5 Tips To Increase Your Firearm Proficiency And Not Suck
I originally was going to keep this post on social media but I also knew that some of this info deserved a deeper dive than what I could offer on social media.
The purpose of this post is to highlight five straightforward ways to increase your firearm proficiency and become a better shooter while simultaneously increasing your knowledge as well.
Know How Your Gun Works.
The easiest way to do this for the guns you own is to read the owner’s manual. The manual will tell you everything you need to know such as how to make your gun safe, how to load and unload it, how to make it safe and more. Some manufacturers even provide in-depth videos that you can look at to gain a better understanding of your firearm. If you’re going to be shooting it and especially if you’re going to be using it for self-defense, you definitely want to know how your gun operates.
Shoot At The Range.
Practice. You can’t show up to the game and expect a display of great skill if you never practice. Shooting is a prime example of that. Find a shooting range that allows you to hone your skills. You want to find one where you can rent firearms, buy ammunition, targets, safety equipment and any other necessities you may need.
Take Classes With Experts.
As a new gun owner, don’t just buy a gun and go shooting down the range and hit everything but your target. Your inexperience shows. Find classes in your area and vet the instructors. Learn proper firearm and safety etiquette. Learn how to properly manipulate your firearm and fix your errors from instructors with years of experience. And don’t be confined to your local area either. Plan trips to travel and gain instruction from nationally-recognized training experts as well. You get what you pay for.
Dry Fire At Home.
Believe it or not, you don’t have to be at the range to work on your firearm training. You can practice your weapon manipulation skills at home with an UNLOADED firearm. Dry fire allows you to not only practice the basics of shooting but also to focus on drawing from a holster, reloads, malfunction drills and more. You can do all of this without ever firing a shot. Even though you’re at home and not using ammunition, safety must still remain the focus. Always ensure your firearm is unloaded and ensure that no live ammunition is present in the area to mistakenly enter your firearm.
Many people feel like dry-firing is bad for your firearm and there is one small group of firearm owners that are correct, but for the most part, most guns dry fire with no problem.
Rimfire guns and your older semi-auto handguns and revolvers will very possibly run into issues that could cause damage to your firing pins if dry firing without snap caps (dummy rounds). Be sure to use snap caps if necessary for your firearm or if you suspect your firearm is prone to damage by dry-firing.
Train Frequent To Build Skills.
The only way to hone in on yours skills is to repetitively drive them home by practicing and educating yourself. You can’t go thru these tips one time and expect to be an expert. It takes repetition and frequent training to begin to master your firearm skills. If you’re really serious about improving your skills then you may want to train as frequently as almost every day.
While this isn’t an all inclusive of everything it will take to become proficient at the use of your firearm, it is definitely a good start.
