picking up my xd9 tomorrow. its my first handgun, and i've only fired a few rounds through a friend's. many would recommend an NRA first steps or something, but i wasnt really pleased with my first steps shotgun course. half of it was the instructor regurgitating generic instructions from a shotgun owners manual, and when it came time to shoot clay, the instructor basically loaded the chamber and said, "off you go." so i think this time around, after familiarizing myself with the xd in and out and dry firing for a bit, i'm just gonna go to the range and wing it. and i'll use a gym analogy since that's mainly how i bide my time. there are people in the gym who arent in shape, but who look like, if they stick with it, they'll get there in no time. proper form, proper workout routine, obeying all the gym rules. and then there's the guy who comes in wearing slippers and whose 1-hr in the gym consists of 5 actual sets of lifting weight that is way too light and with grossly improper form. both guys are bad, but the former will get better. what do i need to know to be the first guy? i dont care if i'm shooting 10" groups; i can handle people thinking i'm a bad shooter. of course. i'm new at it. i just dont wanna be the guy that some expert walks up to out of pity and embarrasment for me to show me what i should be doing. so, i get to the range, familiarize myself with the range rules, get my gear straight, then what? what's a good "workout plan" for me to follow? should i first browse border's books for a training guide? thanks alot for the advice.
noob
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Just remember your fundamentals. Stance, Sight Alignment, Sight Picture (focus on the front sight), Breathing, Trigger Control, and Follow Through.
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Pilar:
do everything in a slow, methodical, and determined process.
such as drop magazine, load magazine with speed loader, attach magazine, rack slide forward, two hand grip, trigger press, sight attinment, etc.
practice the night before.
always , always muzzle down range.
jerky steps or process will acknowledge your beginner status.
do everything in a slow, methodical, and determined process.
such as drop magazine, load magazine with speed loader, attach magazine, rack slide forward, two hand grip, trigger press, sight attinment, etc.
practice the night before.
always , always muzzle down range.
jerky steps or process will acknowledge your beginner status.
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pilar
Get some books, magazines and read, read, read. Do some internet searches and absorb as much information as possible. It's fun and worth the effort to learn.
When in doubt, ask someone.
It would be great if someone took the time to give you some pointers. There isn't any pity or embarrasment there at all. Call around and try to find a training course. We all had to start somewhere. You are no different.
Get some books, magazines and read, read, read. Do some internet searches and absorb as much information as possible. It's fun and worth the effort to learn.
When in doubt, ask someone.
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If you can, find a buddy who has some handgun experience to go with you. It's more fun with a friend anyway. Also, in addition to the advice above, concentrate on the fundmental safety habits: No finger on the trigger until ready to fire, always be aware of where the barrel is pointing, etc. Start now at being methodical in loading, chambering a round, clearing a round, checking for a clear chamber. While you're waiting to get to the range, field strip the gun several times. It also could use a clean and lube to get the factory grease off.
Just my $0.02.
Just my $0.02.
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10,955 Posts
Sounds like you had a bad experience with your shotgun course. Check out an NRA basic pistol class.
Remember, Speed comes with time, dont go ut there and try to dump a magazine of ammo into your targets in 3 seonds. Take your time and enjoy shooting.
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24,847 Posts
I was perusing the USPSA website last night and one section noted that new shooters need to remember that what they see on tv and in the movies about gun handling is generally wrong!
Do a search for the 10 rules of gun safety as well. The main thing is to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to put rounds down range.
Be safe! Have fun!
Do a search for the 10 rules of gun safety as well. The main thing is to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to put rounds down range.
Be safe! Have fun!
Wecome ,
Where are you?
Exercising wrong can't kill you as quick as shooting wrong could kill someone or yourself.
Talk to the range master, they can give lessons as well.
Practice at home without ammo.
Be safe
have fun
be willing to listen and learn
again welcome
Where are you?
Exercising wrong can't kill you as quick as shooting wrong could kill someone or yourself.
Talk to the range master, they can give lessons as well.
Practice at home without ammo.
Be safe
have fun
be willing to listen and learn
again welcome
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3,473 Posts
Welcome buying some snap caps{fake bullets avalible ay most sporting goods stores} to practice loading and rackingat home start shooting a a close range[7 yardsor15feet] with a body size target this will help you under stand sights sqeeze trigger if your from MI. I'm always looking for shooting buddy'sthanks for all the good advice... i'm not totally new to guns, just handguns, so i'm familiar with the 10 rules and muzzle awareness etc. i guess my inquiry was more along the lines of, what exactly do i do at the range? when i go shotgunning, the routine is pretty straightforward... say "pull," and hope for broken clay. do i dump a whole mag into a target and hope for the best when i retrieve it? do i shoot 1, 3, 5 at a time? what's a good practice routine for someone starting out? btw, i'm at school in charlottesville, va (but richmond, harrisonburg, and metro dc arent too far) in case someone wants to take me under their wing at least for the first time out. also, i discovered a first steps pistol course near me which wasnt nearly as expensive as my shotgun course, so i might be willing to shell out the dollars and give that a try again, but its not til the end of february, so who knows if i'll give in to the urge to take the xd to the range sooner than that. thanks again ~eric
![[TASF]Overkill](/d1/avatars/m/2/2505.jpg?1156032827){kind=avatar}
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Pillar... I live 2 hours from you, give or take.
Lynchburg or Bath County, take your pick.
Lynchburg or Bath County, take your pick.
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My dept. uses Berettas 92f 9mm (15+1). We are trained to shoot (when the target turns facing us at 25 yards) 3 shots. We do that until we shoot 30 rounds. The reason they went to that is pretty simple. When we first went to semi-autos in late 89 after using revolvers since 1850, the dept. discovered it wasn't abnormal for deputies involved in an on duty shooting to empty their mags, reload and shoot somemore, usually putting most of the rounds off target.
The 3 shot training resulted in a drastic change for the better, since when one is trained repeatedly to shoot a certain way, instinct takes over when the actual shooting occurs (or so we are told), even with adrenalin flowing.
Just my .02 cents.
The 3 shot training resulted in a drastic change for the better, since when one is trained repeatedly to shoot a certain way, instinct takes over when the actual shooting occurs (or so we are told), even with adrenalin flowing.
Just my .02 cents.
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pilar said:
My husband is getting an XD9SC this weekend and boy I can't wait to try it out too!
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3,601 Posts
pilar
Relax :wink:
This isn't a golf tournament or a ice skating championship. Shooting at the range is your time and no one else. Don't sweat the little details. Shoot your paper targets, punch some holes in it. Change your target and do it again. You don't need to shoot, 5 and then 8 and then shoot 2. Have some fun and do what you want. Be safe and learn some basics as you go along.
Relax :wink:
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