How to REALLY shoot a Pistol! (Film)

[6string]

Howdy,

Here is a GREAT short film on the essential fundamentals of pistol marksmanship. It features Bill McMillan, Marine and competitive pistol shooter extraordinaire. Noted for his Olympic Gold Medal in
Rapid Fire Pistol at the 1960 Rome Games, he also excelled with service pistol at the Nationals.
This was posted by USC (as in, University of South Carolina!)

CONTENTdm

His comments on trigger control are a bit contrary to modern training, but he sure got results.

Sorry, he chose High Standard over S&W for his .22, and a Colt Officers Model Match over a S&W K38.
But, at the 5:10" mark you can see the instructor has a S&W K frame rear sight installed on his .45 cal 1911.

Here's a related website:
LtCol William W. McMillan, Jr. USMC (Ret'd)

Enjoy!

 

[Ignatz]

Great short film!

 

[H Richard]

I just forwarded it to a friend, fairly new shooter that is still struggling with larger groups. A little outdated, but basic's are still the same.

 

[raljr1]

I watched it thru and enjoyed it. Great tips. I am not, however, going to put tape on my grips, sticky side out. I will have to accept the consequences of that omission.

Robert

 

[PapaWheelie]

I like the range boxes they were using at 1:10 in with the spotting scope attached to the lid. Going to have to check around for plans or ideas and put one together for the indoor range.

 

[bdGreen]

I like the range boxes they were using at 1:10 in with the spotting scope attached to the lid. Going to have to check around for plans or ideas and put one together for the indoor range.

Yes sir, handy as a pocket on a sock...

bdGreen

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Watching the black & white numbers count down before the video started was a nostalgic reminder of days of yore!

 

[CALREB]

Another great shooter at the Rome Olympics was a fellow named John Hurst, 50 meter open pistol. LAPD officer probably better known for his grips. He once told me he was so nervous he got sick before he shot there. I think he ended up 17th. Good film...

 

[Greyman50]

Find one of these if possible.

 

[Truckman]

I couldn't help but notice the nod to the gangsta style at about 11:00......Ben

 

[rockquarry]

This film is far from outdated, but it seems few today have an interest in bullseye-style shooting using one hand. It's a welcome respite to see that the shooters aren't shooting at close-up distances where virtually all shooters do well with little practice.

Many don't realize that the discipline, control, and technique used in bullseye shooting will only help them improve their marksmanship when using two hands.

McMillan was often featured in the pages of AMERICAN RIFLEMAN in the '60s.

 

[Greyman50]

rockquarry is 100% correct, Pistol/ revolver shooters that begin with Basic marksmanship on bullseye targets have a better foundation that anyone that just starts blasting away at 5,7,10 or 15 yards. Have seen it for many years at ranges. One has to walk before they run and should be able to shoot bullseye before any combat shooting. Developing a correct grip, stance and small minimum arc of movement is important. Then the correct sight picture and squeezing the trigger with correct part of finger makes for a good shot.

 

[6string]

rockquarry is 100% correct, Pistol/ revolver shooters that begin with Basic marksmanship on bullseye targets have a better foundation that anyone that just starts blasting away at 5,7,10 or 15 yards. Have seen it for many years at ranges. One has to walk before they run and should be able to shoot bullseye before any combat shooting. Developing a correct grip, stance and small minimum arc of movement is important. Then the correct sight picture and squeezing the trigger with correct part of finger makes for a good shot.

Yes. The old saying "practice makes perfect" is perhaps better said as "Practice makes permanent". "Blasting away at 5, 7, 10 or 15 yards" mostly ingrains poor trigger control, incorrect use of sights, misunderstanding about grip and follow-through, and other bad habits.
Once learned they are very difficult to correct.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Practice never hurts!!!

 

[sigp220.45]

Now we know who started it.

 

[diyj98]

I like the range boxes they were using at 1:10 in with the spotting scope attached to the lid. Going to have to check around for plans or ideas and put one together for the indoor range.

That was the style for years. I've owned a couple of the old range boxes, for my uses I prefer pistols in their own gun rugs and a small plastic tote carrys my spotting scope, ammo, and other goodies.

 

[Rodan]

I like the range boxes they were using at 1:10 in with the spotting scope attached to the lid. Going to have to check around for plans or ideas and put one together for the indoor range.

I sold mine recently... had it for many years, but it just doesn't work as well as the modern iterations for my range use. They do show up from time to time on GB and eBay.

 

[Rodan]

rockquarry is 100% correct, Pistol/ revolver shooters that begin with Basic marksmanship on bullseye targets have a better foundation that anyone that just starts blasting away at 5,7,10 or 15 yards. Have seen it for many years at ranges. One has to walk before they run and should be able to shoot bullseye before any combat shooting. Developing a correct grip, stance and small minimum arc of movement is important. Then the correct sight picture and squeezing the trigger with correct part of finger makes for a good shot.

As an instructor at our regional Academy, I have been fighting this trend for years. The problem is trying to make recruits into effective gunfighters in ~60hrs of range time... it's just not really possible, but that's the timeframe, and it is what they need to learn. As a result they don't get as a good grounding in the fundamentals as we would like.

I still try to shoot offhand bullseye for at least a few rounds every range session to get back to basics and reaffirm the fundamentals.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

That was a fun film to watch. From the starched pickle suit uniforms with spit shined boots to the range box and shooting without ear protection.

While I never made it to the Olympic teams, I did shoot successfully for the army and the PD at many levels with both the rifle and the pistol as well as serving as an instructor during both of those careers.

 

[Beemerguy53]

USMC Olympic Gold Medalist, 1960...

Great video of Captain William W. McMillan, USMC, who won the Gold Medal for target shooting in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. At 13 minutes, it's a little long, but worth watching.

Of particular note is Captain McMillan's 1911, with his hand stippling and what looks like a S&W revolver sight. He also shoots a Colt revolver, and Ruger Mk. I pistol. The trick shooting he does in the last five minutes is very interesting...I'll bet the young Marines he instructed loved it!