When is an ‘Expert’ not an expert? What is the difference? The military, police and civilian shooters throw terms like “Sharpshooter” and “Expert” around and they do NOT always mean the same thing. Even within the NRA, Classification and Qualification are very different.
Marksmanship Classification vs. Qualification?
Posted by John Buol on September 8, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MarksmanshipQualification, MilitaryMarksman | Leave a Comment »
NRA M16/AR15 Zero Error
Posted by John Buol on August 31, 2010
I used to show an episode of American Rifleman TV in my training classes just to illustrate improper technique.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Prepare for the New Year
Posted by John Buol on August 25, 2010
Imagine opening your local paper or tuning into the local radio station and regularly receiving positive coverage of shooting activities.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Basic Swordsmanship
Posted by John Buol on August 18, 2010
Basic skill at arms form the foundation of training with whatever the current weapons and tactics of the day entail. Too often we forget the lessons history teach. Soldiers and Marines typically enter service as adults having never handled a firearm. A brief glimpse into the past shows the folly of this.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
USAR Rifle Team at the Nationals
Posted by John Buol on August 16, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
USAR Pistol Team at the Nationals
Posted by John Buol on August 15, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
USAR Rifle Team at Interservice Rifle Championship
Posted by John Buol on August 14, 2010
2010 Interservice Rifle Championship
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
USAR Pistol team at the Interservice Championship
Posted by John Buol on August 13, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Parachuting and Hunting
Posted by John Buol on August 11, 2010
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 1 Comment »
The Ten Percent of Shooting
Posted by John Buol on August 4, 2010
The Ten Percent of Shooting
Complaints about trick gear found in organized target shooting are usually the refuge of the incompetent.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, Shooting | 3 Comments »
Skill Continuum for Gun Owners
Posted by John Buol on July 27, 2010
Posted in Shooting | 1 Comment »
Writing for Gun Magazines
Posted by John Buol on July 21, 2010
I found this on the web some time ago. It has served as my guide for publishing articles in various firearms periodicals (is that high-falutin’ enough for ya?)
Posted in Shooting | 5 Comments »
Encouraging Shooting Activity
Posted by John Buol on July 14, 2010
Encouraging shooting activity will boost sales and help on the political front!
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Top Shot on the History Channel
Posted by John Buol on July 13, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, PowerPlinker, Promotion, SensibleShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Proper Benchrest Shooting Technique
Posted by John Buol on July 9, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Evolution of the Modern Technique of Pistolcraft
Posted by John Buol on July 7, 2010
Direct from Jeff Cooper himself: The Evolution of the Modern Technique
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competition Shooting Defends America
Posted by John Buol on June 30, 2010
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Carpenters and Plinkers
Posted by John Buol on June 23, 2010
Let’s say a fellow is a power tool enthusiast, presumably a carpenter.
Posted in PowerPlinker, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting
Posted by John Buol on June 19, 2010
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Henry David Thoreau on Shooting
Posted by John Buol on June 16, 2010
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun. He is no more humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competition and the Average Gun Owner
Posted by John Buol on June 9, 2010
Considering the amount of fancy equipment now seen in competition, some readers have complained loudly that the ‘average guy’ does not have a chance. It might be pointed out that this average guy never has had a chance. Competition is held to determine what is best, not what is average. And if all the equipment were standardized, the man who won would still not be in any sense average.
- Jeff Cooper
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Bullseye and Point Blank Range
Posted by John Buol on June 2, 2010
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting Event Ideas
Posted by John Buol on May 27, 2010
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Tactical Shooting Study Groups
Posted by John Buol on May 26, 2010
The following is from Skip Gochenour, the guy behind the National Tactical Invitational.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Modern Technique of the Pistol
Posted by John Buol on May 25, 2010
The Modern Technique of the Pistol
Greg Boyce Morrison
Jeff Cooper, Editorial Advisor
reviewed by John M. Buol Jr.
http://SensibleShooter.com/
Posted in MarksmanshipQualification, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Mandatory Skills for CCW (Concealed Carry)
Posted by John Buol on May 19, 2010
What do you consider to be mandatory skillsets for someone carrying a firearm in polite society?
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | 4 Comments »
Training To Be a Better Shooter
Posted by John Buol on May 12, 2010
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Bench Rest: Monolith of Mediocre
Posted by John Buol on May 5, 2010
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Tips For Attending A Shooting Course
Posted by John Buol on April 28, 2010
James Yeager wrote a great article for TacticalGunFan.com on how to get maximum benefit from attending a class on shooting and marksmanship. Some key points:
Posted in Shooting | 1 Comment »
Tactical Competition Shooting
Posted by John Buol on April 21, 2010
The very notion of competition shooting is questioned as to its effectiveness at training personnel and marksmanship instructors.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
On the Subject of Military Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on April 7, 2010
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting Skills for Hunters (.30-30 Drill)
Posted by John Buol on March 31, 2010
The effective range of the .30-30 is about 150-170 yards. Some of the wizzy new Magnums can outperform this by roughly 300 percent, at least on paper. But can the hunter outperform the .30-30? Can you?
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 3 Comments »
Measuring Shooting Skill
Posted by John Buol on March 24, 2010
One of the great problems in the shooting world, even worse then the lack of marksmanship skill, is the inability to understand what “good” is.
Posted in HunterShooter, PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
A Shooting Quote Worth Repeating
Posted by John Buol on March 17, 2010
“A golf course is the willful and deliberate misuse of a perfectly good shooting range.”
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Does Competition Shooting Produce the Best Shooters?
Posted by John Buol on March 10, 2010
#> I’d be willing to bet their are more than some shooters that know something you don’t. Or even are better shots that you are, whether they know some trick, or are simply better than you are.
Posted in HunterShooter, PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Anti-Gun Sports
Posted by John Buol on March 3, 2010
Ball sports are anti-gun. With tongue-in-cheek, let’s look at some tidbits collected from various sources.
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Measuring Shooting Skill and Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on February 24, 2010
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competition and the “Bannister Effect”
Posted by John Buol on February 17, 2010
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
More On the Hunter’s Image
Posted by John Buol on February 10, 2010
We should be concerned with how others view us and most hunters interested in organized shooting events such as HunterShooter are interested in promoting the value of hunting and shooting.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
IPSC at the Olympics
Posted by John Buol on January 27, 2010
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Ethics for Hunters
Posted by John Buol on January 20, 2010
Hunting Ethics is a very worthwhile topic of discussion for hunters. With the current state of turmoil in the hunting and shooting communities, it is essential that we act ethically. Improper behavior will only weaken our ranks, making us more vulnerable to the anti’s. The problem is, how do we define what is and isn’t ethical behavior?
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competitive Shooting: Why Bother? Part Two
Posted by John Buol on January 13, 2010
We started last time by discussing why competitive shooting is valuable for all gun owners and the betterment of personal skills. Let’s look now at the positive effect on the whole community.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competitive Shooting: Why Bother? Part One
Posted by John Buol on January 6, 2010
While deliberating the merits of various shooting competitions and their usefulness for developing practical marksmanship skills, one commentator, whose opinion I hold in high regard, made the point that the true test of field marksmanship is in the field! He comments:
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Local Shooting Match
Posted by John Buol on December 30, 2009
A common refrain sung by people who have never attended an organized shooting event is that organized shooting events, such as a match, offer no training value. Here’s why that is bunk.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | 1 Comment »
The Disconnect Between Combat and Competition Shooters
Posted by John Buol on December 23, 2009
It has been noted that a sharp disconnect can be seen between combat shooters, and competition shooters.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Teaching Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on December 9, 2009
Marksmanship is an odd practice in that it is theoretically quite simple, but difficult to master. The basics can be demonstrated in a few minutes but you can spend the rest of your life attempting to attain true mastery.
Posted in Shooting | 2 Comments »
Owning Machine Guns
Posted by John Buol on December 2, 2009
If you’ve ever entertained the thought of acquiring a machine gun consider this first.
Posted in Shooting | 2 Comments »
Promoting Shooting
Posted by John Buol on November 25, 2009
The Firearm User Network has been in a state of metamorphosis since its inception.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Uniting Gun Owners Through Activity
Posted by John Buol on November 18, 2009
Pro-gun activists and lobbyists debate on the best approach to defeating anti-rights forces. Too bad their approach is usually wrong.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Bore Yourself Into Shooting Better
Posted by John Buol on November 4, 2009
PRODUCTIVE PRACTICE (OR “HOW TO BORE MYSELF INTO BEING BETTER”)
Chapman Academy of Practical Shooting
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Bench Rests and Hunting Rifles
Posted by John Buol on October 28, 2009
Ever since I’ve been away on active duty I’ve spent more time shooting on public ranges then at home. Seeing the general gun owning public, as opposed to organized event participants, has been, um, illuminating.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Day-Night-Day Match
Posted by John Buol on October 21, 2009
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Is Shooting Boring?
Posted by John Buol on October 7, 2009
Anyone who owns a TV and a firearm realizes that shows about shooting are conspicuously absent.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Women And Shooting
Posted by John Buol on September 30, 2009
I caught a newspaper article with the headline, “Woman Kicker Vies for Penn State Job.”
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Death of the Marine Marksman
Posted by John Buol on September 23, 2009
SSG Ethan Rocke was formally recognized by the Marine Corps for this telling editorial.
New rifle qualification aggregate scoring system elevates mediocre shooters, lowers Marine Corps standard
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Holster Qualification for CCW and Shooting Ranges
Posted by John Buol on September 21, 2009
I’m all for basic skill and qualification tests. Too many gun owners (to include those with military training!) have a low level of skill, sometimes to the point of being dangerous.
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Zero At Short Range
Posted by John Buol on September 16, 2009
>> Is there anywhere on the net I can go to find out that if a rifle is sighted at 25 yards dead on the bullseye, how far will it shoot before the bullets changes or drops?
Posted in HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Downfall of American Gun Owners
Posted by John Buol on September 13, 2009
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Shooting Stupid Stuff
Posted by John Buol on September 2, 2009
by Hubert Townsend
That ad campaign whose slogan is “People do stupid things”, sure hits us all. Since the shooting sports has no tackling, checking or grabbing, its safety record is about perfect. But on the firing line people occasionally do stupid things. If there is a human involved, there will always be stupid stuff. As every teacher knows, there will always be a student who just doesn’t get the concept, misses the boat or any other number of out to lunch clichés.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 5 Comments »
Honor the Heroes Sporting Clays Benefit Shoot
Posted by John Buol on August 30, 2009
Operation Patriot, Inc. was founded in 2004, after learning of the needs of our aging Veterans living in State Veterans Nursing Homes.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Competition Shooting Trains Special Forces Operators
Posted by John Buol on August 26, 2009
The question comes up about the validity of competitive shooting and “real world” training.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Crucial Field Shooting Skills Every Hunter Needs to Know
Posted by John Buol on August 19, 2009
In a recent magazine article, Craig Boddington discusses field marksmanship issues important to hunters. It’s always nice to read a big name author that “gets it” showing the need for effective field shooting programs like HunterShooter.
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Become A Better Hunter
Posted by John Buol on August 12, 2009
You do not become a better hunter by going hunting. Sounds counter-intuitive, but it is true.
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Predators, Shooting, Hunters
Posted by John Buol on August 5, 2009
“One does not hunt in order to kill. One hunts in order to have hunted.”
Ortega
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Save The Ranges
Posted by John Buol on July 29, 2009
A rusted, bullet-riddled refrigerator was left right in the middle of the private, county-zoned shooting range my local club uses for events. Not one, but two cars in similar condition were there as well. In the corner rotted a trash heap taller than a man and some 30 paces deep.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Hunters, Go Back to School
Posted by John Buol on July 22, 2009
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Tactical Training with Delta Force
Posted by John Buol on July 15, 2009
The question of how to conduct good training, and what constitutes effective use for tactical “real world” situations comes up often. How does the Special Operations community answer the question? Let’s ask them!
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Cost of Shooting
Posted by John Buol on July 8, 2009
Costs are up! The end is nigh! Or is this more a problem of perception?
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting: Use Of Sight Shooting In Close Quarters Gunfights
Posted by John Buol on July 1, 2009
Use Of Sight Shooting In Close Quarters Gunfights — Myth Or Fact?
An article by: John Veit
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
The Bronze Award for Shooting
Posted by John Buol on June 24, 2009
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Go For the Ink
Posted by John Buol on June 10, 2009
Alan Korwin, of Bloomfield Press, the “gun law guy”, has this to say about Tactics That Work:
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Practical Shooting with the .22 Rimfire
Posted by John Buol on June 3, 2009
Appleseed’s ‘Official’ Liberty Training Rifle (LTR/.22 sub-caliber trainer) statement
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Dummies Steal Dummy Rounds, Smart Shooters Use Them
Posted by John Buol on May 27, 2009
Dummies Steal Dummy Rounds, Smart Shooters Use Them
by Hubert Townsend
Posted in HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Zero Any Rifle Right Away
Posted by John Buol on May 20, 2009
A competant rifleman with a decent rifle should be capable of establishing a fairly good zero after firing only one or two rounds and does not need a bench rest. Here’s how.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Truth About Assault Rifles
Posted by John Buol on May 13, 2009
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Follow Up for Better Hunting
Posted by John Buol on May 6, 2009
Most hunters rarely hit their animal perfectly and kill it instantly on the first shot. You need to Follow Up!
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | 3 Comments »
Let’s Hear it Old Timers!
Posted by John Buol on April 29, 2009
A common thread is how everything was so much better back in the “good ol’ days.” However, in some ways, things are better today!
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Stop Wasting Ammo!
Posted by John Buol on April 22, 2009
In terms of increased marksmanship proficiency most ammunition expended by civilian and military folks is largely wasted.
Posted in Shooting | 1 Comment »
Why We Do NOT Need New Military Rifles, Part Three
Posted by John Buol on April 15, 2009
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Death of Machine Gun Gunnery
Posted by John Buol on April 13, 2009
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Is Your Practical Shooting Sensible?
Posted by John Buol on April 8, 2009
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting – The Handgun Training Problem
Posted by John Buol on April 1, 2009
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | 5 Comments »
Shooting Skill and Talent
Posted by John Buol on March 25, 2009
Random gun owners often have odd opinions on shooting. Here is one example.
Posted in PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Levels of Competence in Shooting
Posted by John Buol on March 18, 2009
Posted in HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
History of Sniping Marksmanship Skills
Posted by John Buol on March 11, 2009
There is a good five-part series of videos on the history of sniping and marksmanship skills for snipers entitled “Sniper – One Shot, One Kill” available for free on YouTube.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Reality of Hunting World Records
Posted by John Buol on March 4, 2009
The Reality of Hunting World Records
In the past I’ve discussed my SHOT Show observations and how the gun industry is failing to promote itself, as witnessed by what programs the big players are (and are not) putting emphasis on. If you missed it, here’s a one-sentence synopsis:
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting – The RAND Report
Posted by John Buol on February 25, 2009
UNSAFE AT ANY DISTANCE – THE FAILURE OF POLICE HANDGUN TRAINING – by John Veit
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting
Posted by John Buol on February 18, 2009
Posted in SensibleShooter | 1 Comment »
Why We Do NOT Need New Military Rifles, Part Two
Posted by John Buol on February 11, 2009
Should we get rid of the M-16/AR-15 rifle from military service and replace it? Or should we keep it?
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 1 Comment »
“Target Shooting” and Ball Sports
Posted by John Buol on February 4, 2009
Imagine walking into a sporting goods store and approaching a salesperson with this:
Posted in PowerPlinker, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Red and Orange Dots on Targets
Posted by John Buol on January 21, 2009
What is the deal with orange and red dots on bullseye-type targets sold at sporting goods stores?
To the competitors here: What do the rules say about placing red dots on your official NRA target’s bulls eye? Is this OK, or is it an infraction of the rules?
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
A Look In The Mirror
Posted by John Buol on January 14, 2009
A LOOK IN THE MIRROR
I’d like you to to think about your shooting activities and consider the following.
Posted in Shooting | 1 Comment »
Trigger Control Happy Place
Posted by John Buol on January 7, 2009
by Hubert Townsend
Readers will recall that I used Yogi Berra’s interesting phrase to describe what action is needed for a marksmanship coach — “You can observe a lot by watching,” as long as you know what to look for.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Moron Cleaning Guns (Just Maintain Them, Please!)
Posted by John Buol on December 31, 2008
Most military-issued firearms are worn out or damaged by excessive and/or improper cleaning. We should stop using the word “clean” and start using “maintain.” A properly maintained firearm is NOT white glove clean.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Masters and Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on December 24, 2008
“I have seen one hundred men who would call themselves Masters yet if you took all their skills added together, you would not have the makings of three good students, let alone one Master…of this art there are few Masters in the world”
- Master Fiore dei Liberi, Flos Duellatorum, 1410
The quote above is 600 years old and is about swordsmanship. Unfortunately, not much has changed. In the field of marksmanship it has worsened.
Posted in Shooting | 2 Comments »
Practice Shooting at Short Range
Posted by John Buol on December 10, 2008
Myth – “Scaled Ranges at 10 and 25 meter ranges don’t provide good training.”
Fact – Short range shooting can provide just as much feedback in training fundamentals.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Cleaning Guns
Posted by John Buol on December 3, 2008
Myth – “Firearms must be thoroughly cleaned every time they’re fired and must never be stored dirty.”
Fact – Basic maintenance is simple and quick requiring little more than a wipe down and light lubrication.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 2 Comments »
In Memoriam – Brent Lantagne
Posted by John Buol on December 1, 2008
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Gun Magazines and Shooting Promotion
Posted by John Buol on November 26, 2008
I still thumb through the slicks because they are one of the first conduits of info for the new gun owner. Let’s face it, most newbies don’t start their shooting “career” by attending a $1000, four or five day class at a top-notch shooting school. If they’re anything like every gun owner I’ve ever met, these folks are just testing the waters to see what’s out there. A few dollars invested at a newsstand on a magazine that catches their eye is a cheap and safe way to start.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting as a Mainstream Sport
Posted by John Buol on November 19, 2008
Hunting and shooting is every bit as challenging as mainstream ball sports. If raw numbers of participants and equipment owners are any indication, hunting and shooting is the mainstream. Unfortunately, this isn’t how it plays out in the media.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
New Cartridges for Shooting (Magnum of the Month)
Posted by John Buol on November 12, 2008
A voice of reason boomed:
“It’s got to where writers and gunmakers have to invent a niche to justify making another chambering … This plague of “Magnums” has got shooters trying shots beyond their ability and flinching while doing it.”
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | 4 Comments »
Proper Target for Hunters
Posted by John Buol on November 5, 2008
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Five Stages Of Hunters
Posted by John Buol on October 29, 2008
Outdoor Writer Denny Vasquez penned an article entitled “The Five Stages Of A Sport Hunter.” Many of the topics he discusses can be effectively addressed if organized events for hunters, such as HunterShooter format, were more widely utilized. I’ve added some comments
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Hunting Guns and Gear
Posted by John Buol on October 15, 2008
Is your hunting equipment adequate?
You may be wondering if your equipment is up for the hunt. Is it good enough? Is it accurate enough?
In a word, Yes!
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Wisdom of a Professional Hunting Guide
Posted by John Buol on October 8, 2008
How relevant is organized range training to the hunting field? Can matches and classes and other HunterShooter events really help you become a better hunter?
The following was sent to me by a retired professional big game guide.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shoot, You’re On TV!
Posted by John Buol on October 1, 2008
Can shooting get televised coverage? How much spectator interest can shooting possibly generate?
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Why We Do NOT Need New Military Rifles
Posted by John Buol on September 24, 2008
The levels of foolishness reached a new high when I found this gem, written in complete seriousness by a self-important commentator:
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 6 Comments »
Remember the Basics (USPSA, IDPA, IPSC)
Posted by John Buol on September 17, 2008
Practical shooting is terrific fun. We get to run around with guns and shoot fast. With all the noise, smoke and flying brass who couldn’t enjoy it? Plus, practical shooting is one of the most directly useful formats available. The problem is, as great and useful as this can be, it is a poor way to begin your shooting career.
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | 2 Comments »
The Hunter’s Guide to Accurate Shooting
Posted by John Buol on September 10, 2008
The Hunter’s Guide to Accurate Shooting
How to Hit what You’re Aiming At in Any Situation
by Wayne Van Zwoll
How to Hit what You’re Aiming At in Any Situation
by Wayne Van Zwoll
Review by John M. Buol Jr.
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Proper Practice and Shooting
Posted by John Buol on September 3, 2008
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Dry Practice and Shoot Better
Posted by John Buol on August 27, 2008
Myth – “Dry fire is a poor substitute for shooting live ammo.”
Fact – Dry practice is superior training for almost every facet of shooting and gun handling.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Finger Placement on the Trigger while Shooting
Posted by John Buol on August 20, 2008
Myth – “To shoot well you have to use the tip of your trigger finger.”
Fact – The only factor is can the shooter consistently press straight to the rear without disturbing alignment.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Single Mom Shoots at Home, Makes Olympics
Posted by John Buol on August 15, 2008
Next time some gun owner complains about the expense or time commitment to shoot, slap him upside the head with this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/sports/olympics/10shinn.html
Posted in ConventionalShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting a Rifle Zeroed by Another Shooter
Posted by John Buol on August 13, 2008
Myth – “Someone else zeroed this rifle but I still have to completely rezero because shooters look at the sights differently.”
Fact – Assuming both shooters are competent, the difference in zero will be small.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Olympic Shooting 2008
Posted by John Buol on August 9, 2008
Posted in ConventionalShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Marksmanship Television
Posted by John Buol on August 6, 2008
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Transferring a Zero to Another Rifle
Posted by John Buol on July 30, 2008
Myth – “Once I determine my zero from mechanical zero I can apply that dope to any rifle.”
Fact – A zero setting on one rifle applies only to that specific rifle.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting and the Fragile Ego
Posted by John Buol on July 23, 2008
by Hubert Townsend
We had finished our fundamentals of marksmanship lecture/demonstrations and were preparing to move from the bleachers to the firing line to group and zero the soldiers’ M16 rifles.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Mechanical Zero
Posted by John Buol on July 16, 2008
Myth – “You must always go to mechanical zero before zeroing.”
Fact – You’re almost always better off starting with the dope already on the gun.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Gender and Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on July 9, 2008
Myth – “Shooting is a man’s game.”
Fact – Gender has no factor on marksmanship skill.
Posted in HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Promotion, Shooting | 3 Comments »
How and When to Adjust Your Rifle Zero
Posted by John Buol on July 2, 2008
Myth – “Even though the group isn’t centered I don’t want to adjust the sights because I already have a zero.”
Fact – A zero is only as good as the placement of each correctly called shot.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Dry Firing Guns
Posted by John Buol on June 25, 2008
Myth – “Dry firing guns can damage them or wear them out.”
Fact – Dry fire exerts virtually no wear on most firearms.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Breath Control and Shooting
Posted by John Buol on June 18, 2008
Myth – “Breath Control is the critical component of marksmanship fundamentals.”
Fact – Shot placement is determined where the barrel points, as indicated by the aligned sights, when the trigger is pressed.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, PowerPlinker, Shooting | 4 Comments »
Good Marksmanship Training
Posted by John Buol on June 11, 2008
Myth – “Our unit/department shot the qual course a bunch of extra times. It was good training.”
Fact – Shooters improve by focusing on core fundamentals and maximizing feedback.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting with the Magazine on the Ground
Posted by John Buol on June 6, 2008
Myth – “Touching the magazine on the ground will induce a stoppage.”
Fact – Touching the magazine of a many firearms, especially AR-15/M16/M4 –series rifles, has no adverse effect on functioning and has been PROVEN to be reliable and stable for decades.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Reality of Hunting World Records
Posted by John Buol on June 2, 2008
The Reality of Hunting World Records
In the past I’ve discussed my SHOT Show observations and how the gun industry is failing to promote itself, as witnessed by what programs the big players are (and are not) putting emphasis on. If you missed it, here’s a one-sentence synopsis: The folks who work with actual end users (i.e. rank-and-file gun owners and hunters) realize the way to recruit, retain, and develop a positive community presence is by hosting and promoting quality events but big companies would rather focus on the gizmos that they sell, even though this will have no effect for successfully promoting shooting, or successfully marketing their products in the long run.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | 2 Comments »
Unskilled and Unaware
Posted by John Buol on May 30, 2008
“People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it.”
Posted in Shooting | 2 Comments »
Competition Shooting is Great Training
Posted by John Buol on May 28, 2008
Myth – “Competitive shooting isn’t ‘real’ shooting.”
Fact – Weapons only put projectiles where and how their pointed and don’t care what they’re pointed at.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Joint Electronics Type Designation System
Posted by John Buol on May 26, 2008
PEQ-2, PAQ-4, PAS-13, PRC-119 (SINCGARS), PRC-77
Ever wonder why some military hardware has these funny names?
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Army Times: Weapons Training and Qualification Overhauled
Posted by John Buol on May 25, 2008
Army Times recently reported about an attempt at improving current Army rifle qualification lead by a new organization staffed by former special operations personnel calling themselves the Asymmetric Warfare Group.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting Debates
Posted by John Buol on May 25, 2008
Point Shooting vs. Sight Shooting Debates
By: Robin Brown with John Veit
Discussions on Sight Shooting Vs Point Shooting surface now and again on the Internet. And as soon as they do, they often become loud and noisy affairs that turn into verbal arguments.
Posted in SensibleShooter, Shooting | 4 Comments »
Gun Owner Letter Campaign
Posted by John Buol on May 17, 2008
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Firearms in Circulation
Posted by John Buol on May 16, 2008
There was a “shocking” report about how only “10% of Americans own 80% of the guns in circulation”.
I saw this broadcast and the only thing I could think was, “so what?” Pareto’s Law would suggest something like that. Why are they surprised? It’s a normal distribution.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Gun Writer Gems
Posted by John Buol on May 7, 2008
Any of you fine people who actually take the time to read what I have to say (and I thank every one of you!) know that I’m not so enamored with some of the material published by and for the gun industry.
Posted in HunterShooter, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Vision and Shooting
Posted by John Buol on May 3, 2008
Myth – “I used to be able to shoot good, but now my eyes are bad.” and/or “I wear glasses so I can’t learn to shoot well.”
Fact – Anyone who can see well enough to read and safely drive an automobile can see well enough to shoot good scores.
Posted in Shooting | Leave a Comment »
M16/AR15 Tips
Posted by John Buol on April 26, 2008
Here some tips about M16 and AR-15 rifles. These have been proven by the USAR Shooting Team and written about by SFC Hubert Townsend.
Most issue, rack grade M16/M4s are two or three minute of angle (MOA) guns. That means that at 100 yards they shoot a group covering a circle of two or three inches diameter, four to six inches at 200 yards, etc. That is normal but can’t always be assumed. I was once issued a rifle that turned out to be only five MOA and didn’t discover it until shooting a five inch group at 100 yards on a paper target. No wonder I had trouble at the 300 yard line with it!
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Shooting Clubs
Posted by John Buol on April 24, 2008
Every shooting organization encourages new participants. It is the only way they can survive.
Posted in Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Jack Weaver failed to invent the Weaver Stance (almost)
Posted by John Buol on April 15, 2008
American Handgunner interviewed Jack Weaver about the beginnings of practical shooting and how he developed the stance that bears his name. There are several important revelations to be gleaned here.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Promotion, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Lessons Learned of Hunter Education
Posted by John Buol on March 25, 2008
The Department of Natural Resources of Wisconsin sends all certified hunter education instructors a compiled list of statistics from the previous season’s hunt. Being one of the top ten states for deer hunter participation, this makes an interesting and accurate case study. Let’s go over the lessons learned from the compiled numbers and see what we can discover about trends in field shooting and safety skills of hunters.
Posted in HunterShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
All Army Matches – Promoting Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on March 18, 2008
The fifth annual All Army matches, hosted at Fort Benning by the Army Marksmanship Unit is now history.
Posted in MilitaryMarksman, Promotion, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
The Strength of 1000 Men
Posted by John Buol on March 2, 2008
It is commonly held that one well written letter represents 1000 voters, subscribers, or viewers. One letter sent in probably represents 999 other people who feel the same way but haven’t bothered to speak out.
Posted in Promotion | Leave a Comment »
Tactical Shooter Defeated by Dummy Rounds (flinch)
Posted by John Buol on February 24, 2008
It is day one and a new group of shooters are ready to take the line. Their backgrounds make for impressive resume items and range from battles in big city dark alleys to foreign countries.
Armed with full tacticool regalia, pistol at Sul and a menacing scowl they take the line. First drill: Slow fire groups with dummy rounds mixed in the magazine. On Bullseye targets.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Levels of Marksmanship
Posted by John Buol on February 20, 2008
Some words of wisdom from a friendly Highpower shooter. Starting with the lowest skill level and working our way up:
Posted in ConventionalShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Ranging the Range
Posted by John Buol on January 27, 2008
By Hubert Townsend
Since hunting season is closed and the prairie rats are in semi-hibernation, this is an excellent time to improve one’s ability to determine the distance to a target.
Posted in HunterShooter, MilitaryMarksman, Shooting | 1 Comment »
Camp Perry Centennial National Matches on Shooting USA
Posted by John Buol on January 11, 2008
Shooting USA covered the rifle matches at Camp Perry 2007. This event marked 100 years of organized Conventional Shooting at that facility.
The first forms of organized shooting were the Conventional (“bullseye”) disciplines. These events are the purest test of marksmanship fundamentals and form the core of all other types of shooting. And they’ve been around forever! As amazing as a Centennial is, events at Sea Girt and Creedmoor pre-date Perry.
We have had the answers all along. Now we need to better promote them.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
Development continues
Posted by John Buol on January 7, 2008
We’re continuing to build our service. Screen shots and feature lists will be posted soon!
Posted in Services | Leave a Comment »
Shooting Practice
Posted by John Buol on September 8, 2010
Patrick Flanigan, shotgun exhibition shooter, had this to say about practicing.
Posted in ConventionalShooter, HunterShooter, MarksmanshipQualification, MilitaryMarksman, PowerPlinker, SensibleShooter, Shooting | Leave a Comment »
