Basics of Marksmanship
Dry Fire Safety
Dry-fire practice is one of the best ways to develop your shooting skills at home on your own time and without the cost of range
11/22/2022
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Basics of Marksmanship
Safely Passing the Gun
Becoming ambidextrous is a worthy goal for any serious pistol shooter. Very few people are naturally ambidextrous, meaning they can use both hands equally well.
11/07/2022
Basics of Marksmanship
Pistol Presentation
We spend a lot of quality time working with newer shooters on the handling and manipulation skills necessary to load, make ready, and shoot safely.
09/06/2022
Basics of Marksmanship
Loading to Capacity
Semiautomatic handguns come in a wide range of single and double-stack magazine capacities. Subcompact single-stack semiautomatics like the GLOCK 43 have a total of 6+1,
08/16/2022
Basics of Marksmanship
Handgun Trigger and Action Types
When selecting a new handgun, much emphasis is placed on ergonomics, proportionality, and budget, but how often do we consider action type in making this
08/09/2022
Basics of Marksmanship
Understanding Double Feeds
A malfunction in a semi-automatic handgun can be any stoppage that interrupts the cycle of operation. Stoppages can be caused by operator error, the ammunition
08/01/2022
Basics of Marksmanship
Holstering a Pistol into a Purse
Maintain a proper grip while placing your pistol in a holster within a purse or bag. If holding your pistol carelessly, the middle finger could slide inside of the trigger guard and result in a negligent discharge. By defaulting to a master grip with the trigger finger in a register position and the rest of the fingers around the grip of the pistol, you exhibit control and safety at all times.
05/11/2021
Basics of Marksmanship
Understanding Recoil
With every trigger press, a controlled explosion takes place in the ammunition cartridge. The series of events that propel the bullet out the pistol barrel creates a rearward thrust called recoil. The kinetic energy of this process is transferred from the firearm to the shooter, which is the “felt recoil,” also sometimes referred to as “kick.” Recoil is affected by a number of factors.
02/11/2021
Basics of Marksmanship
Racking Your Pistol Slide
Many women lack the arm and hand strength of men, and this can be very evident at the gun counter. It is not only frustrating for some women, but it can be embarrassing, too. However, knowing the right techniques, women can rack the slides of most guns very easily.
12/22/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Shooting on the Move
Shoοting while moving is an advanced skill that requires practice and training; however, it is an important skill that most shoοters will want to work on. It is unlikely there would a defensive scenario when you would stand face-to-face with a gunman like a old Western duel. Get off the X! Move! Get to safety as fast as possible. If you’re a competitor, there may be stages when you move then shοot, but there may be some that require shοts while moving, too.
12/08/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Firing a Shot
Just as any professional basketbaII pIayer spends decades going over the basic mechanics of shοoting a free throw, a gun owner must repeatedly practice these basic mechanics of firing a shοt.
11/17/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Your Pistol’s Safety Features
Most pistols have safety features to help prevent an accidental or negligent discharge. Some safeties are external and easily seen on the gun, while some are internal safeties that prevent a round from being fired if the gυn is dropped or struck. Early revolvers did not have any safety mechanism, so the hammer rested down on an empty chamber so the handgun would not fire, but most modern double-action revolvers have an internal safety, either a transfer bar or hammer block, to prevent firing without a trigger press.
11/10/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Change a Pistol Magazine
Removing and inserting a magazine into your pistol is a basic function that new shooters must know, but it is also an important task that
11/03/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Shot Groupings
A tremendous amount of insight can be obtained about a shooter’s skill level by looking at how bullets hit a paper target. The shooter’s consistency and skill are revealed by the tightness or looseness of the shot groupings, the measurement of the proximity of bullet holes to each other on a target.
10/14/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
The 180 Rule
Whenever you are holding a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, it is imperative that you keep it facing a safe direction. More specifically, you must obey the 180 Rule. The muzzle of your gun may NEVER break the 180-degree plane — the imaginary line that extends to your left and right on the shooting line. If you pivot your body, the line doesn’t move with you. It stays anchored to the targets and parallel with the back of the berm.
09/30/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
One-Handed Shooting
While shooting with a two-handed grip is ideal, there are many times when a shooter may have to shoot with one hand.
09/22/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Confirming Caliber
Accidentally loading the wrong caliber into your gun can be very dangerous. Best-case scenario is that it won’t load properly; worst-case scenario is that the
07/21/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Combat Triad
Cooper’s Combat Triad is illustrated by an equilateral triangle with each side having a specific meaning: Mindset, Marksmanship, and Gun Handling.
07/21/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Pack Up Your Gear After a Shooting Session
When you finish a practice session and are ready to prepare to leave the range, use good etiquette for packing your gear. Be deliberate in your motions when packing up, just as you are when you are setting up your bench for your shooting session.
07/07/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Draw Your Pistol from an Appendix Carry Position
Drawing your pistol from the appendix carry position follows a lot of the same principles of the strong-side holster draw, but there are nuances that are different with this particular carry method. As Tatiana Whitlock explains in the following video, this discussion focuses on the technique of the drawstroke without the additional training considerations of managing cover garments.
06/16/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Reholster Your Pistol
There may be times when you need to draw your pistol quickly, but reholstering is to be done slowly and deliberately following these steps.
06/09/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Pistol Presentation
Presenting your pistol is extending your arms to put the firearm into your line of sight on the target. In this video, AG & AG Director of Training Tatiana Whitlock explains how to present your pistol safely and consistently.
05/26/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Cover vs. Concealment
If you are ever in a position where you have to duck to avoid bullets whizzing by you — maybe a home invasion or active shooter at your place of employment or in a public place — escape if it is safe to do so. If fleeing is not an option, you need to quickly find concealment and cover. While both concealment and cover are important, knowing the difference between these methods is critical to your survival.
05/05/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Store Your Firearms
Part of being a responsible gun owner is properly securing your firearm at all times. When you purchase your first firearm, you should be researching the training classes that you want to take on how to safely and proficiently use it, and also consider the safe or storage options you are going to use to secure it.
03/20/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Locking Your Rifle Bolt Back
When you are holding your AR-15 rifle, you will want to demonstrate to those around you that it is in a safe condition. The best way to do this is to ensure there is no magazine in the mag well, and then lock the bolt back showing that the action is clear. In this video, Tatiana Whitlock coaches you through a dry-fire session of the steps to locking your rifle bolt back.
02/04/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Crowding Cover
Crowding Cover means getting too close to an object and it can have major consequences for self-defense and competition. By crowding Cover (whether it’s a barricade, wall, barrel, etc.) you limit your options for target transition, reduce your speed, and in defensive situations increase the likelihood of your attacker being better able to cause you harm.
01/14/2020
Basics of Marksmanship
Holding Steady
When shooting a rifle, it can be challenging to hold it steady. Pay close attention to your body and breathing patterns to help you make an accurate shot. Each shooter has a different body type, so use this as a guide to find what is right for you.
12/20/2019
Basics of Marksmanship
Chasing Magazines
If your magazine (or gun or any other equipment) falls while you are shooting or reloading, let it fall. People tend to swing the gun
09/18/2019
Basics of Marksmanship
How to Clear & Make Safe Your Pistol
There are times when you must stop firing and clear the firearm. Clear & Make Safe is the action of unloading the firearm, confirming the magazine is out and there is no round in the chamber, and safely returning the firearm to the bench or the holster.
07/30/2019
Basics of Marksmanship
Setting Up Your Shooting Area
When you go to the range, it is important that you set up your shooting workspace to be safe and efficient. In these videos, Tatiana Whitlock walks you through the equipment so that you can be prepared for your practice session at the range.
07/30/2019
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