How perishable is staying proficient with a handgun?

[Olight Kevin]

Curious if anyone has any data on how long a proficient shooter can go before they aren?t as proficient as they were.

[A-J]

I don't know if there's ever been an official study, but this is true with any skill. If you don't use it, you do lose proficiency. I would think the rate would be relative to how good you were going in.

[DaveInOroValley]

I can only speak from my own experience and my wife's experience. While I used to be a every weekend shooter that hasn't been the case for many years, but up to that point both of us have always been blessed with what I would call a more natural ability. As well I have been shooting since 1961.

I think that makes a difference between some people out there. I know many here also have that advantage as well. As an example, we both hadn't really gone to range for years and recently we started back albeit an indoor one.

It would be hard for me to notice too much difference in our proficiency from the days of every weekend. Possibly a small difference but nothing stands out. I think it's different for everyone but I'm going to say it may impact others less or more depending on that level of proficiency going in as A-J stated.

[ceotran]

i used to go a lot before i had my kid.
i'd say every other week.

this is my personal experience, so YMMV.

rifles, i would say you have a lot of leeway bc you have multiple points of contact and many of us only do bench shooting.

shotguns, less leeway that rifles but more forgiving that handguns. i switched from rifles to more sporting clays bc it was more engaging. hitting a moving clay disc vs a piece of paper. more movement but you get it back within a few outings. the movement (tracking) and timing is what's lost.

handguns are a different animal altogether. you have to remember your grip, stance, strong hand, support hand, locking your wrists and bending your elbows. all that is easily lost.

like most sports, it's all about muscle memory. if you cant go to the range, practice dry firing. ex. shooting a pistol with a red dot is different from shooting one with iron sights. you gotta practice your draw and dot acquisition daily.

your skills wont deteriorate overnight but skipping one day turns into two.. then it's one week...then 2... and so on..