There’s more to shooting fast than just being able to work
your guns fast! Don’t get me wrong,
being able to work the actions of your guns fast is very important, but that
doesn’t address the more important aspect, accuracy.
For the purpose of this article, we assume that you have
learned the proper fundamentals and can shoot accurately. If you are unsure,
spend some time shooting dots at the range. Focus on sight picture, trigger
squeeze, and follow-through. Further help can be received from a qualified
shooting instructor.
Shooting fast accurately requires some additional skills.
First, you need to be able to “see quickly.” You have to transition your vision
from target to target quickly, and change the focus from target to front sight
quickly. Second, you need to be able to make very quick, instinctive decisions
as to whether or not you have a good sight picture before you break the shot.
In other words, you need to commit to the shot without hesitation.
These skills can be learned and practiced. It takes a lot of
practice, and continual practice to acquire and maintain these skills.
Fortunately, a good part of the practice can be done in the comfort of your own
home. You will need to spend some range time shooting steel on a clock. But
that’s only a part of it.
Seeing Fast:
It’s not very difficult to learn to see fast; however it
requires a lot of concentration to keep it up. Here’s an easy way to get
started. While you are reading this article, pick 2 spots on the wall, or two
corners, etc. Focus on one, then snap your eyes to the other one, then snap
your eyes back to the first. Each time, make sure to get a focus on the spot.
Go back and forth several times. Add a 3rd item to the sweep. Mix it up!
You can do this drill almost anywhere. The smaller the spot, the better
off you are. You want to tighten your focus to a spot, and not to a large
object.
The process for shooting is to focus on the target, bring
the gun into your line of sight, transfer your vision to the sights, as you
have the sight picture, break the shot. Then snap your eyes to the next target
and repeat. In order to help learn to
move the gun after you move your eyes, you can add another element to
the drill. Focus on the first spot and then point your finger at it. Once
you’ve acquired the target with your finger, snap your eyes to the next spot
and allow your arm to move your finger to it naturally. This is much faster
than following your finger to each spot.
Your eyes must go first. Best of
all, you can do this during commercials when watching TV!
Now, get out a revolver. Make sure that it is loaded
with snap caps and that there is no live ammo anywhere in the room. Using the same spots that you have been,
focus on the first one, bring the gun up in-line with your vision while cocking
the gun, transfer your vision to your sights and get a good sight picture,
break the shot. Snap your eyes to the next spot and allow your gun to move
naturally. Cock the gun as it moves. Transfer your eyes to the sights and get a
sight picture, break the shot. Repeat. If you cock the gun as it follows your
eyes (and not after it arrives on target), then you are shooting your revolver
as fast as you could shoot a semi-auto!
Changing focus from target to front sight can be very
difficult, especially as we get older. The eye can only focus on one distance
plane at a time, so when you are focused on your front sight, the rear sight
and the target will be blurry. For those that find it very difficult, a rear
aperture sight on the rifle may solve the problem. It will aid in focus.
Time to go to the range and try it out. For this you will
need your rig, a timer set on delay, and two steel target set up on opposite
sides of the bay. Load up your revolvers with 5 rounds each and holster. Get
your hand in position to draw, but don’t touch the gun. Start the timer with
your off-hand. At the buzzer:
- Draw your gun and focus your eyes on a spot on the center of the left target.
- Cock your gun as you bring it into line with your vision.
- As you find the sights in your peripheral vision, transfer your focus to the front sight.
- Get a sight picture and break the shot.
- Transfer your eyes to the right target.
- Cock the gun as it moves into your line of vision.
- As you find the sights in your peripheral vision, transfer your focus to the front sight.
- When you have a sight picture, break the shot.
- Holster
- Repeat but going from left target, to right target, to left target for the other 3 shots.
You should do this drill several times with both revolvers
and with your rifle. Make sure that on your last run of the day, you hit all
five shots. Don’t leave with a miss. Keep an idea of what your times are as you
will see improvement as you get more comfortable with the process.
Commitment
Once you get on target, do you recheck the sight picture
before you break the shot, or do you trust that first instinct and go with it?
That’s the heart of the issue. Give it
a try next time you are at the range practicing.
Learning to trust that first sight picture requires short,
concentrated practice sessions. You can do this using the live fire drill
above, but concentrate on breaking the shot as soon as you see the sight
picture. Don’t stop to recheck it. If you were focused on a small spot on the
target, transferred your vision to your sights and got a sight picture, you
ought to be on target.
As you get better, you’ll discover that you don’t need a
very refined sight picture for some of the targets we shoot. Others demand a
very precise sight picture. Part of
learning to commit to the shot is in knowing how precise of a sight picture you
need, and adjusting as you go.
It’s not really any more complicated than that! But it’s not an easy thing to do and you
really have to learn to trust your skill and instinct.
Practice will make perfect, however it requires that you
practice effectively. |
