Best Bet is to know your weapon, (having been USMC this takes on a whole new level
)and your capabilities. Shoot when it’s dark/blinding sun, snow/wind/rain, shoot without earplugs a few times, practice breathing, in my opinion a good thing to do is run until you are good and tired then try to rapidly fire and hit targets. If you have access to targets that move that is invaluable. Also keep in mind for you folks that don’t reside in the prairie hitting targets that are above you or below you takes practice its quite a bit different than hitting a shoulder level target that is standing still. If you are only concerned with self defense, don’t worry about dead on accuracy if you can get 2-3 shots in a chest size area that’s good enough. Remember it’s not the first shot that wins but the first hit.
The rifleman’s creed is a good primer just substitute pistol
THIS IS MY RIFLE
There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life.
My rifle, without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than any enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will....
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but Peace........................