This morning after reading the Shooting Wire and learning of the passing of Joe Bowman the "Straight Shooter", I looked back to a time that I have only seen on video. Mr. Bowman was a hold-out from the days where shooting demonstrations were used to sell product in this industry. He was a real live cowboy. Recently, I have been reading about the greats in the firearms community that have passed and those that still remain; but for how long? Time is a fickle mistress and she is not always fair. I recently caught a bit on the tube about the Showmen Shooters. What a cool time it must have been watching those guys do what they did best. If you ever get a chance to see video of Herb Parsons, Ad Topperwein, Ed McGivern, Bill Jordan or Elmer Keith: do it. You will be able find some clips on the internet of most of them listed but some of them you will have to just read about. Those men had the gift to do great feats with firearms. Today, we have some modern day greats such as: Bob Munden, Tom Knapp, and of course Jerry Miculek wondering the ranges around the world. Another guy that bears mentioning is Rob Leatham. His list of match wins looks like match attendance for the rest of us. I have heard him called a cyborg, for no other reason than that he is the most consistent shooter on the planet. That explains his winning. I have had the good fortune to meet some of these gentlemen listed above, at least most of the current crop of greats. Go see them if the chance comes your way. They will amaze you with their abilities to do what we all wish we could.

One of the things that seem to get lost in competitive shooting is fun. I can remember when I started how much fun it was, shooting my first match made me smile for days. I’ll bet you all remember your first national shooting event, I know that I felt like a kid going to the County Fair. I miss those days, and I’ll bet there are others that miss it too. So this time, let’s talk about how to have fun.

Ever filled up a bunch of water bottles and took them to the range for testing your favorite carry ammo. That is a blast. Good fun for the summer when it is hot and everyone needs a cool down. I have some really nasty ammo that I would always give to the new guy to shoot and get him real close so he would get soaked. Now that is fun. How about host a fun shoot? Allow anyone that shows up with whatever they bring to shoot something. Steel matches are a load of fun, easy to set up, fast to run and can accommodate a variety of different skill levels and assorted caliber firearms. Let them shoot! We used to always slip in an IDPA course or two to give someone who had never seen it a chance to try it out. Get them shooting and then help them get ready for the real thing.

When I first came to Berryville, we used to shoot twice or three times a week. I can still remember the sting from Bill putting it on us and showing us why he is a world champion. Seems like he always knows exactly what the sight picture should be before he presses the trigger. I wish I had always taken the time to do the same. Fast is not always best. I spent a fair amount of time studying him and how he shoots only to find that while I can shoot, I did not share his "greatness". I find in all of the top shooters that I have had the good fortune to shoot with a few common qualities. They carefully watch the front sight, each of them have their own style of trigger control, and they practice. Most of the top competitors shoot thousands and thousands of rounds. It takes practice to remain at the top of your game. Practice can become work if you are not careful. I always mixed in some fun drills after the serious work was done. I don’t know about you, but I have to be entertained. I guess my attention span is too short to just focus on practice alone. Be careful not to let the entertainment get in the way of the work.

My best advice to a new shooter that wants to improve their skill is to try to shoot with the most experienced shooters at your club. Shooting with higher skilled shooters will drive your own shooting to a higher level. I have always found that I shoot much better when grouped with the very best shooters. Same is true for practice, if you can spend time on the range with top level guys you will see your own shooting improve. Another way to get some real increase in skill is to take some shooting classes. Firearms instruction is available in many different venues, from how best to compete, to best use of your firearm for self-defense. Both have their places and both can show you improvement. Several years ago, I started on a training agenda to try to get firearms instruction and found there is a host of things available. From the simple "this is a firearm", to the most complex self-defense based courses. You may have to travel a bit or arrange a class at your local club. Some of the very best instructors travel and will come see you if you can put together enough students to make it worth their while. Look to the net, ask others and do a little research to make sure that the training style fits what you want to accomplish. For years there have been guys that specialize in competition training. If that is your goal, look to one of them to fill the bill.

This year has pretty much been a crazy time in the gun business. It seems like everyone on the planet wanted an AR15, a new pistol and several cases of ammo to go with each. I hope that the lack of free flowing ammo has not put a crimp in your shooting this summer. I had planned for some time to start shooting a 9mm when I get a chance to drop in on an IDPA match. I could not believe what had happened to the price I had to pay for a thousand rounds for practice. When told what is was going to cost me, I asked how much I would have to buy to get better pricing only to find out that was all I could have, at least for a while. Many in our business have never seen it like this. I guess that the rumors of restrictions created a panic. Good luck trying to pull one over on us now. I guess every adult in America now owns at least two guns? The good news in all of this is more people shooting is good for us all and one day ammo will be available again. We need to work together to make sure our neighbors who have now entered into gun ownership, a freedom most of us have already been enjoying, find the right path to make the most of the experience. This is the perfect time to share your positive experiences with others. Share the good time you have on the range, introduce them to others that make your shooting enjoyable.

As I am writing this, all Americans are preparing to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. I truly enjoy the holiday for a couple of reasons: first because we are celebrating our freedoms, our overthrow of tyranny to continue the pursuit of happiness, and secondly, cause lots of stuff gets blown up. The kid in me always enjoys a good firework! Making stuff explode is better than going to the circus. Imagine a holiday where it is completely acceptable to go outside and shoot things up in the air and watch them explode. Do you see the theme yet and why I like to shoot? Please have a wonderful summer and may every day you spend be like a day on the range. Every round goes bang and every hit is where you want it to be.