One of the most common mistakes new shooters make is not pushing themselves past marksmanship training.
They’ll often spend their time at the range trying to get as close as possible to the bullseye and then express frustration that “shooting is expensive,” after using a box of ammo in just 20 minutes.
However, the real issue isn’t the cost of ammunition; it’s how they’re training.
The reality is that marksmanship – or bullseye shooting – shouldn’t be a primary focus in the long term.
If you can consistently place 80% of your shots, centre mass, at distances of 7, 10, and 15 meters, you’ve completed your marksmanship training. It’s time to move on to the next phase: Dynamic shooting.
DYNAMIC FIREARM TRAINING
Once proficient and consistent in marksmanship shooting, you should focus on more advanced skills such as target transitions, drawing from concealment, moving while shooting, and magazine reloads.
Transition training not only enhances your skills as a gun owner, but it can also help conserve ammo during range visits, making shooting as a hobby significantly more affordable.
If needed, you can include marksmanship training in every other training session to ensure your fundamentals remain solid and to identify any bad habits that may have developed.
In general, you should only need one or two marksmanship training sessions to identify any issues, such as pulling or pushing the gun while squeezing the trigger, failing to follow through with your shots, flinching, or looking over the sights to check your accuracy. Once you know the problem, return to more dynamic training, beginning with target transitions.
TARGET TRANSITIONS
First things first, forgo any bullseye-printed targets in favour of a plain piece of cardboard with a centre mass outline. The goal is not pinpoint accuracy or Olympic-style shooting.
Place two targets a metre apart but at equal distances. Draw your firearm and fire two shots at each target (two on one and then two on the other), working towards faster transitions between both. Aim to get all four shots within centre mass.
WHAT TO WORK ON
When transitioning between targets, the most important thing to remember is to keep your sights aligned throughout the process. If you find yourself needing to readjust your sights after moving to the second target, it usually indicates that you’re using your shoulders or wrists to move the firearm instead of pivoting at your hips and legs.
To ensure a smooth transition, keep your legs slightly bent and your arms in a fixed position so the sights stay aligned. To maintain accuracy as you move, transition the firearm from your hips, almost like a turret.
DISTANCE CHANGE UP
Once you’ve mastered the movement and consistently hit the centre of both targets, move one of the targets further back. Practice transitioning between distances, such as 5 and 10, 10 and 15, or even 10 and 20 meters. Changing the distance will require you to adjust your speed, focus more on the longer shot, and be extra cautious with a straight-back trigger press.
You can also add variety to your practice by incorporating a magazine change between the two targets, moving towards cover while shooting, or switching from a two-handed grip to your strong hand.
MAKE YOUR AMMO GO FURTHER
As previously mentioned, this drill requires only four rounds each time you shoot, which means your ammunition will last significantly longer than if you empty a full magazine at a bullseye.
Additionally, you can incorporate dry-fire practice sessions between your live-fire drills. Instead of continuously shooting the drill until you run out of ammo, try including dry-fire practice runs after every third or fourth live-fire drill. This approach will help solidify the necessary movements more effectively and ensure that your ammunition lasts longer during each training session.
If you’d like a more hands-on approach to your training, call the False Bay Firearm Training Academy at (021) 300 1179, or message 064 286 0173 for basic or advanced-level training, qualifications, and proficiencies. For more information on the cost of shooting, you can view our shooting range prices here: https://firearmtrainingacademy.co.za/shooting-range-prices/
Happy shooting.
