Do you find that when you shoot your gun towards your target, your shots go to the left or right at times? This happens when you pull your pistol shooting drills. Why does this happen? Your trigger finger is likely to blame.
When you press the trigger incorrectly, such as using too much or too little pressure, your accuracy gets way out of whack. This causes the pistol to flinch, resulting in your position going way off target.
It's a common issue that many shooters face. Fortunately, it's also one that can be remedied. When you get comfortable with your trigger, you will find that your accuracy will greatly improve. Whether you fire one round, two rounds, or 20 rounds, you can improve your accuracy in time and figure like a pro.
Recoil is another common culprit of poor accuracy. Many shooters anticipate the recoil, which can help if you're comfortable with your gun. However, new shooters run into trouble when they aren't used to the recoil.
This causes the gun to get off target, thereby interfering with accuracy and precision shooting. Once again, the flinch is to blame here. So whether you struggle with the trigger or recoil, you need to work on improving your shooting.
Pistol Shooting Drills
Shooting Drills for Handguns, Rifles, and Shotguns
The first drill we're going to look at is intended to help you in the event that your weapon malfunctions. The goal here is to help you learn how to safely engage your weapon after facing an issue with it.
To set up this drill, you need to emulate a malfunction. You can use a Snap Cap, for example, to help complicate matters. Loading a double feed will serve to make the situation challenging. All standard PPE is needed here. If you are firing a lot that day, wear some gloves to help prevent burns.
Next, set the drill up with your Snap Cap to create a complicated malfunction. You'll want to do this with the weapon you most often use. It's best to start with something you're familiar with and then work your way up from there.
Make sure that there are live rounds in your magazine. Once your gun is loaded with rounds, you're ready to start training. Ensure the drill is in the ready position like you've just fired a shot and are going to fire another one. If you have a timer, listen for the sound to go off and start your drill. Also, always clean your handgun first!
This is an easy drill but it's also a very important one to master. If you have a malfunction, you may find yourself in trouble in a real gunfight.
If you don't have a timer to check your times, the drill simply ends when you fire the first round. A timer is a great way to keep track of your times, so you should seriously think about investing in one.
Drills for Pistols
With a pistol, you first need to remove the magazine. Pull the action to the rear multiple times, all the while tilting the weapon ejection port down. Once the malfunction is safely cleared, you may reload the weapon and shoot. After you have fired a shot on target, you have successfully completed the drill. And just to remind you, take a look at the best pocket pistols here, or the top quality pistols for women in this post. And in case you want a piece with more firepower, check out these top 44 mag revolvers, or single-action handguns we reviewed, too.
Drills for Rifles
Every rifle works differently. As such, this drill assumes that you are shooting with a modern rifle. If you are using an older model, try to adapt the drill as best you can. You may as well want to check out the latest AR offers in this review.
Getting Started
Beginning in the firing position, drop your magazine with your firing hand (your non-firing hand serves to lock the bolt to the rear). As the bolt goes to the rear, this should cause the jam to clear. If it doesn't, use your hands to clear the brass away. Reload and place the magazine back in and shoot. After firing a single shot, the drill is complete.
Drills for Shotguns
This drill is dedicated to shotguns that have tubular magazines. Ensure that you use the rifle drill for box mags. Next, using a pump shotgun, you're going to want to pull the pump completely to the rear.
Getting Started
If need be, reach in manually to remove the malfunction. If it is automatic, be sure to lock the bolt back to the rear while clearing the malfunction with your hands. Reload, place rounds in the chamber, and fire off rounds.
For a greater challenge, place random empty cases in the magazine so that the malfunction takes you by surprise. This will help you learn how to react faster in your drills. This is a great way to improve your tactical drills, too.
You will be amazed at how well your skill improves when you set up your drills to where you don't know when to expect them. Target hits will improve, helping you to become advanced in your shooting training.
Tactical Drills
This drill is akin to shooting one shot in the head and two in the chest. You can essentially employ this drill with any weapon other than a machine gun. With that being said, it works best with a rifle or pistol.
Getting Started
To begin, you will need a silhouette target handy at the range. Make sure that it has the necessary areas visible so that you can get ample practice in for your training. Furthermore, make sure that you are keeping the target back at least 7 yards for a handgun.
If you're using a rifle or shotgun, be sure to have the target placed 15 to 25 yards back. If the range allows it, begin the drill with your handgun holstered. If you're using a rifle or shotgun, have it at low ready. At the timer, aim your weapon and shoot two rounds in the chest and one in the head.
The goal here is excellent accuracy. Advanced shooters will have better control, so if you're new, get in plenty of practice to where you have improved control over your firearm. This will ensure that you come accurate in your shooting at the range.
The key to this drill is that it stresses shots are placed accurately. What's more, this drill will help to get you more comfortable with your trigger. The better you feel with your trigger, the less pull you are likely to experience at the range and in real-world situations.
To increase the challenge of this drill, draw circles on index cards and place them on the target. Keep moving the cards to different locations to try and become good at these areas. Your speed will greatly improve over time, allowing you to score more hits with precision.
Practice changing your magazine faster and faster, too. The point of this drill is to improve your proficiency all around. Follow through with consistent range visits to become a well-rounded shooter.
Practice Makes Perfect
Remember, the point of drills is to improve your shooting sight and become the best shooter you can be. Oftentimes, a beginner shooter will get discouraged and give up if they can't seem to get fast and accurate with their firearms. You need to be sure that your finger is able to comfortably and confidently pull the trigger. But you can't expect to improve if you don't have a solid training regimen in place.
The purpose of drills is to ensure that you are a proficient shooter (see also 'Why Should You Use Ear Protection When Shooting a Firearm?'). As such, you need to spend as much time at the range as you can. The more shots of the rounds, the better you will get with your trigger. Start with close-range yards if need be. Then, when you are effective in your shots at a closer distance, you can move your targets farther away.
Your hand-eye coordination will vastly improve, but you need to stick with it. Find a drill that lets you shoot the necessary rounds to where you are able to hit your target each and every time. You will soon find that you are able to hit your targets with precision and with high accuracy.
When it comes to firearms, that's the name of the game.