Regardless of what Hollywood wants you to believe, shooting a gun takes balance, technique and practice. Even if you are an experienced gun or rifle shooter, shooting a gun requires an entirely different skill. Continue reading for a basic foundation on the safety and accuracy of a gun.
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Part 1 of 4: Learning Basic Pistol Skills
Step 1. Distinguish revolvers from semi-automatic pistols
These are the two basic types of pistols. A revolver is what you usually think of from cowboy movies, where someone owns a "six-shooter". A semi-automatic pistol operates with a sliding mechanism and a magazine that is preloaded with ammunition. The operating technique for each type is slightly different, so it's important to clarify the terms before handling the weapon.
- The revolver operates with a cylinder that rotates as a magazine, into which you load the ammo and from which you must remove the empty shell. After each bullet has been fired, the cylinder rotates to align the next shell with the firing pin. These weapons are primarily fired when the hammer is cocked backwards with the thumb into the firing position. Pulling the trigger will activate the firing pin, firing the gun. A release pin opens the cylinder and rotates it out of the gun barrel.
- A semi-automatic pistol automatically inserts each cartridge into the cartridge chamber of the previously loaded magazine, and removes the empty cartridge once fired. The slide cover on the top of the gun is used to insert the first shell into the chamber and can be locked in the rear position with a button or pin on the side. Magazines are issued and filled out separately.
Step 2. Choose the right gun and ammunition for your needs
Pistols come in a wide variety of types with a seemingly endless array of ammo options. Consider your body size and needs.
Chances are you won't need a.357 Magnum to try to hit a target in a shooting range. Avoid buying a gun that's too big of a caliber if you're interested in getting started and instead, get a reliable small caliber gun, like a.22. Discuss with sales dealers and others experienced with firearms for recommendations
Step 3. Always protect your ears and eyes with proper safety gear
Headphones and earplugs will protect you from gunshots. Safety glasses will protect the eyes from flying casings, hot gases and lead particles as they are removed from the weapon.
If you have used glasses, it is still important to wear safety glasses that fit over them
Step 4. Always handle a hand gun safely
When you handle a weapon, always aim it down. Imagine a magnet connecting the front of your barrel to your target and keeping it generally pointing downwards the entire time the weapon is in your hand. Always fire your gun in a field or shooting club, prepared with a security background to fire a gun.
It is very common in the field, for people who have not been properly trained to inadvertently point their gun to the side when they "cock the slide" or when they open or lock the security pin. Most beginners try to pull the slide back with just their thumb or forefinger, especially if the gun has a strong spring or if your hands are a little sweaty. If you need to use the palm of your hand (or your entire hand) to pull the slide back, you'll need to turn your body toward the side of the weapon, keeping it pointed downwards
Part 2 of 4: Holding a Weapon
Step 1. Check if the gun is loaded
Every time you pick up a gun, you need to check and see if it's loaded. If you just brought it home from the shop, check to see if it's loaded. If you just emptied it, check to see if it's still loaded.
- On a revolver, make sure the safety is on and remove the cylinder and turn it sideways. All bullet houses must be empty. On a semi-automatic pistol, remove the clip from the gun and pull it back to look into the chamber, to make sure there are no shells. If there is, sliding the cover will remove it.
- Keep the slide in the back position as you practice holding the gun to make sure it doesn't load and to get your thumbs out of the way when the slide moves.
Step 2. Carefully pick up your gun, keeping your finger outside the trigger guard, straight and flat on the side of the guard
Every time you handle it, make sure the barrel is pointing downwards, where no one should be.
Never point your gun at anyone even if it's not loaded and even as a joke. Pointing a gun at someone is a crime in some states. Practice holding the gun in the shooting range while the gun is loaded
Step 3. Hold your gun ready to fire
Open your dominant hand (the hand you write with), wide open between your index finger and thumb. Bringing the gun into your other hand, insert the grip of the gun between the index finger and thumb of your dominant hand. With your thumb on one side of the grip, keep your middle finger, ring finger and little finger securely gripping around the other side just below the trigger guard.
You will actually grip the weapon with only your middle and ring fingers, while your little finger rests on the weapon, not being used for gripping; Similarly, the thumb, is not used to grip the weapon. The grip must be very strong. Grip the gun as hard as you can until your hands start to shake, like a handshake where you want to prove something. If you've gripped so tightly that the weapon vibrates, you're in the right position, but relax your hand slightly from that state until your hand stops shaking
Step 4. Firmly grip the weapon with your other hand
Bend your non-dominant hand to accommodate your shooting hand into it. This hand should not be used to grip the weapon, but primarily to stabilize the weapon vertically and horizontally. Align your thumbs for support and accuracy.
Step 5. Make sure the two thumbs are not blocking the slide cover or hammer
This mechanism will quickly bounce back when the weapon is fired, which can easily injure the thumb that is in the path of the bounce. Being "bitten" by a sliding cover can be very painful as well as a dangerous moment, as you don't want to react to the pain and risk dropping a loaded and cocked weapon with an inactive safety.
Step 6. Stand within the proper shooting range
Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with the opposite foot of your dominant hand about a step beyond the other. Lean slightly forward with your knees bent, ensuring that you are steady in balance. The elbow of your dominant arm should be almost completely straight and your non-dominant elbow should be more flexible forming a slightly obtuse angle.
- Some shooting matches are done with one hand. In these events, the stance is more "open", with the arms and body almost in a straight line up to 90 degrees, and the dominant leg pointing towards the target. A very tight grip on the weapon is even more important because only one hand holds the weapon.
- Never point the gun to the side or with the wrist bent like in the movies. This is very dangerous and unstable.
Part 3 of 4: Aiming Weapons
Step 1. Align the front and rear sights
Make sure that the top of the front sight post is level with the top of the rear sight, and that the rear sight looks flat centered in the front sight stand. This will ensure that the weapon is level and you will get a good "shot" when you aim it at the target.
It is best to direct it by looking with your dominant eye and closing the other eye
Step 2. Form the viewfinder
When shooting, a point that is generally confusing, is where the eye should focus. To the target? To the sights? The front sight is the most important part of the shot. Once you've positioned the gun and made sure it's oriented correctly, you need to focus on your target or your shot won't be accurate.
Step 3. Fix the position of the weapon against the target
Adjust your weapon to aim at the target, keeping your focus on the front sight. You should see the front sight clearly in focus touching the bottom of the blurry, out-of-focus bulls-eye. Only now put your trigger finger in the trigger guard!
Step 4. Load the weapon
When you're ready to shoot and you've practiced aiming and steadying the gun, and developing a good shot, load the gun to get ready to shoot. Keep it safe at all times while you are loading the gun and only remove it when you are in a firing position with the gun pointed at the target. Keep the barrel of the gun pointing down at all times as you load it. Most shooting accidents occur while loading or emptying a gun.
If the gun is a semi-automatic type, you must load the cartridge into the chamber by pulling the slide back and releasing it
Part 4 of 4: Shooting Weapons
Step 1. Control your breath
It's best to time the shot to match your breathing, but holding your breath will make you overthink it, which will leave you shaky and inaccurate. Best of all, the most steady time to shoot is immediately after exhaling, before you feel the need to inhale again. Practice this cycle several times, preparing to pull the trigger at the "bottom" of your breath cycle.
Step 2. Press the trigger
Another pistol, another trigger and the pressure required to fire it. Before loading the gun, it's a good idea to try firing it without a bullet (point the gun at the target and pull the trigger empty). This will help you know at what point the gun will fire. When ready to fire, pull the trigger slowly in one controlled motion. A common cause of inaccurate shooting is anticipating backward pressure (which causes the gun to flinch on the verge of firing). As odd as it may sound, for the most accurate shot, try to allow yourself to be "shocked" when the gun jerks back instead of trying to predict it.
Step 3. Continue
Every sport has follow-up action, shooting is no exception. When the trigger is pressed, the gun will fire. However, do not release the trigger suddenly or relax your posture, upright posture, or arms. Maintain position. Release the trigger after inhaling and prepare to fire again.
This advanced movement action improves accuracy and reduces shot-by-shot variation, much like the follow-up moves of a golf or tennis player
Step 4. Practice shooting with multiple bullets
Take time in between. Better to have a few accurate shots than a lot of bad shots. You are in the field to be better, not to turn money into something noisy.
Step 5. Empty your weapon and make sure it is completely emptied
With the gun still in the firing position, click the safety back into place and keep the gun pointing down as you empty it. Check the cylinder to make sure there are no bullets in it or remove it if there is one. Remove the magazine from a semi-automatic pistol and cock the slide cover to remove any casing that may be in the chamber.
Tips
- Proper security is very important. You will find that most experienced gun owners attach great importance to gun safety. They know that the habit of handling weapons that are 99% safe is a recipe for disaster.
- An hour of hints will make a huge difference in your accuracy-- and you'll learn how to practice to get better and better, rather than firing hundreds of bullets without any improvement.
- As you grip the weapon (see above), make sure that your fingers are drawn straight back, not at an angle.
- It is important to practice regularly and consistently. "Dry fire" (unloaded gun, three checks, ammunition in different rooms, aimed at underground or retaining walls) and becomes an excellent practice technique. Snap caps (or blanks) should be used when dry fire with a weapon to avoid damage. Bullets of this type are widely sold but most are only good for use a few times.
- Clean your gun after you finish shooting. Never store it unless the weapon is completely clean inside and out.
Warning
- Treat all weapons as if they were loaded.
- You'll probably need a permit to carry a gun, whether it's in the car or on yourself.
- Most ammunition contains lead core, a highly toxic type of iron. Be sure to use copper-coated bullets to remove any lead that floats up when firing. Always wash your hands after removing parts of your gun to be safe.
