Maintain six feet of distance at your local gun range and sling some lead downrange with these drills!
Most of us are happy to shed the constraints of our homes and thrilled to be able to head back out to the gun range to get back at it! But after the long quarantine, and maybe putting on a few unwelcome pounds, where do you start?
First and foremost, always follow the four rules of gun safety!
Now, without further ado, here are some fantastic drills to get you back in the swing of things as recommended by a few well-known instructors:
After retiring from the Palmer Alaska Police Department in 2012, Donna Anthony founded Alaska Investigation Agency, LLC. With over 20 years of law enforcement and security experience, it's also no surprise she is the proud owner of Point Blank Firearms & Self Defense Training, LLC.
Donna recommends the following drills to get your shot back on target:
Michelle Cerino, a.k.a. “Princess Gunslinger”, is well-known throughout the firearms industry. As an instructor for the Chris Cerino Training Group which she runs with her husband, she is also an avid hunter and gun writer.
Michelle suggests the following drills:
Il Ling New is an instructor at the legendary Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. She teaches Defensive Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun courses, as well as Hunting Rifle and wing-shooting.
“If you haven't been to the range for a while -- and especially if you haven't dry-fired during your lay-off -- I highly recommend slowing things waaaaaay down in your ‘re-entry’," New says. "Spend a little time re-introducing your body to what it needs to do, rather than trying to get the ‘old you’ back right away.”
One drill that she uses for this (sometimes even in the middle of a class) is:
If it’s been a while since you've handled firearms, New recommends running some of the best fundamentals in order to ‘refresh’ your muscle memory.
*It's important not to make corrections by aiming at different places each time. You should see that all of your shots are hitting the same spot, creating a ragged hole.
Whether you're locked down in quarantine, laid up after an injury, or just can't make it to the shooting range, there are ways to keep your skills sharp away from the firing line.
We love the MantisX system. It gives shooters feedback to correct aim, perfect grip, improve trigger pull, and even analyzes their holster draw - from your own home! The smart training system attaches to the rail of your handgun and connects to an app on your phone where shooters complete basic marksmanship drills to gain feedback on how to become a better shooter!
If you need to see where your "shot" is landing, you can always give laser training a shot! With so many options available - Laser Ammo, LaserLyte, G-Sight, and iDryfire, to name a few - it's just a matter of finding what works with your firearm and budget.
Shooting skills are perishable, so it’s important to practice on a regular basis. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the range, hopefully, some of these drills will help you take aim and hit the mark again!
What are some of your favorite drills? Have you found yourself a little rusty after the lockdown? Have you signed up for any additional training courses? Sound off in the comments, we want to hear from you!
Stacy Bright is an NRA Certified Pistol and Rifle Instructor, Refuse to be a Victim Instructor, Missouri Concealed Carry Instructor, Certified Instructor for The Well Armed Woman Organization, TWAW State Leader, and local Leader of the SW Chapter of TWAW. Stacy has also written for several firearms magazines, both online and in print, including Women’s Outdoor News, Range365.com, Outdoor Life, and USCCA.
In her free time, Bright enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with her husband and three daughters.
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