How to Shoot Faster the Right Way: A Step-by-Step Guide

Imagine being able to fire your pistol so fast that it sounds like you’re shooting a machine gun…

Shooting fast isn’t just about looking cool—it’s about having the edge when it matters most.

Whether for self-defense, competition, or building better fundamentals, improving your speed makes you more efficient, accurate under pressure, and ultimately more prepared for real-world scenarios.

In this post, I will explain how to improve your shooting speed step-by-step by focusing on the small (yet crucial) details many instructors overlook.

You’ll discover tips and drills that will shave split seconds off your times so you can shoot faster and more confidently.

Let’s jump in and see how to take your speed to the next level.

Why Most Advice on Shooting Faster Falls Short

You’ve likely come across articles that promise you can shoot faster with a few generic tips—“smooth is fast,” “relax your grip,” or “just practice more.”

While these ideas have merit, they often lack a clear roadmap.

In contrast, I will give you a straightforward, proven plan I use and teach that you can implement immediately.

We’ll discuss specific drills, practical tools, and crucial checkpoints so you’ll know exactly what to do next to achieve lightning-fast split times.

Shooting faster isn’t just about dumping rounds downrange as fast as possible—it’s about control.

Factors like grip, stance, and vision play their part, but your trigger control is the final, decisive interaction between you and your pistol.

Mastering this single aspect can mean the difference between a slow, shaky trigger squeeze and a confident, rapid follow-up shot.

I’m going to break down three key steps that will help you increase your shooting speed by improving your trigger control.

1. Mastering Trigger Reset for Faster Follow-Up Shots: If you pin your trigger to the rear before your next shot, you’re wasting time. We’ll show you how to reset your trigger faster, allowing for quicker, more controlled follow-up shots.
2. Increasing Trigger Finger Speed by Lightening Your Grip – A common mistake shooters make is gripping too hard with their firing hand, which slows down trigger movement. We’ll explain how loosening your grip slightly (while maintaining control) can dramatically improve your speed.
3. Using Rhythm & Cadence to Develop Speed – Shooting fast isn’t just about reaction time; it’s about training your body to fire steadily. We’ll cover how to use a metronome to develop a smooth, repeatable rhythm that leads to faster, more consistent split times.

Before You Begin: Assumptions and Recommended Gear

Let’s set the stage before we jump into trigger manipulations and rhythm drills.

We assume you already practice safe gun handling, have a stable grip, and know how to align your sights.

If you’re still getting comfortable with the basics, nail those down before pushing for speed.

For everyone else, If you’re serious about shooting fast, I recommend getting your hands on these training tools. Later in this guide, I discuss how to use them to get fast.

Now, let’s get into the fun part—shooting faster!

How to Improve Your Shooting Speed Step-by-Step

Step 1: Stop Pinning Your Trigger to the Rear

The foundation of shooting faster begins with understanding and mastering proper trigger reset technique.

Many shooters have been taught to pin their trigger to the rear after each shot, wait for the sights to settle, and slowly release the trigger until they hear or feel the “click” of the reset before taking their next shot.

While this methodical approach might seem logical for precision shooting disciplines like bullseye or long-range competition, it creates a significant handicap for practical shooting where split-second timing can make the difference between winning and losing – or, in tactical situations, between life and death.

The Problem with Traditional Trigger Reset

The traditional “pin and wait” method creates several issues:

1. It introduces an unnecessary delay between shots
2. It splits your attention between managing recoil and managing trigger reset
3. It can lead to anticipation and jerking of follow-up shots, especially under time pressure
4. It creates a disjointed rhythm that makes it harder to develop consistent split times

Most critically, this method fails to take advantage of a crucial window of opportunity: the time when your gun is already in recoil.

A Better Approach: Reset During Recoil

Instead of waiting for your gun to settle before beginning the trigger reset process, you should reset your trigger while the gun is still in recoil.

This approach offers several significant advantages:

1. It eliminates wasted time between shots
2. It allows you to focus solely on sight tracking and recoil management when the gun returns to the target
3. Your trigger finger is already prepped and ready for the next shot
4. It creates a more fluid, natural shooting rhythm

Think about it this way: the movement of your trigger finger releasing forward cannot possibly affect the accuracy of the previous shot – that bullet is already gone.

Therefore, there’s no accuracy benefit to slowly releasing the trigger. How you prep and press the trigger for your next shot is what matters.

Learning How to Reset Fast

Now that you understand why it’s so important to reset quickly let’s discuss how you can do it.

Here, I recommend grabbing a DryFireMag, especially if you’re a beginner or have never focused on pushing speed.

I share exercise variations below that you can use if you don’t have one, but having one will make your life easier and make practicing more enjoyable.

It’s a neat tool that uses your gun to provide audible and tactile trigger simulation, making your dry-fire practice feel like you’re squeezing your trigger for real.

You can check out their various models here. (Use code TACHYVE at checkout for 10% off your entire order.)

The DryFireMag has a mechanism that resets the trigger in your striker-fired pistol, so you won’t build bad muscle memory.

You’ll feel the simulated trigger break and reset without needing to rack the slide, even if you take multiple shots.

(They also have a Smart DryFireMag version that emits a red or IR laser with every trigger squeeze.)

EXERCISE #1

To develop this skill, start with the following exercise with your firing hand and then with both hands:

If you are not using a DryFireMag, you must rack your slide before every repetition, i.e., pin your trigger to the rear, then rack your slide while continuing to pin your trigger to the rear.

Exercise #1 is a simple way to quickly learn how to come off and back on your trigger.

This will be very easy for some of you, while others may not be used to it based on how they were trained.

EXERCISE #2

Redo Exercise #1, but this time, use a shot timer on delay to act as your start signal to reset your trigger and take your dry-fire shot.

Using a shot timer will force you to react and move as quickly as possible, improving your trigger manipulation speed.

EXERCISE #3

Here, we’ll be repeating Exercise #2 but with a key difference.

After resetting your trigger on the beep, instead of breaking a dry-fire shot, I want you to squeeze the trigger up to your trigger’s wall (or if you’ve been to our classes, get to a “fully prepped trigger.”)

If you’re new to shooting and don’t know what I mean, I want you to take up any slack that your trigger has before the dry-fire shot fires.

You still need to reset quickly when you hear the timer go off, and you should come back on your trigger as fast as possible.

However, go as far as you can without the dry-fire shot breaking.

I want you to be in complete control of your trigger, and this exercise ensures you are taking the shot only when you want to, e.g., after positively identifying a threat.

EXERCISE #4

With Exercises 1 to 3, you’ve learned how to reset your trigger fast with a follow-up shot (i.e., Exercises 1 and 2) and how to reset back to a prepped trigger to take another shot if your situation requires it (i.e., Exercise 3).

Now it’s time to string two to six dry-fire shots in a string.

Again, having a DryFireMag here makes a big difference. I recommend it when learning to run your gun fast.

You don’t have to rack the slide after every shot; you hear a click when you take a dry-fire shot and when you trigger resets; and you feel a defined wall and reset point with every shot.

After you’ve worked on resetting your trigger dry, it’s time to move to the range.

When you move to live fire:

1. Begin with slow, deliberate shots, but focus on immediate trigger reset during recoil.
2. Be aware of your front sight or red dot through recoil. You should be able to reset your trigger before the sight picture returns.
3. Gradually increase your speed as you become comfortable with the technique.
4. Pay attention to whether you’re getting a complete reset. Trigger “freeze” often occurs when shooters try to ride the reset point too finely or they grip too hard with their firing hand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Riding the Reset: Don’t try to find your trigger’s exact reset point. It’s better to release the trigger slightly further forward than necessary than to risk not getting a complete reset.
2. Tension in the Firing Hand: Excessive grip tension in your firing hand can make it difficult to move your trigger finger quickly and independently. Maintain just enough pressure to control the gun while keeping your trigger finger relaxed and mobile. (More on this in the next section.)
3. Waiting for the Click: Don’t wait to hear or feel the reset click before starting your next press. Your trigger should already be reset and prepped by the time you’re ready to take your next shot.
4. Focusing on Speed Over Technique: Initially, focus on developing the correct movement pattern rather than pure speed. Speed will come naturally as you master the technique.

The Path Forward

Remember that this technique might initially feel unnatural, especially if you’ve spent years training with the pin-to-the-rear method.

Most importantly, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a slow, deliberate trigger reset is needed for accuracy.

The key to accurate shooting lies in proper sight alignment and trigger press – not in how slowly you release the trigger after the shot breaks.

Step 2: Relax Your Firing Hand Grip

After mastering the proper trigger reset technique, the next crucial step in developing faster split times is optimizing grip pressure—specifically, learning to relax your firing hand while maintaining control of the firearm.

Many shooters unknowingly create a significant handicap for themselves by applying too much tension in their firing hand, which restricts their trigger finger’s ability to move quickly and smoothly.

The Support Hand Does the Heavy Lifting

One of the most counterintuitive aspects of proper grip technique is that your support hand should be doing most of the work in controlling your firearm.

Your firing hand has a more precise job: managing the trigger.

(Note: Do not try to replicate support hand shooting only, as in the videos, unless you are experienced and have good support hand control.)

By letting your support hand control the firearm, you can maintain a lighter, more relaxed grip with your firing hand, allowing for faster, more precise trigger manipulation.

Think of it this way: your support hand is the vice that holds the gun steady, while your firing hand is more like a precision instrument that needs the freedom to move efficiently.

Finding the Sweet Spot

The challenge lies in finding the perfect balance between control and relaxation in your firing hand.

Too much relaxation causes the gun to shift in your hand during recoil; too much tension makes your trigger finger sluggish and less precise.

Avoiding Trigger Freeze

We can’t discuss firing hand pressure without mentioning trigger freeze.

Trigger freeze refers to the inability to reset your trigger quickly between shots – it is often a direct result of excessive firing hand tension.

When your entire firing hand is clenched tightly, it becomes difficult for your trigger finger to move independently and quickly.

This is particularly problematic when trying to achieve fast split times, as your trigger finger needs to move freely forward and backward.

Signs you might be experiencing trigger freeze due to excessive grip tension:

• Difficulty releasing the trigger quickly after shots
• Inconsistent split times
• Feeling like your trigger finger is “fighting” against your grip
• Fatigue in your firing hand during extended strings of fire

Practical Exercises for Development

Here are two simple live fire exercises to find your optimal firing hand grip pressure.

EXERCISE #1: The Tension Test

1. Start with single-handed shooting (in a safe direction and with proper supervision, especially if you’re a beginner)
2. Begin with firm grip pressure
3. Gradually reduce pressure until you feel the gun slightly move in your hand during recoil
4. Increase pressure just enough to prevent that movement
5. This is your baseline minimum pressure needed for control

Add your support hand with full pressure once you’ve found this baseline with your firing hand alone.

You’ll likely be surprised at how little firing hand pressure you actually need when supported by a proper support hand grip.

EXERCISE #2: Progressive Loading

Execute the following steps, both dry-fire and live-fire, to reinforce your baseline pressure found in exercise #1.

Having a DryFireMag here will help you get quality reps in because you’ll be able to run your trigger fast without having to worry about racking your slide after every shot.

• Begin with slow, deliberate shots while maintaining proper grip pressure with both of your hands
• Gradually increase speed while monitoring grip tension
• If you feel your firing hand tensing up, slow down and reset

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Equal Pressure Distribution: If you’re trying to shoot as fast as you can, don’t try to apply equal pressure with both hands. Your support hand should be significantly tighter than your firing hand.
2. Sympathetic Tension: Watch for tension spreading from your trigger finger to the rest of your firing hand. Practice isolating your trigger finger movement from your grip
3. Grip Adjustments: Avoid constantly adjusting your grip between shots. Find your optimal pressure and stick with it

Building Speed Through Relaxation

By allowing your trigger finger to move more freely and efficiently, you’re setting yourself up for faster, more consistent split times while maintaining accuracy.

The key is to practice this technique until it becomes second nature.

Start slow, focus on the feeling of a relaxed firing hand with a strong support hand, and gradually build speed as you become comfortable with the technique.

Your split times will naturally decrease as your trigger finger gains the freedom to move at its full potential.

Step 3: Training With a Fast Rhythm: From Cadence to Metronome

Many shooters are familiar with the traditional approach to developing speed: starting with a measured cadence and gradually increasing the pace.

Instructors often begin by having students shoot with one-second splits while counting “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two” between shots.

As shooters demonstrate consistency, they progress to half-second splits (“and-one, and-two”), then quarter-second splits (“one, two”), and so on.

While we ultimately don’t want to rely on counting or rhythm when engaging targets – as real-world scenarios demand we shoot based on our sights and target requirements – this cadence-based training is an excellent foundation for developing controlled speed, especially with beginners.

However, a more sophisticated approach to rhythm training can help shooters push beyond their perceived speed limits: metronome training.

What is a Metronome?

A metronome, traditionally used by musicians to maintain precise timing, is a device that produces a steady sequence of beats at a specified tempo.

In shooting applications, these beats can serve as precise timing markers for our shots, allowing us to train at specific split times with exacting precision.

The power of metronome training lies in its ability to provide an external, objective pace that our brain can attempt to match.

Modern technology has made this particularly accessible – shooters can easily find metronome apps that provide specific beats per minute (BPM).

For reference, 400 BPM corresponds to approximately 0.15-second splits, while 600 BPM pushes into the lightning 0.10-second split territory.

Most metronomes available for purchase reach 250 BPM.

We want to go faster, so you can use free metronome apps (like the one we recommend at the beginning of this guide) or online metronomes on YouTube or here.

How to Use a Metronome to Build Speed

One particularly effective approach to metronome training borrows from the concept of a weighted vest in physical training.

Just as athletes train with additional weight to make their normal performance feel lighter and easier, shooters can use breakneck metronome speeds to make their target speed feel more manageable.

Here’s how it works:

1. Begin by listening to and attempting to match an extremely fast tempo—say, 600 BPM (0.10-second splits). This speed might seem impossibly quick at first, but spend time trying to tap along with it, either on a table or even better, use a DryFireMag. Your brain will begin to process and internalize this rapid rhythm.
2. Next, shift to an even faster tempo, perhaps 800 BPM. This speed will seem absurd, but the goal isn’t to match it perfectly – it’s to force your brain to process extremely rapid sequences.
3. Finally, return to your target speed – perhaps 400 BPM (0.15-second splits). After working with the faster tempos, this previously challenging speed often feels surprisingly manageable. Your brain, having attempted to process much quicker rhythms, is now better equipped to handle this more realistic pace.

This approach helps shooters in several ways.

First, it provides a concrete, measurable standard to work toward. Instead of the vague instruction to “shoot faster,” you have a specific tempo to match.

Second, it helps rewire how your brain processes time at these minute intervals. Most of us don’t regularly think in terms of tenths or hundredths of a second, but fast shooting demands this level of precision.

Finally, practicing with speeds that push beyond our target pace makes our actual goal speed more achievable.

It’s important to note that this training method requires significant live-fire practice to translate effectively.

While you can (and should) practice matching these rhythms through dry fire, you’ll need to confirm your timing with real shots on target.

Start with shorter strings of fire – perhaps just two to three rounds – and focus on maintaining accuracy and your intended pace.

As you become more comfortable, you can extend to longer strings while maintaining proper grip tension and recoil control.

Remember: the goal isn’t to shoot at a specific cadence in actual competition or defensive scenarios.

Instead, this training method helps develop your ability to run the gun at whatever speed the situation demands, whether controlled pairs at 0.15 seconds or precisely timed shots based on target distance and size.

The rhythm training helps build the neural pathways that make these varying speeds available when you need them.

How Fast Should You Be? Split Times to Aim For

Everyone’s journey is different, but as a general rule, new shooters might aim for a 0.5-second split between shots.

Once you’re comfortable and consistent, tighten that to around 0.3 to 0.4 seconds.

If you’re really pushing the envelope—and have the fundamentals locked down—you can break into the 0.2-second range and faster.

Remember, it’s not about hitting these numbers overnight; it’s about steady progress through focused practice.

Next Steps: Your Action Plan for Faster Shooting

Now that you have a step-by-step plan to improve your trigger control and develop a fast cadence, it’s time to put this into practice.

Set aside a few minutes daily to conduct the exercises in this guide.

1. Learn how to reset your trigger quickly
2. Find the minimum amount of firing hand pressure to control your gun
3. Train your brain to shoot faster using a metronome

If you follow this step-by-step guide, you’ll be shooting fast splits in no time!