back using things like simunitions. But even in this realistic environment there is a danger of it becoming "a game" where it is played like paintball more than a genuine life or death situation. Again, the only real difference is mindset.

I have been involved with martial arts most of my life, and much of that time as an instructor. Regardless of style, most people learn similar fundamentals. Every person does the same blocks, strike, kicks and take downs for the most part. But the people who practice them to get some exercise, engage in an interesting social activity or even to prepare for a competition do them with a far different mindset than those who practice them because they have a occupation that requires such skills or wish to be able to defeat dangerous fighters in actual conflict.

And for those reasons I actually think the fundamental "mechanical skills" is the easy answer and the real issue is mindset.

Those basics are common to most shooters and you don't really need very much beyond an efficient draw, flexible shooting position and the ability to competently engage targets. After that it is mostly tactics and strategy, and they are mostly the product of training and experience and your mindset will determine how well you can apply them.

But mindset is other things beyond the fundamentals. It can include things like not concealing your weapon so well that it is now mostly inaccessible. Remember that you will most likely be dealing with a threat that is "happening now" means that carrying in a tucked holster under a shirt or in your pants below the belt line might not give you the time you need to respond to the threat.

There are simply so many related factors, especially those that don't get practiced at the range, that all come down to mindset.

[M4Fundi]

I think I should have been more clear again, that I was thinking pistol, not rifle.

Rob
If I only had an hour...
Front sight & trigger would be the most important to me.

After safety when I'm teaching the boys beginners pistol. I have found that you have to isolate each mechanical skill as best you can avoid the distractions. The problem I see most is getting them to focus and understand how important to focus on the front sight is and then trigger control.

So I take a S&W 22 Kit gun and remove the rear sight. I get them in very close to paper target and make them shoot front sight only and work on trigger control. Then when they get consistently shooting well move a little bit back and so one. I keep them shooting with out a rear until I feel they are having to use the front sight and have developed a grasp of trigger control. I believe this teaches them to default to always look for the front sight when aiming.