So between the Covid, travel, and other stuff, I hadn't shot in over a year. This is the longest I've ever gone without shooting. I'm sharing this because I don't think theres much out there in terms of data on the actual 'perishability' of shooting as a skill.
I've done some 'shooting' with my SIRT pistol at home, some dryfire, and general pointing my gun at light switches in the house type work for practicing grip and presentation - but nothing in the last 2 months.
Well, yesterday I went to the range with 50rds.
Course of fire:
7 yard
1 shot from holster x 6
6 shot rapid fire from holster
3x Double Tap from holster strong hand only
3 yard
3x Double Tap from retention (gun pressed into hip and angled to allow slide clearance)
6 shot rapid fire from retention
3-10yd
Starting at 3 yards, headshots while walking backward and firing rapidly till 10yd
(16 shots)
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. Despite dozens of articles on 'shooting is a perishable skill,' a years absence was not much different then my shooting ability when I'm practicing regularly.
No doubt I do shoot better when practicing regularly, but the difference is not nearly as much as with other skills; taking a year off shooting is much less dramatic then taking a year off exercising, for example. Likewise, I'm a hell of a lot worse playing darts with a few months absence, much less a year. But shooting was pretty forgiving of this years absence.
That said, I hope not to ever go this long without shooting again. But I hope this little test provides some comfort to those who are shooting less these days due to Covid and high ammo prices.