Learning to Shoot Pistols

Despaxxus

Despaxxus

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Hello,

I've been lurking for about a month and have decided to get in on the action :). I still don't have my PAL, should be doing the course in Nov sometime. I'm interested in shooting pistols as well as Military surplus/black rifles, especially "tactical"/IPSC, and am wondering how one goes about learning how to be as accurate/fast as you can (besides LOTS of practice :p). What are the "best"/most stable (not benchrest) shooting stances. What are good drills for beginners etc. etc.

I did a search and didn't really find anything that covered this topic before (maybe I'm just blind 8))

Cheers,
Des
 
Buy a cheap Ruger .22 and shoot the crap out of it. Thats what I've been doing and my shooting has improved drastically over a few months since I got into shooting. I bring my .22 ruger to the range every time I go, and my shooting has improved with both my .22 and my 9mm.
 
Learn what proper trigger control is.

Learn to prep the trigger properly, as well. I practice this by dry firing as much as I can. Put up a paper printout of a target or something that you can use as a focal point for your dry fire practice. Make sure your firearm is unloaded. Rack the slide, bring the gun up to your firing stance (I usually call this "mount"ing the firearm) and pull the trigger. Keep the trigger all the way back. Bring the gun down, rack the slide, and remount the firearm. Your finger should still be holding the trigger back. With the sights on target, release the trigger just enough to feel it reset. Pull the trigger again, holding the trigger back. Your sights should not have moved from the target.

Repeat for about 5-10 minutes or until your arms get tired.
 
Slavex said:
where are you?
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Vancouver

Hungry Beagle, I've seen alot telling me not to dry-fire pistols. Is it make/manufacturer sensitive? or should that drill be done with dummy rounds/snap caps?
 
As far as I know, dry firing is only bad with rimfire rounds.

I dry-fire my 1911's and Glock all the time. I've had one firing pin stop break after 8 years, but that also included some 50,000 rounds+ of regular fire through the gun as well.

If you're really concerned about it, you can always use a dummy round or snap cap. I made a few by removing some cups from spent primers, putting in a piece of rubber and seating the primer backwards. I stopped bothering after a while, though.
 
And here for action shooting:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/

As usual there is a ton of information available on the Web, most of it good. Your Black Badge course for IPSC will provide the basics and lots of practice is essential to get better. Smooth is fast, and a slow hit beats a fast miss every time are phrases you will see oft repeated, and with good reason.
 
You CANNOT learn to shoot pistols by reading advice on the net. You need qualified instruction. Being from Vancouver you won't have any trouble finding a qualified coach. Good luck and good shooting. Be safe Des.
 
Despaxxus said:
...and am wondering how one goes about learning how to be as accurate/fast as you can (besides LOTS of practice :p).
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Sorry to disappoint, but that really is the only way to learn. Shooting is like any other sport – to become good, you need lots of practice. You're gonna have to spend a fair amount of time experimenting with different grips and stances, learning to concentrate and control your breathing, etc. It's all about trial and error.
 
texdores said:
You CANNOT learn to shoot pistols by reading advice on the net. You need qualified instruction.
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I know many shooters who have not learned to shoot by having qualified instruction but by lots of practice, picking up tips here and there. Some of these guys out shoot me who has had plenty of both instruction and trigger time...practice, practice practice....
 
waynesixgun said:
Lots of good info here :)

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/index.htm
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Thanks for the link!

I know i can't learn to shoot over the net (except in video games :p) what I am looking for are things to think about and practice when i goto the range. Seeing as i have Zero experience shooting pistols and limited experience with rifles I'm just learning what i can while i wait for my PAL :).
 
If you want to learn anything that requires skill, be it shooting, playing an instrument etc. you have to log the hours practising. Buy a pellet gun, shoot the hell out of it in you backyard at small targets. Go for accuracy first then speed. Learn your trigger. When it comes to practising a gun is a gun, air gun or .45.
 
To echo4lima: You are right, of course, qualified instruction is only the beginning to becoming a competent pistol shooter. I did what you suggest(that was years ago): lots of practice and picking up tips here and there. Problem is you waste a lot of years and ammo learning from your mistakes. I was into international style of shooting (then ISU, now ISSF) and teaching yourself to shoot a Free Pistol was a real eye-opener. There weren't any pistol coaches around in Canada in those days (60's and 70's) and I finally ended up becoming a pistol coach myself so others wouldn't have to go the same route as I had to.
The main problem with the trial and error method is that you tend to reinforce many of the mistakes you are making.
Practice alone won't do- you need to know what, when and how to practice. Sending a lot of rounds downrange isn't necessarily good practice. In other words a knowledgable coach can save you a lot of time and money.
 
Texdores and Echo4lima both have valid points. You CAN improve as a competent pistol shooter without instruction, but requires lots of practice, lots of practice and more practice. Tips you pick up along the way will help, but instruction from a Good Instructor can shave years off your learning curve.

Think about it this way. If you get a tip from somebody along the way, you have to remember it and trust from verbal/written descriptions that you are really doing it correctly.

An instructor can go to the range with you, tell you what to do, can check to see if you're doing it right and then you can practice what he/she is teaching immediately. Way better for a newer shooter.
 
You must practice proper technique to reinforce the muscle memory. Executing drills right half the time is only reinforcing half of the correct technique. I'm not sure who said it or what exactly the quote was derived for but it makes sense to apply it to all disciplines.

"A good shooter practices until he gets it right, a great shooter practices until he can't get it wrong."

CF
 
All valid....but once you have the basics, the fundementals such as body positioning, firearm carriage, how to hold, trigger squeeze, learn proper sight alingnment and sight picture, once these basic things are understood, there is nothing a coach or instructor can really do, it all comes down to basics + practice. All this you can practice with inexpensive .22 pistol. The basics apply whether handgun or longarm. I know old fellas who havn't shot since WWII and first time back behind a rifle, it's like meeting an old friend, it's all natural, the basics remain a known, as they say, the hand never forgets the rifle....
 
echo4lima said:
All valid....but once you have the basics, the fundementals such as body positioning, firearm carriage, how to hold, trigger squeeze, learn proper sight alingnment and sight picture, once these basic things are understood, there is nothing a coach or instructor can really do, it all comes down to basics + practice. All this you can practice with inexpensive .22 pistol. The basics apply whether handgun or longarm. I know old fellas who havn't shot since WWII and first time back behind a rifle, it's like meeting an old friend, it's all natural, the basics remain a known, as they say, the hand never forgets the rifle....
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Like riding a bike.
 
hahaha... i was taught the "German officer stance" when i was learning the BHP with the CF...

not exactly a great way to learn hahaha... sure was funny tho
 
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