Face time with the trainer is a lot more important than hosing bullets into the berm. Unfortunately, hosing bullets into the berm is what many “high intensity” training classes consist of. If I ever wanted to make a bunch of money, I’d grow a beard, start Foxtrot Action Group Training and hold 2-day, 3,000 round classes that consist largely of yelling “CONTACT” and doing Bill Drills into targets from 3-5 yards because it’s “realistic.”
The ever-inflating round count
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Al
Aug 12, 2013 @ 10:41:57
As a newby to marksmanship and avid golfer who has taken lessons from many “top” instructors and as someone who has read several fine books on the subject of learning skills (“The Talent Code” is a favorite and highly recommended), this expectation of “beating balls to your hands bleed” (or shooting hundreds of rounds into the berm, et. al.) is commonplace with many students attempting to learn new skills. Consequently, many instructors give in to this expectation.
Far more valuable to learning a new skill is the knowledge of the instructor and transference of that knowledge to the student in (for the marksmanship example) teaching the proper shooting positions, use of the sling and steps to releasing and evaluating a shot.
For example, I believe that you could take a group of beginners, teach them the techniques of marksmanship over the course of a couple of days, and with them only firing a few dozen shots (with much dry fire practice) make them more accurate target shooters (not hunters) than probably 90+% of experienced hunters. My own experience with Project Appleseed tells me this is possible.
I’m sure that if I sat down and picked your brain for a couple of hours that I would be able to further improve my marksmanship more than firing 10,000 rounds at the range. One shot properly executed is far more valuable to learning than 100 sloppily executed, IMO. “Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanent.”
Very much enjoy your blog.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Aug 12, 2013 @ 16:33:02
Great write up. Thanks for sharing!
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Colorado Pete
Aug 23, 2013 @ 00:45:12
Heck read my books (John I hope you don’t mind my plugging them here).
http://www.amazon.com/Digest-Shooters-Guide-Rifle-Marksmanship/dp/1440235120/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377239842&sr=8-2&keywords=Lessler
http://www.amazon.com/Digest-Shooters-Guide-Handgun-Marksmanship/dp/1440236062/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377239842&sr=8-1&keywords=Lessler
John, did you ever receive the copy of the rifle shooting book I sent you? The handgun book is out now as well.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Aug 23, 2013 @ 07:07:22
Yes I did. Full review to follow shortly. Short version: It’s great!
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Colorado Pete
Aug 24, 2013 @ 11:40:24
I’ll dig up your address and mail you a copy of the handgun book, if you’d be kind enough to review that also!
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John M. Buol Jr.
Aug 24, 2013 @ 13:57:34
Sent. Thanks!
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