this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2026
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Chapotraphouse
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General advice for the newly armed:
-New shooters beware the carry gun. It's common knowledge that small bullet means less recoil, but often overlooked that small, light gun means more recoil. The nastiest recoil I've ever felt from a handgun was from my aunt's aluminum frame snubnose .38, a fanny pack camping gun designed to be used at very short range. On the other hand, I have a full-size steel .45 that's actually quite comfortable to shoot, because the kick of the larger bullet is canceled out by the heftier gun. When considering any gun, feel the weight of the gun and then feel the weight of the bullet, and then consider Newton's laws. Lighter weapon doesn't always equal more comfort.
-If you have the funds for it, getting a .22 in addition to your serious piece can save a beginner a lot of money in the long run on training and drilling fundamentals.
-If possible, go to an indoor range and rent a variety of handguns until you figure out the kind of weight, style and caliber that feels best for you. Modern polymer handguns are great for a lot of people, but I can't hit shit with them because they're too light. On the other hand, I find myself more accurate with an "obsolete" steel frame. Your preferences may vary, so at least hold a bunch of guns at the store before you choose one.
-Once you've been to the range a number of times, see about signing up for a competition. Winning or losing doesn't matter: the goal is to get used to shooting under pressure.
-Get comfortable with your weapon. Close the blinds and walk around your home with it, paying constant attention to the direction of the muzzle. When you turn with it, it should be pointed down. Play with it, rack it, get some snap caps and dry fire it. Doing all this will help loosen up the action and break it in.
-If you can spend the extra 20$ or so, I highly recommend a laser cartridge. I never shut up about them and while they're not perfect (they produce no recoil and you have to cock it every shot) they're an excellent way to train first shot accuracy on the cheap in the comfort of home.
-I have almost no knowledge of armor, so can provide no advice there
-If you anticipate a need to carry ammo for any reason, get a chest rig. If you lack money and/or aren't sure what to get, get a Type 81 "Chicom" rig from ebay. They're light, solidly built, easy to customize and cost $20-$30. It can be worn by itself or over armor if you get some later.
Gonna add more in a bit
Actual shooting advice:
-Watch Paul Harrel videos. Seriously, no essay i could write would cover as much as elegantly as the Micheal Parenti of shooting (rip to both). Any question you could think of has probably been answered with demonstrations, caveats, anecdotes and sober analysis.
-The Flinch is your eternal enemy. Once you begin to feel recoil, you will begin to flinch in anticipation of it, throwing off your shots. If you notice you're consistently hitting low when you weren't before, you have been visited by The Flinch. The solution is to practice a kind of mindful mindlessness in your shooting: do everything about the shot perfectly, but do not think about the shot. Empty your lungs and pull the trigger slowly and smoothly, but do not think about the shot, or you'll flinch. Hold the sight picture, pull the trigger, and if the exact moment of the shot comes as a surprise to you then you're doing it right. This is more applicable to long range shooting, but it can be applied to all shooting. "I'm just relaxing, I'm just breathing out and slowly pulling this lever with my finger for no reason"-my marksmanship ethos.
-Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Build confidence and accuracy first, and speed will follow