The self-imposed criteria presented in the previous post are for me to develop the level of proficiency required to harvest game and protect myself from those who would seek to deprive me of that which is mine. To those who shoot competition matches with high round counts and slicked up race guns or PRS matches and long range these impositions may not mean much but, it does not make “criteria” any less important to our prospective disciplines as “shooters.”

Here are a few concepts to remember which I believe will make one a proficient shooter in his discipline.

Quantity does not equal quality

“People who shoot” go through lots of ammunition, typically on weekends. They tend to buy bulk, stock pile and be very well versed in SHTF type scenarios. Generally their arsenals consist of numerous “black guns” (AR platforms and Glocks) all chambered in the same caliber and in an innumerable amount of configurations (pistol, carbine, mid, rifle length gas systems, etc.). Urban camo, kevlar, tactical lights, sights, and gear adorn man caves and garages…not saying there is anything wrong with this.

As you may or may not know the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 establishes a percentage of all ammunition and firearm purchases goes directly to fund wildlife conservation and preservation compared to the 0% contribution of tent, bicycle, camp chair, and jogging short purchases. So by all means buy more guns and ammo, the environment and the wildlife depend on it.

Quantity of ammo and quantity of guns to discharge it inevitably means a lack of proficiency with any one gun and/or type of ammo. Likewise cramming all this “fun” into a 2-6 hour range session on a weekend once or twice a month does not tend toward proficiency either. Quality of time spent with specific firearms and a particular ammunition is what matters and this time should be as frequently as possible. Everyday or at least a few times a week for a few minutes counts for more than long periods between weekend sessions.

Newer does not equal better

It seems like there is always something branded as newer, greater, or better than what came before. Over the previous years one can conservatively estimate that for every month since Shot Show became popular to the masses (12-15 years ago), something new relating to firearms and ammunition has been introduced. That’s over 180 new “break through,” never been done before, latest and greatest products marketed to the average “Gun-Nut” and “Rifle-Looney.”

What’s wrong with grandpa’s old rifle? Nothing, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it other than the fact it is “old” and not “tacti-cool.”

The answer is marketing and relevance. The 30-06 is irrelevant as a long range big game cartridge so get a new 300 Whiz Bang Flop. Lord only knows how many ol’ time 30-06 hunters have been gored to death by an angry charging cow elk. That extra 1/2 inch of bolt travel really jammed them up after the 165 Grain Core-lokt just bounced off her rib cage at 697 yards. (Just a hint of sarcasm)

Without a doubt new powder and bullet selections bring the old into the new age yet, the new persists because anything over 50 years old just isn’t relevant. The gun of the new shooter is light weight, fast handling, flat shooting, accurate, and packs a punch…if you ask me that sounds just like the 30-30 Winchester at the turn of the 20th century.

Use what you have

As someone who has hunted with multiple calibers I am aware of what each one is capable of however, I’m not fully aware of what I’m capable of with any particular one. One can be familiar with many different firearms yet have no expertise with any particular one.

Often folks get a new firearm and they want to accurize and accessorize without ever having fired it first. The color scheme has to be just so, the trigger and sight has to be the best money can buy, etc. When the weekend arrives they hit the range with a $1,700 firearm and an ammo can full of steel cased 5.56 rounds and wonder why it won’t feed or extract and the trigger pins are falling out.

There’s a saying, “beware the one gun hunter/shooter.” Why? Because that’s all they have, that’s all they ever shoot, and that’s all they really need.

I have several varmint calibers but I always default to the 222 Remington. When it comes to vermin I haven’t anything in my arsenal that is more familiar or capable for my needs. Know thy gun, know thyself.

Make every shot count

The old moniker “one shot, one kill” comes to mind here or perhaps the ever famous Hollywood “aim small, miss small” slogan. Every shot whether hit or miss should count for something. With a handgun it can tell you something about your grip, sight picture or even ammo type. Using a rifle to shoot longer range each shot can tell you something about wind deflection, elevation, or barrel condition.

There are many variables associated with any and every shot that impacts whether it is a “hit or miss.” In each and every case there is something to be learned. Slow deliberate strings of fire reduce certain variables and creates a situation of repeatability. This is critical to success and of vital importance to a “shooter” whether he has one gun or many.

Repeatability

Four fundamentals to marksmanship are positioning, aiming, breathing, and trigger squeeze. Once shooting position and sight picture have been established I coach “Breathe, Squeeze, and Follow-through” from behind the shooter. I believe “follow-through” should be the fifth fundamental but who am I?

You no doubt have seen these folks hit the range. They plop down on the bench, get everything situated, load the gun, hunker down on the cheek piece, wrap their arm around the stock and settle in for a “dead steady” shot with the reticle centered perfectly on the bullseye. No sooner does the gun go kaboom and definitely before the sound of the bullet’s impact travels back to the shooter they pop their head up off the stock to look over the scope to see if they hit the target.

I call this “Prairie doggin'” and it is in no way conducive to repeatability and no-one I have ever observed doing this has ever been able to reliably sight in a rifle. Old timers used to say, “keep you damn fool head down.” If you do it, stop it. If you can’t break the habit have someone “help” you break it. Who knows, you might even develop the habit of looking through the scope to actually see if you hit the target.

The ability to take a mental “snapshot” at the moment the trigger breaks (the sight picture, the breath, body positioning, pressure applied to the trigger, grip on the gun, etc.) will contribute to the accuracy and the development of a shooter transforming them from just a weekend lead slinger. Practice being slow, deliberate and accurate and I guarantee the speed will be there for a chosen discipline.