Best Books for Training?

[DelayedReaction]

Greetings all,

What are the best books to consult to improve marksmenship and other handgun skills? I know nothing can replace actual training, but until I can find the cash to take a course (where's a good marksmenship course in the MD area) I'd like to read up on the subject as best I can.

 

[9mmepiphany]

it has been too long since i've learned basic marksmanship to recommend a book...i'm sure someone else will chime in with a suggestion.

for handgun skills/defensive use, i am partial to massad ayoob's "stressfire" series, brian enos' "shooting from within" and bill jordan's "no second place winner"

 

[mr hanky]

this isn't a book, but, snap caps have worked wonders for me.

 

[ShackleMeNot]

Andy Stanford's book Surgical Speed Shooting is great for learning practical handgun skills.

Keep in mind that books and videos are good but nothing will help you improve like a class with a qualified instructor.

 

[Jeff White]

The Modern Technique of the Pistol by Gregory B Morrison
Some of the Answer Handgun by Jim Crews

Books can only supplement instruction. They can't replace it.

Jeff

 

[DelayedReaction]

Are there any good instructors in the MD area?

 

[nhhillbilly]

Check with www.mynra.org and check the training section for trainer in your area.

 

[NMshooter]

If nothing else, practice with a .22 or air pistol. Other things can be practiced with an unloaded handgun. Make sure it is unloaded, though.

 

[grnzbra]

I read Ayoob's Stressfire and, a number of years later, saw his Stressfire Video. I think that the video is more effective.

I've just finished watching a 3 disk dvd set by Ron Avery which is a complete course in handgun shooting, broken down into lessons along with exercises that reinforce the associated lesson. I just got an airsoft 1911 to practice these at home.

 

[DelayedReaction]

Well, right now I do my best to put at least 200 rounds down the range each week, and I've also taken the basic NRA Pistol Safety Course. Now I'm looking for more advanced training.

 

[ceestand]

A book that was recommended to me, by members here I believe, is The Pistol Shooter's Treasury. It is a collection of older articles, mostly focusing on basic marksmanship with an eye towards competition. It really helped me out regarding trigger control and sight picture. Highly recommended.

For defensive shooting, I have books by Ayoob, Stanford, Mroz, etc... and I haven't been thrilled with any of them. Probably the Gabe Suarez books are the best of the lot, followed by Ayoob's.

I have a book by Andy Stanford, Surgical Speed Shooting. On Amazon, a few reviewers complained about Stanford's constant Weaver-stance-bashing. I bought it anyway - mistake. Not only does he really spend most of the time needlessly bashing the Weaver, but worse, his chapter on Grip is wrong. I mean just plain wrong. It goes against what every other author I've read has written on the subject, and a few of the grips he proposes would likely result in injury or failures from the pistol.

 

[carebear]

Tactical Reality (or anything else) by Awerbuck is very good.

 

[ShackleMeNot]

Ceestand,

Exactly what kinds of injuries can I expect from using the thumbs forward grip as advocated by Mr. Stanford?

 

[SAWBONES]

I think the point is that the "Modern Isosceles" stance, with its attendant thumbs-forward grip, as advocated by many (including Mr. Stanford) DOESN'T work best for defensive shooting, at least for many people.

Other highly-esteemed, active and longer-experienced trainers (eg, Jeff Cooper, John Farnam, Tom Givens, Clint Smith) continue to advocate a form of the Weaver stance (often with a high thumbs grip) over the Modern Isosceles, though probably none but Col. Cooper are dogmatic about it.

I'm always surprised by trainers who are convinced that the way they like best is really the only way.

As to books, Givens' Fighting Smarter and The Farnam Method of Defensive Handgunning hit all the basics, and Gabe Suarez' The Tactical Pistol and Tactical Pistol Marksmanship are also good.

 

[Preacherman]

Instead of books, I'd strongly recommend good training videos or DVD's. Thunder Ranch produces a limited set; Gunsite has lots of them (see Paladin Press, who carry many of them); and Mas Ayoob has produced a number of excellent videos, particularly his three "Stressfire" volumes.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

To improve marksmanship I start with Paul B. Weston

To improve marksmanship I start with Paul B. Weston. For other handgun skills there is nothing wrong with No Second Place Winner.

After a strong foundation I guess things can branch off. For pure marksmanship some of Don Nygord's postings taught me a lot; for a when to shoot defensively and mindset I'd look at Ayoob. Beyond that there's the range from handgun silhouette to handgun hunting to cowboy action to you name it and beyond that there's a range of mental part of the game see everything from Brian Enos to Zen Archery

 

[Texian Pistolero]

The classics are "Kill or Be Killed", by Rex Applegate (based on WWII OSS training, a more military orientation, LOOKS dated, but truth never change.

and,

the aforementioned "No Second Place Winner", by Bill Jordan. Again, LOOKS dated, bt truth never...

I also recommend Andy Stanford's book.

Also, Gabe Suarez, the "Tactical Pistol" (though he believes the .45 is a death ray)

Also, Chuck Taylor's "Combat Handgunnery".

These just scratch the surface, there are MANY more.

Don't try to find the lone guru, he doesn't exist, but keep an open mind and learn from all these guys.

The handgun is a limited tool ,and your toolkit must expand to include a shotgun, and a military-style semi autoloader like AR-15 or AK-47.

(At the low end, I also include a belly gun (SP 101) and a bolt action sniper rifle at the upper end.

Listinf these in sequence you see that each tool is effective at a sr\teadily increasing range.

belly gun
main handgun
shotgun
AR -15
Bolt action scoped rifle.

(Then you will integrate empty hand skills, then common household tools like:

butcher knife
golf club
axe handle
tire iron
Boston Slugger
Machete)

Very important, you have to seperate baseline skills like marksmanship, speed reloads, malfunction clearing, shooting under reduced light, etc, from tactics and scenario training.

Learn the skills, then learn how to apply the skills in a real scenario.

Take your time, get the basics down first.

There are a lot of wannabe's out there, but you will start to see that the top guys pretty much say the same things, (when they aren'y OVEREXAGERATING minor differences!!!)

 

[Lamar Jaggears]

Jim Crews' book covers the fundamentals. I have it and refer to it while teaching recruit classes.
There is only so much that you can get out of a book.

 

[carebear]

though he believes the .45 is a death ray

It isn't?

 

[GoRon]

book that was recommended to me, by members here I believe, is The Pistol Shooter's Treasury

When I was a new shooter (not that long ago 3yrs) I started going to the range on the nights they held NRA bullseye shoots.

The RO running the class was a Fed cop of some kind and was very helpful to me.

He recommended this book and I bought it.

While the book is somewhat dated, my skills improved dramatically.