Whether it's been a brutal winter, a hectic schedule or just life getting in the way, time away from the range happens. But here's the thing. Shooting is a perishable skill, and showing up after a long break expecting to perform at your previous level is a recipe for frustration.
John McClain, competitive shooter and team member for Rock Island Armory and Amrscor, has a straightforward take on it: have a plan, build momentum and don't skip the boring work.
The gap between good shooters and great shooters often comes down to what happens when no one is watching and no rounds are flying.
"If you want to look at the best of the best compared to the general population, what's the difference?" John asked. "The best of the best did the boring work."
That boring work? Dry fire. Drawing from the holster, practicing reloads, running target transitions, incorporating movement — all of it is available to you in your living room, completely free.
One rule John is firm about: before any dry fire practice, remove all ammunition from the room. No exceptions.
"No ammunition in the room with you. Period. End of story," he said.
Once that's settled, even simple two-step movement drills can challenge your reload speed and your ability to manage the gun dynamically without ever firing a live round.
Beyond basic dry fire, a few training aids are worth exploring. Laser cartridges insert into your chamber and emit a brief laser burst when the firing pin falls, giving you immediate visual feedback on where your muzzle was pointed at the moment of the trigger break. Many shooters set up a phone to record the session so they can review their hits afterward.
VR systems like Ace VR add another layer, offering movement-based stages, target transitions and both iron sight and red dot optic options. John sees real value in them, to a point.
"There's a lot of stuff those lower levels can learn from the VR world," he said.
But he cautions against letting it become a game. Chasing high scores encourages spraying and praying, which builds bad habits. Remember to focus on real aiming skills and form. Not the high score. And VR will never replicate recoil, so don't expect your VR times to transfer directly to live fire.
When you do get back to the range, resist the urge to pick up right where you left off.
John compares it to picking up a guitar after six months away.
"Your fingertips hurt again," he said. "You haven't kept up the calluses."
The same principle applies to grip pressure, recoil management and visual patience. Start with warm-up drills to re-familiarize yourself with what the gun feels like under recoil. And reset your expectations, temporarily.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," John said. "It's not about a drag race where you have to go zero to 220 in four seconds. Get warmed up."
The mindset matters, too. John pushes a simple reframe. Instead of telling yourself "I suck at reloads," try "I want to get better at reloads." Same situation, better headspace to actually improve.
Two Drills Worth Benchmarking
Once you're warmed up, these two drills give you measurable data on where your skills actually stand.
The Bill Drill: From the draw, fire six rounds into the A-zone (the high-value scoring area at center mass on a standard target) as fast as possible while guaranteeing every hit. Most shooters start at 7 yards. John suggests tracking your best time at each distance, so you have a real benchmark to chase, not someone else's standard, just your personal best.
The El Presidente: Three targets set roughly 10-12 yards out with about 4 yards between each. Draw, shoot two rounds on each target, perform a reload, then shoot two on each again. It forces transitions, a mandatory reload and recoil management all in 12 rounds.
Can't get outdoors? John notes that indoor range shooters can get creative by stacking targets, taping additional aiming points and building drills within a single lane.
Check Your Gear While You're At It
Coming back from a break is also a good time to audit your kit. Check holsters, mag pouches and belt hardware for loose screws or worn retention. Make sure your Allen keys and screwdrivers are accounted for, and restock your gun oil and cleaning supplies as needed before the season ramps back up.
The Bottom Line
Getting back to your previous skill level doesn't require heroics. It requires consistency, a little patience and a willingness to do the work, dry fire or otherwise. Stock up on range supplies and ammo at armscor.com and advancedtactical.com, and get back out there.