The difference between a good and a great shooter is how a shooter understands and applies the fundamentals. We often speed past fundamentals in order to get to something supposedly “advanced,” yet fall apart because of a shoddy foundation. Everyone should revisit the fundamentals of shooting regularly.
Grip
The primary role of the grip is to aid in managing recoil, and a modern “high-thumbs forward grip” is what successful shooters use. This grip lets you put the most “meat” of your hand on the gun. A solid grip allows for more aggressive trigger operation and aids in getting to your next sight picture quicker in recoil. This allows for faster, more accurate follow-up shots when firing multiple shots or engaging multiple targets.
Obtaining the high-thumbs forward grip is easy once you understand it. Be high in the backstrap and tight to the trigger guard with your strong hand. Use front to rear pressure, like your trying to flatten a can. “Hitchhike” your thumb to get it out of the way. This space is now available for your non-dominant hand to fill. Correctly placed, the knuckles of your support hand should be at almost a 45-degree angle, and your thumb should point forward as if it were a flashlight alongside the frame and slide. The support hand should be high on the frame. It almost scoops up the front of the gun, tight to the underside of the trigger guard. Pressure is side-to-side. The strong hand thumb can now rest on the support hand thumb knuckle.
Trigger Press
With the variety of triggers available and the different shooters and hand sizes, any singular trigger finger placement is impossible. Shooters should try a variety of trigger finger placements until they find one that has the most minor influence on sight alignment and sight picture.
Anticipating recoil and slapping and smacking the trigger are some common trigger press mistakes. I strongly believe in the way I was taught and how I teach trigger press; however, I suggest you do your own research. Then, figure out how to press your trigger straight and to the rear so as not to disturb your sights.
Sight Alignment and Sight Picture
Sight alignment and sight picture go hand-in-hand. Do you know what you need to see? Many people are confused by the dots, bars and other symbols on their sights. They spend too much time hastily trying to assemble a puzzle. To hit what you are aiming at, you need to focus on lining up the bodies of the sights. Your front and rear sights should be level across the top, with equal light spacing between the front sight and rear notch.
With most factory sights, you cut or cover your intended target in half. If your sight picture is the target sitting on top of your sights (lollipop), you will usually hit low. Likewise, you’ll keep hitting lower and lower if you try to put a shot through that same bullet hole using a lollipop-type sight picture. You must make the same sight picture twice if you want to put two shots through the same hole. That means covering up what you aim at (the previous hole) each time.
To hit what you are aiming at, cover your target, focus on the sights and press your trigger so as not to disturb your sight alignment or sight picture. Follow through by maintaining that focus through the break of the round and recoil until your sights settle back on the target. Trust what you see in the sights and follow them through recoil.
Stance/Platform
With your toes pointing in the direction of the target, your feet should be shoulder-width apart and your shoulders should be just in front of your hips. Think “nose over toes” or “shoulders just in front of your hips.” It’s just a slight weight shift forward. How you stand should just happen. It’s not something you should think about every time you shoot. If you are concerned about where your feet are or have to adjust them every time you shoot, you will be at a considerable disadvantage in a self-defense situation.
Research shows shooting skills greatly diminish under stress or at full speed in trained individuals. So don’t poo-poo the basics and pay attention to the details. What you should seek is unconscious competence, action without thought. And most importantly, plan to revisit the fundamentals of shooting and your handgun manipulation skills repeatedly to maintain your proficiency level.
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Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
