Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Shooters: What’s the Difference?

With all of the firearms training and classes I’ve attended, I’ve noticed a trend.

In every single class, except two, regardless of who the class was designed for, i.e. beginners, intermediate, or advanced shooters, classes always bring in students with a big gap in actual shooting ability.

This is the norm.

For advanced shooters, the situation often calls for them to sit around waiting for beginners to ‘catch-up’ with the class, or worse, they get stuck doing the basics the entire class.

For beginners, an advanced curriculum can be discouraging to their shooting journey, and even unsafe.

What I’ve Learned About the Tactical / Shooting Industry

I’ve learned that students define their experience level based on the number of classes they’ve taken and/or the topics covered in those classes, rather than their true abilities.

Too many people want to take advanced courses because they might think an “advanced” class will give them the secret recipe for getting better (there is no secret recipe).

Or they want to take advanced classes because they want to do ‘cooler stuff’ (which can be very dangerous if they are not ready for it).

The truth is, as many instructors preach, shooting is simple. The fundamentals, or core skills, apply to every experience level and are polished over time.

The only area I feel is advanced with shooting, is moving and shooting. (Keep in mind, I’m talking about shooting–not tactics.)

The Definition of a Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Shooter

I’ve already mentioned how most students seem to measure their skill level by the number of classes they’ve taken and/or the topics covered in those classes, rather than their true abilities.

So, how does one really know if they are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced shooter?

The truth is, there isn’t a universal standard.

As a result, I want to outline how we define the different experience levels so that you can better understand our class reviews, and our class expectations, should you decide to take one of our classes.

When we review classes, we consider the following major categories, each with their own set of sub-categories:

• Safety
• Instruction
• Demonstration
• Material Covered
• Organization
• Professionalism

Beyond that, when recommending a class, we always give our opinion on who the class is best for–new shooters, beginners, intermediate, and/or advanced shooters.

Here is how we generally categorize the different levels.

Definition of a New Shooter

A New Shooter does not know how to safely manipulate a weapon; does not know the basics behind how firearms work; has never fired a gun or has for fun, but has never been formally taught anything about safe weapons handling or marksmanship.

Definition of a Beginner Shooter

A Beginner Shooter has had at least one formal session of instruction; knows how to safely manipulate a weapon; can land single shots and controlled pairs on target safely and with confidence from the ready position.

Definition of an Intermediate Shooter

An Intermediate Shooter can do everything a beginner shooter can do but knows how to draw safely from a holster (concealed and/or overt) and shoot; can safely and confidently sidestep or turn while drawing and engaging targets, and knows how to shoot from different, common positions and around barricades.

Definition of an Advanced Shooter

An Advanced Shooter can do everything an intermediate shooter can do but at a higher level; can dynamically move and shoot while maintaining accurate speed; can combine skill sets safely, confidently, and without major overwhelm or confusion; and has the ability to quickly and accurately engage targets from 25-yards, and the ability to take precise shots on-demand from 4-yards, e.g. 1-inch circles.

Be Honest with Yourself

The key here is that before one can say they are, let’s say an intermediate shooter, they must have spent enough time to build a high level of proficiency and confidence with the techniques and tactics taught at the beginner level.

For example, if a shooter cannot land single or controlled pairs on a target, having covered the topic in a previous class does not make them an intermediate shooter, i.e. they must be able to execute.

We originally had a set of marksmanship standards for each level, too, used as a pre-requisite for our classes. (By marksmanship standards, I’m referring to one’s actual ability to shoot and meet certain requirements.)

We quickly noticed, however, that most shooters inquiring about the different experience levels and marksmanship requirements had no clue if they could meet the standards or said they couldn’t–over 50% of class inquiries.

This supported my assumption that many students measure their ability by the number of classes they’ve taken and/or the topics covered, rather than if they can really shoot.

Tactical Hyve Marksmanship Standards

We’ve decided to release our basic marksmanship standards for reference. But, rather than make them requirements, we will share them as what is ‘expected’ of students and their shooting ability.

Also, checkout our article, the Triad of Effective Training, to understand how we recommend all students should approach their training and practice.

Beginner Shooters

All standards are conducted from 5-yards. All shots must be within the defined target area. (For beginners, time should not really matter, but we’ve listed some times below for reference.)

• LOW READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 1.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• HIGH READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 1.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• SINGLE SHOT FROM HOLSTER: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 2.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• TRANSITION: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • > 4 seconds
  • 1 shot rifle / 1 shot pistol

• COMBAT RELOAD(RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 6.5 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• COMBAT RELOAD(PISTOL): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 5 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• CHECK DRILL: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • > 12 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot rifle, transition to pistol 1 shot, reload rifle and 1 shot

• RIFLE EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • > 12 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

• PISTOL NOW: 8-Inch Circle
  • > 12 seconds
  • 16 rounds in the pistol (15 in the mag, 1 in the chamber)
  • Shoot 16, reload, shoot 1

• PISTOL EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • > 12 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

Intermediate Shooters

All standards are conducted from 5-yards. All shots must be within the defined target area.

• LOW READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 1 to 1.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• HIGH READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 1 to 1.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• SINGLE SHOT FROM HOLSTER: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 1 to 2.5 seconds
  • 1 shot

• TRANSITION: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • 3 to 4 seconds
  • 1 shot rifle / 1 shot pistol

• COMBAT RELOAD(RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 5 to 6.5 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• COMBAT RELOAD(PISTOL): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 3 to 5 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• CHECK DRILL: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • 10 to 12 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot rifle, transition to pistol 1 shot, reload rifle and 1 shot

• RIFLE EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • 9 to 12 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

• PISTOL NOW: 8-Inch Circle
  • 10 to 12 seconds
  • 16 rounds in the pistol (15 in the mag, 1 in the chamber)
  • Shoot 16, reload, shoot 1

• PISTOL EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • 9 to 12 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

Advanced Shooters

All standards are conducted from 7-yards. All shots must be within the defined target area.

• LOW READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • < 1 second
  • 1 shot

• HIGH READY (RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • < 1 second
  • 1 shot

• SINGLE SHOT FROM HOLSTER: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • < 1 second
  • 1 shot

• TRANSITION: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • Less than 3 seconds
  • 1 shot rifle / 1 shot pistol

• COMBAT RELOAD(RIFLE): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • Less than 5 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• COMBAT RELOAD(PISTOL): 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • Less than 3 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot, reload, 1 shot

• CHECK DRILL: 4-Inch Circle or 3 x 5 Index Card
  • Less than 10 seconds
  • 1 round in the chamber, empty magazine in the gun
  • 1 shot rifle, transition to pistol 1 shot, reload rifle and 1 shot

• RIFLE EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • Less than 9 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

• PISTOL NOW: 8-Inch Circle
  • Less than 10 seconds
  • 16 rounds in the pistol (15 in the mag, 1 in the chamber)
  • Shoot 16, reload, shoot 1

• PISTOL EL PREZ: 6 x 12-inch rectangle, USPSA A-Zone or similar
  • Less than 9 seconds
  • 6 rounds in the gun with 3 targets
  • 180-degree turn on the buzzer
  • 2 shots each target
  • Reload
  • 2 shots each target

Hopefully, our basic marksmanship standards are helpful. They are not requirements for our classes, but they will give you a good idea of what we expect of students at different skill levels.

Core Skills, Not ‘Shiny Objects’

The next time you head to the range to practice, keep in mind that developing and refining your core skills is the most important thing you can do to get better as a shooter.

Don’t be preoccupied with learning the ‘advanced’ stuff. There isn’t much about shooting that is advanced–well, unless you’re into long-range shooting and hate doing math. 🙂