Achieving / maintaining proficiency

[TLC]

I'm soon going to buy the first handgun I've owned in a looong time. Even when I owned guns before I wasn't a regular shooter. How many rounds a month do you think is good to acquire / maintain proficiency with a single handgun?

[Jason.lee740]

Shoot as much as you need.

[TLC]

Shoot as much as you need.

LOL

Not terrible advice, but I'm trying to formulate a budget.

[FUBAR]

You can still gain profiency without firing any rounds at all. Make sure you clear the weapon. Then chamber a dummy round and practice your trigger pull and sight aquisition.

[RollingCode3]

When money is an issue, I try to go to the range once a month (50-100 rounds of 9mm and 200 LR.)

[Gasman]

How many rounds a month do you think is good to acquire / maintain proficiency with a single handgun?

There are too many variable to answer that question with a single number. Current skill level, knowledge of fundamentals, natural hand-eye coordination, physical limitations, recoil tolerance, etc. etc. You'll only find out by actually shooting.

If your ammo budget is limited, you might consider getting a handgun for which a 22LR conversion is available. Even if your budget were not a concern, regular rimfire practice can teach you a lot and show you weaknesses in your technique. As another person posted above, dry-firing can also be of benefit. Neither is a complete replacement for shots downrange with your primary handgun, however.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

There are too many variable to answer that question with a single number. Current skill level, knowledge of fundamentals, natural hand-eye coordination, physical limitations, recoil tolerance, etc. etc. You'll only find out by actually shooting.

If your ammo budget is limited, you might consider getting a handgun for which a 22LR conversion is available. Even if your budget were not a concern, regular rimfire practice can teach you a lot and show you weaknesses in your technique. As another person posted above, dry-firing can also be of benefit. Neither is a complete replacement for shots downrange with your primary handgun, however.

Man, great advice Gasman.

Yeah, my centerfire shooting has really been decimated by high ammo prices. I've since grown an appreciation for 22lr, I just try to make much harder shots and hold myself to higher standards when shooting .22lr pistols. Unfortunately, like Gasman said, there isn't a real substitute to shooting your primary pistols and rifles.

[HCz]

Instead of shooting 100 rounds once a month, try 50 rounds every other week. I belive that it is better to retain the skills by leaving as little gap as mpossible between practices. Recently, die to several things, I neglected my pistol shooting and is playing catch up. Not fun.

[trickyvic]

The best advice I can give you is get some quality training first. This way you'll learn and practice the basics of good marksmanship.

[HCz]

The best advice I can give you is get some quality training first. This way you'll learn and practice the basics of good marksmanship.

+1 This is a sound advice.

[TLC]

ok. Everything makes sense, but I'm stil trying to get some approximate numbers in my head.

Let me put it this way...how many rounds do you guys typically go through in a given month?

[tuna quesadilla]

Instead of shooting 100 rounds once a month, try 50 rounds every other week. I belive that it is better to retain the skills by leaving as little gap as mpossible between practices. Recently, die to several things, I neglected my pistol shooting and is playing catch up. Not fun.

This.

I used to go to the range every Sunday and put in a good 100 rounds of target practice. I became extremely accurate, to the point where I could turn the X-ring into one big ragged hole. Then I neglected my shooting for several months, and I find that now I'm lucky to keep all my shots in the black. You really need to practice on a regular basis to see results. I'd bet on 300-400 rounds per month, going to the range at least once a week.

[Black Majik]

Hcz gives good advice.

I would also further include shooting paper to maintain accuracy. I didn't shoot paper for a while, primarily shooting steel targets and my accuracy went to crap because of it.

Shooting for groups is different than shooting steel where it is either a hit or a miss.

I dislike shooting paper, but it is essential to stay proficient.

[lazs]

On your own you should be able to get good with between 20 and 2,000 rounds a month in anywhere from 3 months to 10 years.. depending on natural ability and some luck in handgun and ammo choices.

With some training by an experienced shooter who can teach reasonably well.. the time and amount will be cut drastically.

A good 22 pistol to start will cut most peoples learning time. Dry firing will cut ammo costs and teach trigger control and.. as a bonus.. will be the same thing as having the trigger tuned.

A very high recoiling gun or a very inaccurate gun will mask most of the simplest and worst mistakes for months or even years.

With an inaccurate gun or one that recoils a lot (subjective and depending on sensitivity) it is best to shoot from sandbags a lot to see what the gun is capable of. A doubling of group size from bench to standing is about normal.. much more than that and there is a big problem not being caught.

[kamagong]

Dry firing is your friend.