Re: Help with fundamentals of pistol marksmanship
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An article once penned as an intro to the USMC Pistol Marksmanship Guide:
U. S. Marine Pistol Team
Guide
to Marksmanship
Marine Corps League Supplement
Presented By:
The Marine Corps League
Department of New Jersey
Shooting Activities Committee
Foreword
It is assumed that the reader of this edition is a Marine Corps Leaguer, and that the reader has acquired this manual to study the methods used by the Corps in teaching or improving the marksmanship skills of serving Marines. Most Marine Corps Leaguers were taught some form of familiarization with standard issue-type sidearms during their period of active service, and little more. Some readers may have actually qualified with service sidearms, attaining proficiency scores related to the military use of these sidearms. The exercises contained in this manual are for an entirely different purpose; that of marksmanship excellence for its own sake. They prepare the shooter for what is known in civilian life as Bull's-Eye shooting, a form of NRA-sponsored competition. The Marine Corps fosters this form of competition within its ranks. It maintains an establishment called the Marine Corps Teams, at MCCDC, Quantico; for the purpose of providing training and Intra-Corps Match Competition opportunities. Competitors who excel in these competitions are often invited to join the Teams, to develop their skills and allow them to compete in Inter-Service, National, and International Competition. Many of the basic skills used in this form of competition, and referred to in this edition, have changed in recent years. Readers must take this into account before making any assumptions about what specific terms mean, and how certain commonly used procedures are performed. Take the time to read the glossary, and fully understand the definitions.
Certain concepts must be mastered to permit developing the requisite skills.
The first and most important concept is that pistol marksmanship is a physical sport. Good health and fitness are directly related to success. Particular forms of exercise can be beneficial, and some of the physical techniques and goals are unrelated to other sports. Some commonly practiced or logically imagined physical exercises can be detrimental to good marksmanship performance. Understanding the body and how it works to deliver the motions and positions needed for good marksmanship is the key to employing one's body as an ally, rather than as a foe. Physical development must be directed toward this goal. Mental development is also necessary to success. The ability to screen one's environment; finding the factors needing to be concentrated upon, and excluding the distractions which reduce performance, is a key item leading to success. A mental program must be developed and followed to allow the shooter's body to perform reliably in delivering marksmanship excellence.
The second concept is that pistol marksmanship is a discipline, with particular methods and goals. As a discipline, it has specific rules and techniques. Once they are understood and mastered, these rules and techniques will inevitably contribute to the shooter's success. They form the means by which the shooter may extend their goals and improve their performance.
The third concept is that each shooter is an individual, learning and improving at their own individual pace. In seeking to improve performance, and achieve competitive success, the shooter must understand that their performance is a personal thing. The success with which they apply the rules and techniques to their own methods is directly related to their personal commitment and desire to excel in this sport. As individuals, each must accept that we all share in the physical and mental abilities required at different personal levels. Physical prowess and mental abilities serve us as tools in achieving our goals. They should be viewed as assisting, rather than limiting the shooter. Some shooters will find the tasks simple to understand and master, others will have difficulty. All will find that success is possible. With rare exception, perseverance will deliver whatever goals the shooter truly commits to achieving. Competitive shooting can be a lifelong commitment, and can result in unending improvement and satisfaction. No course of improvement is smooth and free from setbacks. Such setbacks should be viewed as further incentive to resolve the underlying problems. They should actually help the shooter, leading to a better understanding of techniques and result in a greater potential for success. There is no time when the potential for improvement is greater than when performance is at its worst; the only direction is up.
The fourth concept is that marksmanship skills are perishable. They must be practiced regularly and consistently, or they will desert the shooter. Marksmanship skills must become a regular part of the shooter's makeup; as normal and common skills as are walking and breathing. The point of training repetition is to make the basic component skills related to marksmanship excellence into ingrained habits. They can then be counted on to work consistently and effectively without conscious thought. Each exercise and drill that a shooter practices should be directed toward improving a single particular marksmanship skill. Any practice that is not performed in this manner serves no good purpose. What makes marksmanship excellence difficult at first is that the mind can only concentrate on a limited number of things at any given time. Attempting to perfect them all at once serves mostly to distract and confuse the shooter. They must each become unconscious habits, like maintaining balance or focusing one's vision on an object. Then the shooter can concentrate on the key components skills, sight alignment and trigger squeeze, and rely on their mind and body's inate ability to deliver the other necessary component skills consistently and without fail.
The final concept is that any shooter can be a winner. Success in this sport is directly related to commitment. Perfect scores are attainable, with persistence and practice. That they are not easily attained serves only to make them more satisfying when achieved. The difference between a shooter's current attainment and ultimate perfection stands as the measure of the potential for improvement. This difference is best dealt with as a pointer to where new goals should be set, forming milestones on the road to excellence. Any shooter can improve, and none need feel that perfection is something that is personally unattainable. History and the Corps have proved otherwise.
It is the purpose of this manual to show the way to personal excellence.
Preparing for Perfection
A successful shooter can look around at the others on the line, and recognize in those others those physical traits that contribute to good marksmanship. Each will be relaxed, having the strength that allows the shooter to hold a steady position for sufficient time without becoming tired. They will also have sufficient personal cardiovascular capacity to concentrate on shooting without becoming short of breath and unsteady, losing their concentration. Personal physical training must be designed to support these areas of physical performance.
Physical training must be built upon a foundation of good physical health. Anyone starting on a new regimen of physical training must first ensure that their basic health is good enough to permit such exertion without the risk of injury or dangerous cardiovascular distress. Like persons who choose to provide their own legal defense, persons who choose to be their own doctors have fools for clients. Get a good medical checkup from a reputable medical practitioner. Be sure that the doctor understands that you plan to enter physical training. If your physical condition is not good enough to permit strenuous exercise, follow your doctor's advice regarding how to improve your condition until the doctor clears you for strenuous physical training. If your health is not sufficiently important to you to ensure that you adhere to good medical practice, then your judgment is too poor to allow you to develop good shooting skills.
The foundation of good physical condition is good cardiovascular health. Your lungs and circulatory system will reflect your normal level of physical activity. Persons who are constantly physically active will have higher cardiovascular capacity than persons who lead a slow and sedentary existence. One might think that shooting is a sedentary sport; after all, we just stand on the line and point our firearms downrange, right? This is not so, as most shooters will find when they attempt to fire a rapid fire string. If your body has the ability to obtain, store, and distribute oxygen efficiently, you will find yourself just beginning to feel the need to breathe as the targets finally turn away. Otherwise, the need to breathe will become strong enough to distract the shooter from good sight alignment and trigger squeeze just at the moment when they have settled down and begun to achieve good timing and accuracy.
Aerobic training is a good means to achieve better cardiovascular capacity. The basis of aerobic training is to raise the heart rate to a controllably higher level for a specific period, and then back down to normal. This is done by steadily increasing physical exertion until a level physical plateau is settled upon, followed by a steady decrease of exertion, until the heart rate is normal again. Abrupt changes in physical exertion are disruptive of controllable heart rates, and can stress the cardiovascular system to dangerous levels. They must be avoided. The physical exercises that can be used to perform aerobic training are numerous. Such exercises may be varied often, if care is taken to monitor and control heart rates, keeping them within acceptable limits. These limits vary according to many factors, and each individual should seek out and use a set of limits that are tailored to their own physical capacity. Walking, jogging, stationary equipment, and calisthenics are all good aerobic exercises, when used with attention to heart rate.
Physical exercises also contribute to the individual body areas where physical strength is needed. The point of developing these specific areas of strength is not to develop rock hard muscles, providing immovable positions and unbreakable grips. It is to allow the shooter to assume and hold their positions steadily for long periods, without becoming tired and developing shake. The key concept is to turn the body into a steady and relaxed bulwark. It should be able to perform smoothly and reliably for as long as necessary. It should not desert the shooter before the work is done, distracting the shooter from achieving consistent accuracy. When properly developed, the body becomes an ally, rather than a foe. The areas where strength is needed are the hands and wrists, neck and shoulders, legs and waist. Good feet and footwear contribute by allowing the shooter to hold a steady position without developing backache.
There are two kinds of muscle development; that which contributes to bulk, and that which contributes to definition. Big, bulky muscles are strong and steady, and contribute by providing the structural pylons supporting the fine levers that perform steady movements. Finely defined muscles are easily distinguished from each other, and are strong and flexible cords that move the levers with precise control. Bulk is developed by stressing the muscles to their maximum force limits, forcing them to overcome those limits by growing. Definition is developed by repetition of smaller loads through limits of extension, forcing them to overcome those limits by becoming longer and more flexible.
Hands and wrists are developed to provide a steady and relaxed grip. The physical attributes of a good grip allow the shooter to hold the firearm with good sight alignment. A good grip is as relaxed as possible; steady and firm enough to control recoil and achieve recovery, and no stronger. The development goal is muscle definition, not bulk. Rock-like grips are tiring and unnecessary, and contribute to unconscious forces that push the sights out of alignment during trigger squeeze. The contribution of strength to accuracy is that it allows continued performance without tiring. Frequent repetitive squeezing exercises that exercise the entire hand are used to develop a good grip. Squeezing a tennis ball, or scissors-type spring grip can be useful; but fail to develop the strength and control of individual fingers. A better method is to use a gripmaster exerciser, which has individual buttons for each finger. Most good gun stores carry a model that has attachments which change the palm contour to resemble a pistol grip, and provide sights for practicing sight alignment and sight picture while exercising. They can even be used to train the shooter to use the trigger squeeze to hold the sight alignment, rather than deflect it.
To establish a good grip with a handgun, grasp the grips comfortably, and place enough pressure on the trigger to simulate tripping the hammer. Glance away and fully extend the arm. Look back at the gun and examine the sight alignment without allowing the gun to move. If the sights are off proper alignment, move the handgun in the hand until the sights are correct when restoring the view. Aligning the barrel in line with the forearm to "control recoil" is not effective, and invariably forces the shooter to move their wrist out of a relaxed position in order to achieve proper sight alignment. This forces the shooter to fight the body's natural tendencies in order to get good sight alignment, turning the body into a foe, rather than an ally.
The neck and shoulders are the pillars which support the arm. They contribute to a steady, relaxed position, holding the sight alignment before the eye in a position which delivers a steady, constant sight picture in relationship with the target shape. The development goal is bulk, not definition, as the strength is used to achieve steadiness. Strength exercises involving heavy loads, like rowing and lifting weights are useful here, as well as pushups. Exercises that mimic the raising of the pistol's weight to the ready position are helpful. Care must be taken not to develop bulk in the muscles in the forearm that run along the top of the arm when the pistol is held ready. This is the major contributor to sight wobble. Do not hold the arms raised for long periods, as this develops those muscles we don't want developed. Lower the arm again, shortly after achieving a steady ready position.
Legs and waist are best developed using exercises that develop their bulk. Running until your legs are tired, rowing, cycling, and stair climbing are all useful. Be careful not to strain the knees and ligaments around the knees, as serious injury can result. When running, use good footwear, which supports the ankles, and cushions the joints and long bones from repetitive impact injuries, including stress fractures. Good fit along the sole is important to preventing bad muscle development which contributes to backaches and joint problems. Sit-ups contribute to good stomach muscle tone, which promotes proper back curvature, and helps achieve a relaxed and comfortable posture when shooting for long periods, preventing backache.
When establishing a proper shooting position, turn partly toward the target with the pistol in a correct grip in a ready position. Look aside from the target (face forward), and point the pistol out into the most comfortable position. Look again at the pistol and judge the direction it is pointing with relationship to the target. Move both feet until the pistol points in the general direction of the target. Look away again and resume the most comfortable position. Look back and adjust the feet, not the arm, until the proper sight picture is achieved. Move the rear foot to correct up and down deviations. Pivot the front foot on the heel to correct left and right deviations, if they are small. Move the whole foot left and right if the deviations cannot be comfortably corrected by the pivot method. Look away again, and relax. Look back and make those minor corrections needed until the pistol points with a correct sight picture from a fully relaxed position. From this point do not change grip or foot position until the relay is completely fired. Preparation that allows you to reach needed magazines for reloading and tools for wiping the breech, if necessary, should be done before establishing position. Moving the feet or pistol in the grip will require performing the entire grip and position establishment procedure all over again, which may be impossible during the firing period.
Use this time to fully visualize each of the steps in sequence to loading, feeding, assuming the ready, acquiring the target and firing an "X", shot by shot. Breathing should be performed so that when the finger begins taking up the slack, the lungs are at the natural respiratory pause. This means that the shooter exhales to the point where they are fully relaxed, and no more air may be expelled without forcing. When the body is properly oxygenated and the exhalation is properly performed, this procedure relaxes the body to its ultimate, and prevents the shooter's pulse from disturbing the sight picture. Several shots may be fired before breathing becomes an insistent need, and a shooter in good cardiovascular condition may be able to fire an entire rapid fire string, or even an entire timed fire string completely relaxed on a single breath.
Proper grip and position stress using the body as an ally. Positions and grips are established so that the pistol points directly into the proper sight picture from the most comfortable and relaxed position, without having to fight to maintain alignment. Recoil and wind disturb the body, and the natural position returns the pistol onto the target without the need for conscious correction. The only conscious effort needed is that of recovery, to hasten repointing the pistol properly after recoil. The net dividend of all this exercise is to create and multiply useful time for the shooter, allowing a relaxed trigger squeeze with plenty of time for the shots to break naturally. A minimum of time is wasted on correcting position and sight picture. The result of ignoring these principles is usually a rushed shooter, who must rush the shots and ends up jerking the trigger, because they are running out of time which they wasted fighting the pistol onto the target.
Proper grip and position are described here, in the physical training section, because they are inseparable from that training; each discipline is part of the other discipline. The goals of all the physical training are useful only in that they contribute to proper grip and position, and permit the shooter with the needed endurance to shoot entire matches without tiring.
Mental preparation also goes together with physical training, because the mental state allows the proper employment of the physical abilities.
The value of mental training is that it allows the shooter to isolate themselves within a private bubble, separate from distraction, totally committed and fully aligned with the plan which consistently delivers perfect shots, every shot.
Concentration is the mental foundation of good marksmanship. Some of us can pick up a novel and immerse themselves totally in the characters and situations of the plot, completely oblivious to ringing phones, noisy traffic, low flying jets, and screaming children at play. This is a perfectly natural trait, and everyone possesses it. It is a skill that can be identified and practiced to perfection.
It depends completely on the ability of the practitioner to identify a train of thought that the practitioner wishes to concentrate upon to the exclusion of everything else. The practitioner must know enough about the sequence of thought so as not to need to exit the train of thought to the outside world in order to seek additional information. The practitioner must devoutly wish to follow the sequence with such a strong desire that no outside distraction can intrude into the sequence. The practitioner must find following the sequence so pleasurable that they don't want to leave the sequence for anything; not food, not drink, not sleep, and maybe not even sex. Obviously, the practitioner needs a truly strong commitment to achieve so strong and uninteruptible concentration. Obviously, there will be times when such concentration is difficult, even impossible.
When the needs of the body are strong, concentration is elusive; so satisfy the body's needs before attempting concentration. It is easier to concentrate when no distractions are present. The shooter should attempt to minimize distractions. The shooter should also understand that concentration in the absence of distractions is so much easier that little is gained from such practice. The exception is in the earlier stages of training, when the need for uninterrupted repetition is greater. The most effective environment for practicing concentration is one that is rich in distractions. Sharp, loud noises; bright intermittent flashes; vibrations and impacts that shake the bones to the core; all of these constitute a distraction rich environment. Concentration achieved under such conditions is the most effective and intense form. Conditions like these are actually much like those found on the shooting range.
Such concentration may bear resemblance to Zen, or be described as fugue; but is really a very simple and necessary thing. It is possible to overdo such concentration; as anyone who has failed to hear their wife calling for a hand in the kitchen while immersed in a book can testify to. The fact remains that the competitive shooting environment demands strong concentration.
Concentration is good, but we need something to concentrate on. Since concentration is a mental thing, it is better to visualize than look at pictures. Therefore, there are no pictures in this manual. We all know what our target pistols look and feel like. We can close our eyes and visualize loading a round into the magazine, then another round, and so on; until we have five, no more, no less. Close your eyes and visualize this sequence now. If it is not totally clear, practice this sequence sometime until you can do it with your eyes closed, but don't do it now. You have just practiced concentration on a sequence of steps we all need for shooting a perfect shot. Other visual pictures can be summoned from our memories, like the sight of the slow fire target at 25 yards, or the sights of our pistol, held in proper alignment. We can imagine the feel of the trigger and grip in our hands as we squeeze off a round without jerking the trigger. We can revisit the surprise that we felt the first time we correctly squeezed off a shot when the sights were perfectly aligned, and the sight picture was just right. We can clearly recall the pleasure we felt when we went up to the target and saw that perfect "X".
Each of these mental pictures, and those of all the other discrete and separate steps we need to perform in order to shoot a perfect string, can be visualized at any place and time, on or off the range. Developing a mental plan consists of identifying and assembling each and every one of these visions into a perfectly ordered sequence that will result in the firing of a perfect string of fire. Concentrating on this plan in the time between when we establish our grip and position, and the time the target turns, while getting our breathing set, is the act of defining our actions into an easily understood and achievable path to that perfect target. The sights, the sounds, the physical and emotional feelings, even the smells, can all be defined within our minds as very real parts of the sequence we must follow to shoot a perfect score. The more often and accurately we can retrace our steps in our minds, the easier the actual act becomes.
The remainder of preparing for perfection is simple. Find a context that allows practice with the help of a knowledgeable shooter for a coach. The best way is to join or form a team. Find a range where some serious shooters practice, and ask them for help. Once you have a coach, practice the exercises contained in this manual. Share the manual with your coach; you'll probably find that they've never seen anything like it. They may want to try out the exercises, themselves. Feel free to make copies, but remember, don't charge for them. The expensive part of the training is the commitment, anyway. Gung Ho, future champion!
Task/Exercise Notes
Group Shooting and Basic Pistol Marksmanship -
This exercise is a preliminary test to establish an initial measure of the shooter’s basic marksmanship skills. The skills being tested are sight alignment and trigger pull. The absence of a target center prevents distraction from the basic task at hand, and counts on the unconscious ability of the mind to direct the sight alignment into the center of the blank target. The first key point is that the shooter must be highly discriminating about their sight alignment. The front sight blade is the center of visual focus. It must be placed directly centered between the two sides of the rear sight notch, and the top of the blade must be exactly even in height with the top of the notch. The second key point is that the trigger pull must be correct. It must be totally smooth; with the steady increase of trigger pressure until the shot breaks without warning. If the shooter can maintain correct sight alignment while applying smoothly increasing trigger pressure, the shots will group tight and round. Conventional logic may cause the shooter to doubt this is true, but practice will prove this to be an effective exercise.
25 Yard Slow Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise is a mechanical task for the purpose of obtaining groups and moving these groups into the center of the aiming bull by adjusting the sights. The shooter learns at this point to develop a feel for the proper sight picture. There is also the requirement of establishing the sight adjustment data necessary to obtain centered groups with the particular firearm. Sight adjustment data should be recorded as the number of clicks up from zero, and the number of clicks left or right of the center mark on the sight mount. This data should be recorded for future reference in the shooter’s journal. This data should also include the serial number of the firearm, the scores obtained in every string fired, the distance fired, the timing of the string, and the light and wind conditions. The use of a journal allows the shooter to develop a sense of judgment about the conditions that affect their accuracy. It permits the shooter to recognize the corrections needed to their sight adjustment to meet any set of conditions they may encounter when shooting for score. The shooter should be able to set their sights properly at any time, regardless of the current settings. They could be changed out of their proper settings for any reason, including that of having many shooters share the same firearms.
Basic Marksmanship Test -
This exercise is a confidence builder. The skills required are all those needed to deliver perfect scores; proper grip, position, sight alignment, sight picture, breathing, and trigger pull. The confidence to be gained by delivering a perfect score brings home to the shooter for the first time that perfection is an attainable and repeatable achievement.
Mental Program -
This exercise serves the purpose of developing within the shooter a mental sequence that associates the range commands with the sequence of physical operations that must be performed in order to deliver a perfect score. This mental program should be written down by the shooter in their own words to ensure that it is something that they totally understand. This written program should be posted in their shooting box in a position that is clearly visible from the ready position, so that it can serve the shooter as a constant reminder.
Timed Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise introduces two new factors into the shooter’s program; time limits and recovery. The imposition of a 5 shot in 20 seconds time limit forces the shooter to concentrate on sight alignment and trigger pull, while counting on the subconscious performance of the other skills; grip, position, and breathing. The absence of a target center removes the distraction of hunting for a sight picture, and places the emphasis back on sight alignment and trigger pull. The need for proper breath control brings home the requirement for good physical conditioning. The introduction of the time limit also establishes the need for concentration on pulling the firearm back to the proper position, rather than waiting for it to return naturally. This act of recovery increases the time the shooter has for applying a smooth trigger pull while holding a good sight alignment. This contributes to better accuracy and reduces the haste that leads to trigger jerk. The addition of time limits increases the overall stress placed on the shooter, and provides an incentive for increased concentration, reinforcing mental conditioning.
One-Shot Timed Fire Drills -
This exercise is strictly for the purpose of conditioning the shooter to deliver a quick and accurate first shot in a timed or rapid fire string, and perfecting the recovery task. The shooter should begin breathing deeply at the command “THE LINE IS READY!”. The shooter should raise the gun at the command “READY ON THE RIGHT?”, continuing the deep breathing cycle. They should concentrate on the picture of a perfect sight alignment, bringing the sights into a position that anticipates a perfect sight picture exactly where the target is expected to appear. At the command “READY ON THE LEFT?”, the shooter should be allowing their body to settle and relax, while focusing mentally in the picture of a perfect shot group. The shooter should let out their last breath, achieving a good natural respiratory pause, and at the command “READY ON THE FIRING LINE!, should begin a smooth increase of trigger pressure, focusing on the sight alignment, and waiting with infinite patience during the three second pause before the target turns. When the target finally turns, the shooter should continue the trigger pull and sight alignment so that the shot breaks as soon after the target turns as possible. The shooter should resist to natural tendency to shift their visual focus onto the target, which is moving, and concentrate their visual focus on the front sight blade. When the shot breaks, the shooter should allow the gun to recoil naturally, without physical resistance, and wait for it to stop its motion before beginning recovery. The recovery should be a natural, smooth effort to retrace the path of the gun back to a proper sight picture, without excessive effort that might cause the gun to overshoot its intended destination. The target faces the shooter for only three seconds. When the exercise has been repeated sufficiently, the shooter should be able to regain a proper sight picture after the shot breaks, just before the target turns away again. The shooter learns to settle down before the target turns, and to get the first shot off accurately and quickly, with good recovery, after the target faces the line. Then the shooter will have the maximum time possible and the proper preparation for firing the rest of the string under the best possible conditions; relaxed and concentrated on the basic shooting skills.
Timed Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise revisits the timed fire string with new insight and the added advantage of preparation that allows better use of the available time. This permits better concentration on the shooting basics, while allowing the shooter to practice siezing a good sight picture under difficult conditions. It presents an opportunity to achieve a perfect score under new, more stressful conditions; increasing the shooter’s confidence to a higher level once the difficulty level has been achieved.
Timed Fire Match Simulation -
This exercise places the shooter directly into a situation that exactly duplicates the stress and discipline of match competition. Once the shooter can master this exercise, they will understand that the match itself is identical to their practice experience. This forstalls the tendency to develop “Match Jitters”. These are caused by the conviction that the match itself is a strange and alien environment. It is no different from another practice string. The stresses of the match become a known challenge to the shooter, one that has already been mastered.
Timed Fire Match -
This exercise is the acid test for the shooter, the real thing. The results should at least duplicate those achieved in the match simulation. This exercise should provide the shooter with an opportunity to excel, and serve as a reinforcement of their confidence in their own abilities.
Rapid Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise reinforces the skills learned under the timed fire practice phase of training, forcing the shooter to step up the pace. By returning to the blank target, the task is simplified; allowing sight alignment and trigger pull to assume paramount importance. Recovery assumes greater priority, as does counting on the subconscious and practice to deliver the skills of grip, stance, and breathing. Recoil now presents the shooter with a significant challenge, pushing the shooter further out of position, and requiring the development of better balance and control of weight shift.
One Shot Rapid-Fire Drills
This exercise duplicates the timed fire one-shot drills with the difference that the target faces the shooter for only two seconds. The same skills must be perfect in only two-thirds the time. Recovery and control of balance become the new primary concerns. The stress level escalates to a new level.
Rapid Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise puts it all together, allowing the shooter to practice the full set of skills on the target bull for the first time under the maximum stress. Successful mastering of this exercise provides the shooter with the opportunity to cement their confidence in their ability to achieve an acceptible score under the most stressful conditions. This confidence serves as the foundation from which the final push for perfection may be launched.
Rapid Fire Match Simulation -
This exercise allows the shooter to further build on their rapid fire skills, until it is demonstrated that perfect scores are possible under the most demanding conditions.
Rapid Fire Test -
This is the final exam in the rapid fire discipline. The shooter fires for score in exactly the same conditions they will encounter in competition.
Slow Fire Group Shooting -
This exercise introduces the shooter to the 50 Yard line. All the preceding exercises contribute to success at the greater distance. With practice, the shooter discovers that there is no great difference in shooting at the 50 Yard line; the same skills deliver the same accuracy. This lesson rounds out the shooter’s confidence level, removing the last obstacle to belief that shooting is a skill that can be mastered.
Slow Fire Match Simulation -
The slow fire match simulation provides the shooter with an opportunity to demonstrate their best performance. The 50 Yard line, while demanding, is also the stage where the shooter can most improve their scores. Most matches are won with the performance given in this stage. The shooter can take their time and practice their best marksmanship here; confidence gained in this exercise fills the final niche in the shooter’s mental foundation. From this point, continued practice serves the purpose of presentiing opportunities to set higher goals.
Slow Fire Test -
This exercise is the slow fire final examination. Here, the emphasis is to demonstrate excellence, and set the benchmark for best performance from which successive goals can be extended.
900 Aggregate Match Simulation -
This exercise combines all the phases of training into an opportunity where all of the skills contributing to good marksmanship may be demonstrated. This is the point where the decision is made on whether the shooter can progress to the next level of training. From this point the shooter goes on to another training cycle or returns to earlier training stages to correct deficiencies. If successful, the shooter may elect to start training with another of the three-gun firearms, or return to the beginning of the same training cycle while setting new, higher goals. Whichever choice is made, a milestone has been passed. This series of exercises is open ended, allowing the same shooter to continue progressing to higher levels of marksmanship excellence.
NRA 2700 Aggregate -
This exercise is the final exam in the three-gun discipline. All the skills with all the guns are demonstrated; a new starting point is established.
</div></div>
Greg,
i am nominating you for the logest post award. Good info though.
