Shooting handguns to improve rifle skill

[Speaks]

A really good investment in my shooting was a SIRT lazer training pistol. With the laser you really see if you move on the trigger pull. Ive pulled the trigger on that thing hundreds of times a day for years while sitting on conference calls. Bough it as a toy but its been really helpful.

 

[RockAndSage]

I've recently started working on becoming as efficient and accurate as possible with a pistol (I'm terrible). I have very little experience in this area—I've put more rounds through my .223 in the last three months than I have through any pistol in my entire life. I've been doing quite a bit of ball-and-dummy drills to help reduce my flinch and recoil anticipation. Anyway, I went out to shoot my rifles this morning, and I felt like I was breaking the cleanest shots of my life. Is this because I'm back in my comfort zone, or are the skills actually transferable?

Yep. Learning to shoot handguns at a performance level will make you far more cognizant of how your body inputs force into the gun, and how that translates to speed, accuracy, and recoil management. And that does transfer over to rifles/carbines quite a bit.

Similar to what Form mentioned, I've seen a lot of guys over the years who were great with rifles but couldn't do $h*t with handguns - but I can't ever recall seeing the reverse. Guys good with handguns pick up rifles/carbines quickly, at least until you get out to distances where wind and ballistics matter.

 

[Gstew1930]

Yep. Learning to shoot handguns at a performance level will make you far more cognizant of how your body inputs force into the gun, and how that translates to speed, accuracy, and recoil management. And that does transfer over to rifles/carbines quite a bit.

Similar to what Form mentioned, I've seen a lot of guys over the years who were great with rifles but couldn't do $h*t with handguns - but I can't ever recall seeing the reverse. Guys good with handguns pick up rifles/carbines quickly, at least until you get out to distances where wind and ballistics matter.

Im looking forward to it. I tend to be a little crazy on this kind of shit. I pick my hobbies carefully because i obsess. I ordered 3k rounds of 9mm that I plan on shooting out in the next month. I also FN hate losing so im sure ill get a real fire after I get smoked in my first comp

 

[North of 60]

I didn't start shooting handguns much until i started working as a firearms and toolmarks examiner for a crime lab as a young man. Second what others have said about USPSA...guys at USPSA can teach you much and a fun place to practice.

2 more ideas to consider:

1. Add snap caps intermittently into your pistol mags when firing live ammo...it will help show what needs to improve in form.

2. Dry fire, dry fire, and more dry fire of pistols practicing trigger squeeze and follow though on target.

 

[Gstew1930]

I didn't start shooting handguns much until i started working as a firearms and toolmarks examiner for a crime lab as a young man. Second what others have said about USPSA...guys at USPSA can teach you much and a fun place to practice.

2 more ideas to consider:

1. Add snap caps intermittently into your pistol mags when firing live ammo...it will help show what needs to improve in form.

2. Dry fire, dry fire, and more dry fire of pistols practicing trigger squeeze and follow though on target.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Im looking forward to it. I tend to be a little crazy on this kind of shit. I pick my hobbies carefully because i obsess. I ordered 3k rounds of 9mm that I plan on shooting out in the next month. I also FN hate losing so im sure ill get a real fire after I get smoked in my first comp

I didn’t read back to see what your experience is, but I’m new to getting serious with a handgun as well. I started to shoot a lot of rounds, but after getting serious about dryfire drills with targets in my garage, I don’t feel like I need to expend so many live rounds to grow in my competency. Form gave me a list of drills to do and having some structure to follow really helps.

 

[Gstew1930]

I didn’t read back to see what your experience is, but I’m new to getting serious with a handgun as well. I started to shoot a lot of rounds, but after getting serious about dryfire drills with targets in my garage, I don’t feel like I need to expend so many live rounds to grow in my competency. Form gave me a list of drills to do and having some structure to follow really helps.

My experience is very little. The dry fire has seemed to help you?

 

[Nine Banger]

I found a local USPSA club here and plan on going to some matches this spring. The pistol this is as addictive as the rifle now...

Sounds like we are in the exact same boat. I signed up for a USPSA match next month

Man, what a time it would be if we could all squad together.

 

[Gstew1930]

Man, what a time it would be if we could all squad together.

That would be a blast

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

My experience is very little. The dry fire has seemed to help you?

Oh yeah. Each drill has you going through 60 repetitions at different speeds. The muscle memory it produces and the ability to get on target quickly and to produce a clean trigger press is invaluable. You can order target stands and IPSC targets from Amazon. Plus, you get to do it in your own space. I’ll practice between lifts working out or jump rope to get my heart rate up. You can spend hours and hours doing this at zero cost. Each time I go to the range I feel like I’ve made improvements since the last range session.

 

[Gstew1930]

Oh yeah. Each drill has you going through 60 repetitions at different speeds. The muscle memory and it produces and the ability to get on target quickly and to produce a clean trigger press is invaluable. You can order target stands and IPSC targets from Amazon. Plus, you get to do it in your own space. I’ll practice between lifts working out or jump rope to get my heart rate up. You can spend hours and hours doing this at zero cost. Each time I go to the range I feel like I’ve made improvements since the last range session.
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Man i appreciate the write up, i'll do the that! I have a stand & IPSC target already, i use them for my rifles, so that will be easy. Also super jealous of the sheep lol.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Man i appreciate the write up, i'll do the that! I have a stand & IPSC target already, i use them for my rifles, so that will be easy. Also super jealous of the sheep lol.

A shot timer is necessary as well. I just bought a cheap dryfire timer. It was $60. The AMG Sidekick. Picks up the click of the hammer falling.

 

[Gstew1930]

A shot timer is necessary as well. I just bought a cheap dryfire timer. It was $60. The AMG Sidekick. Picks up the click of the hammer falling.

You're the man. I was in the middle of looking for a shot timer. Thanks bud

 

[Yaremkiv]

Shooting a rifle is relatively easy to master, not so with a pistol. A good handgun shooter has potential to be an excellent rifle shooter.