The three primary categories of practical shooting are:
- Practical competition
- Concealed carry / home defence
- Law enforcement / military service
While training and tactics can be tailored to each category, the main shooting objective remains the same: Shoot at and hit a human-sized target with a firearm as quickly as possible under various circumstances.
Safety
Safety is primarily a mindset. Apart from inexperience, most accidents occur when we become complacent.
Equipment
It’s essential to know your gear inside and out. Understand what works, what doesn’t, and what’s likely to wear out or break first. Never use or carry a firearm and ammunition combination unless it’s been tested beforehand.
Fundamentals
The two main fundamentals in practical shooting are sight alignment and trigger control, with trigger control being the most crucial – See our blog on this subject here.
Although these fundamentals are simple in concept, mastering them involves instilling proper techniques.
Techniques
Grip: Controlling the firearm is paramount, and a proper grip is essential. Remember to “pinch” rather than grab with your strong hand. Maintain the highest possible position on the pistol with both hands, ensuring that pressure points are effectively positioned.
Stance: For maximum recoil control, the pistol, hands, forearms, and shoulders should all form a straight line. The lower body is less critical since shooting often occurs in awkward positions.
Trigger Operation: Mastering trigger finger isolation is crucial, and this can be achieved through dry fire practice. The ability to “prep” the trigger during more challenging shots is vital. Follow-through is important, and resetting the trigger while the pistol is in recoil can be beneficial.
Strong and Weak Hand Shooting: When shooting one-handed, lock out your arm, raise your shoulder, and slightly angle your body toward the target. This stance helps control the pistol and realign it quickly with the target.
The Draw: During the draw, only your hands and arms should move. The initial hand placement on the pistol should be consistent and precise to ensure a proper grip from the outset.
The Reload: When reloading, slightly index your upper arm/elbow back into your body while keeping the pistol just below chin height. Practice the proper placement of your support hand fingers on the magazine consistently.
Shooting Focus
We can only shoot as fast as we can accurately see and call our shots. The key to balancing accuracy and speed lies in seeing just enough detail to make each shot. Develop the ability to adjust your focus from a 2-metre shot to a 50-metre shot and everything in between.
Live Fire Practice
Engaging in standardised drills is the best way to improve shooting skills. Practicing longer, more complex stages enhances cognitive decision-making under pressure and improves performance in matches. To improve effectively, practice should be measurable.
Dry Fire Practice
If done correctly, dry fire training is an essential tool. It helps in mastering trigger control and trains the body to align sights on the target while pressing the trigger without disturbing the sight picture. Maintain the same firm grip during dry fire practice as you do in live fire to develop proper muscle memory.
Mental Skills
The most important mental skill is developing, maintaining, and reinforcing a positive self-image. How you perceive yourself directly impacts your performance. Whether your goal is to survive a deadly encounter, become a world champion, or outperform a friend at the range, believing in yourself significantly increases your chances of success.
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Photo credit: Thanks to edccomp.co.za for the use of the above images. Check out their website for a new sport-shooting discipline that combines practical shooting skills with firearm training.
