I've watched new shooters at classes outperform veterans who stopped learning

[Rich Dad]

The veteran who thinks he knows everything is dangerous at a training course. He half-listens, resists corrections and brings bad habits that've been calcified for years. The new shooter who's genuinely paying attention picks things up faster every time. Stay a student folks!

 

[Blobbie1]

Experience helps, but only if you’re still open to correction, otherwise those habits just get reinforced.

 

[softshooter]

Veterans may have years but attentive beginners often rack up skills faster=

 

[Riffleprince]

I’ve seen that firsthand. The guy who listens and makes an effort usually beats the one relying on old habits. Keeping an open mind really helps.

 

[Alan]

That happens more often than people want to admit. Experience helps but only if it stays flexible. The shooters who keep improving are usually the ones still willing to adjust fundamentals not the ones defending old habits.

 

[GibbsGunsmithing]

Most males are that way. Too much ego for sure. I would rather teach 100 females that 10 males. 8 out of that 10 would tell me how to run the class! Most veterans that I have been fortunate to teach were just fine. Respectful, paying attention, not coming up with their John Wick Bravo Sierra.
Regards,

 

[Alan]

Most males are that way. Too much ego for sure. I would rather teach 100 females that 10 males. 8 out of that 10 would tell me how to run the class! Most veterans that I have been fortunate to teach were just fine. Respectful, paying attention, not coming up with their John Wick Bravo Sierra.
Regards,

I get what you’re saying about attitudes in classes but it’s probably better to frame it as individual behavior rather than gender. Any group has people who listen and people who push back.

That said, veterans and experienced shooters often do tend to come in with more discipline and a “just show me what works” mindset, which makes instruction smoother.

 

[GibbsGunsmithing]

Sorry no. In my experience ( over 10,000 students over the years) most guys “know” how to shoot and that’s the first thing they will tell you. Boobtube, video games, movies, etc gives the male of this species the supposed abilities of a John Wick by merely watching some silly movie where the “hero” slaughters bad guy after bad guy in the numbers of hundreds per film. It has been that way over the ages. Cowboys, Dirty Harry’s and others making 65 yard shots with one hand…

I’ll stand by my statement. 100 females instead of 10 males, no make that one male even. Females are usually clean slates and want To learn and aren’t afraid to admit they know very little.

My experience ranges from police academies, training courses at Gunsite and such, military experience, owning a training company that instructed civilians, military, and Leo’s. Tell some dude he doesn’t know something or is deficient at anything and you have insulted him, his mother and kicked his dog….

 

[Shibadog]

Most males are that way. Too much ego for sure. I would rather teach 100 females that 10 males. 8 out of that 10 would tell me how to run the class! Most veterans that I have been fortunate to teach were just fine. Respectful, paying attention, not coming up with their John Wick Bravo Sierra.
Regards,

Gotta agree. The WORSE are youngsbucks who know nothing but Think they know everything! Think they had a Rambo or John Wick gene or something. I’ve had two that I sent on their way after two sessions when they continued to ignore safety issues. You can fix ignorant with education, but you can’t do anything with stupid.