How long does it take for you to shoot accurately?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 10/28/2016 | J Hines

[w1n1]

This is one of the big questions among new shooters and veterans of gun enthusiasts. Besides from just shooting your gun more to get better, there are many school of thoughts on the subject. Here are some conversations that have a myriad of advices from poor to sound constructive approaches. Just a note, though the question is at the best very general, the answers will differ on the type of person that shoots guns. Some are competitive shooters, some plinkers and some are into close quarter shooting.

Here are some of those advices on 1911 Forum and Reddit:

Sock: I took a year and shot a handgun every day (even if it was only ten rounds of .22). Unbelievable how much you can improve with that little effort. 686, xd9, ruger mk ii. Whatever I felt like that day.

Sgt.Y: My best suggestion is do dry firing at home, unload and clear, aim at a set point in your room like the center of the clock face. If you have a 1911 it can be dry fired all day, but if not see your owners manual. Make sure you have a proper grip on your weapon, and proper triggering. When triggering you press the trigger not squeeze and use the tip of your finger not between the first and second knuckle. Sight in your target and press the trigger, be wary of the aim through the triggerinng. Repeat several times and take note any continued problems. You will need to learn to move the end of your finger and not pull the tendon through your arm. Read the rest of the story here, and what do you all do to get better at shooting?

[dangerdoc]

“I think women are better shooters.”

That has been my experience.

I haven’t seen many women willing to put in the time to be great shooters, but picking up a gun for the first time, most women shoot well, better than men in the same circumstances.

[dangerdoc]

“Question. My wife has only shot a handgun ONCE! I put a laser on the handgun to assist her. Will it help?”

It will not help trigger control, and that is where most people need the most help.

[dgbrown]

Define accurate, hitting a can or dotting the i on a Pepsi can?

Practice helps, hours and hours. Back in my day we would spend every afternoon in the woods with BB guns (22’s when appropriate) plinking anything that moved. Canopy shots were tricky, with BB’s you had to play the curve, pellets not so much.

In high school I was on the riflery team. At the try outs I was told I should shoot on the “club” team, but he let me try out and after 4 shots he said I could be on the team. I was the hick, broke school records and became captain.....

You can improve by practicing but, as with anything some people will always be better due to abilities and not just hard work.

[D Rider]

And you’re not kidding.

[D Rider]

And you’re not kidding.

[D Rider]

And you’re not kidding.

[Rio]

One weekend at Appleseed.

[semaj]

Being proficient with a firearm, just like any other motor skill, requires practice, and feedback. Identifying and correcting negative habits and reinforcing positive ones leads to a better all-around shooter.

[Organic Panic]

As soon as you get over flinching and jerking the trigger it’s pretty much accurate from there.

[Delta 21]

Its taken me all my life to get as good as I am.
Distractions like that at the range are very much appreciated but very quickly diminish my accuracy.

[wastoute]

Poor practice yields poor performance. Getting good help is essential. I owned firearms for decades before I began shooting in competition. It is like sailing. You might think you know how but until you compete you have no idea.

[wastoute]

Women do exactly what you tell them. They bring no preconceived notions that interfere.

[sit-rep]

With no wind? One or two Magazines... wwith wind? some guys are still working on it!

[sit-rep]

BTW that girl has a smokin back side!! just sayin...

[PLMerite]

I'd spot for this one all day long:

[TalonDJ]

Women don’t go into it assuming they will be instantly Dirty Harry. So they tend to take instruction better.

Nice work wining converts!

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

For accuracy without pressure, I can teach a typical handgun shooter to make a very tight (close to a ragged hole) group at 5 yards in about 15 minutes - and that’s standing up and holding the gun, not a bench rest. At that point it’s primarily about trigger control. Once you start adding time pressure for multiple hits many other ergonomic and stress factors come into play and we’re talking about lots of consistent training and practice.

[Red Badger]

B^)........................

[FateAmenableToChange]

:thumbs up

[BigDaddyTX]

A: You got the rest of your life to hit some targets before they hit you.