I've been training lots of new shooters lately.  Most of them really enjoy their experience learning to shoot and ask what would be good next steps.   I've always offered an Intermediate and Advanced Defensive handgun as good next steps but nothing specifically focused on improving marksmanship.  I recently found the NRA's Marksmanship Qualification Program.  This program includes standard courses of fire with various types of guns to qualify at each of the following levels:

• Pro-Marksman
• Marksman
• Sharpshooter
• Expert
• Distinguished Expert

I decided to shoot the prescribed courses of fire to see what level I would qualify at.  Below you can see my final target qualifying at the "Distinguished Expert" level.   I shot this target with my Glock 19 from 30 feet with five shots in ten seconds with each left and right hand using one and two handed grips (20 shots total in 40 seconds).   Open the link above if you'd like to read more about the MQP standards and courses of fire.

Working my way through the levels was tons of fun and I think will really help new shooters develop speed and accuracy.  Next time you go to the range, give it a try! 

I've taught a lot of new gun owners to shoot in the last two months.  The crazy events of the year 2020 drove many people to buy guns and get training in how to protect themselves.  Four of my recent students (all women) brought with them a brand-new M&P Shield EZ handgun.  This gun is built by Smith and Wesson and chambered in .380 Auto or 9mm.   I think these guns are very popular because they are affordable, easy to rack and comfortable in small hands.   

Everyone that brought it to my course plans to use it for self defense.   However, once we got out on the range and started shooting each of the four students had issues de-activating the grip safety.  Sometimes the gun would fire and something they would have to readjust their grip to get it to fire.  This happened with four out of four students using an M&P EZ!  A grip safety is supposed to be automatically de-activated when you grip the gun.  You shouldn't have to think about it.  These ladies each had a correct two-handed grip on the gun (strong-side hand high on the backstrap) and did not always de-activate the grip safety.  I've never seen someone have problems de-activating a grip safety on any other makes of gun (such as the Springfield Armory XD or a 1911).  Due to the performance I've seen with these guns, I would NOT recommend you purchase one for yourself.

Bottom line:

• Pros: They are easy to rack and small and concealable.  Good trigger, grip texture and sights.  
• Cons: Grip safety:  will it go bang when you need it to?