I Passed my Firearm Qual

**Ace** · 05-09-08, 07:18 PM

I had my firearms qual today and passed lol. Going into the final stage I was shooting at 97 % (42 rounds), but the final 8 rounds on the 25 yard line kicked my butt. I ended up scoring a 211 with 200 passing and 250 the max. My practice qual yesterday was scored at a 221 and I was really hoping for better, but at least I passed...

EDIT: Run-on sentence...

**Resident Smart Ass** · 05-09-08, 08:39 PM

Good job!

**Five-0** · 05-09-08, 08:59 PM

You're not the only one that hates the 25 yard line. I shoot my bow better from 25 yards than I do my handguns.

**Resident Smart Ass** · 05-09-08, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

You're not the only one that hates the 25 yard line. I shoot my bow better from 25 yards than I do my handguns.

I can shoot a spit ball better than my handgun from 25 yards

**Hannah87** · 05-09-08, 09:49 PM

congrats!

**Ace** · 05-09-08, 10:17 PM

Thanks for the congrats...

Originally Posted by Five-0

You're not the only one that hates the 25 yard line. I shoot my bow better from 25 yards than I do my handguns.

Yeah 25 yards was killin me. I missed the target altogether on one shot and then hit paper but missed the silhouette with four, so they counted for zero...

**Five-0** · 05-09-08, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Ace

Thanks for the congrats...

Yeah 25 yards was killin me. I missed the target altogether on one shot and then hit paper but missed the silhouette with four, so they counted for zero...

Take up a target practice stance and take your time. You are shooting a qual corse not a combat course. Works for me.

**nsb22** · 05-09-08, 10:32 PM

We used to shoot 12 rounds at the 25 yard line. Now we only shoot 4. Gotta love the "combat" mentality.

**MacLean** · 05-09-08, 10:34 PM

Congrats on passing!

The number one biggest problem for guys at the 25 yard line is poor trigger control. The number two problem is an optical illusion your eyes play on you.

We get to looking at that itty bitty front sight, just like we were taught. Guess what? It moves. It looks like it's moving a lot the farther you get from the target.

The trick is, it really isn't. Although that front sight looks like it's moving all over the target, the barrel isn't really moving as much as you think - so we go like this...

There...there...there...BANG! and try to jerk that shot off as the sights have achieved "perrfect" alignment.

Live for the wobble! Realize that a .02 movement of your sight is only 3" at 25 yards, and do what you already know. Focus on that front sight and trigger press. You will hit if you do it right, even if it looks like that sight is moving more than it should.

With a typical .40 handgun, you can keep hits on steel at 75 yards.

Try it some time

**Five-0** · 05-09-08, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Congrats on passing!

The number one biggest problem for guys at the 25 yard line is poor trigger control. The number two problem is an optical illusion your eyes play on you.

We get to looking at that itty bitty front sight, just like we were taught. Guess what? It moves. It looks like it's moving a lot the farther you get from the target.

The trick is, it really isn't. Although that front sight looks like it's moving all over the target, the barrel isn't really moving as much as you think - so we go like this...

There...there...there...BANG! and try to jerk that shot off as the sights have achieved "perrfect" alignment.

Live for the wobble! Realize that a .02 movement of your sight is only 3" at 25 yards, and do what you already know. Focus on that front sight and trigger press. You will hit if you do it right, even if it looks like that sight is moving more than it should.

With a typical .40 handgun, you can keep hits on steel at 75 yards.

Try it some time

People like you that make it sound easy make me look forward to defensive tactics.

**Ace** · 05-09-08, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Congrats on passing!

The number one biggest problem for guys at the 25 yard line is poor trigger control. The number two problem is an optical illusion your eyes play on you.

We get to looking at that itty bitty front sight, just like we were taught. Guess what? It moves. It looks like it's moving a lot the farther you get from the target.

The trick is, it really isn't. Although that front sight looks like it's moving all over the target, the barrel isn't really moving as much as you think - so we go like this...

There...there...there...BANG! and try to jerk that shot off as the sights have achieved "perrfect" alignment.

Live for the wobble! Realize that a .02 movement of your sight is only 3" at 25 yards, and do what you already know. Focus on that front sight and trigger press. You will hit if you do it right, even if it looks like that sight is moving more than it should.

With a typical .40 handgun, you can keep hits on steel at 75 yards.

Try it some time

Yeah poor trigger control was my main issue, all my shots were low left. We had plenty of time to aim in, 20 seconds to fire 2 standing, 2 kneeling behind a barricade. I bought a hundred more rounds so I'm going to practice the 25 yd line some more this weekend.

**Ace** · 05-09-08, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Take up a target practice stance and take your time. You are shooting a qual corse not a combat course. Works for me.

Well we were timed and we were shooting around a barricade. Plus 4 of the 8 were from a kneeling position. But yeah that would have made it a bit easier I think...

**cajunguy** · 05-10-08, 12:04 AM

The key to the 25 yard line is - practice - PRACTICE - PRACTICE!!

We are scheduled for two practice sessions a month (practice only - no quals.), and we do it all from the 25. The instructors know (as we all do) that 25 can kick your butt, so that's all our practice sessions consist of. Aceing the POST course from the closer in lines is a piece of cake.

A good instructor can help a lot too.

I went out last Monday for a practice, and one of our instructors observed that my grip wasn't what it should be (I've been shooting over thirty years, and people tend to forget the basics sometime - I apparently had), and I was kinda spreading them out too much on the target, so he gave me a little one-on-one coaching.

By the time I called it a day, I was putting them all in about a 6 to 7-inch group from 25.

Planning on going do it again this coming Monday.

Shooting is obviously a perishable skill. If you don't use it - you lose it.

Practice - PRACTICE - PRACTICE!!

.

**MacLean** · 05-10-08, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by Five-0

People like you that make it sound easy make me look forward to defensive tactics.

I'm a big weenie, never mind me

**LawnMM** · 05-10-08, 02:20 AM

We qualify quarterly here in D-Town but thats really not enough for me. I try to get in and do a practice session once a month if I can but the range schedule is kinda crummy with the academy classes going through and what not. I haven't made it in there this month yet but I will.

Listen to mac, focus on a smooth trigger press and try to focus less on the front sight and more on the target. The front and rear sights will blur but you can still see that they are aligned.

**MacLean** · 05-10-08, 02:24 AM

Errr...

I did say trigger press, but you never want to be looking at the target

Front sight, front sight, front sight - but live with the wobble.

**GhostCop** · 05-10-08, 03:30 AM

Front sight should be clear as a bell and the target slightly blurred when sight picture is correct. Gotta agree with Maclean once again. Live with the wobble, its not as critical as you think. Also, dont anticipate recoil. Low left, you are pushing and anticipating recoil for a right handed shooter.

Originally Posted by Five-0

Take up a target practice stance and take your time. You are shooting a qual corse not a combat course. Works for me.

No offense five 0 but my take on qualification courses are, you will fight the way you train. You should qual like you are fighting for your life. After all, you are measuring your ability to defend your or someone elses life should the need arise.

**CT209** · 05-10-08, 04:26 AM

Good job.

I hate the 25-yd line also, although I shoot it much better with the patrol rifle than with my handgun!

**jcsdscott** · 05-10-08, 04:32 AM

The 25 yard line kept me from being perfect this time. I through two out, but oh well I can live with a 96.

It's easy to make it realistic when there are those on the line trying to tap, rack, bang with their finger on the trigger! In his defense it was his first time with a semi-auto period, but still.

**Shoestring** · 05-10-08, 05:22 AM

Nice work, Handguns are good for short distances and most likely you will be in close quarter combat if you have your pistol out. The only reason they make you pop off a couple long shots is so you know how to shoot from that distance. Most likely you should have a long gun out at 25yards+

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