“Wow, you’re a great shooter!” Anyone who has shot for a while has likely been told this by someone they know. Usually said by a beginning shooter or one who thinks he’s great but you keep beating him anyway. So what makes a great shooter? Simply being better than the guy saying that to you is probably not the answer, though it may very well be all he (or you) care about.
First, let’s see what makes a good shooter. A good shooter is one who can basically do what needs doing, much of the time. That may mean they can hit an 8″ plate at 25 yards most of the time, without much time pressure. It may mean they can regularly score one or two hits on Cold Heat. This indicates they have a decently quick draw and reasonably refined index, as well as some trigger control and recoil control. They can reload well, and know how to clear malfunctions quickly. We could go on, but I think that is enough.
A great shooter is one who can basically shoot up to the potential of the gun, both for speed and accuracy. But that is not enough. To be great, they need to be able to execute at their level, on demand. Not once in a practice session, not some of the time, but almost all of the time. As a reference point, I know GM’s and High Masters who can meet the standard for good, listed above, but cannot come close to meeting the standard for great. I also know a fair number of GM’s and High Master’s who can shoot up to the gun in one way or another. But, I only know a few people who can shoot up to the gun for both speed and accuracy and do it all the time.
Beyond being a good shooter or a great shooter, there is another level, one that is probably a better (or at least more realistic) goal for the serious shooter. That is the practical shooter. That term does have specific sport connotations, but that is not how I am using it. A practical shooter is one who is far better than just good, but cannot quite shoot up to the gun in one or more ways. They can do well in any type of shooting, but may not be the best at any of it. Maybe they are super accurate but can’t shoot splits very fast. Maybe they can split incredibly fast and accurately, but cannot wring all the accuracy out that the gun has to offer at slower speeds. Maybe they can do most things at a very high level, but can’t quite make it all work all the time.
There are fewer of these shooters out there than you think, and while it is nice to aspire to greatness, a practical level will get the job done, regardless of what that job is. I aspire to become a great shooter, and can shoot up to the potential of my guns in some ways, but certainly not others. Being a practical shooter is probably more, well, practical, but some days I can’t do that either. Ultimately, shooting is a journey without a destination and worrying about how you stack up is kind of silly if you ask me. Just keep plugging away and take what may come of it. Enjoy the journey and the destination will matter much less.