Grouse
06-20-2013, 06:44 PM
Accuracy Always First, Speed Second
So, you all know I shoot a lot. It is my zen time. In the last 4-5 years i have seen a huge upswing in new shooters and shooting as a recreation, sport, and as a means of self defense. As a whole this is a very positive thing. We as a group have seen the right to carry grow, the invention of several new sports/competitions, along with the quality of the products available to us rise drastically. We really don’t here of the horrible firearms from the 60’s 70’s 80’s. Now we can go spend a couple of hundred and have a pistol go bang most of the time. While the quality of the guns, ammo, gear and sports have increased. Have we as a group of amateur shooters increased our skills?
Today at the range I saw multiple firearms owners, shooting. Pushing themselves to shoot faster, with this drill, that drill, off hand, one hand, behind simulated cover, or in the dark. One gentleman was so fast with his one hand push out 3 shot string, that he hit the center chest of the target first shot, the ceiling the second and my target two lanes to the left on the third. I see this craving for faster times; faster follow ups, quicker draws, slicker guns. I do not see a craving for accuracy. As I watched the gentleman above, I saw none of the 9 shooters in the lanes able to hit a sub 2” group at 25ft. I saw people struggling with grips, sight picture, feet, stance and trigger control.
When did we loose the Annie Oakley, the Elmer Kieth, in us? When did we as shooters forget that we have to hit the target for it be effective? I have tried to help those that seemed interested, only to see them fall back on Hollywood hijinks as proof positive of how we are to shoot. Some of our most notable shooters were accurate shots; and some were accurate and fast shots. I think Wyatt Earp said it best. “Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything”. Folks like Annie Oakley, Sgt York, Audie Murphy, Carlos Hathcock, Elmer Kieth, Ed Mcgivern, Col. Applegate. As much as a google search will do, I find no famous fast inaccurate shots.
We read the caliber wars, the bullet discussions, +p or standard pressure. Then we see the one or two voices that point out shot placement. Yet, shot placement is nothing more than accuracy, or accuracy repeated. Being able to make repeated shots into very small groups shows that you have mastered your own stance, breathing, grip, trigger control and muscle memory. I make the case that being accurate is not slow. It is being deliberate, and that builds all the skills needed for being fast in our modern shooting sports, and hobbies. By being deliberate in our movements, our weight distribution, our grip, our eye focus, our breathing and our trigger control we build that much needed muscle memory. It is that memory that allows us to move smoothly and confidently when shooting at a faster pace.
What things can we work on to shoot more accurately as a group? Make our targets smaller, instead of hitting 6” center mass on a 12x 18 target. Focus on a 1” target dot on plain paper. Find your stance, understand your weight distribution. Be able to grip the firearm consistently every time. If you are re-gripping the gun after every shot, or every few shots you will not be consistent. Raise and lower the gun so that the sight alignment is consistent every time. Know when to breathe and when to hold that breath. Work that bugger hooker of a trigger finger. Be-able to dry fire a double action pistol or revolver with an empty 22lr case on the barrel 25-30 times before it falls off. These are all things that can be practiced and worked on outside the range.
When in the range we can work on certain steps before we get into our specific sport or hobby training. We can work on our live fire, stance, grip, breathing, sight picture and trigger pull. In that order. Set your stance, establish your grip, breathe, aligning the sights, pull the trigger. S.G.B.SA.T
I start my sessions with a brick of 22lr. I do 10 rounds out of my smith and Wesson 617 double action at the 1” dot. Then 10 rounds out of my 1911 with marvel unit 2 at the one inch dot. I repeat that for 500 rounds. I reaffirm the entire above items before moving on to center fire. It allows me to be consistent in S,G,B,SA,T. When I am not, the individual things I messed up on become very apparent. My biggest issue is consistent trigger control. That is why I practice with the 22lr pistols for so long.
When I move to center fire pistols, I use the same one inch dots. If I am feeling ballsy I work with the dime sized dots. I try and shoot out the 1” dots with 5 shots at 30’. I typically focus on that for around 300-400 rounds per caliber. Increasing or decreasing ranges as needed. I start my center fire practice with the smallest caliber that has the least recoil. Some times that is .38spl, or 9mm. Then move up through the guns with the most felt recoil.
When I have practiced my one inch dots and I am nearing the end of my range sessions. I will put up a silhouette target. I will work on my center mass shots. I load two to five rounds into the magazine. I put my target at 21-35ft depending how I have shot that day. I start my S.G.B.SA.T , I do it deliberately and with purpose. I do not try and force speed. I draw or mock draw if the range does not allow drawing from the holster. Aim fire, fire and reset. After my run through with the guns, I take advantage of my ranges hogan’s alley program. I have it set to turn the target on edge for 3 seconds, then face me for 1, then edge ect. I do that for 10 cycles. I focus on putting my shots accurately on a 1.5” sticky target using the 2 shot strings. Sometimes I do well and keep them all in the 1.5”, sometimes not.
For me, it comes down to being able to hit the target consistently, every time, and all the time. I work on accuracy, not speed. My soap box rant is over.
So, you all know I shoot a lot. It is my zen time. In the last 4-5 years i have seen a huge upswing in new shooters and shooting as a recreation, sport, and as a means of self defense. As a whole this is a very positive thing. We as a group have seen the right to carry grow, the invention of several new sports/competitions, along with the quality of the products available to us rise drastically. We really don’t here of the horrible firearms from the 60’s 70’s 80’s. Now we can go spend a couple of hundred and have a pistol go bang most of the time. While the quality of the guns, ammo, gear and sports have increased. Have we as a group of amateur shooters increased our skills?
Today at the range I saw multiple firearms owners, shooting. Pushing themselves to shoot faster, with this drill, that drill, off hand, one hand, behind simulated cover, or in the dark. One gentleman was so fast with his one hand push out 3 shot string, that he hit the center chest of the target first shot, the ceiling the second and my target two lanes to the left on the third. I see this craving for faster times; faster follow ups, quicker draws, slicker guns. I do not see a craving for accuracy. As I watched the gentleman above, I saw none of the 9 shooters in the lanes able to hit a sub 2” group at 25ft. I saw people struggling with grips, sight picture, feet, stance and trigger control.
When did we loose the Annie Oakley, the Elmer Kieth, in us? When did we as shooters forget that we have to hit the target for it be effective? I have tried to help those that seemed interested, only to see them fall back on Hollywood hijinks as proof positive of how we are to shoot. Some of our most notable shooters were accurate shots; and some were accurate and fast shots. I think Wyatt Earp said it best. “Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything”. Folks like Annie Oakley, Sgt York, Audie Murphy, Carlos Hathcock, Elmer Kieth, Ed Mcgivern, Col. Applegate. As much as a google search will do, I find no famous fast inaccurate shots.
We read the caliber wars, the bullet discussions, +p or standard pressure. Then we see the one or two voices that point out shot placement. Yet, shot placement is nothing more than accuracy, or accuracy repeated. Being able to make repeated shots into very small groups shows that you have mastered your own stance, breathing, grip, trigger control and muscle memory. I make the case that being accurate is not slow. It is being deliberate, and that builds all the skills needed for being fast in our modern shooting sports, and hobbies. By being deliberate in our movements, our weight distribution, our grip, our eye focus, our breathing and our trigger control we build that much needed muscle memory. It is that memory that allows us to move smoothly and confidently when shooting at a faster pace.
What things can we work on to shoot more accurately as a group? Make our targets smaller, instead of hitting 6” center mass on a 12x 18 target. Focus on a 1” target dot on plain paper. Find your stance, understand your weight distribution. Be able to grip the firearm consistently every time. If you are re-gripping the gun after every shot, or every few shots you will not be consistent. Raise and lower the gun so that the sight alignment is consistent every time. Know when to breathe and when to hold that breath. Work that bugger hooker of a trigger finger. Be-able to dry fire a double action pistol or revolver with an empty 22lr case on the barrel 25-30 times before it falls off. These are all things that can be practiced and worked on outside the range.
When in the range we can work on certain steps before we get into our specific sport or hobby training. We can work on our live fire, stance, grip, breathing, sight picture and trigger pull. In that order. Set your stance, establish your grip, breathe, aligning the sights, pull the trigger. S.G.B.SA.T
I start my sessions with a brick of 22lr. I do 10 rounds out of my smith and Wesson 617 double action at the 1” dot. Then 10 rounds out of my 1911 with marvel unit 2 at the one inch dot. I repeat that for 500 rounds. I reaffirm the entire above items before moving on to center fire. It allows me to be consistent in S,G,B,SA,T. When I am not, the individual things I messed up on become very apparent. My biggest issue is consistent trigger control. That is why I practice with the 22lr pistols for so long.
When I move to center fire pistols, I use the same one inch dots. If I am feeling ballsy I work with the dime sized dots. I try and shoot out the 1” dots with 5 shots at 30’. I typically focus on that for around 300-400 rounds per caliber. Increasing or decreasing ranges as needed. I start my center fire practice with the smallest caliber that has the least recoil. Some times that is .38spl, or 9mm. Then move up through the guns with the most felt recoil.
When I have practiced my one inch dots and I am nearing the end of my range sessions. I will put up a silhouette target. I will work on my center mass shots. I load two to five rounds into the magazine. I put my target at 21-35ft depending how I have shot that day. I start my S.G.B.SA.T , I do it deliberately and with purpose. I do not try and force speed. I draw or mock draw if the range does not allow drawing from the holster. Aim fire, fire and reset. After my run through with the guns, I take advantage of my ranges hogan’s alley program. I have it set to turn the target on edge for 3 seconds, then face me for 1, then edge ect. I do that for 10 cycles. I focus on putting my shots accurately on a 1.5” sticky target using the 2 shot strings. Sometimes I do well and keep them all in the 1.5”, sometimes not.
For me, it comes down to being able to hit the target consistently, every time, and all the time. I work on accuracy, not speed. My soap box rant is over.