Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?
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@Jolly, want to hear you opinion on this ...
What would it take to become a good shot with guns?
Assuming an "average" adult with no pervious experience with firearms who wants to be a reasonably good shot with an "average" pistol and with an "average" riffle (whatever "average" means in this context).
Not sure how to define what is means to be a "reasonably good shot" either, maybe something like "can hit an average sized person from X distance away with Y probability" ... but feel free to just use your own standard for what it means to be a "reasonably good shot".
What would it take, in terms of time and financial investment for an "average" adult to acquire that skill? How many hours in the shooting range for coaching/practicing? How many dollars to invest in guns/equipment, ammos, coaching/training, shooting range access/rental, etc.?
Ballpark estimates are fine, just want to get some rough idea on the subject. Thanks in advance.
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@Jolly, want to hear you opinion on this ...
What would it take to become a good shot with guns?
Assuming an "average" adult with no pervious experience with firearms who wants to be a reasonably good shot with an "average" pistol and with an "average" riffle (whatever "average" means in this context).
Not sure how to define what is means to be a "reasonably good shot" either, maybe something like "can hit an average sized person from X distance away with Y probability" ... but feel free to just use your own standard for what it means to be a "reasonably good shot".
What would it take, in terms of time and financial investment for an "average" adult to acquire that skill? How many hours in the shooting range for coaching/practicing? How many dollars to invest in guns/equipment, ammos, coaching/training, shooting range access/rental, etc.?
Ballpark estimates are fine, just want to get some rough idea on the subject. Thanks in advance.
@axtremus said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
@Jolly, want to hear you opinion on this ...
What would it take to become a good shot with guns?
Assuming an "average" adult with no pervious experience with firearms who wants to be a reasonably good shot with an "average" pistol and with an "average" riffle (whatever "average" means in this context).
Not sure how to define what is means to be a "reasonably good shot" either, maybe something like "can hit an average sized person from X distance away with Y probability" ... but feel free to just use your own standard for what it means to be a "reasonably good shot".
What would it take, in terms of time and financial investment for an "average" adult to acquire that skill? How many hours in the shooting range for coaching/practicing? How many dollars to invest in guns/equipment, ammos, coaching/training, shooting range access/rental, etc.?
Ballpark estimates are fine, just want to get some rough idea on the subject. Thanks in advance.
If you want the best of beginner experiences, take a vacation and go to some place like Gunsite. In five intense days, they can turn you into a basically proficient pistol shot. But do your research, there are other places. Be prepared to drop $1800 or so for the class, then add travel+lodging+ the cost of 1000 rounds.
First thing to decide is what pistol you need. Nightstand use? CCW? Deep concealment? Remember, the smaller the pistol, the harder the firearm is to shoot quickly and accurately. Something like a Glock 19 in 9mm is good for a do-it-all pistol. They run around $600. It's important that the gun fit you, and that might not be the one...Drop by a good local gun store, look at several name brand pistols of about that size. S&W, Sig, Ruger and others. Maybe take a beginner class and use a rental firearm. They'll teach safety, some rudimentary grips, site picture and you'll be able to do a bit of static range work.
After you reach the stage where you have an absolute minimum of competence, it takes at least 50 rounds a month to be able to hit the broad side of a barn.
If you want to learn tactical carbine or rifle, a S&W M&P15 Sport is about where decent starts. Retailing for between $700-$800, you can put a red dot or other system on a flat top and go from there. Of course, there are other rifles out there that are better, but you will pay more for them. Again, local classes, or go the Gunsite/Thunder Ranch, etc. route.
Maybe I'm Old Skool, but I still like a shotgun as a home defense weapon. Most guys like 12 gauge, pump or auto, but I'm different. I've long used a 20 gauge as a social gun. A Remington 870 Youth is my favorite, but you may have different ideas. Mossberg makes some decent tactical shotguns, Benelli makes some very nice ones. Shooting a shotgun well is a different skillset. If you want a gun that can go from casual sporting clays to home defense, a Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump with a short barrel and a hunting barrel is a good choice.
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
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Ax, many years ago I redd the original edition of the book Armed and Female by Paxton Quigley. Although it was written as a very basic instructional manual for women who'd never owned a gun, I don't see why it wouldn't be useful for a male newbie as well.
The original appears to be no longer available. Quigley has put out an updated version that you can read about here: https://www.amazon.com/Armed-Female-Control-Paxton-Quigley/dp/0936783613/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=armed+and+female&qid=1631325094&s=books&sr=1-1
Probably the original would no longer be useful given changes in the law or availability of some things; I don't know. I have not redd this updated version and I can't advise you about it in any way. But you will at least learn some basics with it.
Good luck.
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@axtremus said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
@Jolly, want to hear you opinion on this ...
What would it take to become a good shot with guns?
Assuming an "average" adult with no pervious experience with firearms who wants to be a reasonably good shot with an "average" pistol and with an "average" riffle (whatever "average" means in this context).
Not sure how to define what is means to be a "reasonably good shot" either, maybe something like "can hit an average sized person from X distance away with Y probability" ... but feel free to just use your own standard for what it means to be a "reasonably good shot".
What would it take, in terms of time and financial investment for an "average" adult to acquire that skill? How many hours in the shooting range for coaching/practicing? How many dollars to invest in guns/equipment, ammos, coaching/training, shooting range access/rental, etc.?
Ballpark estimates are fine, just want to get some rough idea on the subject. Thanks in advance.
If you want the best of beginner experiences, take a vacation and go to some place like Gunsite. In five intense days, they can turn you into a basically proficient pistol shot. But do your research, there are other places. Be prepared to drop $1800 or so for the class, then add travel+lodging+ the cost of 1000 rounds.
First thing to decide is what pistol you need. Nightstand use? CCW? Deep concealment? Remember, the smaller the pistol, the harder the firearm is to shoot quickly and accurately. Something like a Glock 19 in 9mm is good for a do-it-all pistol. They run around $600. It's important that the gun fit you, and that might not be the one...Drop by a good local gun store, look at several name brand pistols of about that size. S&W, Sig, Ruger and others. Maybe take a beginner class and use a rental firearm. They'll teach safety, some rudimentary grips, site picture and you'll be able to do a bit of static range work.
After you reach the stage where you have an absolute minimum of competence, it takes at least 50 rounds a month to be able to hit the broad side of a barn.
If you want to learn tactical carbine or rifle, a S&W M&P15 Sport is about where decent starts. Retailing for between $700-$800, you can put a red dot or other system on a flat top and go from there. Of course, there are other rifles out there that are better, but you will pay more for them. Again, local classes, or go the Gunsite/Thunder Ranch, etc. route.
Maybe I'm Old Skool, but I still like a shotgun as a home defense weapon. Most guys like 12 gauge, pump or auto, but I'm different. I've long used a 20 gauge as a social gun. A Remington 870 Youth is my favorite, but you may have different ideas. Mossberg makes some decent tactical shotguns, Benelli makes some very nice ones. Shooting a shotgun well is a different skillset. If you want a gun that can go from casual sporting clays to home defense, a Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump with a short barrel and a hunting barrel is a good choice.
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Th other thing you need to do is soul searching. Before you ever get a firearm you need to be honest with yourself about whether you could actually pull the trigger if necessary and whether you could make that decision in s timely fashion.
It’s a hell of a responsibility you take on.
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Th other thing you need to do is soul searching. Before you ever get a firearm you need to be honest with yourself about whether you could actually pull the trigger if necessary and whether you could make that decision in s timely fashion.
It’s a hell of a responsibility you take on.
@mik said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
Th other thing you need to do is soul searching. Before you ever get a firearm you need to be honest with yourself about whether you could actually pull the trigger if necessary and whether you could make that decision in s timely fashion.
It’s a hell of a responsibility you take on.
Amen.
A large part of most CCW classes focuses on the absolute shitstorm even a righteous shooting causes. And even in the most defensive of shootings, it puts a lead weight on the soul.
Make sure you want and need a weapon, before you decide to go down that road...
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@mik said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
Th other thing you need to do is soul searching. Before you ever get a firearm you need to be honest with yourself about whether you could actually pull the trigger if necessary and whether you could make that decision in s timely fashion.
It’s a hell of a responsibility you take on.
Amen.
A large part of most CCW classes focuses on the absolute shitstorm even a righteous shooting causes. And even in the most defensive of shootings, it puts a lead weight on the soul.
Make sure you want and need a weapon, before you decide to go down that road...
@jolly said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
Make sure you want and need a weapon, before you decide to go down that road...
I don't (yet) need a weapon. However, I think I'd enjoy shooting for sport. Hell, I even enjoyed my AirSoft BB pistol at the Cheddarshack - pissed off the geese, to be sure.
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@jolly said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
Make sure you want and need a weapon, before you decide to go down that road...
I don't (yet) need a weapon. However, I think I'd enjoy shooting for sport. Hell, I even enjoyed my AirSoft BB pistol at the Cheddarshack - pissed off the geese, to be sure.
@george-k said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
@jolly said in Training to be a good shot with guns ... what would it take?:
Make sure you want and need a weapon, before you decide to go down that road...
I don't (yet) need a weapon. However, I think I'd enjoy shooting for sport. Hell, I even enjoyed my AirSoft BB pistol at the Cheddarshack - pissed off the geese, to be sure.
There's all kinds of competitive shooting that can be fun.
- Three gun matches. https://www.nssf.org/shooting/3-gun/
- Action pistol shooting.
- SASS competition. https://sassnet.com/
- Service rifle. Not nearly as strenuous as action shooting, you'll have matches with primarily AR-15's, but you'll see guys with 1903 Springfields, Garands and M1A1 (civilian M-14).
- 1000 yard (or longer) matches. Can be sniper rifle, black powder cartridge or muzzleloader. Used to work with a doc who was the world record holder for 1000 yard muzzleloader. (He was a bit different. Only guy I ever knew that killed a cape buffalo with a spear).
- Shotgun sports. Things like trap, skeet or sporting clays.
That's all I know, off the top of my head. All require different levels of skill, physical fitness and money outlay. All can be a lot of fun.
