AIM SMALL - MISS SMALL, a hard concept for some to grasp

[chief38]

I have been teaching a few friends and neighbors gun safety and shooting skills lately. When I brought them to the Range the very first time, the first thing they grabbed were the largest targets the Range carried. When I asked them why, they answered that they were novices and that they wanted to be able to hit the target easier - hence a larger target. NOT!

After explaining the concept of "Aim Small - Miss Small" they started understanding what the concept was about. With the exception of my best friend, they pretty much all get it. He however still wants to buy larger targets and I keep explaining why not too. Like banging your head against the wall!!

I just replenished my dwindling stock of B-3 timed & rapid fire NRA 50 foot targets (bought 1,000) and believe that before shooting at silhouette targets, a student should first learn the basics of shooting and sighting in the pistol. That comes with shooting a relatively small target and progressively becoming more accurate with it - the B-3 target is perfect for that purpose IMHO. After the basics, then speed increases and then silhouette targets make more sense.

I see this same scenario at Ranges every time I go. I have offered suggestions to strangers on occasion if I notice they are just floundering. They do seem to appreciate the intervention and do get the concept of Aim Small - Miss Small. Just some food for thought for those here who are accomplished shooters.

 

[jeffrefrig]

In defense of a large target, they're good with a new (to me, or most folks) handgun so one can see where the sights need to be tweaked, if it's really out of adjustment!
But, for real, throw a 6" circle up there and have at it!
Have your friend go stand inside a barn and see if he can hit a wall!!

 

[chief38]

In defense of a large target, they're good with a new (to me, or most folks) handgun so one can see where the sights need to be tweaked, if it's really out of adjustment!
But, for real, throw a 6" circle up there and have at it!
Have your friend go stand inside a barn and see if he can hit a wall!!

LOL! I usually test fire the pistol or Revolver they rent and I see where it is printing. 9 out of 10 times the rental is pretty much on. There have been 1 or 2 that had to have their sights drifted or screw adjusted and I did take the pistol out to the counter and have them do that.

When one of them shoots a nice group but it's off to one side or another - that's when I would suspect the sights being off. When a person is shooting all over the paper and shows no apparent group, - that's when they are not aiming, holding the gun or squeezing the trigger properly.

With the smaller targets the distance can be varied to "enlarge the target" if needed. They are usually amazed at themselves when shooting the smaller targets that their groups improve dramatically.

 

[Breakaway500]

When helping people hit clay pigeons I always tell them to look and aim for the beak. Amazing how the hit numbers go up.

 

[Rlg#17]

Agreed! But in this culture of I want it RIGHT now that we have today it's hard to overcome. When I used to got to ranges both indoor/outdoor it was painful at times! Not just the horrendous safety violations, but more so what people considered acceptable "marksmanship!"

Even today, after over 50 years in this business I frequently go back to the basics. The wife and I will often start out our daily range session with the dot torture target.

When I was instructing/teaching/training on a regular basis and charging for it I would use this target to illustrate the concept of aim small, Miss small.

The target don't lie. And, it was easy for me to make a diagnosis when watching them shoot this drill. Getting the shooter to understand that it wasn't the guns fault, and helping them understand how to correct their issues was the hard part.

I like to think I helped a few over the years.

Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I know that the following comment does not always apply directly to the foregoing, but my experience at observing some newbies' efforts reminds me of the grizzled old sergeant trying to help diagnose one new shooter's problems.

"What was the last thing you saw before you closed your eyes?"

 

[glenwolde]

I demonstrate this with a two sided target. I have them shoot at a large round bullseye. Then they shoot at a much smaller round bullseye that has the large bullseye on the back. Flip it over and compare it to the first large bullseye. You can actually see the realization on their face.

The easiest way to do it is with the stick-on targets.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Read an article in American Handgunner years ago, a leading police instructor found many of his students didn't understand the importance of grouping, he had them fire at a target of 1" black target pasters in a square.
I am self-taught, everything I read emphasized learning to group, once you could do that, getting your shots in the black was merely a matter of adjusting the sights.
Yes, the smallest possible target eliminates the "Good enough" attitude.

 

[Protocall_Design]

While I agree with the concept in general, it sounds very negative to me. I much prefer the more positive view of "Aim small, HIT small".

The psychology is with the "miss" version, you are telling your subconscious to miss. With the "hit" version, you are telling your subconscious to hit. Probably 80% of shooting skill is the mental discipline part. What matters most is how you train your mind. Anyone can hold out a gun and pull the trigger (physical part).

 

[rockquarry]

Target size will vary depending on the eyesight of the shooter, but I've found the smallest aiming point that can be clearly seen without eyestrain at the distance one is shooting is the best. Such a target will consistently make for smaller groups.

For 25 yard shooting, I like to use a drawn black 2" square with a white center square of 1". I put this in a middle of of a regular sheet of copy paper which leaves plenty of room to see misses even without a spotting scope, but hits in the black may require a scope.

You can use the big bullseye targets most people use, but unless you're a real pro, your groups will be larger, maybe much larger.

It seems we're talking about handgun shooting here, but generally, all of the above applies to rifle shooting as well.

 

[WR Moore]

The late Bill Jordan wrote a story about taking his new model 19 to the range after he'd convinced S&W to build them. He said he missed the target with his first round and couldn't understand how. He'd had a perfect sight picture just before he closed his eyes.

Having spent a lot of time with shooters in the "qualification enhancement program", some of the issues have to do with wanting to get the trigger press over with by using a hearty yank rather than a smooth press. I recall telling several that they were going to get the noise & recoil regardless of how they made the gun go off, they might as well do it right.

A couple of folks benefitted from my putting my trigger finger over theirs and giving them a touchy/feely demonstration of the trigger press. Sometimes you can preach all you want, they need a physical demonstration of what they're supposed to be doing.

 

[rockquarry]

We might be doing nothing more than preaching to ourselves here. If you read posts on this forum and maybe others, particularly with regard to defensive-type shooting preparation or even the most informal of target or tin can shooting, shooting skills are seldom mentioned if they're mentioned at all.

From this, one can only assume that true marksmanship is very secondary to the latest in ammo marketing, magazines with huge capacities, and gimcracks of little purpose. Skillful shooting requires time and effort and many have little interest in such.

 

[Farmer17]

I prefer outdoor gun ranges and had not been to an indoor range in years but my girlfriend and I went to indoor range this weekend to try out my new M&P 10mm. The guy in the lane next to us put a large target about 15 feet away and proceeded to fire his Springfield 9mm rapid fire. He was pretty tall and his casings were coming over the side screen and constantly hitting us. We kept hoping he would run out of ammo but he had 3 boxes on the shelf and we kept getting hit with brass and he finally ran out of ammo and there were 150 holes all over his target and paper! I don't know how you could miss that bad at 15 feet.

 

[rockquarry]

I prefer outdoor gun ranges and had not been to an indoor range in years but my girlfriend and I went to indoor range this weekend to try out my new M&P 10mm. The guy in the lane next to us put a large target about 15 feet away and proceeded to fire his Springfield 9mm rapid fire. He was pretty tall and his casings were coming over the side screen and constantly hitting us. We kept hoping he would run out of ammo but he had 3 boxes on the shelf and we kept getting hit with brass and he finally ran out of ammo and there were 150 holes all over his target and paper! I don't know how you could miss that bad at 15 feet.

I had to shoot on an indoor range for CC qualification in 2021. Everyone was safety conscious and the staff was friendly and helpful and only about half the lanes were in use, but the "closeness" to other shooters and cramped quarters for things like spotting scopes and equipment (should one have a need for such) were definitely negative points for me.

I guess I'm spoiled by outdoor private and gun club ranges, but I'd find another hobby before I'd shoot indoors regularly.

 

[ladder13]

I use big targets and work my way in. Been doing it for 50 years, seems to work, but what do I know.

 

[dockmurgw]

I'm guessing just having fun shooting is not an acceptable outcome. You guys would definitely have a conniption fit watching me and my family having fun at my dirt pile. Your bottle is too big, don't blow that balloon up so much...yikes.

 

[somorris]

I think you method is good, Chief.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Spent my formative years shooting 8x11 paper with 12 targets on it!

 

[WardenRoss]

"OK girls!....Front sight.....SQUEEZE!"

I can still hear my Firearms Instructor screaming behind me.


,

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie's targets.