5 Tips to Improve Your Aim

The other day a friend called me to ask for some pointers on how to improve his shooting accuracy.

“That depends,” I told him. “What kind of gun will you be shooting?”

“A handgun,” he responded.

“It still depends.  Will it be for target practice or tactical?  Drawn from a concealed carry holster or while on the move?  Are you using a sight or a laser?”

The point I was making is that there are so many variables when it comes to shooting that each situation is different.

1.  Take a deep breath.  This will be especially handy if you’ve been running or on the move.  Take a deep breath to calm yourself.  At the bottom of your exhale, hold your breath—only for a second— and take the shot.  If you wait too long, you’ll begin to wobble.  Practice doing this a few times to get a feel for the rhythm of your breathing.

2.  Steady as she goes.  Keeping your gun steady is a must.  Depending on the situation and location, such being out in the field, you can use a tree branch or rock if they are available. Our lean against a wall or doorframe if inside a building. 

3. Stay focused.  Focus on the front sight.  The human eye isn’t capable of focusing both near and far at the same time so your best bet is to line up the sights with your target but keep a keen eye on the front sight.

4. Leave a fingerprint.  Aim your index finger at this article right now and pull it like a trigger.  Do you see how it angles first to the left and then to the right if you are right handed?  Using the pad of your finger and gently drawing the trigger straight back reduces movement.

5. The element of surprise.  DON’T anticipate the kick.  Let the gunshot surprise you. Hand your buddy a gun with three rounds in it and tell him you’ve loaded five. Watch to see how much he flinches on the fourth shot. This takes practice but will tremendously improve your accuracy .

There are many other shooting tips, but nothing takes the place of practice.  Practice these tips until they are part of your normal shooting routine, and always handle firearms safely.

---