Breakthrough Marksmanship by Ben Stoeger

[Alpha Sierra]

I just got this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1091416818/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 yesterday and started on it. Haven't gone through it all (though it isn't a huge book), so will defer a review/opinions/takeaways until I get deeper into it and run some of its drills.

I'm posting this here and not in the competition section because of my belief (based on a quick scan of the entire book) that the concepts in this book are applicable to the practical use of a handgun regardless of context or situation.

One thing I can tell you already is that this is not a book for raw beginners. It isn't a "this is how you do X" book. It's a "this is how you teach yourself to improve X" book.

[Sal Picante]

I have learned more about shooting from Ben than any other instructor, mainly just because of the breadth of information he covers.

(Sorry Gabe - I still think your class was the best I've ever taken, tho...)

This book is necessary for anyone who has shot competition as a means of getting better and still wonders why they aren't cleaning up on the "shooting part" of it all.

[YVK]

I am almost finished with a first reading, just one chapter left. It is not necessarily a new material from him but it is delivered in a different form that in some ways connects better. Having taken a class from him, it seems that the things that are emphasized in this book are also the things I've heard him correct people the most in the class. Assuming that my class was reasonably representative of all classes, the book is focused on correcting more prevalent mistakes as seen by Ben, IMO.

[Alpha Sierra]

Assuming that my class was reasonably representative of all classes, the book is focused on correcting more prevalent mistakes as seen by Ben, IMO.
That was my take too, but what attracts me it's that the book's focus seems to be to teach self analysis and self reflection tools. That is what I find compelling.

Once I learned the cause and effect relationships between position, body tension, trigger control and the difference between POA and POI in precision rifle shooting; my ability with one skyrocketed. It was, as Ben states in the book, a breakthrough moment.

[Clusterfrack]

Good book. It’s a little thin for $17, but the content is well worth the money.

[cheby]

I bought it too. Well I buy a lot of books about shooting:) I liked it though. It emphasizes on certain things that were not in focus in his other books.

[Sal Picante]

Good book. It’s a little thin for $17, but the content is well worth the money.

Just wait - he'll revise it for next year and add a chapter about something random... :)

[Clusterfrack]

Just wait - he'll revise it for next year and add a chapter about something random... :)

Hahah. Yep. Actually, I thought the "Reloaded" versions of his other books (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ben+stoeger+reloaded) were worth the price.

But what will he call the updates to those books? Practical Pistol Re-Reloaded? Practical Pistol Reloaded, Magnum Edition?

[ubervic]

Ben Stoeger is one of the rare people out there who is masterful not only at performing a high-skill task but explaining/presenting it in a way that is easy to understand AND offering relatively simple steps, that almost anyone can use as 'building blocks,' to work & progress effectively toward achieving it, too. Reading one of his short books (I can't recall the title at the moment) completely changed my view on dry-firing and sparked a big increase in my shooting skill and discipline.

[Alpha Sierra]

I just came back from the range. I took the book with me and worked on one thing and one thing only: 20 yard marksmanship.

Two shots, right out of the holster, looking only for A's as soon as the sight pictures became "acceptable". By applying his take on grip I immediately reduced the horizontal spread of each string dramatically. By dramatically I mean going from a couple of mikes and less than 50% alphas in a 16 round string to no misses and 2 - 4 charlies and the rest alphas for the same number of shots. That's in one 150 round session over the course of 90 min.

Based only on the location of the A zone hits, I'm going to make a sight adjustment that is much less than what I had thought I needed two weeks ago, then will confirm on Friday.

That's a pretty f-ing good ROI for $18 worth of reading material.

[feudist]

I signed up for his Practical Shooting Training Group that offers online coaching.

I just did the one month for 25.00. He walks you through his dry fire sessions and live fire drills. He also will watch videos you post and analyze those if you sign up at a higher

tier. Hwansik Kim is also in the group doing the same thing.

Even at the lowest level I've gotten my money's worth. He is very good at having a clear focus on technical proficiency and explaining it.

[Alpha Sierra]

So after reading it and doing some of the drills, I really like it.

I have his first dry fire and live fire practice books, and to be honest found them a bit overwhelming due to the number of different drills he presents. Kinda tough for someone with a demanding FT job, commute, kid sports, etc to make a plan based on both and stick to it.

This new book pares down both the skills and drills to the bare minimum that Ben has apparently distilled over the years as the essence of a complete and competent practical pistol shooter.

As I mentioned before, this book requires that you have a basic understanding of pistol techniques, safety, and the sport itself. If you have those you can use the tools in this book to come up with a training plan that seems more realistic and focused for the average joe than the previous ones I've read from him.