Find resources to hone handgun skills.
In practical pistol shooting it is critical to be as accurate as possible as quickly as possible. One without the other is worthless.
Shooting is visual - get the sights on target and pull the trigger when sights are on target. The larger and closer a target, the more room available for an acceptable shot. The farther a target, the more precise the visual confirmation will be. Targets need to be given the individual respect needed for acceptable accuracy.
The ability to get a gun out of the holster and onto target quickly, efficiently, and accurately is critical for any defensive gun owner.
Consistent and secure grip is the foundation that enables most other practical pistol shooting skills. A weak grip makes recoil control, transitions, reloads, and virtually everything else a challenge. A strong grip makes everything else easier.
In defensive shooting, cover and concealment can save your life. Being able to quickly and accurately put rounds down range while leaning is a valuable skill.
Ideally our handgun will go bang every time the trigger is pulled. But mechanical devices will get gunked up and fail or break and fail. The ability to fix the handgun and get rounds headed down range quickly is an edge case skill but a valuable one.
A strong index is the ability to look at a target and have the gun sights go straight to that target, be lined up, and just about ready to go. The stronger an index the sooner sights can get on target.
Shooting on the move is great, but it has limitations. Sometimes we have to get stationary in a hurry to take shots. The sooner we're set up, the sooner we shoot.
Practical pistol shooting often starts from a dead still and takes off in a hurry. The ability to get out of position and on the move can make a huge difference.
Shooting a handgun is best done with two hands, but sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for two handed shooting. Being able to effectively put rounds on target with only one hand can can be useful. Sometimes called "strong hand only."
Shooting is a visual action - are the sights on target, yes or no. Yes? Pull the trigger. Recoil control helps gets those sights on target as soon as possible for fast and accurate follow up shots.
Unlike the movies, our magazines have limited capacity. Getting a gun reloaded as quickly as possible is a valuable skill that even boosts general gun handling skills.
Practical pistol shooting is not static shooting. The ability to shoot on the move in a dynamic environment is a key skill.
Shot calling is the ability to know where the bullets went without having to look at the target. Good shot calling skills help boost speed and confidence in shooting.
A good practical shooting stance must help control recoil, enable fast transitions, and assist in fast entries and exits from positions.
Shooting a handgun is best done with two hands, but sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for two handed shooting - and even worse, sometimes the lone hand is the off hand. Being able to effectively put rounds on target with only one hand can be useful. Sometimes called "weak hand only."
Transitions are a critical practical pistol shooting skill for engaging multiple targets, and it even helps with engaging moving targets.
Trigger control is the action of quickly and smoothly pulling the trigger straight to the rear without disturbing the sights. It is critical for ensuring fast and accurate shots.
