Is good shooting instinctual?

[Rupe]

Last year before my back surgery I embarked on a preserve hunt along with some Clay pigeon shooting. I hadn't shot at a moving target in over 20 years and yet I think I was the high score that day.

I was using a plain old pump 870 and ddidn't even know some of the rules, but after a few rounds I was holding my own.

My question is. Is good shooting learned or instinctual or a combination of both?

 

[HSMITH]

I think it is mostly learned IF you were a rifle or pistol shooter first. If you first learned shotgun shooting instinct would definately be stronger, and likely would be a better shotgunner than the same individual if he had not learned shotgun first.

I shot rifle and pistol at a pretty high level for several years, and never picked up a shotgun until I was an adult and a fairly accomplished rifle/pistol shooter. Learning shotgunning for me was TORTURE, if I was not supremely stubborn I would have quit. I finally got decent, but it was because I learned to shoot shotguns , my instinct had already been trained to shoot rifles and pistols.

 

[Smoke]

Good shooting is learned.

Superior shooting is a combination.

 

[Art Eatman]

All shooting is a learned process. Some people are just plain old better at learning the eye-finger coordination, as well as being better able to identify or create a uniform sight picture.

I found that my shotgunning improved dramatically after a couple of years of IPSC pistol shooting. "Front sight, press." I quit trying to aim a shotgun like a rifle on a running deer, and went to pointing it.

What some call "instinct" is really trained reflex, with some folks' training having accomplished more than others.

$0.02, Art

 

[Ninj500]

I don't know the answer to your question. What I do know is my wife, who rarely shoots, rarely misses. The first time she picked up my 30-06 she drilled coke can in a 35MPH wind at 300 yards. Not a great shot for an experienced shooter (I missed three times and fall into the bad shot category) but for a first time rifle shooter it was pretty good. The first time she shot a semi-auto pistol she put six shots of a six shot group in the X ring at 50 ft with a Glock 21. For some reason, she can flat out shoot. My assumption is some people have a gift for shooting and can become better by learning to shoot properly. Some people (like me) are doomed to mediocrity no matter what. I can make myself better but will never shoot like she does. Go figure. One thing is for sure, I try not to make her mad .

 

[BigG]

There is God-given talent involved, for sure, as much as some would like to think that shooting (or any skill) can be taught. I agree that training can improve anybody's performance, but the innate skill to be an unbelievable shot cannot be taught.

For an analogous situation, the Army manual even states that leadership is taught, not in-born. Now, anyone here can reflect on their own experiences and decide whether or not that is true.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It's a combination, ol' buddy. Of course, a natural athlete like yourself(20/15 vision, fit as an Olympic contestant, with great reflexes and co-ordination) would find things a little easier.

For us old TFL regulars, Rupe is mentioned in some threads. The Pheasant Shoot I wrote about on TFL was the event he refers to. He also has the deer leases on the Shore.

Alla same, we oughta go shoot some trap together.
What does tomorrow morn look like?