S1 Ep1: Building Handgun Confidence - Learning the Basic Elements

George and Kevin demonstrate how to field-strip firearms and review how handguns function. They’ll conduct a proper visual and physical inspection of a gun, and also review the difference in popular types of handguns. Such as double-actions, semi-automatic pistols with a decocker, and single-action revolvers.

Reputable modern firearms are filled with safety mechanisms, though many are not always readily visible. We review various safeties, how they work, and the pros and cons of the various types. This is not a complete list, so always read your firearm’s manual for specific safety features of your gun.

When choosing a gun there are many choices but, the end goal is to select one that you can comfortably hit the target with. We discuss how to tell if a firearm fits your hand, and how to ensure the gun will be accurate and reliable for you.

In this episode we discuss how to build the right grip. Your grip is responsible for stabilizing the muzzle and managing recoil, but not just for the first shot. Building that proper grip will allow you to keep your gun in the fight and on target.

George and Kevin will walk you through how to properly load and unload your magazines. We’ll cover both double-stack magazines and single-stack magazines. Plus, review common magazine features — such as witness holes or loading holes — and how to overcome the stiff spring pressure shooters often struggle with.

This episode demonstrates the proper techniques for loading and unloading semi-automatic pistols. The training covers:

• Proper insertion of a magazine into the firearm
• How to move your pistol slide
• The correct method to confirm you have fully unloaded a loaded pistol

Do you know the difference between sight alignment and sight picture? When you aim your firearm, what do you focus your eyes on? George and Kevin will walk through the proper way to align your sights and focus your eyes properly to ensure you’re on target.

In this episode we focus on aim. A common mistake is to focus on the target downrange, but this can actually throw your aim off. George and Kevin guide you through the “float the dot” technique which resolves that common mistake, and gives you the best accuracy results.

Smooth operation of your trigger is key to hitting your target. Jerk your trigger and it can throw your shots off target. George and Kevin will teach you how to move your trigger without moving your firearm at the same time. As well as how to master the trigger reset.

Whether you are a new shooter or a seasoned shooter the sound of a gunshot can impact your shooting accuracy. It causes involuntary movement that throws you off target. The “Noise Inoculation Drill” is a great tool for training shooters to avoid flinching and overreacting to the sound of gunfire.

George Harris demonstrates how you can shoot full-sized firearms with only two fingers. This drill is used to show what kind of recoil shooters can expect after they pull the trigger. Understanding the nature of recoil will allow you to be more accurate and confident when shooting your firearm.

Your brain wants to protect your face from your gun. It is totally natural. It wants to do everything it can to protect you. The side effect, however, is flinching. This will hurt your accuracy. This training drill will force you to focus on your firearm while shooting instead of your instinctive response to flinch.

After you pull the trigger there’s an explosive sound, smoke, flash, and hot metal brass flying through the air. Naturally, your instinct is to want to close your eyes for protection. This drill trains your mind and body to stay focused on hitting the target despite the immediate distractions.

Good live-fire training benefits from great dry-fire training. Dry-Fire Training helps build great shooting instincts and kill bad habits. The “Wall Drill” will teach you how to diagnose your mistakes by focusing on what you are doing to your firearm every single time you pull the trigger.

The “Bullet Hole Drill” will test your ability to apply the accuracy fundamentals you learned up to now. Learn how to focus on a single point of aim and control your firearm so that each round continues to go where you are aiming.

This drill will help you learn how to use your trigger reset to your advantage. You’ll learn how to control the trigger backward and forward as the muzzle lifts and settles. The result? Faster and more accurate shots.

Imagine shooting just as accurately at 20 yards as you do at 5 yards. Most pistols today are more than accurate enough to hit targets at 20 yards easily. In this drill, you’ll learn to identify what exactly is hurting your accuracy as you increase your distance.

George and Kevin will walk you through how to safely and accurately use your firearm while shooting one-handed. They will then demonstrate how to practice one-handed shooting techniques as part of your training regime.

You’re now fully equipped with drills to help you train at the range and at home. Whenever you handle a firearm keep in mind the fundamentals of safety: muzzle management and trigger finger discipline. Practice what you’ve learned so these things become second nature as you train for real-life scenarios.