Help for an old beginner? Looking for reference material.

[BenEnglishTX]

I've recently retired and a nice, new indoor pistol range has opened less than 10 minutes away from my home. I find that running 200 or so rounds through my M18 S&W revolver, 5 times a week, is enormously satisfying and mind-clearing. It's sorta become my yoga.

Without going into boring detail, the thing I've best learned over the last couple of months is that I'm not a good shot. I can stay in the black of a B17 target at 50 feet but by the standards of the folks who visit this forum that puts me in the "barely-above-incompetent" skills range.

I want to get better.

I realize online references are abundant, such as the Hitchhikers Guide on Pilkguns.com, various youtube vids, and the abundant and helpful material on bullseyepistol.com.

However, for a multitude of reasons I also like reference *books* - real, printed-on-paper books.

What are the standard, acknowledged-as-classics books that a pistol shooter in my position should acquire and study?

TIA for any thoughts.

[Jack Milchanowski]

Are there any good books about pistol shooting? I often see this question come up on Target Talk. The answers always include Competitive Shooting by A. A. Yur’yev. Another is the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Pistol Marksmanship Training Guide. I have enjoyed reading The Pistol Shooter’s Treasury, a collection of great articles by world champion shooters edited by Gil Hebard.

In response to the question of good books I have recommended a book in addition to these for pistol shooters. It is titled, A Shooter’s Guide To Pistol Marksmanship by Allan Lozsan. Mr. Lozsan has recently published a revised edition of his excellent book. His writing style is very easy to understand. The chapters in the book cover such essential skills as stance, breath, sighting, follow through, and even how to do grip modifications. He has a chapter that covers all of our different types of matches. There is an “Improving Performance” chapter that is loaded with must have information. There is a chapter devoted entirely to mental skills which is very worthwhile. You can find ordering information for his book at www.pistol-shooting.com . Once there you will find great information on his website as well as ordering instructions for his book. Note that a discount exists for multiple copies.

All you really need to know is how to properly focus on the front sight and apply the trigger so as not to disturb the sight. All of the above books and manual sure make it a lot more interesting and a longer read.

Come see us in the woods.
Jack

[Rover]

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit publishes a pretty decent book on the subject entitled "Pistol Marksmanship Guide".

I think it's available from the U.S. government printing office. The copy I have is marked "ST 23-35-1 FY 83". It also MAY be obtained from:

Commanding Officer
USAMU
Ft. Benning GA 31905

[2650 Plus]

Rover has finally posted some thing I totally agree with For three gun US NRA competition The USAMU manual is the wy to go. Get your copy now! Good Shooting Bill Horton

[BenEnglishTX]

Many thanks to all for the suggestions.

My apologies, too, for asking a question that's been previously addressed. I did, believe it or not, use the search function looking for the information before I posted my question. Everything I found via that method concerned rifle shooting. I guess I just didn't hit on the correct text string.

Thanks, again.

Ben in TX

[mika]

Ben,

Already addressed or not, it was a good question and the answers were helpful for others as well, at least me.

As to the level and scores, the right technique makes all the difference. A non-gifted person like me will probably never really compete with the best, but it's immensely satisfying when you start seeing the progress. I go ring by ring. I was happy to stay on black, then set my goal to have all shots within the 8 ring. I'm just thinking about moving one up, but it may be too early. I like to reach the goal often enough even on a bad day :) In the rapid fire stage of the CF and the two longest strings in the olympic RF I'm trying to keep all within 9 already, but the target is much bigger. It's just to have some string by string objective even when just informally practicing. Something with a suitable challenge level, not so easy you always succeed but often enough anyway so it stays fun.

I like the string by string objectives more than for example 60 shot scores, as a failure does not haunt you all evening. And setting the goal again for each shot or 5 shot series seems to generate better 60 shot scores, too, as long as you concentrate again and again for each performance.

Coaching is even better, I'm sure, and you'll get much better advice from others if you decide to reach high. I'm a hobby shooter, a class frowned upon by many better shooters, but decided to share my feelings with someone that seems to do it for similar reasons - recreation and enjoyment!

Mika

[Leon]

This book -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Competitive-Pis ... 491&sr=8-3

[Pat McCoy]

mika,

You are going in the right direction, just not far enough. What you need are individual shot goals. Treat each shot as a match, and let the totals take care of themselves.

[mika]

mika,

You are going in the right direction, just not far enough. What you need are individual shot goals. Treat each shot as a match, and let the totals take care of themselves.

I'm pretty much doing that but checking and patching the targets usually every 5 shots (range practice) makes that a kind of mental interval. Shooting alone it's different, also helps when you don't get the extra excercise... Anyway, in rapid fire, the string of 5 is the minimum unit.

But yes, you are right, why worry even while shooting the next single shot. Past is past, do what you can to make the next one a good one. Not perfect, though, it probably won't be if you try too hard.

Mika

[Lee_123]

Ive read a few books and the two I have found most helpful are Antal's "Competitive Pistol Shooting" and Hickey's and Sievers' "Successful Pistol Shooting". The second book is a tedious read and it took a long time to get through it.

Lee B.

[peterz]

The book "Olympisches Pistolenschiessen" from MEC is good and very detailed. Its supposed to be out inEnglish soon, but you can still get lots from the German original.

Available at Center Shot in the USA.

Pz