(S)pecific
(M)easurable
(A)chievable
(R)ealistic (or relevant)
(T)ime-based
For example, my goal this week is to improve my handgun marksmanship and reduce the number of fliers on target at center mass.
See the photo below for “groups” vs “fliers.”
[Groups & Fliers](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fwvEExKx_4Ymv0ywQoDWHbB4Sd5uUPdK/view?usp=drivesdk)
Or see the feature photo.
I will do this by improving my grip and trigger press, so that I have a tight 5-round group at 20 yds.
I will measure this by visiting the range 3x times this week and shooting 5 rounds, center mass, at 5 yds, 10 yds, 15 yds, and 20 yds, with a goal of having no more than two fliers per distance on day 1, one flier per distance on day 2, and none on day 3.
(S)pecific – What do you want to happen? I want to improve my handgun marksmanship over the next week.
(M)easurable – How will you measure success? I will measure success by reducing fliers at 20 yds for a 5-round group on target, center mass. Each day, over three days, the number of fliers at 5, 10, 15, and 20 yds should become fewer until 0 at 20 yds.
(A)chievable- Does this goal even make sense in your world? Yes, I have gone to the range 2x per week. I can add a third day to work on my grip and trigger pull, which will improve my “shooting groups” by making them tighter.
(R)elevant (or Realistic) – Do you have control over the SMART variables? Is this something that you can even do? Yes, I have already seen improvement after 2 range visits. Tighter shooting groups are indicators of improved marksmanship.
(T)ime-based- How long should this take? I will go 3 x this week and fire at least 20 rounds over an hour on target, center mass. At the end of the week, I will assess my progress.
Your goal might be to successfully execute a beginner/intermediate/or advanced shooting drill or shooting qualification over the next week or month, or your goal might be to get to the range once a week in October and shoot 20 rounds.
Once you complete your SMART Goal worksheet, register for a 2AWGV Ladies’ Day range event, and then send me your worksheet at nefertiti[dot]mshalefaster[at]gmail[dot]com, so that I can have a sense for what you want to focus on at the range.
….
The 4 Universal Rules of Gun Safety:
1. The gun is always loaded! In the event that you are certain the gun is not loaded, read the first part of this rule again.
2. Never point the gun’s muzzle at anything you are not ready and willing to kill, maim, damage, or completely destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is beyond your target (for example, behind your target is a wall, and behind that wall is a bedroom. If you don’t know who or what is in that bedroom, you don’t know what is beyond your target).