Ann interesting article about testing your shooting skills.

[SteveH]

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2016/10/4/testing-your-rifle-shooting-skills/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=insider&utm_campaign=1016

[jmdavis]

Cooper had a number of interesting rifle and pistol tests. And I think that they are good ones. Then again an AQT or a scored KD AQT is a good one as well. Heck shooting a match (which was also something recommended by Cooper), is an excellent test.

Sometimes something will click during an exam like this. But generally the best learning comes at other times when you are dry firing, doing drills, working on positions, and developing your shot process. You do these things largely off the range, but they make a big difference when it comes to "tests" such as the one above.

But whenever I read anyone talking about  tests for "distinguished" ratings, I stop reading. There are specific definitions for Distinguished Rifle, Pistol Shot, Revolver and International and none of those is earned in a single test. They are earned in open competition with some of the best shooters in the country and the world. The minimum cut for points toward a Distinguished badge in most National Trophy matches is 470 of 500. In smaller matches that score my rise to 485 or even 490. It takes a minimum of 30 points to distinguish and one at least one of the legs must be an 8 or 10 point "hard leg." The number of legs in a given match is determined by the number of shooters with more available in larger matches. Hard legs require a minimum of 16 shooters for a single 8 point leg.