Practice, Practice, Practice

The One Thing They All Have In Common

The infamous gunman John Wesley Harding, according to the lady of a boarding home, would "walk across the room and then suddenly spring to one side, facing around and as quick as a flash he would have a gun in each hand clicking so fast that the clicks sounded like a rattle machine."(1) Famous Texas lawman Frank Hamer practiced regularly, especially at long distance handgunning. A local sheriff had challenged Hamer, and a competition was arranged. While others were setting up targets, Hamer announced, "he was going to hit a small, glittering rock more than a hundred yards away." He hit it with his first shot. "His competitor" a friend noted, "kept his pistol holstered."(2) "Jelly" Bryce, the man who created the F.B.I.'s first firearms training program, was "shooting rabbits on the run and quail on the wing" while in the 4th grade.(3) Everyone I personally know who has been in multiple fights credit their wins to regular practice. (All said after their first fight they practiced even more.) From the old west to today the thing that all successful gunmen have in common is practice.

People have an idea that shooting a firearm accurately is "easy." They see shooters hit a two-inch target with the pistol at sixty feet or ding a man size plate at a hundred yards. They watch a rifleman drop into prone and fire a five shot group that can be covered with a quarter at one hundred yards or hit a clay pigeon flying in the air. Then, when they can't produce the same results, they become frustrated. Now the search is on for more "accurate" ammo, they start modifying their weapon or plunge down the rabbit hole in pursuit of the "perfect" pistol or rifle. They become focused on hardware.

Yes, you need good, reliable gear. A pistol must fit your hand size in order for you to shoot it accurately and manipulate it efficiently. To squeeze the maximum accuracy out of a precision rifle you have to discover what ammo it likes best. But the secret to becoming a good shot, and even more so developing the skills needed to respond to a violent attack, is practice.

Good shooters make it look easy. They get on target, press the trigger and are rewarded with good, accurate hits. A malfunction occurs, and before you even realize what's happening they have effortlessly cleared it and are firing again. What you don't see is the hours of practice and all the time and energy they spent focusing on the fundamentals before making "that" shot or "magically" clearing a stoppage.

Anyone can become good at anything. Some people are born with better hand/eye coordination or reaction times. Yet, with time and practice everyone can develop and improve these skills. Can you become the best? Probably not, but then we don't have to be the best; we just have to be better than our opponent. Some people grew up on guns. I can't remember not shooting, even when someone had to help me hold the pistol or rifle so I could sight in and fire the shot. Other people get a late start in life. That just means extra time devoted to practice. Regardless of who you are or when you start it's going to take time for you to become proficient. Don't get caught up in what your buddy or a professional shooter can do. That doesn't matter. What counts is that you practice, shoot as much as you can, and approach the task with a serious attitude. You're never quite satisfied, but at the same time you have enjoy the journey and take pride in your results. The one thing all good shooters have in common is that they shoot as often as possible. If you can say everyday, "I'm getting better," you're on the right track.

(1) "Jeff Milton, A Good Man With A Gun," by J. Evetts Haley.
(2) "I'm Frank Hamer, The Life of a Texas Peace Officer," John Jenkins and H. Gordon Frost
(3) "Legendary Lawman, The Story Of Quick Draw Jelly Bryce," Ron Owens.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns"