Two Bits in the Fountain

I often share with my students a training philosophy that I have practiced for years: Every one round you send down range is an investment in your secure future.

Too often I have seen novice as well as experienced shooters expending ammunition as if the supply is endless. But the question that always arises in my mind is, “Where’s the training value?”

Make Every Shot Count

If pressing the trigger as rapidly as possible is the session goal, then I must conclude that the objective is met several times over. But if the training goal is to become more experienced and proficient with the use of the chosen firearm, then the practice of rapidly spewing rounds into the target area misses the mark—literally.

I could not begin to estimate the number of rounds that I have fired in the 53 years since I took my first shot with Dad standing nearby; but one lesson from that introductory phase resonates to this day: “Make every shot count.”

The idea is that each round has a monetary value that can be assigned to it, so each time you expend one, you should be receiving something in return. If the value is twenty-five cents per round, then this represents the finite cost associated with training.

Return on Investment

If your goal is to head to the range to practice sight alignment, each time you align your sights on your target and press the trigger, you invest twenty-five cents toward becoming more proficient in a marksmanship skill. Trigger control…another twenty-five cents, and so on. Throwing rounds downrange without a specific training goal in mind is a waste of money. Over time, it equates to a large expenditure of financial resources with little or no practical return on your investment.

The next time that you are thinking of heading to the range to practice, put some thought into developing specific training goals that you wish to achieve during your session. Factor in the number of rounds that you will apply toward this effort, and make each one provide a return dividend. You will find your experience to be a more purposeful and rewarding investment.

Or, you could take your two bits, toss them into the fountain and wish for a future where it is unnecessary to take an active role in providing for the safety of yourself or those you care for.

Author: Kent R. Jones