Contrary to common beliefs, the most important thing a shooter can bring to the range is not a specific firearm but a specific attitude. To ensure you have a successful day on the range, here are six key attributes of an ideal range mindset that every shooter should practice.

6 Range Mindset Attitudes to Bring to the Range

Leave the Negativity at the Door

Believe it or not, confidence is a fundamental attribute for any shooter to have. Confidence allows an individual to feel courageous, helps increase motivation and can strengthen a person’s ability to succeed. However, nothing will ruin your inner confidence faster than the way you choose to speak about yourself. If you are having a stressful day or are struggling to get better at a specific task on the range, it can be easy to fall into a negative perspective and start nitpicking at yourself. It is important to remember that sometimes a successful day at the range is not one where you hit every bullet perfectly on your target, but instead it is knowing you had a fun time regardless of how you performed. 

It may not seem like it, but simple comments such as “I am awful “or “I can’t do that” do more harm than good to your frame of mind. Opinions like that will tell your brain you cannot do anything right, which eventually makes you begin to believe it. Switch up your perspective and leave any negativity about yourself at home. You are at the range to shoot firearms, not whine about how awful you feel about yourself. Focus on the positive, be thankful you are able to practice, give yourself some grace and watch how much better you will begin to shoot. 

Safety First, Fun Second

For any shooter, safety should be the number one goal and priority. Firearms have the potential to be dangerous, but thankfully this industry sets certain rules and regulations into place that can keep everyone safe from harm. It may seem like these rules can make the sport of shooting boring and stuck up, but it is actually the exact opposite. Following all range and safety rules allows embracing fun to the fullest extent. Rules allow shooting ranges to be a relaxed and calm environment that keeps everyone safe. Safety and fun always pair hand-in-hand in the firearm world, a mentality everyone must continually employ.

Embrace the Mistakes

Humans remain inherently bound to make mistakes. But rather than fear those mistakes, welcome them, as they give us an opportunity to be better. You are only setting yourself up for failure if you expect to have perfect range days. It is crucial you understand that you will and are going to mess up, and this is not something to beat yourself up about. Embrace the errors, learn from them, and remind yourself that you are only human. 

Prioritize Your Safety

It is your personal responsibility to prioritize your safety, and one of the easiest ways you can do this is through training. Training allows a shooter to sharpen their skills, learn some new ones and become a better shooter. It is a task that no one can do for you and something that must be accomplished in your own time. No matter the way you decide to train, the best recommendation I can give is to maintain a serious attitude. A shooter that puts the time and energy into their personal safety is a shooter that is better prepared on how to handle anything that life throws at them.

You Can & You Will

When you participate in an activity such as shooting, it is completely natural and normal to get frustrated. At times, this frustration can lead to doubting yourself which can negatively impact the way that you shoot. Regardless of these emotions, it is crucial that you recognize that you are not alone in experiencing these thoughts, because everyone has the same fears and doubts when shooting as you do. Anything you set your mind to accomplish, no matter how long it may take, you will. 

Your Best is More Than Enough

One of the most important philosophies that I can recommend every shooter to adopt is to never aim for perfection. Perfection is an impossible task to achieve and one that is setting yourself up for failure. The best way to succeed at the range is to practice often, keep track of your progress and, more importantly, try your best. Set achievable goals and accomplish them. Your best is more than enough, and you should be proud of how far you have come in your shooting journey.

Closing Remarks

Overall, one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to ensure you have a fun and successful time at the range is by maintaining a happy, positive, and safe mentality. This type of mindset can help you become more resilient to challenges, allow you to reach your goals quicker and help you become a better shooter. An easy way to correct these feelings is to gently remind yourself that you can achieve anything.

Find a place to shoot at nssf.org.