Shut Up and Shoot!

Let’s talk about “Bob”.

Bob is that guy you know who is into shooting, owns some guns, and maybe does some shooting on a fairly regular basis. Bob listens to you talk about competitive shooting, and says things like “I’d like to try that!”, or “That looks like fun!”

Several times I’ve asked Bob to come shoot with me, but his answer is always something like “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t have the gear,” “I haven’t shot in too long,” or “I need more practice.”

Here’s the deal, if you don’t just get out to the range and shoot a match, you will not get “Good enough”. Shooting your pistol at the static range a couple times a month will do absolutely nothing to help make you “Good enough”. If you can put on a holster, and manipulate the pistol safely, you are good enough!

If you don’t have the gear, ok. The highest quality gear comes at a high price, and making a big investment into something you are not sure you will like is hard to do, I get it. There are so many companies out there making inexpensive kydex gear that this isn’t really an excuse anymore. The trouble is, I’ve told Bob that he is welcome to use my gear, and I’ve even offered to make him a custom kydex holster myself, just to get him out shooting. Still, Bob will not come shoot.

What gives? I don’t know.

Here are the facts about competitive shooting:

1. Nobody cares how bad you shoot. Chances are, while you are shooting, I’ll be stuffing magazines, getting a drink, or BSing with other shooters about why my gun is better than theirs.

2. You will get beat by someone. I’ve been doing this for 3 years, and I’ve only ever won once. Get over it.

3. Even if you aren’t a competitive person, it will make you a better shooter. I’ve learned more about shooting in the past 3 years, than I did in the prior 20 years.

4. If you have a concealed carry permit you owe it to yourself, and those who you love to improve. When I started shooting competitively, I thought I was a pretty good shooter. I wasn’t. I was humbled watching those who were better than me shoot, doing things that I didn’t know were possible with a handgun.

5. Stop reading about it online, shut up, and shoot! Time and again I see people post on forums that this game sucks because it enforces bad tactics, or that game sucks because they all shoot race guns, or whatever. They are games. Get up, grab your gun, and get out and shoot. You will thank me after you finish shooting your first stage.

November 10th, 2012, the North Carolina Justice Academy is hosting a charity shooting match, benefiting wounded troops. We shooters are a pretty patriotic bunch and we want to give back to those who have given so much for us.

Bob, if you are reading this, you have a month to get ready. Get your gun, get your magazines and your holster, and be there. This match is for a good cause, and your excuse is invalid.