Weeding out hype in firearms training
Demand for firearms training is very small. Research reveals that 40% of gun owners spend $0 on training, with most of the remaining 60% making a one-time investment of about $100 in a basic safety class that satisfies legal requirements. It’s a small, dedicated minority of defensive-minded, competitive and recreational shooters who make regular investments in professional instruction, spending on average $200 to $1000+ annually for training, excluding range fees, ammunition and travel expenses.
Instructors are competing for limited training dollars in an oversaturated field with a limited number of potential clients. With basically no barrier to entry, virtually anyone can call themselves a firearms instructor with little or no certification standard or license. Compounded by the dearth of online information, exposure to movies and TV, and advice from every uncle who’s former police or military, people conflate familiarity with guns with expertise and proficiency. This bias can lead them to overestimate their skill and believe they don’t need professional training.
With low participation in professional training, some firearms instructors look for creative ways to differentiate themselves in an effort to capture a share of what little market there is. However, attempts at innovation for the sake of differentiation only confuse people and fail to address the needs of a person struggling to progress.
Unfortunately, potential students have to weed through a lot of hype and ineffective instruction. It can be difficult to find a quality instructor when you don’t know what you’re looking for or what to avoid. This leads some students to select an instructor based on his or her prior background but this background may not be aligned with what the student wants to achieve. Or a student may choose an instructor based on his or her status as an influencer or the flashy videos posted to Instagram. Or a student may select an instructor based on personal shooting skill without validating if the instructor can actually coach.
Let’s expose some of the hype so you can make a better decision when selecting an instructor:
Relies on a special “hack” to improve a technique. The foundational principles of shooting don’t change. Techniques must be consistent, produce results on the timer and on the target, and must be repeatable under pressure. If an instructor suggests you apply “pinky pressure” in order to find your dot or align your sights, recognize that this technique can’t be consistently applied through a longer string of fire, under stress. If an instructor suggests that you “curl your toes” to fix your stance, recognize that this “bracing” technique introduces unnecessary tension and can’t be consistently applied while moving. These hacks are attempts to fix a problem by addressing a symptom, without addressing the root problem. Look for an instructor who will work with you on establishing a firing grip based on principles, developing a consistent index and building proper structure behind the gun.
Uses excessive jargon or lengthy explanations that are confusing. Good firearms instructors must possess strong communication skills. They must be able to break down complex shooting concepts in a simple, straightforward way that can be easily understood. Simplicity matters because clear language eliminates confusion and makes it easier for students to understand and apply ideas. This ability comes from experience and a deep understanding of the topic. It can’t be faked. It can’t be memorized from a book. An effective instructor will be able to effectively demonstrate a task so the student knows what's expected, explain the mechanics by breaking it down into easy, manageable steps, and communicate the reason why he recommends doing it that way.
Prioritizes theatrics over substance. A 2-day tactical, scenario-based training class has many benefits, as long as you already have a solid foundation of shooting skills, the class is being taught by someone with deep knowledge on the subject, and uses data to measure performance. However, many “tactical” classes function more as entertainment and aren’t much more than “range theater.” These classes often lack substance and practical application of skills and lack any measurable metrics by which you can assess performance. This type of training should not take the place of learning to master the fundamentals.
Employs unsafe or overly aggressive teaching methods. To stand out, some instructors focus on tactics and techniques that are not grounded in principle and can be outright dangerous. Always vet instructors by visiting their social media profiles to view video of classes. Find online reviews. Are the drills grounded in sound principles and safety? Red flags include: instructors who engage in unsafe behavior and instructors who include objectively dangerous movements that seriously violate safety rules and put students at risk.
Spends too much time in the classroom. Some instructors rely heavily on theoretical knowledge, with hours spent lecturing on complex topics like biomechanics and neuroscience. While this information can be interesting and compelling, shooting is not a skill built in the classroom. Instructors using fancy scientific explanations are often trying to make the training sound more important and smarter. To get good at shooting, you need to actually shoot. Look for instructors who can provide straightforward, uncomplicated explanations of concepts, who run high round count classes where students get in high-volume reps running skill drills.
There are a lot of good instructors doing good training. Select one who works with students at your current skill level (or slightly above) and teaches what you want to learn.
If you’re a beginner, look for someone who focuses on building core foundational skills. As you progress, look for someone who can help fine tune your skills and push you out of your comfort zone. Be realistic about your objectives. But keep in mind that the “advanced" class label is sometimes employed as a marketing gimmick to sell a class or get you to take a prerequisite class. Good shooting is simply executing the fundamentals at a high level, with speed and accuracy, that can be called upon, on demand, under pressure.
Be honest with yourself about your objectives. Are you more interested in an experience or do you want to build real shooting skill? If you want to build skill, you can use recognized standard drills to measure your performance for a baseline and determine if your fundamentals are solid. If you take a class from an instructor who's teaching concepts that are above and beyond your skill level you may struggle to keep up.
If you can, have a conversation with a prospective instructor before you book a class. What credentials does the instructor have as a coach and as a shooter? Is the instructor investing in his own development? Does the instructor compete? Check out social media profiles, watch videos and read reviews.
Know how to avoid the hype and gimmicks so you can make the best choice for you and start immediately learning how to shoot the right way, and not need to unlearn bad habits later.