Lesson 3.3: Recoil Management, Follow Through, and Accuracy
Purpose of This Lesson
This lesson covers what happens during and after the shot.
A shooter must control recoil, keep the pistol stable, follow through, and place rounds accurately on the intended target.
Recoil Management
Recoil is normal. It is not something to fear. It is something to control.
Good recoil management starts before the shot with grip, stance, body position, and safe muzzle direction.
The goal is not to eliminate recoil. The goal is to keep control of the pistol and recover safely for the next decision.
Follow Through
Follow through means the shooting process does not end when the shot breaks.
After firing, the shooter should maintain grip, maintain stance, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, recover the sights, and decide what comes next.
Dropping the pistol, relaxing too soon, or looking over the sights can create safety and accuracy problems.
Accuracy
Accuracy is accountability.
Every round fired must go somewhere, and the shooter is responsible for it.
On the range, that means placing rounds on the required target. In the real world, poor accuracy, missed rounds, and poor target identification can put innocent people at risk.
Speed and Control
Speed is not the first goal.
Safe handling, control, and accountability come first. Speed without control is not skill. It is just noise.
Davey Defense Standard
Live fire is about safe, controlled, accountable shooting.
A student does not need to be an expert. The student must be safe, coachable, able to follow commands, and able to complete the live fire qualification.