How Often Do You Practice/Train?

[Blue Thunder]

I have been going at least once a week and this week already 2 times. This is way better than a couple of years ago when it was once or twice a month. I have added my FN-15 to the range tours now also.

 

[gojuice101]

Normally we shoot/train several days per week. However, since May I haven't seemed to be able to get away from work long enough to do anything, let alone get out and shoot, so my shooting time has been cut back to once every couple of months. Driving me crazy, because I miss being able to get out and shoot every week.

 

[mokin]

I'm pretty good about making it to the range once or twice a week when I'm home. I practice draws and dry firing more frequently.

 

[fastbolt]

So, how often do you practice or train?

Me?

As a private citizen, and then as a young cop, I tried to make it to the range as often as I could afford to pay range fees and buy ammunition (or reloading supplies). Once I became a cop I could slip in a little extra range time and make use of the remanufactured ammo we used for revolver quals, as well as attending the 60-odd hours (as I recall) of academy firearms training. As a longtime shooting enthusiast and hobbyist, I was willing to take advantage of any opportunity to shoot.

Once I became a LE firearms instructor a little over 26 years ago I've usually managed to put in 16-48 hours per month of working range sessions and teaching classes, and doing as much shooting for training, practice and quals as was permitted (above being required) while working at the range. That doesn't include going away to attend firearms instructor training & recertification, as well as some outside training involving shooting.

That also doesn't include being unable to shoot due to work-related shoulder & elbow surgeries and some other injuries, and then after retirement having to have surgery and 6 months of chemo resulted in me having to take several months off from my continued instructor duties and being able to do a lot of practice. Sure, I went the range a couple of times during chemo, but the side effects of the chemo sapped my strength and endurance and made me very susceptible to the cold, both of which affected my shooting.

What do YOU think is a minimum for regular practice, or what should be strived for?

For someone else? Hard to say without knowing and evaluating the knowledge, training background, experience and abilities of an individual. Shooting is one of the physical skills that's been deemed to be perishable, so some amount of initial and recurrent "training" and practice regimen is probably going to be required, depending on the level of skills and abilities desired by the individual (or, required of the individual, for professional requirements).

Also, someone just burning powder for the sake of being able to say they're "practicing" doesn't take into account whether they're engaged in good practice, or something that's more of a 'counter productive' endeavor. If they're really just practicing and further ingraining poor skills, what 'good' are they really doing?

I'll start by saying I go to one of a few available ranges at least once a week pretty religiously. If I miss a week I'll go twice the following week. Honestly, if I could afford to I'd shoot daily.
Batter up....

If you enjoy what you're doing as a pastime and recreational pursuit (hobby, etc), so much the better.

In the long run, I've seen people who have been shooting for 10, 20, 30 & 40+ years. Some of them had acquired some very respectable skills and abilities, and some others had merely attained somewhat limited or minimal skills, and had really only been 'practicing' to stay at that minimal level of skills and abilities for that length of time.

This is rather like asking someone how skilled they wish to be in self defense or martial arts. How skilled do they think they need to be? How skilled do they want to be? What are the real world demands that might be placed upon them? Are they as skilled as any anticipated threats might require them to be, in order to adequately defend themselves? Are their thoughts, preferences and anticipated risk considerations realistic?

A definitive 'answer' is going to be somewhat elusive and difficult to obtain.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Shooting is one of the physical skills that's been deemed to be perishable, so some amount of initial and recurrent "training" and practice regimen is probably going to be required

I've always subscribed to the belief that skills starts to deteriorate after two weeks and accelerate the longer you don't practice

 

[Odd Job]

This year my average per month is:

10 rounds of 12g
1300 rounds of .22LR
5 rounds miscellaneous (muzzle-loader or .357 under lever etc)

 

[fastbolt]

I've always subscribed to the belief that skills starts to deteriorate after two weeks and accelerate the longer you don't practice

As with many other things of a physical nature, I suspect that it may depend on the development and extent of the existing skillset, how well and how long it had been ingrained, what's involved and the extent to which you're going to push being able to perform certain aspects of it after some suspension of practice.

Razor edge? Probably not.

Still very good and above "average", compared to other people who only "practice" quarterly, if that much? There's probably something to be said for investing the time and effort to ingrain the basics with many thousands of proper repetitions, as those may stick around to an appreciable degree during layoffs.

 

[Milt1]

Once a week almost a certainty!

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I 'practice' at shooting competitions a couple of times a month.

It is my opinion that for the money, you cannot get better practice than IDPA, USPSA, and/or Multigun events.
As far as weapons proficiency and handling, competition (even if you are not a contender) adds probably the maximum amount of pressure without putting yourself in harms way and in the safest environment possible. Lots of people loose their entire stage plan when the beeper goes off. And that is just pressure from a timeclock. Imagine where you mind is at when someone is attacking you.

I encourage people to test their weapons proficiency at competition. I have seen people fumble reloads, disregard finger placement, etc when they normally wouldn't. Being proficient with your firearms without having to think too much means that you can commit more brain power/focus on the situation.

This year I even made it out to Utah for the Hard as Hell Multigun Match. I learned a lot about my weapon proficiency's and physical prowess at that match.

Heck one of my number 1 take aways was that you have to just breath. Who knew!?
I was forgetting to breath while taking rifle shots. That resulted in me running out of stamina a lot faster than normal. On a normal Multigun stage, I am only shooting for about 40 seconds. At Hard as Hell, stages were minutes long with a lot of running in between shooting positions.

I am a pretty fit guy, but it doesn't matter: if you aren't breathing, you are gonna get tired.

I have videos on my youtube channel for those interested.

 

[justice06rr]

I hit the range about once a month; twice if time allows. Most shooting is done indoor ranges recently, but I have experience in 3-Gun and IDPA.

 

[Sav .250]

Uncle Sam trained me well.......... Go to the range on occasion.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I don't know if I ever really train per se. I've only been to a public range one time (PIA)
But having a house out in the woods affords me play time.

I've been known to run, jump and roll behind cover and quickly fire off some shots with my CC at a menacing stump, log, or invading chipmunk. Soda bottles and aluminum cans are usually pretty well perforated by the time they hit the recycling bin, too.
I don't run for cover with the chipmunks...those little bastards are hard enough to plug as it is.

At least a couple times a month I get some pistol fun in.
Rifle, not so much. Maybe only 3-4 times a year do I get to reach out past 70 yards or so.
I usually find time to dry fire a couple times a week.

I think I need to practice more, drawing from concealed, while seated in a car

 

[Billyzz]

I dont train
But i do practice every week or two