Private 1-hour session with an instructor today.

[Racer88]

I think I mentioned once before … a guy that shot a sprinkler head off in his lane. The owner wanted to put a bullet in him.

If you stand around and watch the other shooters, it can be quite alarming. Missing the paper entirely at 5 yards. Most of the grips are obviously Hollywood-inspired. Tea cup. Weak hand grasping the wrist of the strong hand. Weak hand thumb over strong hand with semi-auto... ouch! Grip far too low on the pistol (big space between web of hand and "beavertail" area of pistol grip. Exaggerated "Weaver" stances with one elbow bent at almost 90 degrees and gun close to face. Leaning WAY back on their heels. Crazy stuff. I see all of it every time I go to the range.

Whenever I do happen to chat with a shooter who needs help (and is willing to listen), I always get resistance when I suggest sessions with a professional instructor. While I am a certified NRA Pistol Instructor, it's not my "day job" or even "side gig." I got the cert for my own edification, mostly. And I'm willing to help anyone who asks. But it's not "what I do."

I also got NRA certified as an RSO... for my own edification. It was fun, too.

Yeah.... most people won't spend the price of a few boxes of ammo for an hour lesson that will CATAPULT their learning curve.

 

[Racer88]

This is on a local rifle range. Consider how far off you have to be with a RIFLE to hit the baffles... especially the FIRST baffle.

Here's the view from the firing line at the 100 yard rifle range (my son - now USMC in training - in foreground).

Looking back towards the firing line from downrange:

Sadly and frighteningly, it seems MANY new rifle owners think you just bolt an optic to the rifle and start drilling the bullseye. They literally don't even know that you have to sight in / zero a scope on a rifle.

 

[svt-bansheeman]

If you don't mind, what were your top 3 take away's from today? I'm curious what a 40 year shooter can learn. I'm also equally impressed to look into taking some lessons myself. Nice job brother.

I know you were asking the OP but i recently took classes. To make along story short, we worked on what I wanted to focus on for the pistol classes. I wanted to focus on grip, recoil control and trigger pressing which were horrible and I was doing them all wrong my whole pistol shooting life.

 

[Racer88]

I know you were asking the OP but i recently took classes. To make along story short, we worked on what I wanted to focus on for the pistol classes. I wanted to focus on grip, recoil control and trigger pressing which were horrible and I was doing them all wrong my whole pistol shooting life.

As the old saying goes, "Practice does NOT make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect."

Many of us have been shooting a long time.... incorrectly. Ask me how I know!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

A lot of gun owners don’t sign up for training. I think one reason is some of them are ‘hold my beer’ types. It’s the reason they buy a gun in the first place. They aren’t really into self defense, the right to bear arms or think about any of that. Just having a gun makes them feel like one of the cool kids. They are easy to pick out at the range. Taking selfies, rapid fire and missing the paper, holding the gun “gangsta”.

 

[Racer88]

A lot of gun owners don’t sign up for training. I think one reason is some of them are ‘hold my beer’ types. It’s the reason they buy a gun in the first place. They aren’t really into self defense, the right to bear arms or think about any of that. Just having a gun makes them feel like one of the cool kids. They are easy to pick out at the range. Taking selfies, rapid fire and missing the paper, holding the gun “gangsta”.

And there are those who mistakenly believe that merely OWNING a gun... having it in the house or even carrying it will render them victorious in a violent encounter. Of course they could not be more mistaken. One can only hope they don't find out the hard way. Fortunately statistics are in their favor (of never having such an encounter).

But I think you're also right about some people just like being able to TELL others they own a gun or have a "license to carry." Gives them a "007 vibe."

Owning a piano doesn't make you a musician, either.

 

[svt-bansheeman]

I don't concern myself with what others do when I go to the range. If they don't want to train to be better that is their business. When people rapid fire, take pictures etc, they are having fun. Good for them.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Owning a piano doesn't make you a musician, either.

Very true. A grand piano in the great room is often a status symbol.

I don’t take issue with that. To each his own. Nobody buys a Rolex so they know what time it is. A Timex does the same thing just as well. I’ve bought a few luxury items in my time. I got over that urge a long time ago. Deciding you have nothing to prove is very liberating. It’s based on the realization nobody that matters really gives a shit how important or interesting you think you are.

But for me, guns are different. They are inherently dangerous in the hands of someone who arrogantly thinks they know how or when to use it. Nobody gets unintentionally killed if you buy a Ferrari or a Steinway.

 

[Racer88]

I don't concern myself with what others do when I go to the range. If they don't want to train to be better that is their business. When people rapid fire, take pictures etc, they are having fun. Good for them.

I concern myself when that behavior involves unsafe gun handling, which it OFTEN does. I've lost count of how many times I've had to remind other shooters to NOT muzzle their friend (or me, in some cases). I've had to remind them to keep the muzzle pointed downrange when addressing a malfunction rather than turning the gun towards the shooter in the adjacent booth.

I'm all for having a good time. Taking photos. All that.... It helps normalize firearms and can help to advance the preservation of the 2A. But, keep it safe!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I don't concern myself with what others do when I go to the range. If they don't want to train to be better that is their business. When people rapid fire, take pictures etc, they are having fun. Good for them.

Until they find themselves in a bad situation and get killed. Or shoot a bystander and end up in prison. Good for them?

Those are the wages of not training.

 

[Racer88]

Nobody gets unintentionally killed if you buy a Ferrari or a Steinway.

Perhaps true of a Steinway... unless you're under it and the legs collapse.

But there are PLENTY of people who have the money but don't have the skills to handle a mid-engine car like a Ferrari. And they can hurt themselves or others when they push it. Though, the new models do have the OPTION of turning on the electronic stability features that can keep them out of trouble.

There was that guy who starred (ironically) in the Fast & Furious movie franchise that was killed in a Porsche Carrera GT (a notoriously technically difficult car to drive) being driven WAY beyond its parameters in the public streets of Beverly Hills (I think... somewhere in the LA area). He was the passenger. But the driver fucked up... big time.

Mid-engine cars are an entirely different animal than front engine cars. And if you're going to push them, you better know what you're doing. And just as watching Miami Vice doesn't make anyone a pistolero, watching NASCAR or even F1 doesn't make you a competent performance driver.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Perhaps true of a Steinway... unless you're under it and the legs collapse.

But there are PLENTY of people who don't have the skills to handle a mid-engine car like a Ferrari. And they can hurt themselves or others when they push it. Though, the new models do have the OPTION of turning on the electronic stability features that can keep them out of trouble.

There was that guy who starred (ironically) in the Fast & Furious movie franchise that was killed in a Porsche Carrera GT (a notoriously technically difficult car to drive) being driven WAY beyond its parameters in the public streets of Beverly Hills (I think... somewhere in the LA area). He was the passenger. But the driver fucked up... big time.

Mid-engine cars are an entirely different animal than front engine cars. And if you're going to push them, you better know what you're doing. And just as watching Miami Vice doesn't make anyone a pistolero, watching NASCAR or even F1 doesn't make you a competent performance driver.

I recall that story about the Porsche In Hollywood. I think the driver wrapped it around a pole. Lost control.

70’s muscle cars as they are called now were all the rage when I was in high school and we had a lot of gearheads. Some of those kids built cars that were truly awesome. In my second and third year, four kids in my class and the one just ahead me were killed in separate high speed wrecks. And a few passengers.

I think there’s a parallel here. Some things are dangerous. In the hands of a fool or a kid who doesn’t use good judgement (as kids have a tendency to do), tragedies can and do happen.

 

[svt-bansheeman]

Until they find themselves in a bad situation and get killed. Or shoot a bystander and end up in prison. Good for them?

Those are the wages of not training.

I understand the benefits of training. I will continue to not care what others do at the gun range.

 

[Racer88]

I recall that story about the Porsche In Hollywood. I think the driver wrapped it around a pole. Lost control.

As a performance driving enthusiast (in years past), I consider "lost control" equivalent to "the gun went off." No... someone pulled the trigger. And the driver of the Carrera GT FORCED the car out of control. Just like pulling the trigger when the gun was pointed in an unsafe direction.

He was driving too fast for the environment (which was populated by other unwitting / innocent people unlike a track)... 100+ mph! He tried to brake AND turn at the same time. No bueno in a mid-engine car! That forces a mid-engine car into a "trailing throttle or snap oversteer," which is enhanced by the mid-engine weight distribution. And off into a pole they went.

There's a saying in performance driving, especially with Porsches... when it comes to slowing down for turns:
"Slow in, fast out."

It means you do your braking in a straight line. Then turn. And as you come through and out of the turn, apply throttle.

I will continue to not care what others do at the gun range.

Me neither, as long as it's not dangerous. Otherwise, it's more of a source of amusement and perhaps a bit of dismay (because they could do better by learning).

 

[svt-bansheeman]

If it's too dangerous, I leave. Just like in any situation.

But anyway training. I plan to get some steel torso targets to practice once work picks up. I have my own land to shoot and I prefer steel targets for most things.

 

[Alex]

I also find the lessons to be FUN. I never know what drill he's going to come up with next. And it's a nice change from just "practicing" by myself.

My last CCW instructor had us play Battleship against one another, with paper targets just like the old game. That was surprisingly fun and was meant to get us to "aim small and miss small".

I also share the low left demon. I have been shooting DAO revolvers all summer, it has really helped my grip. We will see what happens when I switch back to pistols in the fall.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Guns and golf. Two of the hardest things to master without training and practice.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

As a performance driving enthusiast (in years past), I consider "lost control" equivalent to "the gun went off."

Car racing is not one of my talents. My thing was 2-wheelers and I often rode them a lot faster than one should. As you said, I was told more than once ... accelerate thru a curve and stay off the brake. You also get the thrill of leaning into the curve.

I don't ride like that anymore. I made it this long without becoming a paraplegic and I hope to keep it that way until my natural checkout date arrives.

 

[Viking2721]

Very cool, and. Makes total sense.

 

[Viking2721]

I know you were asking the OP but i recently took classes. To make along story short, we worked on what I wanted to focus on for the pistol classes. I wanted to focus on grip, recoil control and trigger pressing which were horrible and I was doing them all wrong my whole pistol shooting life.

I've actually only "Officially" been doing this a little over a year. So I'd actually be interested from that answer from anyone who had any input.