Discipline and training

Confidence comes from discipline and training.

- Robert Kiyosaki -

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Despite my age, (I'm about as old as the dinosaurs), I remember the day, thirty three years ago, when I handled and fired my first firearm. Ok, maybe I'm not quite as old as the dinosaurs at fifty two years of age but thinking back to that moment makes me feel that old! I was nineteen and, whilst I'd not call myself a young and inexperienced lad, as far as firearms went, I was exactly that.

My mum had always said there was three things I wasn't allowed to have: Tattoos, motorbikes and guns. Hmm, sorry mum, I got all three and the guns came first. She wasn't pleased, but considering she'd kicked me out of home when I was seventeen and a half, I didn't much care as it was no longer any of her business.

Yesterday I chatted with a friend and later reflected on my shooting-journey; most of it I'm not willing to share here but it'd make a pretty interesting story I suppose.

The conversation was about confidence in self and equipment, not just the quality of the rifle-system itself, but the ammunition, rifle set-up, scope, range finder, the cleaning and maintenance process and the general understanding of shooting, ballistics and other various things that come into play. With long range shooting there's many elements one must master and, whilst hand-gunning is only done at close range, the same (similar) applies. I've worked hard at both.

Back in the early days I was virtually clueless; I didn't know what I didn't know, and it showed. Fortunately I wasn't arrogant like those gaming nutjobs who actually think they know something about firearms by playing computer games in their parents basement.

I'm a slut for knowledge, and humble also; the combination means I'm open to learning so absorbed information voraciously - especially considering I was naturally adept at shooting, and enjoyed it. I listened intently to instructors, worked hard to improve knowledge, sought it outside set curriculums, built my skill and understanding and rapidly moved through the concepts that would, eventually, lead me to become a proficient rifle and handgun shooter.

It was recognised that I had natural ability with a rifle which led me down a predictable path towards long range shooting. It was deemed additional instruction could prove advantageous so I was trained to put rounds on targets at great distances and all of the elements that go with it. Right about then I fell in love with long range shooting.

It's easy to say I loved it simply because I was good at it, but it was more than that. There was something special about bringing so many elements together in the one moment permitting impacts on targets at distances well past that which the naked eye could see. I learned how to read and combine the unpredictability of the environment and target with the (usual/desired) predictability of the equipment, ammunition and myself and the results came...and with that, came confidence.

In my conversation yesterday we spoke about self-confidence and both agreed that it can be perceived as arrogance however arrogant is not a word I'd use to describe myself. Self-confidence is required though as it helps one settle the mind and that helps judgement, thought-process, decision-making and subsequently accuracy. when shooting at something with the intent to end its existence those things are critical. Hand-in-glove with self confidence is confidence in one's equipment and gaining both take a special kind of effort, at least in long range shooting.

Today, I can take any long range rifle-system from my safe, lay prone behind it and put rounds on a torso-sized target at well over a mile (1600+ meters) with ammunition I made myself. I never disclose my maximum achievable distance but it's well past a mile. Hit-probability declines with greater range and I'm all about accuracy so I work around my limits except where a miss won't have an unacceptable implication, like in training.

I'm confident in that ability, all aspects of it including the equipment, ammunition and myself and I actively hone existing skills in many varied ways. It's a good feeling to have the skills I have, (not just the shooting aspect), and whilst many may say there's no real need for skills like this in modern society, I digress. Maybe they'd like to consider the events in Ukraine currently where there is a great need for both protagonists to have skills of this nature amongst their ranks. No, to think skills like this (and other related skills) are not required is a little naïve.

I've been shooting for so many years I've probably forgotten some of what I know. Ok, if you believe I forgot anything at all you're bonkers. I'm confident in shooting, long range, handguns, with firearms and the related elements in general and there's two factors that make it so: Discipline and training.

It doesn't matter what skill or ability one wants to become proficient at, those two elements must exist. I don't mean those elements are required to gain a basic ability, but to become an expert? Yeah, they're essential. It also takes ownership, responsibility and effort of course, but those things, without training and discipline, will not make an expert out of anyone.

Now tell me, have you applied discipline and training to learn a skill? Have you gone out of your way to become an expert at something? Comment below, I'm interested.