BEFORE BUYING USED HANDGUNS ONLINE, KNOW THE BASICS OF MARKSMANSHIP

Any tool is only as effective as the person who wields it. This is as true when buying used handguns online as when purchasing any other product. In the right hands, a firearm can protect the innocent, feed a family, or provide endless hours of target shooting pleasure. On the other hand, it can do no good at all if the owner is careless or unskilled in using it. So, in this post, we’re going to look at the basics of handgun marksmanship.

The proper stance

You can’t build anything worthwhile without a good foundation, whether it’s a billion-dollar skyscraper or the correct position for accurately firing a weapon. The single best stance where handguns are concerned is the classic “triangle” position. This involves the following steps:

1. Stand directly facing the target, with legs spread evenly apart and each foot planted firmly on the ground. The knees should be bent slightly, and the shooter should lean forward a little at the waist.
2. Grasp the weapon by wrapping the fingers of one hand around the butt. DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER YET! In fact, the shooting finger should be outside the trigger guard entirely. When done properly, there will be a gap between the tips of the fingers and the palm of the hand. Bring the other hand up, insert its palm into this gap, and wrap the fingers around those of the hand holding the gun. Do not lace the fingers or thumbs together.
3. Take aim. As you look down the barrel of the weapon, you’ll see a notch cut in the center of the rear sight. Center the front sight in this notch. It should be at the same height as the rear sight, neither above nor below it. The sights should be pointed directly at the target. In a defensive shooting situation, this will normally be the chest of the attacker, either dead center or slightly to the right from the shooter’s perspective, to maximize the odds of hitting the assailant in the heart. (Forget about shooting to wound in a life-or-death scenario; that’s Hollywood nonsense). The weapon should be in a straight line from the eye you’re using to sight the barrel.
4. At this point, you can gently slip your finger over the trigger. Breathe normally. Don’t push the finger in so far that the area between the first and second knuckle covers the trigger. You want the fat part of the finger just on the opposite side of the nail resting square on the trigger. Hold the weapon firmly.
5. The next action, squeezing the trigger, is the single most important step in the entire process. Screw up here and everything else you’ve done will be for nothing. Above all, do NOT jerk the trigger. Rather, squeeze it gently yet firmly. Many shooters hold their breath at this point.
6. There will be a bang and recoil as the barrel of the weapon jumps up in the air. Don’t let this rattle you. Simply maintain position and let the firearm return to the position it was in before, with the sights properly aligned on the target. If you’re in a defensive shooting situation and your attacker hasn’t been stopped, then fire additional rounds until the threat is neutralized.

Those are the basics of handgun marksmanship. This brief video explains them in more detail. Forget any fancy stunts you’ve seen on TV or heard about from others. Just spend as much time as possible at the range practicing the fundamentals, and you’ll soon be a good shot.

Don’t let high prices make you settle for less

Sometimes, new shooters are tempted to buy an inferior weapon to save a few bucks. This is never a good idea. When it comes to firearms, the old adage always applies: “you get what you pay for.” This doesn’t mean that you can’t find a deal, of course. For example, Dury’s specializes in selling top-quality used guns that are every bit as good as new models. Find out more by checking out the great selections right here on our site.