Like any other art, practice makes perfect, but that doesn’t make those days at the range where you can’t seem to hit the target feel any better.
Especially when you are first starting out, it may seem like you are rarely hitting the target.
You will get better with time, but the tips below can help you in perfecting your target practice faster.
- Eye dominance
There is such a thing as being right or left eye dominant; this is typically the eye that you have better vision with. If you are fortunate enough to have perfect vision in both eyes, then it becomes a matter of preference. Some people will shoot with both eyes open while others will shoot having their dominant eye open. This will take time to find out your preference but once you decide on a method, stick with it every time.
- Your wrist is popping up
If you have naturally weaker wrists or are not used to your gun’s recoil, you will notice that your wrist will flick upward after every shot. It is okay to have some wrist movement after a shot, but if it is a drastic amount, then it is likely affecting your aim and you will need to work on keeping your wrist steady. A common way to build wrist strength is to use a stress ball and squeeze it throughout the day since it works out more than just finger strength.
- You’re nervous and shaky
If you are nervous going to the range for any reason, it is likely going to affect your aim. The shakiness you feel when you are nervous will translate to your aim being off from either a little to a lot. Find out what is making you nervous and try to address it before you go to the range.
- Your breathing is off
This is a very small detail with shooting, but your breathing may be affecting your aim ever so slightly. When you breathe in, your lungs expand with air and it makes your chest naturally expand. If your arm is close to your chest when you breathe in, it could push your arm away slightly. When shooting, be sure to pull the trigger when breathing outward so your arm will not have to deal with that obstacle.
- Take your time between shots
This is a common rule of most ranges, but even if it isn’t required, taking your time before every shot is important to making sure you are able to aim properly. If you shoot each bullet quickly, you are likely to lose your steady grip. Taking your time allows you to re-center yourself, aim, breathe, and shoot. You can complete the entire process in about three seconds once you become skilled at it.
- Use two hands, not one
In police training, they are held to hold a firearm with two hands and there is a valid reason for this. Having two arms on your gun will allow for additional steadiness and allows for additional help with the gun’s recoil. For beginners, it is important to start using both hands.
- Too far too early
A lot of beginners think their first session of target practice will be easy, so they opt for a longer distance target, but it may be time to consider whether or not you are trying to shoot too far too soon. Try 5-10 yards to start and try and improve from there. Once you get better, then you can try and shoot at a farther distance.
- Aim small, miss small
Any expert in firearms knows the term “aim small, miss small” or some variation of it. This is a phrase that means you should zero in exactly where you want your bullet to go instead of taking the whole target into account. For example, if you are at the range, aim for the bullseye instead of expanding your view just to hit the target.
- Get used to one gun first
If you have multiple guns and are switching back and forth or have only had one gun for a short time, you need to give yourself time to acclimate using it first. Every gun has a different grip, weight, and feel in your hand. Your first and second session of target practice may be disappointing until you get used to how the gun feels in your hand and how you shoot it.
- Make sure your sights are lined up exactly (mention eye thing)
Guns will have something called “sights”; this isn’t reserved just for rifles and longer-range firearms. There will either be a small divot at the end of the barrel which can be used to get a better idea of where the bullet will go. Lining up your sights takes practice, but it will ultimately improve your aim by a considerable amount.
Practice Makes Perfect
All of these tips should give you some things to think about during your next session of target practice. However, nothing will help you more than going out and practicing. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”, but remember that in the case of shooting, it’s more like “practice makes improvement.” No one can get a bullseye every time they shoot, but that’s okay. So long as you continue to improve, you are on the right track.