What makes a shooter "good?"

[Keebsley]

So, what drill or test attributes to the fundamentals to be performed on demand?

I agree with YVK, a definite answer is hard to answer, if not, impossible. Just trying to get some personal definitions, benchmarks, etc. to what other's feel makes a good shooter. There was some pretty good dialogue in another thread where it was discussed that those who practice a particular classifier (namely IDPA/USPSA) to the point where they make Master; however, when it comes to Match time, seldom performs to that expectation. So, becoming good at one skill does not necessarily make you good at all of them.

Like you and the good doctor have said, the definitive answer of "good" is hard to answer as everyone's definition is different. There are places where some might agree and disagree on what is good. My definition of good by way of producing the fundamentals of marksmanship/shooting etc on demand is just that. No matter what the drill, course of fire, etc, they are able to produce satisfactory results on demand. Again, what is satisfactory to me may be different to others but it's just a circular argument because everyone has their own definition.

[MDS]

I don't have a score. All I care that all shots land in black - which basically means a less than 5.5 inch group around POA; this is at 25 yards.

Cool, so it's like The Test, but at 25yds and no time limit. I think I'll try that next time I get to the range. Thanks!

[David Armstrong]

"Good shooter" varies based on situation. And thus, for me, a good shooter is one who is capable of successfully responding to a wide variety of situations. If you can hit a 3x5 card in 1 second at 3 yards but can't hit a full-size torso at 25 yards in 3 seconds are you a good shooter or are you a specialist in some type of shooting? Similarly if you can get a center hit on that 25 yard torso every time but still need 3 seconds for a hit on that 3x5 card at 3 yards are you good or not?

So for me it becomes somewhat philosophical. What makes a shooter "good" is being able to control his immediate environment when confronted by any reasonable hostilities. That would include non-shooting issues as well as shooting and is performance based rather than skills based. But that doesn't meet the basic human desire for measuring competence with skills. Perhaps the better question would be, therefore, how do we measure shooting competence?

[dravz]

If we're talking about surviving a gunfight I would want to see some metrics vs moving targets, especially when the shooter is moving too. Yes, I believe guys who can do the aforementioned drills and tests within a time limit to be good shooters, but have any of those drills addressed moving targets? That would be my only concern.

[peterb]

To me, a "good defensive pistol shooter" should be safe and reasonably competent with a variety of handguns. You may have a preferred platform, but a good Glock/M&P/H&K shooter shouldn't fall apart if forced to use a revolver or 1911.

[John Ralston]

So a good reload is 3.0 Seconds - is that from the last shot prior to the reload to the first shot after?

[JV_]

So a good reload is 3.0 Seconds - is that from the last shot prior to the reload to the first shot after?

Yes. Essentially, as the shot timer records it.