NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program

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!