Top 5 Mistakes / Bad Habits We See in Firearms Training Classes

bad muscle memory are you kidding? i shot and im trying to see where it hit you say no just shoot you mag worth of ammo then look wow! Im there to enjoy and learn Im not there to practice protecting my self and hope it never happens because THOU SHALT NOT KILL do you get that?

great tips!! Thanks for sharing!!

BH4: I was at an entry-level Defensive Pistol course recently. We were doing turning drills, where the threat is either to your side or behind you and you have to identify, turn, draw, aim, fire. On more than one occasion, I found that my footing was too fast, threw me off balance and my shooting stance suffered. When this happened, I made sure to stop, reset, try again, before even drawing my firearm. The instructors were very encouraging. They said it's better to start again, than try to shoot while off balance. So they were happy to see me reset. My shots were good when I did this.

Doing tactical 3 rifle after completing first 2, I'm nervous at beginning of every class but usefully the training from previous class comes back to you pretty quick.

Like the small piece of grass you are standing on🤣

You goin over going too fast is something I struggled with when I first started shooting guns. Marine corps taught the “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” mentality which immensely helped me be more effective

It’s extremely dangerous bringing people with no experience to the range. Accidents happen immediately and people don’t like to be corrected. So therefor they are not invited back

Whoever invented low-port needs to reassess this very dnagerious movement. That barrel should always point downrange, up, and down but never at yourself, your arm your body, or the individual standing next to you. If you think otherwise you are a danger downrange, on the range, and everywhere else. If you do this near me I will break your jaw. I will never low-port ever!!!

i don't agree with number one,if i shoot a Deer or whatever i always check to see how it is doing before another shot,i know that is hunting and may not be the same.

I hate places that have mandatory prerequisites that’s just a way to get more money. I’ve been shooting for a long time but don’t get much formal class time I don’t like entry level classes because many are too basic just fundamentals and not worth the money but some ranges require them for the intermediate level ones I want to take. I’m not a master or full of myself but I’m not spending 300$ to learn what a safety is or how to grip a gun or load a mag

Signing up for the wrong class can be caused by the shooter not understanding his/her actual skill level. Just because they can hit the gallon jug every time at thirty feet does not translate to real world.

I once shot (once) with a guy who was a fanatic about picking up brass--HIS brass. I had a huge tarp--30X40--so we could do non movement drills and brass would land on the tarp. Once through for the day we would just pick uptake corners of the tarp causing all the brass to slide into the center of the tarp. We would each pick up the amount of brass we shot and pack up. But--the first time this guy shot with us he interrupted the training by insisting after he was through shooting--we all had to stop while he picked up HIS brass--each one carefully marked. He would pick them up--examine each case--rub off any dirt or blemish--and put it into a small box. We never had him out with us again. Mags are the same issue--they just have to have that mag back ASAP as it is THEIR mag and it must not stay on the ground. They will pick the mag up--wipe it off and then examine it for "injuries" before storing it. This is anal behavior at best.

Good stuff, thanks for the vid.

Why take the pistol barrel off target to 60 degrees towards the sky on the mag reload.Train to reload with the barrel remaining on target .No muzzle change of direction safer.More importantly your muzzle as well as your eyes remain focused and trained on target no need to reaqquire target .Keep muzzle and eyes on target during reload.

Shooting until the threat is gone includes taking a moment to see how you did. A low ready isn’t the worst habit to have while looking at the scene above and below your sight line.

Thx for the post. Wish you had a FL training location.

Checking the shot is easily the #1 thing I see too.

Hydrate for sure; I add a little Red Diamond Real Salt (Kosher) to my water. Also have figured out the perfect foods for me to bring on an all day training. I don't deviate much and that has worked for years.

Had an NRA Certified Trainer we recommend to customers come in the other day with one of her students, that she had already trained. The student wanted to buy a hand gun. Every time I handed her a pistol, she grabbed it with her finger in the trigger. Every time she handled a weapon she had her finger on the trigger. She was also flagging me when handling the firearm. I didn't say anything, hoping the Instructor would. Instructor never said anything. Not sure if she even noticed. Obviously having second thoughts about recommending this Instructor to our customers.

This is a video for dummies.

you don't know what you're talking about

1. sweeping ? 2. sweeping 3. sweeping 4. sweeping with a moronic look in the eyes 5. sweeping while your neighbor slaps your gun hand down ?

My sister paid and attended a ccw prep course for new shooters. She said the instructor kept talking about politics alot instead of proper firearms training. She doesn't recommend that person to anyone. Just be a good instructor.

#1 is just like swinging a golf club. Keep your head down and follow through, don't try to watch where the ball (or bullet) went while you swing.

Excellent

I trust the marine corps thanks for your not so good help

A big factor in #5 is people letting pride over estimate their ability, and in some cases classes with misleading descriptions. I fell victim to this myself when I first started out. You spend some time at the range with your buddies, you watch a lot of videos (and maybe one to many tv shows) and you say "I can do that". Then you end up signing up for these advanced tactical classes without the proper fundamentals, and end up in way over your head. I tell people what ever you think your level is, start with the prerequisite to that class. If nothing else it's a great way to reinforce fundamentals, and build that oh so important muscle memory.

Quality training beats quantity of training. Bad habits are bad for a reason. Learn slow (precision) and speed will come with continued training.

#1... I have always called "qualification disease".

Thanks.

I began shooting handguns in ‘75, with no training. Each shot was a unique event, with no consideration for a followup shot.

After almost 30 years away from shooting handguns, a person might think that those old habits would be forgotten...it turns out that these old habits are well ingrained and need to be dealt with before a person can begin moving forward.

I’m still challenged with focusing on how the sequence of shots felt, and not mentally celebrating drilling out the bullseye. I’m progressing; the mental game with this chit is intense!

ANOTHER GREAT informational video that needed put out there. Thanks fer sharing.

Where’s the big dog Coach at?

Nice Sig carried one in LE for 26 yrs, now I got the one that feels like a 2x4 in your hand.

Great video even for folks who think they have enough experience and training. Always good to be reminded of fundamentals. Thanks, TH!

As an inexperienced shooter, I appreciate vids like this.

All five make a LOT of sense to me, but I had trouble thinking about the first one mentioned.

After thinking on it a moment or two, I realized there is a difference between "going to a low (or high) ready" to look at the environment to be sure there are no other threats to address and "lowering the firearm to look at what I've done to the target."

I was taught low ready as a teenager in AJROTC, but was away from pistols for a long time. I grok why high ready is important, and am trying to teach myself to press from that rather than draw to low ready then acquire my target. I suppose that both ready positions are useful depending on the scenario. Thoughts?

I train with my fire extinguisher once a year, sometimes. Training or playing with guns?

May I ask what the purpose of the astroturf is for on the range?

Another great, informative vid! My Father was a Marine and I have shot and hunted from a young age. Completed hunter safety class at 13 and CCW classes BEFORE online or "no qualifying" was "thing" (Dad insisted, and I did the same with my college age daughters, as well, though not required in my State). Question for the Hive or anyone else.... I am fine shotgun hunting with a group, AR or other rifle shooting among people, but for the life of me I CANNOT keep a steady hand shooting a pistol if anyone is watching me shoot. Bothered me for YEARS now and don't talk much about it, just pass on offers to shoot friends "new pistol" at the ranges or out back. Alone, or teaching my daughters safety, technique, accuracy and proper use of pistols, I am fine. Even my kids have rarely seen me shoot pistol, just went out back and looked at targets and asked why I don't shoot pistols unless I'm alone. Sound familiar to anyone?

Great information thank you

I’ve had to deal with the shooter who has lower the gun after every shot and squint to see if they hit the target. Usually the same individuals who maintained that they knew how to shoot “so why were you telling them……?” Then, on a qualification course they complain that the time standards are too fast that they couldn’t get off all their shots. There’s also the “good ole boy” reload technique that didn’t get included in Cooper’s Modern Pistol or any other curriculum. To perform this technique, the shooter leans belly forward, back arched, and manipulation of the pistol reload is accomplished at belt buckle level. This may trace some origins to the practice of opening beer bottles with belt buckles.

Great tips Dorr

I used to teach CCW and beginner pistol classes. Probably the most common I see is dudes letting their ego get in the say. The old, “I’ve been shooting my whole life….” mentality. There is a big difference between plinking with .22’s on the farm or deer hunting and defensive pistol shooting. They’re the ones you have to watch like a hawk for safety violations. Women don’t tend to come with a lifetime of bad habits and egos so they usually listen to instructors and make the most progress in class.

Re #1: What is the solution for new shooter? Multiple shots without checking? The rest makes sense.

I got yelled at for checking my shot last class lol

I've seen all these mistakes and seen trainers not address any of it. It's the trainers job to correct these mistakes at the classes and work with the students to get it right that's the whole point of paying money to be corrected and learn.

what holster is that? I'm trying to find a drop holster, but not one that needs a leg strap, yours seems like the perfect position.