Firearm competency is one of the most critical skills a gun owner must possess. It's not enough to just own a firearm; you need to know how to handle it properly both for your safety and for the safety of those around you. Progression is key to mastering this skill, and this article will outline how to check how far you've come in your journey towards firearm competency progress.
Practice Is The Key
To determine your level of firearm competency, you need to engage in regular practice sessions. Practicing regularly and systematically is the only way to be sure that you are improving. You must make it a habit to schedule training sessions regularly, which will help you track your progress.
Set Goals
Ask yourself what you want to achieve in terms of your firearm competency, and set achievable goals. Goals keep you motivated and give you something to work towards. When you set a goal, you can track progress and establish a baseline for measuring success.
Examples of firearm competency goals include:
- Improving accuracy on a specific firearm
- Reducing time spent reloading and handling the firearm
- Improving aim when shooting at moving targets
- Mastering the skill of engaging targets at multiple ranges
Tracking Progress
Once you have set your goals, it's time to start tracking progress. The simplest way to do it is by using a notebook or a firearm competency record sheet. Write down the date of the session, the firearm used, and the set of goals for that session. You can then document your progress in terms of accuracy or time taken to complete specific tasks.
You can also keep track of your progress by creating a scoring system. Assign a point value to each task, with higher points for tasks that are more challenging. You can then compare scores across practice sessions to gauge progress.
For example, a scoring system might include:
| Task | Points |
|---|---|
| Hit a bull's-eye | 10 |
| Engage a moving target | 20 |
| Complete a magazine reload in under 3 seconds | 15 |
Get Feedback From Others
Feedback from others, especially experts, can be invaluable in tracking progress. Ask an experienced marksman or a firearms instructor to assess your skills and give you honest feedback. They can highlight areas where you need improvement and offer suggestions on how to achieve it.
You can also join a firearms group or attend training camps to evaluate your skills among peers. This will help you compare your skills with others and motivate you to improve.
Conclusion
Tracking your firearm competency progress is a critical part of mastering the skill. Regular practice, setting achievable goals, tracking progress, and asking for feedback are essential components of this journey. With dedication and consistency, you can master firearm competency and handle firearms safely and skillfully.
