When I say I started from scratch, I mean it. Before beginning this journey, I had barely fired a pistol in my life. I owned a Glock 43x, but aside from a basic defensive handgun class, I had no real experience handling a firearm. I had the desire to become proficient, not just familiar. I didn’t want to be the kind of gun owner who owned a weapon but couldn’t use it well under pressure – or even hit a paper plate at seven yards consistently.
So I made a decision: I was going to put in the work. Over the next 30 days, I committed to 30 sessions of dry fire practice at home and 1,000 rounds of live fire at the range. I wanted to see how much I could realistically improve on a budget, and more importantly, if I could shoot well enough to depend on myself in a real-world scenario.
Why I Chose the Glock 43x
When picking a handgun, I gravitated toward the Glock 43x. It’s compact, concealable, and chambered in 9mm – perfect for everyday carry. But I quickly realized I’d made a classic beginner mistake. I assumed smaller meant easier. In reality, compact pistols can have snappy recoil, which makes them tougher to master for someone just starting out.
The 43x taught me right away that I had a lot to learn. That recoil wasn’t just a challenge; it forced me to respect every part of the process – from grip to trigger press. It made every shot a moment of accountability.
Establishing a Baseline
Before I started any serious practice, I needed a benchmark. I used the El Presidente drill: 12 rounds total, shot at three targets in two sets of six, with a reload in between. It’s a common drill because it tests everything – draw speed, sight alignment, trigger control, magazine changes, and target transitions.
My first time running the drill? It took me 1 minute and 53 seconds. My shot placement was awful. Only one round hit within the “acceptable” zone. The rest? Let’s just say they didn’t belong anywhere near a defensive shooting scenario. But that’s why we start – so we can improve.
Creating a Training Plan That Worked
My strategy was simple: I would dry fire daily and live fire in small batches. I couldn’t afford to blow through ammo, so every range trip was intentional. I limited myself to around 30 rounds per session, mostly fired from five yards.
Dry fire was where most of the work happened. I trained from concealment, practiced drawing, refined my grip and stance, and ran reload drills – all with an empty gun in my garage. Each session lasted 15 to 45 minutes. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was the most cost-effective way to build real muscle memory.
Targeting Accuracy Over Speed
In the early days, I wasn’t concerned with speed. I focused entirely on accuracy. I used a 4×6 index card as my target – if I hit off the card, it counted as a failure. That forced me to slow down, evaluate every movement, and learn what good trigger control felt like.
There was no ego in this process. Hitting paper wasn’t enough. I wanted tight groups, deliberate shots, and consistency. Eventually, I’d worry about speed. But I knew that speed without accuracy was just wasted ammo and dangerous habits.
When Things Got Worse Before They Got Better
About halfway through the process, I hit a wall. My shot groupings started drifting low left. I double-checked everything: grip, stance, trigger finger, sight picture. Nothing obvious was wrong. But the problem was getting worse.
It was frustrating. After all that work, I felt like I was regressing. But that’s when I discovered something crucial: I was dealing with recoil anticipation.
The Recoil Anticipation Breakthrough
Recoil anticipation is subtle but devastating. Even though I didn’t realize it, my brain was trying to preempt the gun’s movement by pushing down and away just before the shot broke. That torque was causing the low-left pattern.
Once I identified it, things started clicking. To retrain my brain, I picked up a Glock 44 in .22 LR. The lighter recoil gave me space to focus entirely on sight alignment and trigger control without flinching. That small shift in caliber gave me the breakthrough I needed.
Yes, I Used a .22 – and No, I Don’t Regret It
Let’s be honest – there’s a weird stigma around training with .22s. But here’s the deal: 1,000 rounds of 9mm cost me $240. A thousand rounds of .22? About $58. Not only did the .22 save my wallet, but it also helped me work on recoil anticipation without punishment.
After a few sessions with the Glock 44, I returned to my 43x and immediately saw improvement. My shot placement stabilized. My confidence came back. And my training suddenly felt like it had momentum again.
The Final Benchmark
After 30 days and 988 rounds of 9mm (plus a few bonus .22 rounds), it was time to run the El Presidente drill again. This time, I completed it in just 22 seconds – a massive improvement from the nearly 2 minutes it took a month earlier.
Out of 12 rounds, seven hit the 4×6 card. Ten hit within an A-zone. The other two were close. More importantly, all 12 rounds landed on the target. Not a single shot disappeared into the void. I wasn’t a professional shooter, but I was now someone who could responsibly and competently run a pistol under stress.
What I Learned About Training on a Budget
The biggest lesson wasn’t about ammo or drills – it was about consistency. I didn’t need 5,000 rounds and a pile of fancy gear. I needed a plan, a goal, and the discipline to show up every day.
Dry fire worked. .22 worked. Focused live fire worked. And even when I hit setbacks, those setbacks taught me something. There’s no substitute for just doing the reps. That’s where the progress is.
Moving Forward
This wasn’t a one-month experiment and done. This was the foundation. I’ll continue training, refining, and pushing myself, because owning a gun isn’t enough. Carrying a gun means carrying the responsibility to use it wisely, accurately, and under pressure.
And if you’re thinking about doing the same, here’s my advice: stop wasting ammo with unfocused range trips. Get serious about your dry fire. Use drills with purpose. Shoot slowly. Learn the fundamentals. You’ll be amazed at what 30 days can do.
So if you’re new to shooting, I promise – yes, it takes effort, but it’s not out of reach. Learn how to train smart, not just often. You’ll be better for it. I know I am.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.