Good shooter? You can't know what you don't know

American Thinker ^ | 15 Jun, 2025 | Mike McDaniel

[MtnClimber]

I’ve been shooting for a half century and have spent considerable time and money to get the best training available. Over the years I’ve earned eight instructor’s certifications and developed a high degree of skill. But if one gains a bit of wisdom with age, one realizes two things: (1) there is so very much you don’t know and will never know, and (2) there are always those younger, better looking, bigger, faster, smarter and more capable. I was recently reminded of both.

In my youth, I was fortunate to take classes from Chuck Taylor, a man with a well-earned international reputation. Chuck was ably assisted by Mark Fricke. Sadly, Chuck died in 2022, and in the intervening years, Mark also earned an international reputation. For the past 30 years, he has been putting on a week-long series of classes at a ranch in NE Wyoming. After completing my Texas teaching career and retiring in Wyoming, I rediscovered Mark and those classes.

Over that week, Mark puts on a wide variety of instruction including various handgun classes, long range rifle (out to 1000 yards), revolver (this year) and tactical rifle. I had the time to take one handgun class and the tactical rifle course.

Graphic: Keltec Sub2000 G3. Author.

Not long ago my wife and I bought Keltec Sub2000 Generation 3 9mm carbines and have been working them up. One doesn’t buy a new gun, put 50 rounds through it, and imagine they’re proficient so I welcomed the opportunity to learn what I couldn't learn on my own.

There were 20 shooters in the tactical rifle class, and 27 in the handgun class I took earlier in the week. The most common handguns were Glocks in 9mm, though there were a few 1911 diehards. Rifles? AR-15s, of course.

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TOPICS: Outdoors; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; training

[MtnClimber]

I agree. A good class does improve your shooting.

[CopperTop]

Been shooting since the 70's and just the last coupla years started taking classes. Great fun and eye opening. Finding good instructors that care about what they're doing is key. Before I went I imagined it to be a lot of "Tacticool Timmy" types that'd be a pain to be around. But nope, just regular ol slobs like myself, women and some youngsters. It's always been a great and educational experience.
The Girls get me gift cards for more classes at Trace Armory Group so they can have spa and shopping days with me out of their hair.
I'll take it. d;^)

[Bob434]

YouTube has shooting instructions too- for those who can’t travel to classes. Not sure how good or bad the lessons are, but many are listed.

[Kid Shelleen]

Good article and nice tip on the Keltec Sub2000 carbine. Looks like a great deal

[Big Red Badger]

Practice,Practice and practice some More!
Mags,Slings and Ammo All effect performance.
.
I’ve learned alot online about Zeroing
Different fire Arms and that’s a Big part but there’s many Variables.

[Lurker]

Smart people know they don’t know everything and can always improve.

Stupid people think they know everything and are frequently astonished to find out they’re wrong.

L

[Delta 21]

Train like you fight.
Fight like you train.