The 5 Fundamentals of Shooting: Master the Basics, Build Confidence
by Adam Johnson – A-Team Firearms Instruction
Whether you're brand new to firearms or have been shooting for years, every accurate shot starts with the same thing: the fundamentals. These five principles are the foundation of all marksmanship. Mastering them won’t just help you shoot better — it will make you safer, more consistent, and more confident.
At A-Team Firearms Instruction, I teach these core concepts in every course because they work — no gimmicks, no shortcuts. Let’s walk through each one, with a special emphasis on the two most critical: Aiming and Trigger Control.
1. Aiming (Sight Alignment & Sight Picture)
If you don’t know where your muzzle is pointed, you can’t expect your shots to land where you want.
Sight alignment means your front sight is centered and level within your rear sight. Sight picture means placing that aligned sight setup onto your target — usually at center mass for defensive shooting.
Tip: Your eyes should focus on the front sight. The rear sight and target will blur slightly — that’s okay. Consistent alignment is what matters.
Why It’s So Important:
Even a perfect trigger press won't fix poor sight alignment. Aiming is where every shot begins. If you skip this step, everything else falls apart.
2. Breath Control
Your body is always moving — even when you think you’re still. Breathing is one of the biggest contributors to unintended movement.
Proper technique: Take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and pause your breath briefly at the natural respiratory pause(usually after exhale) to take your shot.
Tip: Don’t hold your breath for too long — it can create tension and throw you off.
3. Hold Control (Grip & Stability)
A proper grip gives you stability and recoil management. An inconsistent or weak grip causes muzzle movement and poor follow-up shots.
Proper technique: Use a strong, high grip with your dominant hand and wrap your support hand tightly around it. Arms should be firm but not locked.
Tip: Grip the firearm like a firm handshake — enough to control it, but not so much that your hand shakes from tension.
4. Trigger Control
This is where the magic (or the mistake) happens.
Trigger control is the ability to press the trigger smoothly and straight back without disturbing your sight alignment. Jerking the trigger, slapping it, or anticipating recoil are the most common causes of inaccurate shots.
Why It’s So Important:
You can have perfect aim, but if you yank the trigger, you’ll miss. Mastering trigger control means you control the shot — the gun doesn’t control you.
Tip: Think of pressing the trigger like squeezing a dropper or clicking a pen — steady, smooth, deliberate.
5. Follow Through
Follow through is everything that happens after the shot breaks — maintaining your grip, stance, and mental focus through the entire process.
If you immediately drop the gun to see where your shot landed, you risk pulling your shot and developing bad habits.
Proper technique: Keep your eyes on your front sight. Reset your trigger while reacquiring your sights. Stay mentally engaged as if you might need to fire again.
Tip: Train your brain to see each shot as part of a full cycle, not a single event.
Final Thoughts: Focus on What Matters Most
While all five fundamentals matter, Aiming and Trigger Control are the most critical. Together, they account for the vast majority of missed shots — and corrected shots.
When students ask me how to get better quickly, I always tell them this:
“Slow down. Focus on your sights. Control your press. Do those two things consistently, and everything else gets easier.”
The good news? These skills can be learned, improved, and mastered — whether you’re a brand-new gun owner or someone looking to refine your edge.
If you want guided practice, personalized feedback, and real-world shooting drills to apply these fundamentals, I’d be honored to work with you.
Train Smart. Stay Safe. Be Ready.
— Adam Johnson