How often do you shoot?

[susieqz]

it's too hot now so twice/week. when it's cool i limit myself to 5 days/week.
i shoot in my yard.
if i had to drive to shoot i wouldn't shoot much.

 

[H Richard]

Handguns try for at least once a week, and then the trap/skeet range is once or twice a week. My rifles haven't seen much use since we didn't go Prairie Dog hunting this year. I need to get a couple on the bench.

 

[Allen 1]

I have no place here that will allow you to actually draw the gun from its holster. So without being able to practice drawing the weapon and running drills, will just punching holes in paper keep you trained for real world defense?

Also, I can't see any real benefit in dry firing. Other than trigger pull practice there is no comparison to felt recoil. So if all you have access to is paper punching, do you feel confident in your shooting abilities if thrown into a real gun fight?

This is why I would think an airsoft type pistol to practice in ones backyard would be very helpful. You could actually draw from a holster and actually shoot at a target while moving.

Your thoughts?

 

[ridgewalker]

I can't say I disagree with your thoughts on airsoft.
But I believe dry firing is valuable. It creates a muscle memory situation where if you can hold steady dry firing, then you can "fool" your body and brain to ignore recoil and the flash and bang. At least with lots of practice and for the first few rounds. That should be good enough for most defensive situations.
It sounds like you need to find an action range in your area.
Oh and to answer your original question, I was shooting 2 - 3 times a week but have cut back to 1 - 2 times a week so I can get more exercise.

 

[Whitwabit]

Try to get to the range once a week and shoot a box thru something ..

If I can't I'll go out back and shoot a magazine or two through what ever I am carrying .. just bought a 229 Legion and a P238 and have been shooting them a lot before I start carrying either one .. last week I shot 200 rounds of 40 thru my Legion and 150 of 9mm thru my Beretta PX4 and 50 rounds thru the P238 .. All shot without any failures ..

During the winter it's a lot harder for me to get to an indoor range as its a longer travel and is much more expensive because of fees and you have to buy their ammo which is a couple of bucks higher then local stores .. but still try to shoot 2 times a month during the colder months ..

The out door range is open all year and is just 75 bucks a year .. but dang Illinois winter wind has a bite to it .. but will go out if its above freezing and sunny if the wind is quiet ..

 

[Kframerbluvr]

I average once or twice a month at the gun club I belong to. There are four private outdoor bays that can be gotten if one is there early enough or on days when the weather is not perfect. One can do nearly any sort of holster work, move and shoot, shotgun work (birdshot or slugs only), or carbine out to about 40 yards.
When I am assigned to range day at my job, I try to take part of my lunch break firing either my work gun or another handgun I bring on the dueling tree or the steel plates. This happens about once a month.

 

[Ed Fowler]

I am very lucky, have my own range about 10 yards from where I am typing this. Have to walk about 35 steps to shoot and usually shoot at least 50 rounds every day. Handgun and /or rifle.

 

[Whitwabit]

I also believe dry firing and practice dry fire while drawing from your holster is very beneficial especially if a laser is added to the firearm when doing the drill .. it will readily show if you are flinching .. or pulling your shots .. you can also practice finger control in keeping your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire it with practice ..

Many people draw and have their finger on the trigger with out even realizing they are doing it .. thus a ND is possible .. practicing your draw in slow motion in set stages will help you not to do that if you are prone to do that .. and practicing in slow motion will actually make you faster when speed is needed !!

 

[Spartan 2]

It took me 2 years to get into my local private range as a member. I try to go 2-3 times a month. Usually 50-100 rounds each time. Yes, 2 years, its that backed up with applications to join.

 

[OLDSTER]

Range time ? 3-4 times a month

 

[robvious]

used to do alot... but the old gang has faded...

I used to go once a week... we used the excuse of CMP practice... every week we decided what to shoot next week... it was great... followed by a trip to the local pizza joint... but the old gang of 8 has not survived thru time... our RO got a different job and could not keep the "bring your gun to work day Thursday schedule going..."I miss BYGTWD..." It lasted for well over a decade... but 2 of the old guard passed away the same week... and one moved to Colorado later that same summer... took the wind out of the sails... that was 3 years ago... and now I have been going thru Chemo, radiation and surgeries... CANCER SUCKS... I will be done with Chemo labor day weekend... then get my insides reattached in late October... but will not get my sub-dermal port removed for quite a while... so no rifle or shotgun for about a year... pistol only... hopefully in late October...

 

[mike from st pete]

Sweaty Wimp

That'd be me.
July and August at the Wyoming Antelope Club just isn't happening. All those cooler months I'm on the line two or three times a month.
While I'd rather sweat than shiver there is a limit.

 

[buckshotshorty]

Two or three Times a month at an outdoor covered range and I usually stay for two timed sessions run by range officers; half hour each one so roughly an hour of actual shooting time. I have an annual membership and can go as often as I want and there is no time limit.
The only thing I don't like is that pistol side targets can only be set at 11.yds. 25 and 50 yds. I wish there was a 7 yd. target.

 

[SLT223]

I used to go only a few times per year until I got into reloading two years ago. Now I'm always swimming in a sea of ammo. At one point I was burning about 1000-1200 rounds a month shooting ever weekend. These days I'm down to once a month due to other obligations.

Reloading will put a massive spike in range frequency and volume you fire while there. As a result I became a much better shooter.

 

[cometpx4]

Range time

I belong to a gun club that is 6 miles from my house. In door range is open 24/7 (key card to get in) and nice outdoor range is open 15 minutes after sunrise to 15 minutes after sunset.
It's a great facility (3 year waitlist) . Because it's close , I shoot about one a week. Usually bring 300 to 400 rounds per trip (all 9mm), less if I am shooting my revolvers and then I will bring couple hundred rounds of .38 or .22 magnums.
About 5 years ago the surrounding neighbors tried to shut us down. We went all the way to trial and won.

 

[rmcguitar1]

I go to an indoor range once a week since I started the beginning of this year.

 

[fdw]

At least once a month, more likely two or three times a month.

 

[Allen 1]

When you go to the range will you concentrate on just 1 or 2 guns, or will you take as many as 3 or more?

The reason I ask is because I was told to only concentrate on 1 or 2 guns at a time to learn them well. I usually take 5 or more at a time.
Is this bad? I usually take my 19-3 4", 629-6 5", a Glock or two and a Ruger Blackhawk (I have several). I will also take a few rifles as well. Am I spreading myself too thin?

My SIL will usually go with me or my wife. She will spend her time shooting her CCW which is a Ruger LCR .38.

 

[robertrwalsh]

typically one per month in competition, and 2-3 times per month for giggles.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I just did! Ha. What was the question?

Btw. Heard the comments about dry firings. My take: dry firing is valuable with practice caps. You cannot achieve greatness without practice. Think of dry firing as practice and actual firing as the "fruits of your labor". Dry firing can tell you where you're pulling and why. If you concentrate on the front sight. When you fire, you should see the front sight more than the rears, focus on target; the mind will align the rears, see that target and you should be spot on. Hard to explain.