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Old March 19, 2012, 08:16 AM   #1
kx592
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Pistol technique guide?

Im going to to take a defensive pistol class with an instructor I met this weekend at a range. Its a four hr one shot deal and goes over everything from form to multiple target engagement. Is there a great read on proper basics for auto pistols? Id like to get a basic knowledge of form, grip, stance, draw, follow through, exc. Any info is appreciated!
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Old March 19, 2012, 08:42 AM   #2
jrothWA
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I stringly recommend contaacting the instructor to...

see if he has a prerequisite course, it sound like you have minimum experience with shooting???

The best course is good practice 9couple of months) with the firearm you are going to use.

You maybe more frustrated with the course trying to recall what you are learning.

Sorry, to be a wet towel but reading your question, it comes across and barely minimum with good shooting skills.
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Old March 19, 2012, 09:13 AM   #3
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Listen to your instructor and then master the fundamentals of marksmanship in subsequent practice sessions. It's critical to develop a good foundation before moving on to fast and fancy shooting. Make sure he gets you sorted out on the various stances, grip, trigger pull, breathing, sight allignment, sight picture, calling the shot and follow through.

Speed comes with practice and experience. It's easy to overload one's skill level with exuberance or ego, so apply those basic steps of marksmanship for each and every shot until they are instinctive.

As this is a defensive shooting course, make sure he fills you in on the legal aspects of deadly force and the laws pertaining to it in your state.
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Old March 19, 2012, 10:11 AM   #4
aparootsa
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Put a few hundred rounds through the pistol you'll be using while concentrating on getting comfortable with its trigger, mag swaps, clearing malfunctions, etc. Work a bit on fundamentals; he'll likely give you significant corrections on them, but a few hundred rounds' worth of bad habits won't be deeply ingrained yet.

At the session, pay attention to things you can't do for yourself: things like which drills he teaches you (and ask him why), what he tells you that you need to work on/correct, and so forth. At the end of the session, be sure to ask him what you work on going forward; he'll likely be able to give you a few more drills and some pointers for ongoing practice.

Lastly, recognize that learning to shoot is a long long process. I've been firing handguns for 8 years or so, and I wouldn't consider myself good.
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Old March 19, 2012, 12:04 PM   #5
kx592
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I suppose I should have stated previous experience. I'm comfortable with my pistol, its a m9. I can put all shots within a two inch circle at 10yards doing what iv mimicked from watching three gun nation . I was simply seeking the proper techniques so I can have better understanding while paying the bucks for training.
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Old March 19, 2012, 12:57 PM   #6
federali
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Info. wherever you can find it.

As a firearms instructor, I've taken courses with every major federal and local agency in the NYC area, as well as with the SIG and S&W academies. There are so many helpful, common sense tidbits that my teachers passed on to me, yet, I don't know of a single printed source where they may be found.

Best thing to do is open yourself to a variety of training sources. I think the best source of combat related skills is with LE firearms instructors. If I started listing everything that might help you win a SD encounter, I'd be here writing the rest of the month and the thread police would ban me from any further writing.
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Old March 19, 2012, 03:27 PM   #7
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For the shooting part, this:
http://brianenos.com/store/books.html
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Old March 19, 2012, 06:38 PM   #8
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IMHO this is one of the best resources readily available. While it's directed primarily to women, it's good for everyone. The proprietor of the website, Kathy Jackson, is a moderator here (her screen name is pax).
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Old March 19, 2012, 07:03 PM   #9
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Order Magpul's "Art of the Dynamic Handgun" DVD as it's top notch. It will also give you a good idea of what goes on in a training class and will allow you to assess your equipment and possibly make any changes to it so you get the most benefit from the class. Enjoy and have a good time!
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Old March 20, 2012, 08:26 AM   #10
booker_t
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Humble offerings..

Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals, Brian Enos
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Shoo...9648679&sr=8-2

Or http://www.brianenos.com/store/books.html, he has a number of excellent books available. I would consider him my go-to author for pistolcraft. Refinement and Repetition (Steve Anderson) is an outstanding workbook to guide and track your development.

Surgical Speed Shooting: How To Achieve High-Speed Marksmanship In A Gunfight, Andy Stafford
http://www.amazon.com/Surgical-Speed...9648722&sr=1-1

T.A.P.S. Tactical Application of Practical Shooting: Recognize the void in your tactical training, Patrick McNamara
http://www.amazon.com/P-S-Tactical-A...=1CL07PD0KL43J

Tactical Pistol Shooting: Your Guide to Tactics & Techniques that Work, Eric Lawrence
http://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Pisto...9648953&sr=1-1

The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, Massad Ayoob
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-Boo.../ref=pd_cp_b_1

The Gun Digest Book Of Concealed Carry, Massad Ayoob
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-Boo.../ref=pd_cp_b_2

Stressfire, Vol. 1 (Gunfighting for Police: Advanced Tactics and Techniques), Massad Ayoob
http://www.amazon.com/Stressfire-Vol...u-wl_list-recs

I can also personally recommend Rob Pincus as an excellent instructor, although there are dozens of them out there. James Yeager, Clint Smith, etc. Pincus posts on here and you can enjoy his videos on Personal Defense Network.

The Magpul stuff is okay, but highly dramatized and not for everybody. Some of the techniques they employ (like shooting over the hood of a car, or using an A-pillar for cover) just don't stand up to real-world muster.

Hope it helps. Go slow, be safe, do it right. Speed comes with time.

Last edited by booker_t; March 20, 2012 at 08:34 AM.
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Old March 21, 2012, 01:38 AM   #11
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Quote:
I can put all shots within a two inch circle at 10yards
Taking the poster at his word, and I think we should, I'd say he knows how to shoot (probably better than lots of us here, including myself) but as he said, he wants to maximize the the benefit he can get out of this class.

I would ask the instructor if he had any material that the instructor thought would be useful.

In a single four hour course I think you have to concentrate on doing it the way the instructor tells you to do it. Lots of the suggestions here are great but might not be helpful in the class. Saying that 'in thus and such a book I read it would be better to do it this way' would probably be counter productive.

In other words take what the instructor has to offer and then later on 'evaluate' it to see what you think is good and useful.

Oh yeah, and try to have some fun too.
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Old March 21, 2012, 03:49 PM   #12
kx592
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Well Dale, I have to agree with you. Ill have to go in open minded I guess. Thanks for the advice you all pitched in. Hopefully its a good time and productive.
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Old March 22, 2012, 01:12 AM   #13
oldkim
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So there are shooter and then there are shooters...

Given that you can shoot well by placing shots on a stagnet target at 10 yards once you add movement... things all change.

So if this instructor is going to "expand" your experience... an open mind is all you need.

Now when you do add shooting and moving... do know that it's like relearning how to shoot while your body is in motion. Also the idea of shooting at multiple targets and the "proper" sequence of engagement are mostly foreign to regular range shooters as most only shoot at one target in front of them.

You have a good base. You'll pick it up quick that there is much to learn.

Once you do take this "class" I would recommend looking up IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association www.idpa.com) and check out a local club near you. They have a range finder on their website that is close to you.

To most regular range shooters...
Movement
Multiple targets
Magazine changes
Cover/concealment

Are all foreign as most ranges won't let you practice or learn how to do these skills... but are fundamental for self defense.

So what you can do is have all your gear ready. Bring a bottle of water and a snack. Prep for the weather or not (indoor) and hit the range a few times to hone your basic marksmanship. Stock up on ammo and take in the experience.
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Old March 22, 2012, 09:45 AM   #14
rha600
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I'm goig to ask this here since everyone seems to really know what they are talking about.

I've got a good knowlege of firearms. shotguns, rifles, hand guns. I'm a decent shot with a pistol (3 inch groups at 7-10yards). I'm really pretty good on the basics of pistol, like grip, trigger pull, deployment, but I would love to take a class on revolvers.

And by all means, if there is a class that also involves pistols along with revolver that is fine. I'm of the mind that no matter how much you know, another class will never hurt. There's always so little tip that you can learn.

So does anyone know of a revolver based class? Combat, self defense, basics, night shooting, anything? Preferably something in Florida or at least the south east if possible.
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Old March 22, 2012, 10:42 AM   #15
g.willikers
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These guys are in Live Oak, have a store and training center:

http://proarmsinc.com/

Two more than you can look up on the web are:
Universal Firearms Academy, in Frostproof (just north of Sebring).

Southern Exposure, a little northwest of Lakeland (south of Orlando).
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Old March 27, 2012, 03:03 AM   #16
Jeff22
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Pistol Techniques

TACTICAL PISTOL SHOOTING by Erik Lawrence

one of the other posters recommended that as well -- it's a well written and very clearly illustrated book that came out a few years ago.
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Old March 27, 2012, 02:44 PM   #17
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I would talk to the instructor about what hardware is recommended or acceptable for the class. The biggest disappointments I see when we run a class are pistols that won't run, holsters that don't release or the user can't run, ammo (cheap reloads) that misfires.

If you are good on that kind of stuff just pay attention and take notes. Have fun. We can usually even get the newbies up to speed if they don't have to fight hardware.
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Old March 29, 2012, 11:22 AM   #18
Carne Frio
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How about pointers from a champion ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48
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Old March 29, 2012, 10:02 PM   #19
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Paladin-press, GunVideo.com, Clint Smith...

For a new or entry level gun owner, I'd join the NRA, www.nra.org .
I'd also see these popular sources; www.gunvideo.com www.paladin-press.com www.policehq.com www.deltaforce.com .
Some of the top US pistol instructors for armed professionals & private citizens include Clint Smith, Massad Ayoob; www.Massadayoobgroup.com , Duane Dieter, Jeff Gonzales, Larry Vickers(a former Spec Ops/US Army trooper), Chuck McCann. "Chuck Taylor" is a well known gun writer & instructor but I take issue with a few of his remarks/lessons. Taylor wrote for years that the 1911a1 .45acp with the standard factory 230gr FMJ was "best" for armed carry-defense.
The NRA offers many good classes & training sources.
For details about gun laws & travel see; www.gunlawguide.com or www.handgunlaw.us .
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