Sign in or 
Location: Firearms Training/Safety Issues
Discussion: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
Category:
Discussion Forum /
General Discussion
Share this
fixdeluxe1 |
How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 1:03 AM EDT
| Post edited: May 5 2011, 1:04 AM EDT
I was at the pistol range today,and fired off a few rounds at 15 yards.The guy two lanes accross from me made me feel ashamed of myself,as he was a million times faster than me.He had smooth trigger control,effective recoil handling and emptied his entire 7 round mag(he was using a 1911) in something crazy like a few seconds(this is outdoor).I am pathetically slow,but precise and accurate.It takes almost half a second for me to squeeze off another round with my sights lined up after each shot.Any advice,or general discussion,in relation to speed shooting? P.S The guy is on his way to compete at IPSC I think.I also use a variation of the weaver stance,with my reaction(left-hand) bent at the elbow and my shooting arm(right) locked at the elbow with my right leg locked and supporting to the rear,and my left leg to the front slightly bent at the knees. 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
John_234 |
1. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 1:35 AM EDT
The 1911 has a bit of an edge with it's short trigger and good reset, and its weight cuts recoil. A proper isosceles upper body (shoulders square, arms even with a proper high grip) does wonders to absorb recoil efficiently, as well as the normal lean forward and bladed legs.However, shooting fast is simply a matter of shooting a lot with good form so that you can do it at speed. Ed McGivern taught his students to always slow-fire when they started, with an even pull and an even release, so that it'd be natural for super speed shooting. Even then? You're not going to be shooting against a shot timer IRL. You're going to shoot as well as you shoot, and given you practice regularly, that's probably better than most. Enjoy the sport and you'll build skill. Do you find this valuable? |
|
fixdeluxe1 |
2. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 2:57 AM EDT
"The 1911 has a bit of an edge with it's short trigger and good reset, and its weight cuts recoil. A proper isosceles upper body (shoulders square, arms even with a proper high grip) does wonders to absorb recoil efficiently, as well as the normal lean forward and bladed legs.Thanks for the advice.I have been a novice for quite a while. I have never found the isoceles shooting position comfortable.It feels akward and unnatural,but I suppose I should give it a go.Practice makes perfect.I was using a Glock 17 and that does have a funny trigger safety mechanism that I have gotten used to over the months. Have a nice day. Do you find this valuable? |
|
John_234 |
3. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 2:59 AM EDT
"Thanks for the advice.I have been a novice for quite a while.95% of firearms is preference, but I do think grip is one of those absolute things. Here's a good vid for reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm9uG5bPubw 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
Filadog |
4. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 7:19 AM EDT
"I was at the pistol range today,and fired off a few rounds at 15 yards....I am pathetically slow,but precise and accurate.It takes almost half a second for me to squeeze off another round with my sights lined up after each shot."If it takes you only half a second to squeeze off each shot you should be telling us about how to shoot faster while retaining accuracy Speed as does accuracy comes with practice, but it is much more important to be able to accurately shoot then it is to be able to shoot fast. I notice that you didn't say anything about how accurate the "fast" shooter was. Do you find this valuable? |
LJ126 |
5. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 9:32 AM EDT
| Post edited: May 5 2011, 9:33 AM EDT
" If it takes you only half a second to squeeze off each shot you should be telling us about how to shoot faster while retaining accuracyAbsolutely what I was going to say. +1 to the F-Dawg! I think people interested in defensive shooting should worry less about speed and more about shooting "well" - this means hitting the target at any range within the mechanical limitations of the firearm and cartridge your gun fires. Shooting fast without precision is not a demonstration of skill; nobody would be interested in Jerry Miculek's shooting if he sprayed bullets everywhere. The important part of the equation is that his bullets hit their mark. Speed will come with time and practice. One can apply martial arts training practice to their shooting too. Perform the act of shooting very slowly and accurately many times, and gradually add speed over time, paying attention to maintain good form (or fundamentals.) Eventually, your form will become very good, and very fast, and it will take no concerted effort to shoot both quickly and accurately. Besides, it can be argued that there's little need to be able to spray bullets quickly; presentation of the firearm from holster quickly and reliably is more important IMHO, and should be focused on as much (or more) than actually shooting quickly. Your ability to shoot quickly means nothing if you can't get it out of the IWB holster you're carrying it in. This deserves as much attention as shooting fundamentals do. Do you find this valuable? |
2WheeledSpeed |
6. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 10:09 AM EDT
| Post edited: May 5 2011, 10:10 AM EDT
Probably my favorite gun guru, Clint Smith said "I've never seen a stopwatch in a fight". It's not a bad idea to learn to shoot fast, but I wouldn't freak out if I couldn't compete with a competition shooter (Which I totally can't). And as already pointed out, you're not what I would call slow. Have you mastered the reset of your Glocks trigger yet? That could speed you up if you haven't. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
YourBrainOnDrugs |
7. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 12:33 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 5 2011, 12:45 PM EDT
It's definetly a delicate balance that just takes some time, but I sometimes see it suggested that slow range shooting will sort of turn into speed shooting over a long enough period and I'm not sure that's the whole truth of the matter. Getting better will probably make you naturally quicker because things like sight acquisition will tend to take less time when they become more 2nd nature to you. That said, I suspect there has to be a point where you have to make a conscious effort to push out of that controlled fire comfort zone and develop a slightly different skill set where you learn to adjust your rate of fire based on the proximity of a target. I.E. understanding how rushing a shot will affect your hit placement and being able to appropriately judge what balance of speed and precision you need in a tough situation. Some situations simply won't allow for much more than minute-of-scumbag accuracy, while others will have much higher accuracy needs where you simply shouldn't shoot at all if you don't have the time to make it perfect. Plus, the majority of situations end up being somewhere in the middle where there isn't a clear cut right answer and you have to judge it on the fly. Do you find this valuable? |
humanroach |
8. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 3:06 PM EDT
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICEthats all there is to it. when im at the range, i practice rapid fire/accuracy by shooting as soon as i regain my sight picture. i think i can shoot an accurate shot every 2 seconds (about) i need someone to time me. Do you find this valuable? |
ItsMrManCub |
9. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 3:18 PM EDT
As said before practice. Get snapcaps and dry fire if you can. Learn your trigger and you will see an increase in speed and a decrease in the size of your groupings.
Do you find this valuable?
|
chitoryu12 |
10. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 3:59 PM EDT
If you're thinking about defensive shooting, the most important part is the first shot you put on target. Being able to put 5 shots on a quarter-sized target in half a second is perfectly fine if the gun is actually pointed at the target when you start shooting.I don't fear the shooter who can spray a TEC-9 over my head. I fear the one who can put one shot in my heart before I have the chance to shoot him. Do you find this valuable? |
|
YourBrainOnDrugs |
11. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 4:15 PM EDT
"i think i can shoot an accurate shot every 2 seconds (about) "Just so I'm understanding, you're just sharing where you're currently at in your own journey to shooting fast with accuracy? Or are you offering it of evidence that you got fast just by practicing? It's just that I suspect someone who would stand out as a fast shooter to a casual observer is actually shooting much faster than that, and I'm sort of hesitant to just assume that one can arrive at really impressive levels of speed simply by practicing basic shooting frequently enough. Do you find this valuable? |
possumblaster |
12. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 4:19 PM EDT
Thee who shoots the fastest spends more time reloading
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
humanroach |
13. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 4:32 PM EDT
"Just so I'm understanding, you're just sharing where you're currently at in your own journey to shooting fast with accuracy? Or are you offering it of evidence that you got fast just by practicing?i was trying to say how fast i shoot accurately. it may be less than two seconds. i really dont know. i can tell you with all certainty that i can accuratly place everyshot immediately when i regain sight picture. so i make my first shot, line up my sight again and fire immediately and repeat that for 15 shots. it may not be anything to brag about but i feel its more imporant to be accurate than to be fast. i get real sloppy when i shoot as fast as i can squeeze the trigger. but i dont stand around and shoot either, im much faster that what i was when i started. thats because i practice practice practice. when i got my confidence shooting slow i began to step it the pace. i feel like im good enough for self defense and i know im better than many other people at my range, but i wuoldnt go into a competition Do you find this valuable? |
|
John_234 |
14. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 7:54 PM EDT
There is the old gunslinger's quote, "Speed is fine, but accuracy is final."Is this generally true? Yeah, I'd think so, but on handguns, I'm really not so sure. They are first and foremost emergency weapons. And when we're talking speed, I generally mean speed onto target, onto trigger, recoil and back onto target. Be able to run the weapon under some pretty tough stress, and to get the gun working fast enough to not... well, you know, *die.* Range accuracy is not the same thing as combat accuracy. Combat accuracy is being able to put your targets on human sized target under stress, not to punch a one-hole group in a circle within a circle at fifty yards on an easy breezy range. Don't be cavalier that "I don't need speed," or that "I don't need accuracy." If you're not doing the best you can all-round and challenging your skills as a shooter, you'll stagnate and become complacent. I've said it a lot that competition is a huge stressor for effective practice. But basically any kind of drill with a goal can be that, too. Challenge yourself is the key thing here. Do you find this valuable? |
|
EastCoaster9000 |
15. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 8:52 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 5 2011, 8:53 PM EDT
Personally, it's how well you are with the gun.So practice! If you're grouping goes everywhere, slow down a bit. Get used to a particular grip and recoil management style. Make sure you can handle the recoil. This is to make sure that when your arms settle, the sights should be aligned and you can fire accurately. Do you find this valuable? |
AlexHigginbotham |
16. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 5 2011, 9:36 PM EDT
The quicker you learn the recoil of the weapon, the quicker you can acquire targets between shots. Practice, practice, practice.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
fixdeluxe1 |
17. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 6 2011, 12:40 AM EDT
"If it takes you only half a second to squeeze off each shot you should be telling us about how to shoot faster while retaining accuracyHe was getting pretty tight groupings,less than an few inches I reckon. Half a second is an estimate.It was more like 1-1.5 seconds. Do you find this valuable? |
|
fixdeluxe1 |
18. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 6 2011, 12:41 AM EDT
"Absolutely what I was going to say. +1 to the F-Dawg!Very good advice there buddy. Do you find this valuable? |
|
fixdeluxe1 |
19. RE: How to shoot faster whilst retaining accuracy?
May 6 2011, 12:44 AM EDT
"Personally, it's how well you are with the gun.I am usually quite tight, but my problem is speed.If I go to fast then the grouping breaks up.I suppose pratice does make perfect.My slowest part is lining the sights back up. Do you find this valuable? |
