Marksmanship Fundamentals

Everything boils down to the basics done well. Nail these five: stance, grip,
sight alignment & sight picture, trigger press, and follow-through.

🦶 Stance

Athletic base: feet shoulder-width, support-side foot slightly forward, knees unlocked.
Weight forward: nose over toes; don’t lean back or “sit” on your heel.
Hips & shoulders square to target; torso pressure forward to manage recoil.

Do: Keep weight on balls of feet; slight forward bias; stable, repeatable platform.

Don’t: Lean back, lock knees, or stand narrow/tightrope—these amplify recoil.

✋ Grip

High tang: strong hand as high as possible under the beavertail; web of hand fills the backstrap curve.
Wrap & lock: trigger finger straight; remaining fingers wrap; support hand fills the frame gap with
thumbs forward.
Pressure: ~60–70% from support hand, 30–40% from strong hand; crush with support, control with strong.
Wrist set: locked & slightly forward to resist muzzle flip; keep consistent from shot to shot.

Grip test: Present to full extension and cycle the slide (empty gun). If the muzzle dips, re-set wrist/pressure.

🎯 Sight Alignment & Sight Picture

Alignment: Equal height, equal light—front blade centered in rear notch, top edges even.
Focus: Eyes on the front sight (iron sights). With dots, focus target but confirm dot stability.
Picture: Front sight superimposed on intended point of impact; accept a wobble zone—don’t chase perfection.

Do: Call the shot—where was the front sight/dot at the break?

Don’t: Look over the sights or shift eyes to the target at the break.

🖱️ Trigger Press

Straight to the rear: Press without disturbing the sights. Avoid “snatching.”
Finger placement: Pad or first distal crease—use what tracks straight for you.
Prep & break: Take up slack, hold the wall, then press through smoothly.
Reset: Ride forward to the tactile reset; don’t pin/jerk—recover the sights as you reset.

Dry practice drill: Coin on the front sight (or a small casing). Press without dropping the coin.

🔁 Follow-Through & Recoil Control

See the lift, see the return: Track the sight/dot through recoil. Visual patience wins.
Recover the picture: After the break, reset trigger as sights/dot return to acceptable picture.
Call every shot: Mentally mark where it broke; verify on target after the string.

🎵 Cadence & Breathing

Cadence follows sights: Shoot as fast as you can get an acceptable picture—no faster.
Breathing: Don’t hold your breath; natural breath with a calm press reduces tremor.

🧪 Diagnostics (Common Errors)

Low-left (right-handed shooter): Heeling/anticipating recoil; jerking the trigger.
Fix: Smooth press; more support-hand pressure; dry fire coin drill.

Horizontal stringing: Too much/too little finger on trigger; weak support hand.
Fix: Adjust finger placement; lock wrists; verify front sight stability at break.

🏋️ Simple Drills (Dry → Live)

Wall Drill (dry): Muzzle close to a safe wall/backstop; perfect press with zero sight movement.
1-Hole Slow Fire (live): 5–10 rounds at 3–5 yards, slow cadence, single ragged hole goal.
B8 at 10 (live): 10 shots on a B8 repair center at 10 yards, 90+ goal as you improve.

🧰 Gear Notes

Sights: High-visibility front (or reliable dot) helps accountability and speed.
Grip texture: Add tape or panels if your hands slip—control beats discomfort.
Holster: Rigid, covers the trigger fully, retains securely, allows a full firing grip on draw.

✅ Quick Self-Check

Can you describe your stance cues in two words? (e.g., “forward/athletic”)
Where do your hands apply most pressure on the gun?
What sight picture are you willing to accept at 5 yards vs 15?
What’s your trigger reset feel/sound like on this pistol?

Coach’s note: Most misses are process errors. Slow down, see more, press cleaner. We’ll build speed on the range once your hits are honest.