Semi-Auto Pistol Shooting Fundamentals

Pistol shooting proficiency comes with time and correct practice. The right way of shooting has to happen early before bad habits have a chance to set in. Repetitive trigger time at the range and dry firing at home  allows the fundamentals of proper pistol shooting to codify. At least three semi-auto pistol shooting fundamentals need to be emphasized over and over, on and off the range.

Two-handed grip on a Glock 19

The two most important are sight picture and trigger control. This is followed the third: grip on the pistol. Other fundamentals such as stance and breathing will vary depending on the shooting situations in which you might find yourself. Emphasis is place on sight picture and trigger over all because without either, shots on target are not happening. Well, I guess even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and again. When applying the first two fundamental, accurate shots with strong and weak (dominant/non-dominant) side arms can be achieved.

Correct sight picture is ensuring the sights are lined up with target center mass. The front sight is clear; the target is slightly blurred as is the rear sight. Focusing on the front sight while keeping everything lined will ensure the barrel stays target. At distance, focusing on the target can have a haloing effect for bullet impacts on target meaning impacts can be on target and off. Every shot has to hit the mark. The shooter is responsible for every shot that misses.

Clear front sight on target center mass

After the sights are aligned, trigger control takes over. Almost all semi-auto pistols have some sort of trigger slack and take-up that occurs before the hammer falls against the firing pin or the striker being released setting off the primer. Glocks, XDs, and 1911 are just some of the pistols that all have take-up. A good shooter in tune with the pistol can feel the slack and take-up before the shot breaks. You have to be aware of this because any movement of the pistol between when contact with trigger occurs and shot breaking will affect bullet impact. Sights on target; take-up the slack; break the shot.

Once the shot breaks, you manage the recoil. The trigger finger remains in contact with the trigger during recoil. This means the trigger is fully pressed to the rear until trigger reset occurs. This is the other part of trigger control--trigger reset. The reset is allows for quicker follow up shots if needed. Resetting the trigger is releasing the trigger far enough forward to allow the sear to re-engage. This can be heard and felt even as slight as it is. Once the sear is re-engaged, no more trigger let up is necessary. There is no need for the shooter to come all the way off the trigger, only to have to find the trigger and take up the slack over again thus wasting valuable time if a quick follow up shot is needed.

Sight alignment and trigger control. Applying just those two fundamentals will still allow a shooter to accurately engage with either hand alone.

A good two-handed grip can be used almost the same on all semi-autos pistols. The strong hand grips the frame high with the thumb high along the slide. The other fingers are curled naturally around the frame. The support hand fingers curl around the strong hand's grip of the the frame. The support thumb is below the strong-side thumb also along the frame or slide. Both thumbs are pointing in the direction of the target. Almost all available hand surfaces are in contact with the gun. This helps with recoil management and natural alignment with the target. The trigger finger is straight along the frame and off the trigger until sights are on target.

Both hands making the most contact with the gun. Thumbs pointed downrange.

To sum it all up, the three fundamentals for success are: Sight Alignment; Trigger Control; and Grip. Finally, knowing the fundamentals of pistol shooting is one of the first important steps only second to safety. Understanding why and how the fundamentals work takes longer with lots of practice. Applying the fundamentals is done on the firing line and at home. Always, safety first!