Been shooting since I was a kid, but never properly trained. Looking for advice on instructional resources and practice setup.

[Glarimore]

Hey everyone -- I've been shooting casually for about 20 years (32 y/o), but mostly just plinking with a bolt action .22, a Ruger Mark II, a Glock 17, and some occasional skeet shooting. I've never had any formal training or instruction from an experienced shooter.

 

Anyway, I've recently become interested in starting to shoot more frequently and get into competition, specifically steel challenge and USPSA. The common advice I've heard is "just go to a match or two and get your feet wet", but before I do that I'm looking to eliminate basic bad habits I likely have by revisiting shooting fundamentals. And I mean REALLY basic stuff like how to grip the pistol, stance, shoulder/arm positioning, where to focus the eyes, etc.

 

All that said, can anyone point me towards [free or premium] resources on practical shooting fundamentals? I'm using a DA/SA Shadow 2 OR, in case guides are separated by striker vs hammer. I've seen Ben Stoeger's new book Practical Shooting Training recommended, but I wasn't sure if it would have stuff as basic as I'm looking for right now.

 

I also have space at my house to set up a practice range if people have any simple set up ideas. Right now I just have three, 10"-4" steel plates hanging on a bar a couple feet from each other.

 

 

Thank you!

[B_RAD]

Practical Shooting Training Group. 

 

There are multiple levels of membership and it's all great info.

 

Go check it out. 

 

 

[Prange]

Buy "With Winning in Mind" by Lanny Bassham. The best $12.00 you'll ever spend.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Prange

[Doge]

Tim Herron and Ben Stoeger have some good videos on youtube. But like B_RAD said the PSTG group is very good. 

[waktasz]

Go to that match, ask the MD who the local hero is, pay him a couple hundred bucks for an afternoon at the range to square you away in the basics of grip, stance, etc. THEN practice. 
 

[ebg3]

On 3/4/2021 at 9:26 PM, waktasz said:

Go to that match, ask the MD who the local hero is, pay him a couple hundred bucks for an afternoon at the range to square you away in the basics of grip, stance, etc. THEN practice. 
 

Excellent advice.

[NuJudge]

NRA starts everyone at the bottom.  They have all in-person, as well as mixed on-line/in-person classes.  NRA also has marksmanship classifications that can be achieved by yourself, or through competition.  

https://mqp.nra.org  

https://competitor.nra.org  

 

CMP is beginning to set up its classes, and has a qualification system based on competition results:  

https://thecmp.org/training-tech/cmp-basic-pistol-course/  

https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php

[waktasz]

I wouldn't recommend NRA classes to anyone. The people they allow to call themselves instructors are embarassing. 

[SGT_Schultz]

6 hours ago, NuJudge said:

NRA starts everyone at the bottom.  They have all in-person, as well as mixed on-line/in-person classes.  NRA also has marksmanship classifications that can be achieved by yourself, or through competition.  

https://mqp.nra.org  

https://competitor.nra.org  

 

CMP is beginning to set up its classes, and has a qualification system based on competition results:  

https://thecmp.org/training-tech/cmp-basic-pistol-course/  

https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php

 

Both of them are the absolute worst places to learn how to shoot

[SGT_Schultz]

deleted

Edited March 10, 2021 by SGT_Schultz

[SGT_Schultz]

deleted

Edited March 10, 2021 by SGT_Schultz

[RangerTrace]

On 3/4/2021 at 8:26 PM, waktasz said:

Go to that match, ask the MD who the local hero is, pay him a couple hundred bucks for an afternoon at the range to square you away in the basics of grip, stance, etc. THEN practice. 
 

Says the local hero!!  LOL

[CocoBolo]

Steel Challenge sounds like a good choice to start because the skill set is limited, mostly just the shooting.   You have a 22 pistol and I'd suggest starting with that, it eliminates the draw from surrender.   You will need 5 magazines that work, take 200 rounds to the match.  The trick to the mags is to smooth the surface the button rides on inside and outside the mag and keep it clean.   If you have issues with the  gun running Volquartson firing pin, extractor, and you might as well do the trigger, but try it first.

 

What to expect.  At my first steel match I had my rear handed to me by an 80 something lady shooting a Bursa Thunder, she mad me look like I didn't know how to shoot, and I had shot other action pistol matches and was shooting a $2000 STI.  After a few matches and some practice I was easily faster than her, only because I hit the plates when I shot, which is the #1 thing in this sport.  

 

There are lots of shooting tips on Utube, the ones from USPSA and SC shooter are pretty good, but with 22 your platform isn't a deal breaker but doing it right will make you better.  

 

There is nothing worse than a slow miss.   Good Luck with it and have fun.