Your Plan For Improvement In 2025

What’s your game plan for becoming a better shooter this year? This episode focuses on setting yourself up for success in 2025 by developing a comprehensive strategy for handgun improvement. Explore methods for evaluating your current skill level, identifying areas that need work, and creating a step-by-step approach to consistent growth. Dive into tips on improving accuracy, speed, and efficiency, and uncover the mental game techniques that separate average shooters from exceptional ones. If you’re serious about reaching new heights with your shooting, this is your blueprint.

Shot Timer I currently use: https://amzn.to/3W7c1GI
Shot Timer I have used in the past: https://amzn.to/40p77rn
Strikeman Laser Trainer: https://amzn.to/4jjnk91
Mantis Laser Trainer: https://amzn.to/3DLeRLp
Write In The Rain Notebook: https://amzn.to/4fKDy7V
𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆: 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔.
𝑨𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒖𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

LochLaur Photos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lochlaurphoto
Phone: (864) 245-1956

Transcript

 Welcome aboard another episode of A Pirate Talks Guns – where we talk guns, shooting, and personal defense. I’m here to help you sharpen your skills and stay safe out there. Today’s topic is something near and dear to my heart: making a solid plan to improve your marksmanship with a handgun in 2025.

 Let’s face it, folks – shooting isn’t something you master overnight. It takes focus, consistent effort, and yes, a plan. That’s what we’re diving into today. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the tools you need to build a personalized roadmap for success on the range and beyond. Ready? Let’s get to it.

Hey you scallywag, welcome to our A Pirate Talks Guns podcast, gun talk for the bold and unapologetic. I'm your host John Cello, the owner and lead instructor at The Tactical Pirate, a professional firearms training firm located in Anderson, South Carolina. I've been teaching people just like you to use firearms for  four decades. I'm a former civilian law enforcement officer, and retired from the Army Military Police corps. We talk about all things guns here, from defense, hunting, and competition. Regardless of your skill level, you'll find something here for you. I'm glad you dropped by. Now sit back, relax, grab your favorite beverage if you're able, and enjoy the show.

 Happy New Year! Here’s hoping that 2025 will bless you with improvements in many aspects of your life. I’m going to give you some tips that will help you make this year the one where you improve your performance with a handgun to a higher degree than you thought possible. And our first tip to you is,

1. Set Specific, Measurable Goals

 First things first: you’ve got to know what you’re aiming for – pun absolutely intended. Instead of saying, “I want to shoot better,” get specific. Do you want to tighten your group size to under 3 inches at 15 yards? Or maybe you want to improve your draw-to-shot time to under 1.5 seconds?

 If you don’t already own a shot timer, buy one or borrow one. With the exception of basic marksmanship drills, you’ll need a timer to track your progress on most drills. I’ll put links to a couple of timers in the show notes, one that I currently use, and one that I have used in the past.

 When setting your goals, remember the acronym SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework ensures your goals aren’t just wishful thinking but actionable steps you can follow. For instance, if you’re a beginner, don’t aim to compete in national-level shooting matches by June. Instead, focus on mastering the fundamentals, like grip, stance, and sight alignment, within a realistic timeframe.

 Here’s an example. Let’s say your goal is to improve accuracy at 25 yards. That’s fantastic! Now break it down. Maybe in January, your focus is hitting a 6-inch target consistently. By June, you’re working on that same target with speed under pressure. And by December, you’re nailing it in dynamic shooting drills.

Goals like these give you a direction and make your progress measurable. Without them, it’s like trying to navigate without a map.

Now, don’t forget to align your goals with your intended purpose. Are you training for personal defense, competitive shooting, or just personal satisfaction? Each goal should be relevant to what matters most to you. If self-defense is your priority, you might focus on drills that emphasize speed and accuracy under pressure, such as draw-and-shoot or moving target exercises. You’ll also need to hone your skills at shooting from non-standard positions and using cover. Competitive shooters, on the other hand, might zero in on precision and consistency at longer distances.

 Another aspect to consider is setting both short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals keep you motivated by providing quick wins, while long-term goals give you a broader vision to work toward. For instance, your short-term goal might be mastering reloads in under two seconds, while your long-term goal could be competing in a local shooting match by the end of the year.

 Another key is self-assessment. Start by identifying your current skill level. Maybe you’re already confident with slow-fire accuracy but struggle with speed drills. Or perhaps you’re comfortable at close range but need to extend your proficiency to 25 yards. This honest evaluation will shape your goals and help prioritize your training. Try shooting different target types at different ranges to uncover opportunities to improve.

Lastly, write down your goals. Keeping a written record reinforces your commitment and serves as a constant reminder of what you’re working toward. Place it somewhere visible – like your range bag or your phone – to stay motivated. Grab a pen and notebook and stick it in your range bag. I use Write In The Rain notebooks as they’re moisture resistant. Before you head to the range, write down what you want to work on. Your last range session or match probably showed you an area you could improve in. Find a drill that will work on that specific issue, how many rounds you’re going to fire in your range session, and what your goal is. For example, “I’m going to shoot the reload drill where I fire a round at a target 3 yards away, drop the magazine, reload and fire another round. I want to shave one second off my split time. I’m going to fire fifty rounds in this drill.” When you’re at the range, stick to this plan! Record your times in the notebook so you can show your progress.

 And here’s a pro tip; record all the rounds you fire through your gun, through training, practice, and matches. This will come in handy for maintenance that takes place at certain round counts, like spring replacement.

 2. Build a Training Schedule

 Once you’ve got your goals, it’s time to map out your training. Consistency is the secret sauce. Whether you’re dry-firing at home or hitting the range, a schedule keeps you accountable.

 Let’s say you commit to dry-fire practice three times a week for 15 minutes. During those sessions, you’re working on your grip, trigger control, and sight alignment. Then, you dedicate one day a month to live-fire practice at the range. Maybe in April, you add a course or workshop to push yourself further.

 Building a training schedule starts with setting realistic time commitments. We all have busy lives, so it’s crucial to carve out time that won’t feel overwhelming. If you’re a beginner, start small – maybe 10 minutes a day of dry-fire practice. As you progress, you can increase the intensity and frequency.

 Next, structure your sessions to cover different aspects of marksmanship. For example, designate Mondays for dry-fire drills focusing on trigger control and grip. Wednesdays could be dedicated to draw-and-fire drills, and Fridays to movement exercises. This variety keeps your training engaging and ensures you’re developing a well-rounded skill set.

Don’t forget about rest and recovery. Just like physical fitness, shooting performance improves with proper breaks. Overtraining can lead to burnout or poor habits. A balanced schedule includes periods of focused practice and downtime to absorb what you’ve learned.

 And definitely keep this in mind when making your plan; dry fire is easy and free! The biggest leg up you can give yourself is engaging in dry-fire practice for at least 15 minutes a day three days a week. And before you start, believe me, I already know how boring dry fire can be. But it doesn’t have to be boring. Invest in a laser training system, and you’ll take your dry fire practice to a whole new level. One that you’ll actually look forward to doing. Here at casa Pirate, we have the Strikeman and Mantis systems.  I’ll leave links to them in the show notes. 

 The Strikeman system is pretty basic and straightforward and great for beginners. Setup is quick and easy. The system is kind of limited, as there is only one target to use. The Mantis system on the other hand is very flexible. It comes with a stack of different targets, and the software has a lot of different drills. Though the setup and operation of the system is very sensitive, and they could have done a much better job on the software user interface, overall the Mantis system will hold your interest far longer than the Strikeman.

 Lastly, consider integrating milestone reviews into your schedule. Every month, set aside a session to evaluate your progress. Are you hitting your benchmarks? What areas need improvement? Use these reviews to adjust your plan and keep moving forward.

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 3. Diversify Your Training

 The best shooters are well-rounded. That means practicing more than just static shooting. Incorporate movement, low-light drills, or even some competition shooting. These scenarios mimic real-life challenges and test your skills under pressure.

 For example, try setting up a simple drill where you move laterally while engaging multiple targets. Or practice reloads under time constraints. If you’ve never shot in low light, grab a flashlight and work on your technique. The more variety you add, the more prepared you’ll be for anything.

 Diversifying your training also means embracing new tools and environments. Ever tried shooting with a red dot sight? How about working on barricade shooting techniques? Experimenting with different setups not only improves your adaptability but keeps your sessions exciting.

 Another way to diversify is by adding physical fitness elements to your practice. Incorporate short sprints, burpees, or other exercises between drills to simulate stress and elevate your heart rate. This kind of training mirrors real-life situations where your body may not be in a calm, rested state.

 Training with others can also expand your horizons. Join a local shooting club or participate in competitions like USPSA or IDPA. These environments expose you to different styles and strategies, and you might pick up tips from more experienced shooters.

 Finally, don’t underestimate the value of professional instruction. Enroll in a class or workshop taught by a reputable instructor. Even seasoned shooters benefit from fresh perspectives and expert guidance. Plus, it’s a great way to stay motivated and engaged.

 4. Assess and Adjust

 Here’s the reality: not everything goes according to plan. Maybe life gets busy, or you hit a plateau. That’s okay. The key is to assess your progress and adjust as needed.

 Set aside time every few months to evaluate your goals. Are you meeting your benchmarks? If not, what’s the roadblock? For instance, if your draw-to-shot time isn’t improving, it might be worth focusing more on grip and stance.

 Self-reflection is a critical part of the process. Take note of what’s working and what isn’t. Maybe you’ve discovered that your dry-fire practice is paying off but your live-fire sessions feel stagnant. Use these insights to tweak your approach.

 Don’t be afraid to seek feedback. Whether it’s from a coach, a shooting buddy, or even video analysis, outside perspectives can reveal blind spots. They might catch habits you didn’t realize were holding you back.

 Lastly, celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Progress is progress, and acknowledging your achievements keeps you motivated. Whether it’s shaving a tenth of a second off your draw time or hitting a new personal best at 25 yards, take pride in your hard work.

 Alright, my fellow shooters, let’s recap. To improve your handgun marksmanship in 2025, you need to:

 1. Set specific, measurable goals.

2. Build a consistent training schedule.

3. Diversify your training with new challenges.

4. Assess and adjust your plan as you go.

 With these steps, you’ll not only become a better shooter but also build the confidence and skills to handle whatever comes your way. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your 2025 training journey today.

 Before you go, I’ve got one request. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to A Pirate Talks Guns on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t keep this treasure to yourself – share it with your crew. Tell your friends to subscribe so we can grow this community of gun enthusiasts and defenders.

 Until next time, shoot safe.