Train right and train for success

Training.  We have all heard the old adage “practice makes perfect”, but we all know it really should be “perfect practice makes perfect”.    Whether you are a seasoned shooter learning a new skill or technique or a first day shooting rookie, you need to ensure your training is up to par and is perfect in execution.  Only when you ensure it is perfect can you build the right muscle memory and be able to rely on that skill when it counts.  

First and foremost, make sure you start slow.  Walk through your drills slowly, deliberately, analyze each movement. Visualize this in your head first, then move to dry fire and make sure you are doing it smoothly and correctly.  I spent countless hours in my bathroom mirror looking at my draw, grip and stance.  I do suggest finding someone to look at your technique.  Someone who has experience who can give you a once over to see if you have any bad habits.  This may be taking a class at your local shop or having a friend you know that can help you.  Once you feel comfortable and feel you have it down, move to the range and encompass all this into a live fire drill.  With this, start slow here as well.  Visualize, dry fire, then shoot.  This combined with practice is the only way to ensure your skills are honed.  I can’t stress enough about dry fire.

Once you have put that time in and learned it, if you need that skill, muscle memory and monkey brain will take over and it works the way it is supposed to before you realize it.  I have experienced this personally in Iraq.  Things went bad, bullets started flying and before I knew what I was doing I was already behind cover and was scanning for a target.   The side of the Humvee where I was standing, was riddled with bullet marks and a few holes.  I’d like to think my training had something to do with none of those holes being in me.  

I started on my journey by attending classes that our squadron paid for to give us a better understanding of combat and how to react and operate. As a Combat Photojournalist we spent a lot of time with front line Army units and usually found ourselves on the front lines documenting combat operations. We weren’t infantrymen but we did know their skills and how they did things.  More than a few times we had to drop our cameras and pick up a rifle and these classes and training helped make sure our folks came home.  I always had outstanding instructors who started us out crawling (dry fire) walking (slow fire drills) and then running (full speed drills).  We spent as much time as we needed to make sure we were learning correctly. I put in thousands of hours dry firing, making sure my muscle memory was built in.  I was identified and then sent to instructor classes to learn how to teach these skills to others and new folks in our unit.  Tactical Rifle, Tactical Pistol and CQB instructor classes were my forte.   I went to several instructor level classes, learning new stuff from each that I incorporated into our squadron training. 

I always started my classes with the simple task of holding the weapon.  Yes, it sounds basic, but you have to crawl first.  Once we made sure they were holding their weapon correctly we then progressed to the draw and re-holster drills, reloads, then putting it together, how to draw and fire.  Using snap-caps we worked on trigger pull and firing.  Once they were comfortable we moved onto live fire.  We would drill this over and over.  The other instructors and I always watching to make sure it was done correctly and smoothly and above all safely.  Students would try to go fast from the start.  My favorite quote from an instructor, “Always learn to be smooth, smooth is fast and fast is smooth.”  It is so true.  Make sure you are smooth and speed will come.  Once we had the mechanics down, we progressed to more advanced tactics.  This is where you learn more advanced shooting skills, like moving and multiple targets like you find in 3-Gun.  

To sharpen your skills for competition or to hone them to protect yourself and family train the same way.  Learn how it is done perfectly and make sure you mirror that until you have that muscle memory.  The more you train the smoother you get, the smoother you get, the faster you get.  

A friend recently got a new pistol and asked me to show him how to shoot.  He wasn’t happy about the slow start, and he wasn’t happy about the dry fire but once we got to the range he saw the difference it made.  He is becoming a very good shot and his accuracy is improving. 

The thing tp remember is, if it’s a new skill or sharpening an old one, do it right, and do it often.  I know Palmetto State Armory offers classes and most other ranges offer classes or have experienced folks that can take time to help you.  

Safe and Happy Shooting to you all.