Civilians: have you taken shooting lessons?

[ShootCraps]

I got on the Navy JROTC rifle team in high school and learned to shoot there. Haven't taken a formal course, just studied on my own and practiced since then. I'd like to take a class or two, once I get the time and money.

I did get to run an IDPA course for the first time last year and that was fun. I told the scorekeeper it was my first time and he said, "Yeah, right". I guess I did pretty good for a beginner.

 

[old tanker]

Some formal training in the military. Some training as a civilian. A lot of shooting with various disciplines, from classic Bullseye through, IHMSA and IPSC/IDPA. It's is somewhat useful for basic gunhandling skills, but I learned the most from a few years spent at various times in various places with indigenous personnel of questionable political affiliation shooting back. The best you can hope for is your training didn't leave you with any bad habits or quirks that cost you in the end. You will react on auto-pilot and do what you have drilled and practiced, and with some luck you may stay unscathed. And from my experience that pretty applies to pistols, rifles and tank guns.

 

[Ed333]

govt training...

I was trained by the Marine Corps, I looked forward to spending time with every weapons system they would let me get my hands on, really enjoyed that aspect of training. More recently I took a one day course geared to personal defense handgun, which enables me to get a CC permit if I choose to, haven't decided on that yet. Some of my best gun-handling training has been by the various club members acting as range officers at falling plate matches, they watch you very closely, will caution you about any lapses. Shouldn't leave out my dad, I remember being grounded with my BB gun for having inadvertently put my finger on the muzzle as I sat on the porch, those were early days.

 

[frankw]

I got some training in the USMC, shot some local NRA competitions when I was younger.

I shoot IDPA matches two or three times a month and train at the range in the action pits two or three days a month also. I also watch all the gun shows on TV and try to incorporate some of the drills I see there into my training.

I have taken some defensive Pistol/CCW training also.

I hear all the time of people who buy a gun and get a CCW and they think they are well prepared for anything. You really need to train and stay in practice if you want to be ready for anything..

 

[palmetto99]

I've only taken one formal class outside of my own range work. We were able to shoot on the move, use cover and trained with a hand held light. I enjoyed it and I'm looking into more classes.

 

[n4zov]

I started out as a Junior NRA member, read all their marksmanship publications and shot my way through the Junior Marksmanship program on my own. Then I met a local man who had been active in competitive shooting for years, and he really taught me about marksmanship. Then four years on a college ROTC rifle team, a summer at Fort Benning shooting on the Third Army ROTC High Power Team and then to Camp Perry. Attended the Small Arms Firing School at Perry twice and went through the usual Army marksmanship training in ROTC. Finally got around to handguns and pretty much taught myself to shoot them.