How good do you really need to be?

The common argument against the need to train and practice to shoot a pistol with accuracy and speed at 25 yards is that most defensive encounters happen at three yards. So that’s all you need to practice, right?

I don’t practice shooting at 25 yards because I anticipate needing to shoot someone at 25 yards. I practice shooting at 25 yards to strengthen my fundamentals and build a higher level of competence. The utility here is that if I can shoot all alphas 100% of the time at 25 yards with some level of urgency, shooting at 10 yards becomes much easier and less stressful.

Shooting fist size groups at 25 yards slow fire is a great way to build confidence. Shooting five rounds at 25 yards into the A zone in under 5 seconds tests grip durability, trigger press, recoil management and vision. It’s a standard every shooter — and instructor — should strive for and hold themselves to.

Train to be better than you think you need to be.