Can training improve someone's shot much ?

PatsytheNazi

I have only fired a hunting rifle at tin cans etc. Think it was a .22. I had an average shot, one of my mates was appaling . Anyway, a guy who was in the army told me a good shot is something that you have or you haven't. Sure reguliar practise and instruction can improve you to a certain extent, but he said it's like been good at football, driving or whatever. You either have it or not. Any truth to that ?

It wasn't me!

He mentioned a series of things which we already have long established programmes for training people in and said that you're either good at them or you're not? Riiight... Your mate is talking crap. You're right of course; coaching, training and practice is the only way to get any good at anything, whether it be shooting, driving, playing football, dancing, running or anything else. While you do find some people who are just better than your typical beginner when you start working with them, anyone can get to the top level if they have the commitment, so no, there's no truth in your man's comment. Maybe it was just to make your friend who wasn't so good feel better, but in my opinion a far better way to do that is to tell them that there's no reason they can't get better with practice.

IRLConor

Some people pick shooting up quickly and some do it slowly, but all can be taught.

Well, almost all. Some insist on ignoring any help they're given, but they're very few and far between.

I've probably seen a couple of hundred newbies turn up in DURC. Almost all of them improved after some rudimentary coaching.

Cass

Patsythenazi wrote:

Anyway, a guy who was in the army told me a good shot is something that you have or you haven't.

I have heard this line many times myself and have a fair understanding of where it originates from and It Wasn't Me covered it quite nicely. Some are naturally better shots from the get go and can pick up new skill levels quicker than most. Others after years of trying never get any better. It is (IMO) down to ability to learn and assimilate new techniques and put them into practice.

The best way is with trigger time and an open mind to listen to advice and help form those more experienced. I myself started off with a semi decent shot. Nothing remarkable. With time, practice, newer/better firearms and equipement my shot has steadily imroved thus increasing my scores.

I still try and learn. Recently i have been trying a new "Free Recoil" type of shooting with my nechrest. It is not a new technique, but i have not ried it before and am ever willing to try something new.

Listen to It wasn't me, and do not be discouraged from further participation in what is a fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable sport.

Sparks

After 15 years of around 200 newbies a year in DURC, I think we've encountered two we couldn't improve in under a month with even basic training. One wouldn't listen to anyone and one had serious ADD and never progressed to the point where you'd be comfortable allowing him to shoot without very close supervision. Two out of ~3,000 people isn't bad, especially since one was self-prevented from improving.

So yes, of course you can improve.

More interestingly for the more experienced shooters, without training you get worse. It's only by constant training that you can get good and stay good.

dCorbus

+1 what they all said ^^^^^

Anyway, a guy who was in the army told me a good shot is something that you have or you haven't

That guy who told you that was talking complete b*ll*x IMHO.:D
Yes, some people are "naturally" better shots from the get-go, but everyone needs training and practice not just to get better, but often to stay at the same level.

Just coz the guy "was in the army" doesn't necessarily mean he'd know anything about shooting (at least not in too much detail) - after all he could have been a cook or radio operator or whatever.....Not a designated marksman.

Like everything sporting-wise some people are naturals, but the rest of us have to work at it! Of course, natural ability does help, but it's not the be-and-end-all. To a certain extent, shooting is also more of a technical and mental skill (more than a physical one), so natural physical ability often wouldn't come into it - and technical and mental skills are readily teachable and learnable.

jwshooter

i have done a lot of coaching ,a friends son started to come clay shooting with me , he did take direction very well ,il tell you something once was the rule .
he made the junior team and won irish high gun at the international in the same year .iv coached others with the attention span of a gold fish .

as the saying goes you cant make a race horse out of a ass ,its true the ass will run but never as well or as fast as the horse .

Tackleberrywho

A guy I know, never fired a shotgun before we went on a work do.

He plays football (in goals)

He dusted every clay, every time!

Yet he has no interest in shooting or hunting, Go figure !

I know guys who have been shooting 6 decades and are only midling !

Mr Mole

Patsy, I believe your army mate might be fairly right. Shooting, like driving, football or anything else is down to aptitude, or natural flair. However, you asked Can training improve someone's shot much ?

The answer as outlined by Sparks is yes. Even in the Army, there are people with no aptitude for shooting, but with good training, they become safe, and can carry out required tasks with firearms. So yes, I believe training will improve your shot.

Sparks

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

A guy I know, never fired a shotgun before we went on a work do.
He plays football (in goals)
He dusted every clay, every time!
Yet he has no interest in shooting or hunting, Go figure !
I know guys who have been shooting 6 decades and are only midling !

I'd bet though, they the guys with 60 years shooting behind them shoot almost to the same standard every time; while your friend might, on subsequent outings, demonstrate regression towards the mean - ie. it was beginner's luck!

rrpc

There are so many variables inherent in the question, it's hard to answer. There are so many different shooting sports that require so many different skillsets that you can't look at someone shooting a rifle or pistol and declare them to be a bad shot on that basis.

Cross dominance can be a factor that limits a persons ability until they make some mechanical change to either the firearm or the way they shoot, but on first glance would be declared to have no aptitude; sometimes that's all they get and assume failure when a simple change could produce a highly competent shot.

Training is what makes the most difference and is always overlooked as a factor. This is proper training involving disscetion of the shot routine, analysis of shot placement and identification of the corrective measures required and then lots of time learning and perfecting the routine.

And we haven't touched mental training yet