What is "Proficiency"?

[XenaWarriorCat]

How do you rate your own proficiency?

While a lot of the general rules apply I'd say degrees of proficiency vary according to your commitment and intended use for firearms. For example, a competitive shooter would measure his/her proficiency differently than a backyard tin can plinker. A twice/year range hobbiest would gauge proficiency differently than a Law Enforcement Officer and a CCW permit holder might aspire to a higher standard than Labor Day dove hunter.

What's your measure of proficient and why?

 

[eagleeyes]

see my signature lolz
but seriously not only that but knowing when it's justifiable and safe to not hit anyone or thing else but your target efficiently and effectively

 

[gunnerbob]

I will never be as proficient as I'd like... I'd like the tactical proficiency of a NAVY SEAL... I've got a lot of work to do.

 

[XenaWarriorCat]

I will never be as proficient as I'd like..

I keep thinking, "One day it'll all come together and stay together..."

:no:

 

[Numenor]

I keep thinking, "One day it'll all come together and stay together..."

:no:

This is so me it's not even funny. >_<

 

[the dark]

How do you rate your own proficiency?

While a lot of the general rules apply I'd say degrees of proficiency vary according to your commitment and intended use for firearms. For example, a competitive shooter would measure his/her proficiency differently than a backyard tin can plinker. A twice/year range hobbiest would gauge proficiency differently than a Law Enforcement Officer and a CCW permit holder might aspire to a higher standard than Labor Day dove hunter.

What's your measure of proficient and why?

I would agree with the idea that I will never as proficient ad I would like to be. Simply not my job now (those military days are behind me) and, therefore, too many other things to attend to in order to be as proficient as someone who either operates or trains to operate on a daily basis. How about a once or twice per month range denizen, with a lot of dry practice in between. Except for some formal training once or, at best, twice per year, that is likely as good as it will get. But I think an integral part of proficiency is avoiding complacency.

BTW, sadly I am not sure a majority of LEOs are as proficient as you might imagine.

 

[kerb]

I try to shoot and practice as many different pistol disciplines as possible, as often as possible.

So far I do:
Bullseye matches
Sitting duck matches
Steel plate challenge
Concealed steel plate challenge (something my gun club does, steel plates but you draw from concealment and your pistol has to fall within a maximum size.)

I intend to start shooting in some action pistol matches when I have the equipment for it.

Not a competition, but I've been working on my NRA centerfire pistol qualification. One of these days I'd like to earn distinguished expert.

Eventually I'd like to do some three gun competition also. No shotgun or AR right now though.

At any rate with what I'm doing now, I'm confident that I can deploy my weapon and get rounds on target. Action pistol will round that out quite a bit.

 

[Iam2Taz]

Interesting thought about proficiency....
For those "weekend" warriors. IDPA, IPSC, Bullseye, Three Gun and other venues offer practical test application. None of them are close to having someone shoot back at you. But, several venues will at least get your stress level up and make you go through the exercise of shooting on the move, not hitting the "good guy" target and generally frustrating the pants off of you when you miss. After all, they are holding still. (Sometimes.)
So, if I grade proficiency based on qualifiers used by the some of the gaming community, I have a long way to go. But at least it is an independent measure, not me ranking myself. Still every week I have been able to watch scores improve. That is one way I measure how I am doing.
(Three targets 7-14-21 yards; 18 rounds; 2 reloads; 13.33 seconds; all center zone = my best run with a .45 ) You don't have to tell me that's slow, I know. There were a couple of guys in my group alone who did it close to 10 seconds.
Marksman with a Springfield .45
Sharpshooter with a Glock19.
Still waiting on a couple of more IPSC classifiers. I shot too many different types of guns to rank this year.
I have got to shoot some more three gun matches next year!

I am not an advocate of using this for "training." I believe if you want training and your really want to become a better shooter, then you take the classes from a competent instructor who will spend time watching you shoot and really help you correct all those little problems you don't even see.
YMMV

 

[eagleeyes]

proficiency is getting the job done well

 

[SGB]

[h=2]The four stages of competency:[/h]

1. Unconscious incompetence The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize the deficit. They may deny the usefulness of the skill. The individual must recognize their own incompetence, and the value of the new skill, before moving on to the next stage[SUP]. [/SUP]The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on the strength of the stimulus to learn.[SUP][/SUP]
   
   
2. Conscious incompetence Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize the deficit, as well as the value of a new skill in addressing the deficit. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage.[SUP]
   
   [/SUP]
   
3. Conscious competence The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires concentration. It may be broken down into steps, and there is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill.[SUP]
   
   [/SUP]
   
4. Unconscious competence The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become "second nature" and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.

[h=2][/h]