Skip to content

  Every shooter, no matter how skilled, eventually hits a plateau. At first, progress comes fast—your accuracy improves, your draw gets quicker, and your confidence builds. But then, without warning, your improvements slow down or stop altogether. You train, but your times don’t drop. Your groups stay the same size. You feel stuck.

  This is the plateau, and it happens to everyone. The difference between a good shooter and a great one is the ability to push through it. Here’s why most shooters stall in their progress—and, more importantly, how to break through to the next level.

1. You’re Training Without a Purpose

  Many shooters fall into the routine of going to the range and simply shooting rounds downrange. There’s no structure, no defined goal—just a lot of loud noises and empty brass. This type of training feels productive but does little to improve performance.

Solution: Train with Specific Goals

  • Define what you’re working on (draw speed, shot placement, split times, etc.).

  • Set measurable benchmarks and track progress.

  • Use a shot timer, accuracy drills, or performance metrics to evaluate improvement.

2. You’re Relying Too Much on Live Fire

  Ammunition and range time are limited resources. If your only practice comes from shooting live rounds, you’re missing a massive part of skill development. Many professional shooters spend more time in dry fire than at the range.

Solution: Integrate Dry Fire Training

  • Work on your draw, trigger control, and sight alignment daily.

  • Simulate real-world shooting positions—standing, kneeling, sitting, moving.

  • Use a laser training system or dry-fire app to track accuracy. One we heavily recommend is the Manits dry fire trainer. You can find one HERE!

3. You’re Not Training Under Stress

  In real-life defensive situations, stress changes everything. If your training consists of standing still and shooting at stationary paper targets, you aren’t preparing for dynamic scenarios.

Solution: Add Stress to Your Training

  • Use a shot timer to create urgency.

  • Perform physical exercises (push-ups, sprints) before shooting.

  • Engage in decision-based drills with “shoot/no-shoot” targets.

  • Train in low-light or unconventional shooting positions.

4. You’re Ignoring the Mental Side of Shooting

  Shooting is as much mental as it is physical. Many shooters plateau because they haven’t trained their minds to process information faster, stay calm under pressure, or refine their neuromuscular coordination.

Solution: Develop a Shooter’s Mindset

  • Use visualization techniques to mentally rehearse drills before executing them. Imagine the goal and every step you would need to take to achieve it. What does that goal look like? How does your body need to move to make the goal achievable? 

  • Practice deep breathing and controlled focus to manage stress. Box Breathing is an old yet very reliable way to manage stress. This can be done by breathing in for a count of four, holding for a count of four, and then releasing the breath for a count of four.

  • Use neurolinguistic techniques to reinforce positive habits and eliminate inefficient movements. For instance, when taking cautious and precise shots. I repeat to myself audibly the phrase “Keep pressing” in a consistent metronome like tone. 

  • Utilize emotionless correction or coaching. When running into errors or problems, don’t attack yourself or use verbiage that demeans yourself. When you run into errors, mistakes, or problems. Simply take a second to recognise what caused it, then take the necessary steps to correct the issue without restarting the whole process. You will find you have far less frustration as well as far fewer mistakes.

5. You’re Focusing on Speed Instead of Efficiency

  Many shooters believe the key to improvement is simply shooting faster. The problem? Speed without efficiency leads to sloppy fundamentals. You can’t rush your way past a plateau—true progress comes from refining mechanics and eliminating wasted motion.

Solution: Prioritize Smooth, Efficient Movements

  • Take Caution and analyze your mechanics in dry fire before adding speed.

  • Film yourself and review frame by frame for inefficiencies.

  • Start back to the fundamentals. Work on your grip, stance, and draw stroke to remove excess movement.

  • Speed will naturally come as efficiency and consistency improve.

6. You’re Training in Isolation

  Shooting alone limits your ability to identify weaknesses. Without feedback, you may not recognize bad habits forming in your technique.

Solution: Train with Others and Seek Coaching

  • Train with a partner to get real-time feedback.

  • Take professional courses to refine techniques and break bad habits.

  • Compete in shooting matches to expose weaknesses under pressure.

7. You’re Not Reviewing and Adjusting Your Training Plan

  If you’re not tracking progress, how do you know if you’re improving? Many shooters hit a plateau because they’re stuck in a cycle of repeating the same drills without evaluating their effectiveness.

Solution: Track and Adjust Your Training

  • Keep a shooting journal with times, accuracy percentages, and notes.

  • Review past performance and adjust your training routine accordingly.

  • Identify weak areas and dedicate extra time to improving them.

Breaking Through the Plateau

  Hitting a plateau isn’t the end of progress—it’s a signal that your training needs to evolve. The key to breaking through is not doing more but doing better. Train with purpose, challenge yourself, and refine your mechanics. Shooting mastery isn’t about luck or talent—it’s about smart, intentional, and structured training.