7 Things to Practice Next Time You Go to the Shooting Range

Posted by GunBroker.com on June 10th, 2021

Going to the gun range without a plan means you shoot at some targets, but you might be missing an opportunity to get better. Sure, simply firing at targets can be fun, but why not have fun while building practical skills? Grab your Beretta A400, some targets, and get ready to become a better shooter.

Get to Know Your Guns

Whether you have a shotgun, rifle, or handgun, the most important thing is knowing how to operate it. More than that, you should also know how to handle your firearm when things go wrong. Where is the safety? What is the best way to clear a jam on your specific gun? If you need to take it apart in the field, do you know how? This is essential for new guns, but always be sure to brush up on guns you have not used for a while.

Work on Your Stance

Next, work on your stance. When you hold your Bersa 380, what kind of stance are you using? The Isosceles stance is classic, but it can be hard to be fluid and move quickly, which is required for many competitions. The Weaver stance gives you more flexibility but makes it hard to pivot to the right and cannot be used easily by cross-eye dominant shooters. The Chapman stance combines the two. No one stance is better than the others, so it is a good idea to practice all three stances.

Focus on Accuracy

Being able to hit a target with your Browning rifles is excellent, but it might not be enough. You want to focus on hitting the target consistently and within certain accuracy margins. That means tighter groupings over time. Start slow and increase your speed over time, slowly improving until you are a more accurate shooter overall.

Practice a Smooth Draw

You will want to be able to draw from multiple places smoothly and quickly. If you have a holster, that is an obvious first place to start. However, you can also practice picking up the gun from a table, both loaded and unloaded so you need to insert a mag. Simulate as many situations as possible where you might need to draw your handgun and practice them again and again.

Weak Hand Drills

Practice shooting with your weak hand. This is true for any type of gun. You want to practice one-handed shooting with handguns, switching sides with a rifle on a sling, and even with shotguns. You never know when you might need to switch to your opposite hand.

Reloading Drills

To get better at reloading, practice reloading drills. Have a mag filled with only a round or two, shoot them, and then reload and shoot again. For shotguns, you will need to perfect turning the shotgun over and loading more ammo. Even rifles without mags can benefit from reloading drills, as the British proved in WWI with the Mad Minute on SMLEs.

Slow is Smooth, and Smooth is Fast

Finally, remember that, above all else, you should practice the fundamentals slowly at first. Then, continue speeding up. Going slow will support a smooth technique, and being able to perform the actions smoothly can help you do them quicker.

About GunBroker.com

Are you interested in buying, selling, and browsing firearms and their accessories? Then the GunBroker.com online marketplace is for you. With GunBroker.com, gun enthusiasts have a safe, secure platform to buy, sell, and auction new and used firearms. You can find guns, parts, accessories, ammunition, hunting gear, collectibles, militaria, and much more from users on the marketplace. The team also offers valuable tools, like information on buyer protection and a convenient FFL-lookup function, to help both buyers and sellers support responsible gun sales. If you are hunting for your next Rock Island VR80, CZ 75 SP 01, SMLE, or nearly anything else firearm-related, take a look at the listings available on GunBroker.com.

Like it? Share it!


GunBroker.com

About the Author

GunBroker.com
Joined: June 30th, 2020
Articles Posted: 58

More by this author