So I am a newbie to handgun ownership, and right now my shooting is very slow and controlled- just working on my accuracy. When I practice with a rifle I practice from different positions, practice working the bolt, practice snap shooting etc. Do you guys do similar things for pistol shooting, specifically with a focus on concealed carry. Any exercise recommendations/books/articles?

Hope its not too stupid a question.

IMO, practice is important, and the slow and steady, controlled perfection, just as you're doing is the way to go. Different positions are good, but the drawing from concealed, I think, is best practiced with an unloaded weapon, at first for sure. In other words, I believe strongly in dry firing. It is cheap, safe, and can be done in your living room. Just remember that most firearms accidents happen with "unloaded" weapons. I'll also note, that extensive dry firing of my S&W 657 allowed me to find out that during my last disassembly and cleaning, I hadn't put enough tension on the hammer spring and it worked its way lose, which would have made it "no go bang" when I may have needed it to had I not tested it extensively in the living room.

Hitting what you want to is of critical importance. Emptying your gun as quickly as possible is of NO importance and a terrible habit to have.

All that being said, I'm not trained, or any sort of an expert, but I can hit you in any body part I want to at 60 yds.

Most of the time, when I see guys practicing at the range, they shoot WAY too fast, heat their weapons up with no regard, can't hit squat, and keep right on going. THAT isn't good practice as far as I'm concerned.

Slow for form then when you get the movement down start picking up the speed.

Hits are what count missing just makes a lot of noise and endangers others.

Also you might want to try yelling and shooting I find people have hard time doing both. Yelling
STAY AWAY, DON'T HURT ME ECT. Could go a long way to savings ones butt in the legal area.

I am not saying give up the tacical advanage but if you have time to to tell them to stop ect you stand a much better chance of convincing the courts it was justfiable.

Having a witness say I heard him say DON'T HURT ME ECT goes a longs ways.

Again some times it well be wise to do so ohter times it well be wise to defend ones self in the fastest way possible.

Again try yelling and shooting you well be surpized at the results.

Okay, so you are new to handguns, presumably , I assume with a view towards armed self defense in public? If so, then you owe it to yourself and your family to seek out professional training on the topics you brought up.

I recommend Gunsite, Lethal Force Insititute, Frontsight, Chapman Academy etc, you will get what you pay for.

While a local NRA R&P/outside the home trainer can give you a good foundation, buy once, cry once works best.

I strongly recommend you attend one of these schools-they go a long ways towards a good basis in armed SD as well as a good legal defense if ever you find yourself in harm's way and use your weapon.

Don't skimp on what may be the most imprtant factor in armed SD....

Arm chair warriors will not give you much help, and certainly are not going ot speak on your behalf legally, either in person or via long-term track record.


While you await your course dates, there are a few required readings- "The truth about Self dfense" & Stressfire & others (Ayoob), Hit the White Part (Chapman IIRC) Modern Pistol craft (Cooper IIRC) and a few others.
Best;

Best;

When StormsGSP figures out where he's located and finds he's near one of Brian Hoffner's classes, I'd highly recommend taking one!!

Target practice will build muscle memory and trigger control. You'll train yourself to get and maintain a sight picture. That's about as far as you can get by yourself other than draw and presentation. Unless you shoot an action sport the best hands on practice is a class.

Get the best training you can find. Mine was by Farnam and worth every penny.I used to regularly shoot IPSC but I did it the right way - always using my carry gun and holster.Unfortunately it was taken over by people who forgot what the "P" was for and it became just a game with weird equipment.I don't know how IDPA works.

check around your local clubs and see if they have an IDPA league. its much more practical than is USPSA, plus its a hellova lot of fun