Speed and Accuracy in Shooting
Whether becoming an excellent marksman or just starting a new hobby, there are skills and abilities you need to learn, but which are essential to success? This is the age-old argument: which is more important, speed or accuracy? While experts worldwide can make excellent points, building complex, detailed arguments for and against each criterion, the answer is quite simple: both are necessary. To be able to shoot well in both an attacking and defensive situation successfully, you will need to refine both skills. This article divulges into both speed and accuracy and why they work so well together. Let’s go!
Speed
Speed in shooting refers to how quickly you can hit a target and get back on target for a more hits. A lot of shooters just work on speed over accuracy, especially if they are training in defensive shooting. When it comes to training and refining your speed, there are many tactics one can use, such as rapid deployment, splits, and transitions.
Rapid deployment involves displaying your gun, whether it is opened or concealed, in under one second; splits are the time it takes to release shots on the same target, and transitions are the time it takes to release shots on multiple targets. If you watch any police or crime programs, you will see them practice these techniques at a shooting range.
If you focus only on speed, you will be able to find your maximum mechanical capability, which shows the maximum you can achieve over a short period of time. For instance, someone with maximum shooting ability will fire four rounds at five yards with no target in under two seconds; but the next shooter may be different and can fire more or less.
Once you find your maximum mechanical capability, you can look at incorporating more speed and accuracy to refine your shooting.
Accuracy
Accuracy involves taking your time and hitting the target or a section of the target every time. You will see people in shooting ranges practicing accuracy, trying to hit the same section of a target repeatedly, getting better and better.
When it comes to shooting, especially defensive shooting, every second matters. In some scenarios, tenths, even hundredths of a second, are integral for success. For shooting, such as combat-effective round placement, which stops a threat for defensive shooters, and “A” box hits, which hit the main objective for competitive shooters, all practice accuracy.
If you are looking to refine and upgrade your shooting accuracy, there are many disciplines you can work on. One of the main disciplines is bullseye shooting. This is a competitive shooting sport where the main objective is to shoot as close to the center target as possible; the closer you get, the more points you achieve. This type of shooting is slow, paced, and completed at various distances.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Shooters who combine speed and accuracy in their training quickly discover the precarious balancing act they are about to undertake. However, practicing their technique in both disciplines will make them better shooters, whether they are competing competitively or becoming a Marksman as an excellent hobby.
By training to use both speed and accuracy to achieve your target, you are controlling the shooting process so that you achieve a personal best or the best outcome in situations like defensive shooting. By refining both, you will have the speed to shoot at moving targets and the accuracy to actually hit them.
So, how do you improve both your speed and accuracy? Well, the human body is an incredible instrument that you can use to your advantage. It can be trained and taught any skill if you work hard enough at it. The greater your control, the greater your skill. You need to work on each skill separately by using different methods, some of which I have spoken about previously, and then practice applying speed and accuracy together. This will give you the skills to become the best shooter you can be while always having the ability to hit your mark.
Speed and accuracy are essential to refine your skills as a gunsmith and marksman. It is crucial to have speed when you are hunting prey, but there is no point in being fast if you miss your mark, so it’s vital to be prolific in both. If you want to learn more about gunsmithing and the different techniques you will need on your path to success in shooting skills like speed and accuracy, then the MGS Trade School website has an extensive library of information and an array of courses to choose from.
Written by: Ryan Clancy, Engineering HQ
