First off; there are many sources for this info on the net. NRA is probably the best place to go for it. Do the research and follow the rules. We’ll throw in our 2 cents worth here though.
The shooting sports can be very fun, satisfying and rewarding. As gun owners we have an obligation to protect our sport and exercise the most important of our responsibilities. Safe gun handling helps us minimize, or hopefully eliminate personal injury and demonstrate to those around us, the deadly serious nature of the tool we use. So when you’re out there, please be safe and be a good example for the next guy. Be very deliberate about this, YOU are responsible for gun safety!
- ALWAYS keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. NEVER point a gun at anything you don’t want to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Accidental discharges are, AT BEST, very embarrassing.
- Treat every gun as if it were loaded. This means all the time; you know it’s unloaded, but no one else does. When you pick up a gun, or are handed one, check to verify its condition. Unload it before handling, or verify it as such.
Once you get to the range or hunting area, these additional rules should be observed:
- Know your target and what’s beyond it.
- Know how to use your gun and be familiar with the safeties.
- Insure your gun is in safe operating condition.
- Use only the correct ammo for your gun. It’s also best not to trust anyone else’s handloads.
- Wear eye and hearing protection.
- Never use drugs or alcohol before or while you’re shooting.
- When you return from the field, check your gun(s) again to insure it/they are unloaded. Store your guns where they are inaccessible to unauthorized individuals.
Accurate Handgun Shooting Techniques
Once again, there are numerous places on the net for more detailed info. Here are some of the basic fundamentals to get you started. Please research the topic (Massad Ayoob has written extensively about it) and hopefully do plenty of practice, as it’s what makes perfect!
Good shooting is not difficult, provided you master a few things; grip, stance, breathing, sight picture, target acquisition and trigger control. But, before you get started, know your handgun. It’s a good idea to get some snap caps and practice at home first. Some handguns can be dry fired safely without the snap caps, but they will insure you don’t damage your handgun. So, do some dry firing and try to master the trigger till the sight picture remains steady when the hammer falls or the striker is tripped.
Stance should be comfortable and steady. Google the Weaver stance if you aren’t already familiar with it, it’s a great place to start.
Breathe normally until you’re ready to drop the hammer. Once you have the proper sight picture, take a breath and hold it till you fire.
Sight picture and target acquisition go hand in hand, for the most part. Most shooters expect the point of impact (POI) to be top, center of the front sight. If your gun doesn’t shoot there, then you’ll have to compensate. Better yet, adjust the sights to achieve this point of aim (POA), POI intersection.
Trigger control is where most new shooters, and some experienced, go awry. It is loosely defined as the squeeze before the hammer/striker falls. Fear of recoil can make the best shooter flinch. If you’re going to spend the time and money to send the bullet downrange, you may as well hit what you aim at.
As previously stated, this is a very basic starting point. Much more detailed info can be had via simple internet search. Study up and then practice. Any routine or good habit requires some practice to achieve good results. So, good luck with that, and most of all, be safe out there!
