4 Tips To Improve Your Firearm Shooting Accuracy

Accuracy describes how close your fired shots are to the target you aimed for. Whether you’re shooting in a competition or training for self-defense, use these four tips to improve your firearm shooting accuracy.

1. Stay Familiar With Your Weapon

One of the most important rules of concealed carry gun safety is to remain familiar with your weapon. No matter your level of shooting experience or how long you’ve had your weapon and gear, regularly practice drawing, firing, and holstering your firearm.

Familiarity with your weapon will help you perform every maneuver more efficiently. And when you’re under stress, whether in a real-life scenario or practicing at the range, muscle memory will help you move smoothly and calmly.

2. Maintain a Proper Stance

Your shooting stance is the foundation for how well you operate your firearm. Shooting stance helps you align your sights and manage recoil.

The three main shooting stances are isosceles, weaver, and fighting. Each stance dictates how to orient your legs and arms so you can correctly balance and position your body.

Try out each stance to find your favorite. Practice maintaining the stance, with or without your gun, to make it second nature.

3. Practice Trigger Control

The next tip for improving your shooting accuracy is practicing trigger control over your firearm. Without proper control, you’ll move the gun and disturb your aim when you move the trigger.

When pressing your finger against the trigger, increase pressure smoothly. Move the trigger straight to the rear of the gun. Keep contact with the trigger as the gun fires, then relax pressure off the trigger to let the trigger reset before you take the next shot.

4. Take Your Breathing Into Account

Breath control keeps your body in its best shape, and staying aware of your breathing can increase shooting accuracy. When you breathe in or out, the shape of your chest changes, which can affect your stance.

Shooting at a specific time in your breathing cycle can help you shoot more accurately. Some people like to inhale, pause, then fire the weapon before releasing the breath. Others like to shoot at the end of the exhale instead. Practice these variations to find what works best for you.