Training or range time?

[rodralig]

I had one very bare bones handgun training about a year ago (never even got to the range). I have since been going to the range 1 - 2 x per month & lots of internet / youtube informed laser target dry fire at home. I'm hitting body mass at 7 yards but still shoot left (dry firing too) & Flinch. My question is, should I keep going to the range or stop for a couple of months to save for a really good training? For monetary reasons, it needs to be one or the other for now. I'm mostly interested in home / self defense. Thanks for your suggestions.

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Get training from a reputable instructor to identify and re-build the fundamentals. Practice that dry at home for a couple of weeks. Go back to the same instructor to validate. Dry practice again for a couple of weeks based on further adjustments, etc. Go back to the range and validate performance. If you are good, dry practice on your own for 2-weeks, then 50- to 100-rounds at the range for a "maintenance" practice.

If performance is still not to your liking, go back to the instructor and re-assess.

The key piece here is to find a good instructor! Those that NOT only can teach correct concept/technique, but able to demonstrate it, as well identifying deficiences. It's not as easy as it may seem (anyone can easily become an NRA instructor by investing in a two-day class and slow fire shooting at 15-yards ).

Check out the training sub-forums for recommendations on instructors and/or schools.

A Trainee with a strong Alpha Male Ego, who happens to be a lousy shooter was shooting next to me. Gave me a look saying, "What the F is going on?" after observing missing every single shots to low left. I did not say anything.

The Instructor came in after observing what he was doing, correcting the grip and arm position.

The trainee goes, "I'm self taught since I was 14 years old. I've been shooting like this way over 30 years and I'm comfortable like this".

The instructor goes, "Well buddy, that just make you shooting ****ty for over 30 years"

Something to think about. That little event always reminded me to shut the F up when in a training session.

Get some formal training and practice based on the lecture.

Hahaha!!! Yep have experienced this a couple of times.


_

[fish45]

Both. Save up for training where someone can point out what you’re doing well on and what you need to improve on. Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

I’m not sure what your budget is but I always recommend instruction, then practice, then instruction again, then practice again. That way you can get instruction and practice until you’re comfortable with the instructors suggestions, then get additional instruction to make sure you picked up what they said and haven’t started other bad habits of things you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed.

[sonofeugene]

OP: You say you're hitting body mass at 7 yards but what are the groups like? And how far off center?

Photos of your targets?

[Wordupmybrotha]

Mostly LAX

Looks like no upcoming meeting in LAX at the moment.
There's a meeting at Burbank Firing Line Shooting Range every month on the 3rd Friday.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=23515252#post23515252

They also have a handgun class every Saturday at 10am.

[Wordupmybrotha]

So that you REALLY reinforce bad technique...

Leaning back is far from a female-only thing. I find that 95% of all new shooters are standing either straight vertical or leaning backwards to some degree. I'll leave the debate about Weaver stance, other than saying it does totally prepare you to look like a 1980s TV cop (or to take a class at Front Sight).

OP mentioned that she flinches. Needs actual range time to get over the fear of the explosion. And good ear protection. 1-2 weeks is better than 1-2 months.

Higher percentage of females shoot like that than guys. Almost all the females shoot like that. I was actually shocked when I saw a female with good form about a month ago.

[MaryFields]

Thanks. Burbank for Calgunners & Sat am training will work.

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[FeuerFrei]

Most instructors are good at shooting but terrible at instructing or visa versa. I do not give a hsit or 2 about their certs/papers or YT videos they make.

Find some 1 on 1 time with an instructor that can hit the bull with your handgun without a warm up.
That's your instructor try out.
Patient and slow enough to understand and fast enough to not bore the hell out of you. No condescending BS or fargin war stories of back when he was working for uncle sam in the sandbox. You pay to learn. Not for story time.

Remember that most of the "professional" instructors have the 3 golden rules of retail memorized.
Get the money. Get the money. Get the customer's fargin money.

Good teaching yields good measurable progress. There is your proof of a good teacher.

Good luck finding a competent teacher/instructor. The field is crowded with feckless wannabes these days.

[Thoughts]

I agree with getting some training. Dry fire practice is free while you build up some savings. Bad habits can take a lot of time to undo.

[tanks]

Training, otherwise you have a significant risk of engraining bad habits. Here's where I'd go, notice they have a course coming up at Piru: https://tacticalperformancecenter.com/calendar/

PM sent, check your Inbox.

^^^ This. Training with TPC folks is money very well spent. None of the tactical BS or war stories, just working on solid fundamentals for 2-3 days depending on course duration.

[unusedusername]

Welcome to calguns!

Practice makes whatever you are doing permanent. If you practice incorrect techniques, you'll become an expert at doing it incorrectly.

It took humans several hundred years of learning to come from when we first invented firearms up to the modern methods we use today. You won't be able to reproduce that on your own.

Find a competent instructor to show you the fundamentals.

[ja308]

I had one very bare bones handgun training about a year ago (never even got to the range). I have since been going to the range 1 - 2 x per month & lots of internet / youtube informed laser target dry fire at home. I'm hitting body mass at 7 yards but still shoot left (dry firing too) & Flinch. My question is, should I keep going to the range or stop for a couple of months to save for a really good training? For monetary reasons, it needs to be one or the other for now. I'm mostly interested in home / self defense. Thanks for your suggestions.

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Pro shooter Todd Jarret has an easy way to remember his grip and stance.

He says " Stand straight with feet shoulder width.
You're legs make 1 V and you're Arms make another V with thumbs pointed at the target.

Assuming you have the sights correctly aligned and a proper sight picture, then the problem must be the sights are moving off target as the trigger is pulled.

A good instructor will teach trigger reset and proper trigger control. If you have those as basics. Then its likely a buck, flich, jerk, eyes closed, no follow through or other bad habit.

I use my range time doing more dry practice than actual putting rounds downrange.
Have a friend or someone load the mags throwing in a dummy round and watch what happens when it falls on snap caps or empty chamber.

I like this PRO shooters drills and use them at the range and at home too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfARgCqWCvQ

[Stumpfenhammer]

OP - I'm curious, what did you decide to do?

[jimster716]

Training is not just training shooting technique but also training your mindset to make the ethical and moral decision to take a life in a self defense situation. A good shoot will minimize the potential for prosecution or civil liability. This is CA so determining a good shoot is at the discretion of the DA and you'll still face a civil suit. So get training.

[MaryFields]

A few things, in this order: using all the great tips recieved in this thread in current dry fire, resist tempation to go to range (I had a rough time resisting it just a few days ago, but made it through[emoji846]) . I'm going to head to Firing Line Burbank for the Saturday am training. I can swing the fee since I have forgone been the range once. And save money and vacation days for trip to Piru. Thanks all!

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[Preston-CLB]

Wish you the best. Let us know how the class goes.
-P