The Jarrett Article

[Jammer Six]

I read the article on the AccurateShooter Daily Bulletin about Jarrett, and his real secret jumped off the page at me.

He said that to get to his skill level, he had a gun in his hand for two hours every day for ten years. 1.7 million rounds downrange.

Story Link: http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2016/05/how-to-hold-a-1911-correctly-tips-from-todd-jarrett/

That confirms one of my pet beliefs about shooting, that there is no magic bullet. There is no magic grip, no perfect stance, no tactical way to hold your mouth that will improve your shooting.

But if you shoot for two hours every day for ten years, you will get better. You will be in Jarrett's league. You may find that the grip you develop works better than the grip he teaches, in fact, if you hold the gun upside down or gangster style, you put two million rounds downrange in ten years, shooting every day, and it will work for you by the time you're done.

When I teach, one of the things I stress is that shooting is one of the most fragile, perishable skills there is. When I was competing, I was at the range four times a week, counting teaching, leagues and my personal training. Then both leagues I was shooting in took two weeks off for Christmas, and we took off for San Diego to visit relatives.

My ability dropped through the floor in just two weeks with no shooting.

So in my opinion, the secret in the Jarrett article isn't a grip, a stance or a magic eye-blinking sequence.

The secret is two hours a day putting rounds down range, every day, for a decade.

 

[Larryh128]

Nothing in the world can replace muscle memory. I qualified yesterday at the range for the mandatory 2x a year for the Sheriff Dept. It is VERY clear that some of the people shooting don't actually fire their weapon other than to qualify. It is so apparent that the range master gave them a 5 minute speech about needing to practice as it's their life on the line. Fumbling with mag changes etc. The drills include clearing stove pipes, double feeds , firing on the move etc. I ALWAYS go to the end of the line. Most are excellent cops but their handgun skills are lacking from no practice. Because of that, we normally burn about 250 rounds per person qualifying so they get some practice. My 2nd gun gets qualified in 25 rounds.

 

[jdh47]

I think I once read essentially the same thing that the concert pianist Van Cliburn said. Something like "if I miss a day's practice I can tell it but if I miss a weeks practice the audience can tell it."

Joe

 

[XTR]

Long long ago I shot IPSC. Haven't really been on a pistol much since I stopped that game back in the early 90s. A couple of months ago I did get the pistols out and shot a little... WOW, I suck. LOL. I really forgot everything I ever new. I was pretty disappointed, though not surprised, shooting really is a perishable skill.

 

[fredhorace77]

I was once told, "practice makes perfect"
Then someone else told me, "No, Perfect practice makes perfect."

 

[nmkid]

Nothing in the world can replace muscle memory. I qualified yesterday at the range for the mandatory 2x a year for the Sheriff Dept. It is VERY clear that some of the people shooting don't actually fire their weapon other than to qualify. It is so apparent that the range master gave them a 5 minute speech about needing to practice as it's their life on the line. Fumbling with mag changes etc. The drills include clearing stove pipes, double feeds , firing on the move etc. I ALWAYS go to the end of the line. Most are excellent cops but their handgun skills are lacking from no practice. Because of that, we normally burn about 250 rounds per person qualifying so they get some practice. My 2nd gun gets qualified in 25 rounds.

In the 1970's-80's I was a Level One reserve police officer in Calif. (highest level you can attain without being a full time officer). Every 6 months during qualifications I was always simply amazed at the level of the exact "fumbling" you mention. Quite frankly, I have never liked pistols but, I always shot mine 50 times a week. Good thing the ammo was free!! Practice makes perfect.

 

[XTR]

Back in the day I used to shoot at Mid-Carolina. We used to have a number of LEOs that would come out from time to time to play in the monthly IPSC shoot. What I learned from that is never wear a white T shirt to a gunfight*. (*You gotta shoot USPSA/IPSC or IDPA to get that one)

 

[BoydAllen]

For those who cannot get to the range often enough to keep their skills intact, dry fire practice, properly done, is an excellent tool, not a replacement, but nonetheless an excellent tool.

 

[Changeling]

For those who cannot get to the range often enough to keep their skills intact, dry fire practice, properly done, is an excellent tool, not a replacement, but nonetheless an excellent tool.

I do this watching TV, it does really help and I haven't lost a TV yet .

 

[Canadian bushman]

For those who cannot get to the range often enough to keep their skills intact, dry fire practice, properly done, is an excellent tool, not a replacement, but nonetheless an excellent tool.

I couldnt agree more.

 

[Larryh128]

I our world today, I am never without a pistol on me whether I'm working or not. A little Ruger LCP in your pocket isn't a griz stopper but it will stop a human with 80gr Barnes in the pipe. My county would have been considered a safe area 20 years ago but now we have a bullseye on us because of hundreds of miles of high tension electric transmission lines and going to have 1000 windmills. Couldn't be a better terrorists target. All cars now carry a M4 in addition to the normal shotgun. Probably a SAW would make me feel better.