Practice, practice, practice makes...habit?

There is a common expression that practice makes perfect.  Actually, practice makes habit.  If you practice wrong, you will develop muscle memory and habit that is incorrect.  A school of thought is that is takes 1000 repetitions to form a habit but twice that to break the habit.

For example if you routinely slingshot the slide on your semi-automatic you will form that habit based on your practice. That does not mean that you have practiced perfect, you have practiced and created a habit.  If you learn the correct form from the beginning, often with the aid of a skilled instructor and practice what you learn, you will be making good habits. 

Perfect practice makes perfect habit.  Imperfect practice makes imperfect habit.  Why is this so important?  Building a habit, and muscle memory, means that when you are in a situation where you must respond quickly, by habit, you will do what you practiced.  If you have practiced and developed good skills, your response will be better.  If you practiced bad habits, your response may be flawed.

Practice safely, practice right and practice often!

Safe Shooting

Winchester Marksmanship Program

Have you looked at this?  Information is available on the NRA site under Programs.  This is a great program, even for an experienced shooter.  It uses the honor system, except for the final level, where you meet minimum standards to achieve each level.  They get progressively harder as you progress. 

I’m working the Pistol Qualification program now.  I just finished the third level, where I had to shoot two handed grip with strong and weak hand.  I had shot one handed before, but never two handed leading with my weak hand.  It was a challenge.  I think that was the idea. 

I’ve heard people say that no one does this program anymore.  I would like to see that change.  This is a great way to measure your progress against defines standards.  It encourages work on fundamentals and shooting skills.  It addresses a variety of firearms, not just pistols, but rifle and shotgun as well.

I’m still an advocate for formal training, but we can’t go to the range with an instructor every week.  This program adds a touch of discipline to my practice sessions, and gives me a goal to work to meet.  This isn’t the only way I practice, but it is one aspect of my practice. 

Let me know if you have worked through this program or considered it.  I’m very interested in what others think.

Safe Shooting!

Practicing your Draw

I carry my Glock 19 almost every day.  I can’t carry on my commute because I use public transportation, cross through DC and into Maryland, and work in a Government Building.  That is four strikes.  But, in Virginia, I carry everywhere I can legally, and I have a small safe stashed in my car if I need to run into a post office of court house.  But carrying isn’t enough.  I need to be able to get to my gun quickly in an emergency.  I’ve adopted a practice regimen that works for me and I’m outlining it here for your consideration.

First, I practice with a blue gun.  I encourage you to use your designated dry fire area.  It takes discipline not to practice drawing with your carry gun until you have confirmed that it is unloaded, twice, and you are in your dry fire area, but it is better than a negligent discharge.  Most major models are available as blue guns, they are inert models that have no moving parts but a similar weight and feel as the real thing.  I also use them to break in, or get used to a new holster or carry method. 

At the end of the day when I remove my carry gun, I grab the blue gun spend a few minutes practicing my draw.  I draw and re-holster at least five times, then I pick a spot on the wall, close my eyes, draw and come up into my point of aim, then open my eyes.  With practice I have been able to draw on my intended target, acquire my point of aim, to within a fraction of an inch, with my eyes closed.  By doing this 10 or 15 times a night, I’ve developed confidence and speed.  I practice drawing with my shirt tucked in (I carry inside the waistband) and I practice brushing aside whatever I’m wearing to draw from full concealment. 

A bad guy can cross 25 feet in just over two seconds.  I need to be able to allow time for awareness and draw.  Can I do it?  I hope so.  Can I do it if I don’t practice…not a chance.  When I first started practicing, I was so slow, it was scary.  Now, I can draw and be on target in 1-1.5 seconds.  I practice with my husband telling me “go”, I practice with my hand hovering, I practice walking, spinning and drawing.

The only guarantee in an emergency is if you do not practice, you will not be able to draw under stress.  You are practicing to build muscle memory, skill, and speed.  But the key is to practice safely.  I mostly practice drawing my real gun at the range.  Draw, fire 3-5 shots quickly and go to low ready.  Sometimes I draw and empty the entire magazine on target.  I try to vary it, and I practice reloading and coming back on target and firing.  A habit I had to break, and it was hard, DO NOT catch your magazines.  Let them fall where you stand as you are indexing the fresh one into the mag well.  If you catch them in practice, you will catch them in an emergency. 

Like so many things in live you must Practice, Practice, Practice.  But, practice right so you can build good muscle memory and habits.  If there is any doubt in your mind, practice in your dry fire area, even with a blue gun.