Good book for basic handgun training?

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

A friend asked, wan't something that covers grip, stance, sight picture etc. Any thoughts?

 

[Mn Fats]

With all the YouTube vids out there, it's hard to recommend a book for grip, stance, sight picture when you can see how its done in a free video. Not saying books aren't valuable, they certainly are!

I'd recommend googling something written by Vickers or Massad Ayoob. I tend to agree with thier words. I'd also recommend a training course if possible.

 

[LiveLife]

A friend asked, wan't something that covers grip, stance, sight picture etc. Any thoughts?

How about this?

Handgun Training: 7 Critical Aspects of Pistol Shooting - https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/training/handgun-training-pistol-shooting

1. Stance
2. Position
3. Grip
4. Sight alignment
5. Trigger control
6. Breathing
7. Mental discipline

Here are some helpful videos by Rob Leatham I recommend:

Worlds Collide | New Shooter Fundamentals - Rob discusses the importance of dry firing without moving the front sight. When I introduce shooters to defensive point shooting, now I have them dry fire several hundred times so they don't move the front sight before the initial range session.

Rob better demonstrates dry fire trigger control in this video. Trigger control's objective is to produce point of impact (POI) that is same as point of aim (POA) by not moving the front sight and is the first principle of accurate shooting discussed in detail in this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/trigger-control.834737/page-2#post-11245640

Gun Myth | Push Pull - Next comes grip. At 1:55 minute of video, Rob demonstrates the push pull grip that produces even pressure neutral grip. This grip is illustrated and discussed in this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-help-me-speed-up.824618/page-4#post-10902444

Gun Myth | Stance - Stance explained

Worlds Collide | Balance Point - Use of balanced stance

Worlds Collide | Stance - This demonstration illustrates significance of other shooting factors beyond stance

Worlds Collide | Countering Sight Fixation - At 1:25 minute mark of video, Rob addresses sight fixation by shooting without using the front sight while EYES CLOSED.

And if your friend is interested in learning point shooting for fast and accurate defensive shots, he can try this drill - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-help-me-speed-up.824618/page-4#post-10902245

 

[SwampWolf]

I doubt it has been in print for many years now but if you can ever find a copy, imo, the best book ever published that I've read describing handgun shooting fundamentals is The Great Game of Shooting, by Bullseye champion competitor, William B. Blankenship.

 

[LiveLife]

For bullseye type shooting, here are some good videos from Brian Zins:


Brian Zins Reviews the Top 2 Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting


Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Trigger Control

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Pistol Grip

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Shooting Position

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Aiming

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Vision


Episode 1: Brian Zins Explains How To Take Your Pistol Grip To A Whole New Level

Episode 2: Don’t Jerk It: Pistol Trigger Control Tips With Brian Zins

Episode 3: The Relationship between Aiming and Trigger Control with Brian Zins

Episode 4: How To Improve Pistol Red Dot Aiming With Brian Zins

Episode 5: How To Handle Anticipation In Bullseye Pistol Shooting With Brian Zins

Episode 6: How To Develop A Shot Process In Bullseye Pistol With Brian Zins

 

[jrmiddleton425]

MCRP 3-01B Pistol Marksmanship
FM 23-35, 1940 or later
No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan
Shooting to Live With the One-Hand Gun by Fairbairn & Sykes

 

[murf]

For bullseye type shooting, here are some good videos from Brian Zins:


Brian Zins Reviews the Top 2 Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting


Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Trigger Control

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Pistol Grip

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Shooting Position

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Aiming

Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting with Brian Zins: Vision


Episode 1: Brian Zins Explains How To Take Your Pistol Grip To A Whole New Level

Episode 2: Don’t Jerk It: Pistol Trigger Control Tips With Brian Zins

Episode 3: The Relationship between Aiming and Trigger Control with Brian Zins

Episode 4: How To Improve Pistol Red Dot Aiming With Brian Zins

Episode 5: How To Handle Anticipation In Bullseye Pistol Shooting With Brian Zins

Episode 6: How To Develop A Shot Process In Bullseye Pistol With Brian Zins

I adopted the brian zins grip five or six years ago. it's not just for bullseye shooting. it works really well strong hand, two hand and weak hand. here is the article that got me started on this new grip: http://www.bullseyepistol.com/zins.htm

the key for me was to create three index points of contact between the hand and the gun. first point is the palm crease to the outside rear corner of the handgun, second is the trigger finger alongside the slide/frame, and third is the index finger third joint (next to the fingernail) to the edge of the trigger. with practice, those index points come together automatically and the sights line up, when you bring the gun up to eye level, every time.

recoil is straight back and straight forward with this grip, just point the front sight and pull the trigger straight back.

luck,

murf

p.s. oh, I forgot, don't forget to follow through with every shot.

 

[LiveLife]

Here are some books/guides in pdf format:

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Pistol Marksmanship Training Guide - http://www.saveourguns.com/Ar_Marks_Un_Pistol_Train_Guide.pdf

NRA Guide: Basics of Pistol Shooting - http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0091/2498/PistolsHandbook12-10-15.pdf

CMP Guide to Junior Pistol Shooting - http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/JrPistolGuide.pdf

How to Shoot Like a Navy Seal - Combat Marksmanship - http://index-of.es/Varios-2/How to Shoot Like a Navy Seal.pdf

 

[murf]

if you want a book try "fast and fancy revolver shooting" by ed mcgivern. amongst the trick shooting is a good tutorial on the basics of handgun shooting.

murf

 

[crestoncowboy]

I've read a lot of books both before internet and some after on Kindle. To me a decent video is better than a good book. And a mediocre class is better than a good video.

I enjoy reading them for the entertainment and the insight into the authors mind. But for the actual building of knowledge.... not so much.

Find a video on YouTube geared to the task he wants. If competition there are plenty. Miculek and the like. If combat there are also plenty as well. Not a 20 year old who has done 8 tours in 6 foreign wars either. But hackathon, mcphee, vickers etc.

 

[Everready73]

Refinement and repetition by Steve Anderson is the best I have read.

Get some dry fire targets to go skiing with it and you will make big progress

 

[Thibaut]

I doubt it has been in print for many years now but if you can ever find a copy, imo, the best book ever published that I've read describing handgun shooting fundamentals is The Great Game of Shooting, by Bullseye champion competitor, William B. Blankenship.

I am looking for it. I go to videos. Some are better than others. Some really bad. Many of them are trying hard to sell you something. You have to separate wheat/chaff. I am a book person, first and foremost. Can't beat a good book. I remember a book in my family bookshelves on Labrador Retrievers by James Lamb Free. A Brit. Terrific.

 

[kBob]

How about the books he can get taking the NRA Basic Handgun Safety Course?

Just buying a book (or watching a vid) reminds me of the young guys in the 1960's that stole their dad's Playboy Magazines and thought them selves hot stuff in the sex department with no "field experience"

-kBob

 

[Varminterror]

There’s nothing to complain about in the new version of the NRA Guide to Basics of Pistol Shooting book used in the BoPS course. I actually prefer the “less new” version, which is an actual book, but the material is good.

Even better would be to encourage your friend to pursue actual training. Money well spent.