Had an epiphany (more practice/learning)

[p89cajun]

Three years ago at 22 years old I didn't own a gun. Now I own 13 and 5 others have come and gone for one reason or another. Now if you add in all the accessories and optics I have bought for all of them it is a good chunk of change. But the one one thing I clearly haven't spent enough money but more importantly time with is practice. I go months without shooting a gun and still have a couple I bought this summer I have yet to shoot. Now when I look at it I went about it all backwards. I should of bought fewer guns and put the rest of the money I spent on guns on range time and training. I have decided to take a break from buying guns until I do two things.

1) Practice. My goal would be to improve my acuracy to the point where I can consistently hit a coke can at 25 yards with a pistol. Nothing super fancy but it is an uptainable goal and I can go from there. In practicing more and more I will become more familiar with my guns and using them will become more second nature.

2) Learn. I want to get as much info as possible. I have all sorts of guns from pump shotguns to auto shotguns to revolvers to 1911. I want to learn how they all work and what makes them go boom. What the difference is between a ar15 and an m4. I basically want to learn it all. This will be ongoing because we never stop learning but I want to start.
(If anyone has any suggestions for books to read or where to get this info I would greatly appreciate it.)

When I feel that I have acomplished this I will start improving my collection, and hopefully learning the inner workings will help make more educated purchases. THR has helped me realize I don't know anything about something I want to know everything so I beter start studying

 

[g.willikers]

For technical info:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b...field-keywords=firearms+disassembly&x=15&y=14

http://stevespages.com/page7.htm

http://www.marlinowners.com/

rimfirecentral.com

also google forums by manufacturer name.
Check youtube search by manufacturer and model for takedown and cleaning info videos.
-----------------------------------------------
training web sites for books and videos:
Gunsite
Mattburkett
todd jarret videos on youtube and myoutdoors web sites.
Thunder Ranch
also google firearms training and such.

There's a lot of stuff out there, some costs a few dollars, lots of it are free.
Hope this helps

 

[sailortoo]

Good knowledge of the various types of weapons that you own is a first rate idea, and get "exploded" views where available. As to training, the best way to go is professional training in the particular field you are interested in. I have taken some SD courses that opened my eyes, thanks to the professionals that took the time to work with me. Seems we (old timers) thought we knew all about it, only to realize there are newer and better ways to be proficient. There is always room for more knowledge.
sailortoo

 

[Frank Ettin]

Worthy goals. I also suggest that you consider going to school. There are a number of first rate shooting schools around. There aren't cheap and they'll necessitate that you do some traveling.

I'm partial to Gunsite (http://www.gunsite.com/ ) having taken pistol and rifle classes there. But there are other good schools. And if there's a good NRA certified instructor near you, the NRA classes can be helpful (especially Basic Handgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home).

 

[Zedo]

"More than I need. Not as many as I want." --

Moved 5 yrs ago, out in the country, but no decent range is close. And so the shooting end has tapered off.

But I keep buying the guns. Edging toward about 50 I'd estimate.

It's not a "contest" and you're not competing against anyone.

Buy what you want. Shoot when you feel like it. It's a HOBBY, not a profession.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I'm in a boat similar to you (OP) in that I'm young, got into firearms recently, and have very little training.

On one hand, I have limited funds and still have obvious gaps in my gun collection that I feel need to be filled. On the other hand, I'm not as proficient with the guns that I do have as I should or could be.

It would be so much easier to keep these priorities straight if I didn't have politicians breathing down my neck and threatening to take away my rights.

 

[Eric F]

if you want good training thats fun and doesnt cost much just go shoot some sort of action shooting, uspsa ipsc idpa 3 gun. While some are better than others for tactical shooting all of them present problem solveing and safe weapons handeling.

 

[Kind of Blued]

There's always the Army too.