How do you improve your competitive pistol skills?

[jspeligene]

55 Yrs old and brand new to pistol competition. I've taken the handgun essentials class and shot one match at Heartland. My slow fire accuracy is decent at 10 to 15 yards. Rapid fire, not very good. Looking for advice on how to speed up my rate of fire & maintain acceptable accuracy. Any drills or routines you've used to improve your shooting?

 

[Aggieddad02]

Good post jspel, I am in the same boat and could use some guidance myself

 

[Jefpainthorse]

I will offer a glowing endorsement of Will Andrew's. Will does a series of classes at H & H (OKC) on Sunday evenings. http://oklahomashootingskills.com/Schedule.html

Those classes don't teach "competitive" skills per se. However, you will become very profecient and much more efficient running a semi auto handgun, and you will see marked improvment shootng at speed. Everything you learn will be transferable to defensive shooting or comp.. and it's the stuff you need to know before you get into high dollar training (if thats your deal) later on.

Andrew's allows past students to retake his classes for a nominal fee... so if space is open you can retread his classes for about $20 and get some coaching out of the deal. For me that a much better value than renting a lane and poking holes in paper for the heck of it.

 

[David E]

You might consider taking EHS again as we can hammer home the new skills you were exposed to. Returning students get a discount.

We did cover finding your cadence among other things, but it may have seemed like a lot of info if it was all new to you. There are a couple spots open for today.

I do offer a Speed Skills class where we focus on how, exactly, to go fast while maintaining accuracy. There's more to it than most folks think

Maybe we can do one of these soon.

 

[Jefpainthorse]

David E does some fine classes too. One thing about it... Central Oklahoma has a LOT of options for handgun training... much of it is National or World level stuff.

 

[jspeligene]

You might consider taking EHS again as we can hammer home the new skills you were exposed to. Returning students get a discount.

We did cover finding your cadence among other things, but it may have seemed like a lot of info if it was all new to you. There are a couple spots open for today.

I do offer a Speed Skills class where we focus on how, exactly, to go fast while maintaining accuracy. There's more to it than most folks think

Maybe we can do one of these soon.

If I get finished with my plumbing project this afternoon, I may buzz over to see if you have a slot left open tonight. Have to see how it goes...

 

[benjamin-benjamin]

well a couple of things (i am not expert)
training yourself to watch the sight come up and then back into place is key to quick shooting, i have spent time where i have shot at "nothing" just focused in on the sight rising and then when it comes back into place shooting again and again... dry fire drills like the one in mike's book are great... body position leaning forward but not too stiff of arms helps also.. don't fight recoil, but make it predictable so the front sight always comes back the same way...... hope that helps a little.

 

[jspeligene]

well a couple of things (i am not expert)
training yourself to watch the sight come up and then back into place is key to quick shooting, i have spent time where i have shot at "nothing" just focused in on the sight rising and then when it comes back into place shooting again and again... dry fire drills like the one in mike's book are great... body position leaning forward but not too stiff of arms helps also.. don't fight recoil, but make it predictable so the front sight always comes back the same way...... hope that helps a little.

Thanks, I'm heading to the range now. I'll try out the 'front sight drill'.
You going to shoot next Sunday night in Edmond?

 

[jspeligene]

David E does some fine classes too. One thing about it... Central Oklahoma has a LOT of options for handgun training... much of it is National or World level stuff.

Thanks for the input. I'll make it a point to attend both Will Andrews and again with David.

 

[benjamin-benjamin]

Thanks, I'm heading to the range now. I'll try out the 'front sight drill'.
You going to shoot next Sunday night in Edmond?

yup i will be there, squad up with me and the cool group!!! i will be wearing cargo shorts, 5'10 180, and on a scale of 1 to 10 on attractiveness i am only about a 6!!

 

[imacgyver]

im there!

 

[WillR]

There are some great programs here in Oklahoma. I can definitely give Will Andrew's classes a positive endorsement. Also I haven't tried David's classes but hear good things and plan to.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet is TDSA. I just took their ACPI class and it was great. It is a two day course so be ready for a lot of shooting (1500 Rounds). It really taught me how to better run my gun.

 

[Chambers]

It doesn't get any better than TDSA AP1. No offense intended to any of the other programs around here, but you really need the 2 day, high round count (~1,500) format to build all the fundamentals. I promise you won't regret it...the class has a proven formula!

 

[redneck1861]

If someone wants to donate the 1500 rounds to me, I would love to that the class. If not I guess I will just stop shooting bad and beat everyone on sunday. lol

 

[Jefpainthorse]

If someone wants to donate the 1500 rounds to me, I would love to that the class. If not I guess I will just stop shooting bad and beat everyone on sunday. lol

Not and expert, but I will share a secret about shooting or any other skill your trying to learn. Perfect Practice Predicts Perfect Preformance.

I have the luxury of shooting at home. And I do... lot's of rimfire pistol. You know what I found out? If I am on I'm on and if I'm not I'm not.

25 rounds that are fired with "perfect" form are always better than shooting until you get tired and sloppy. Keep going and you just reinforce the bad habits or poor form produced from overwork. If things are going well take a few more reps. If you have several things to work on... move on to another aspect of the program.

 

[redneck1861]

Not and expert, but I will share a secret about shooting or any other skill your trying to learn. Perfect Practice Predicts Perfect Preformance.

I have the luxury of shooting at home. And I do... lot's of rimfire pistol. You know what I found out? If I am on I'm on and if I'm not I'm not.

25 rounds that are fired with "perfect" form are always better than shooting until you get tired and sloppy. Keep going and you just reinforce the bad habits or poor form produced from overwork. If things are going well take a few more reps. If you have several things to work on... move on to another aspect of the program.

I was really just being a smartass. . I also shoot at home most of the time, it used to be all of the time, but then these no good BS members got me started shooting competitions. I actually thought about practicing with a .22 but decided against it, because I feel it would do more harm than good, since weight and recoil is nothing like my competition pistol

 

[Jefpainthorse]

Drawing a 22 is the same as drawing a service pistol... the mechanics are all the same. Of course... a 22 kit on top of the Glock or 1911 is even better.

The frontight is the front sight on every pistol you will ever pick up. Ever. Period.

Transitions from target to target ...shooting while moving... or any of the other 1,000s of fine motor skills you need as a good shooter can all be learned and re enforced cheaply if you care to go that way. Most of what you want to know is all about muscle memory... and that's best learned by the body and brain in short sessions.

One competition? You havent cracked the door yet.

The indian behind the bow is always the deciding factor.

 

[jspeligene]

There are some great programs here in Oklahoma. I can definitely give Will Andrew's classes a positive endorsement. Also I haven't tried David's classes but hear good things and plan to.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet is TDSA. I just took their ACPI class and it was great. It is a two day course so be ready for a lot of shooting (1500 Rounds). It really taught me how to better run my gun.

I saw TDSA recommended a week or two ago. What was your experience level when you went through ACP1? I haven't shot 1500 rds total through a pistol in my lifetime.
Just wondering if one should build up to some level of experience before jumping into that.

 

[Chambers]

Just wondering if one should build up to some level of experience before jumping into that.

I say the exact opposite -- start with AP1. You won't have bad habits to break. That is a huge advantage.

 

[jspeligene]

Drawing a 22 is the same as drawing a service pistol... the mechanics are all the same. Of course... a 22 kit on top of the Glock or 1911 is even better.

The frontight is the front sight on every pistol you will ever pick up. Ever. Period.

Transitions from target to target ...shooting while moving... or any of the other 1,000s of fine motor skills you need as a good shooter can all be learned and re enforced cheaply if you care to go that way. Most of what you want to know is all about muscle memory... and that's best learned by the body and brain in short sessions.

One competition? You havent cracked the door yet.

The indian behind the bow is always the deciding factor.

That's a great thought...I have a Sig 22 that fits me really well. I really appreciate the advice from everyone. Hope to meet some of these responders at future matches.