The day had finally arrived, and it was now time for the first practical part of the POMW course – target shooting with airguns. Two days before, we had been on an introductory course, where we had been given our airguns. It was hard to keep our hands off it at home, but it didn't matter since we had been told to practice hand technique at home before shooting.
On arrival at Højagerhallen, we helped each other set up the last things, after which we could start POMW Ib. We started by getting a brief summary of the most important points from the intro course: Correct posture, correct hand position, effective use of aiming devices and, of course, a lot of focus on safety.
Then it was time to shoot our first few shots at the goal targets, and it actually went surprisingly well, I think. We started by shooting at a distance of three metres, and later we were challenged with distances of 5, 7 and 12 metres. I have previously shot with a .22 rifle once, and then I also shot a lot with an air rifle in the garden as a child. Nevertheless, this was my first experience with handguns.
I quickly noticed that my shots were consistently hitting diagonally up and to the left of the target. At first I thought it must be the gun that was misfiring. However, when we later switched to the SIRT laser gun and I achieved the same result, it dawned on me that the fault lay with myself. Even though I'm right-handed, my left eye is the one I use the most, so naturally that was also the eye I used to aim with. But then when I tried to aim with the right eye, suddenly my shots no longer hit crookedly. It was an eye opener for me, literally!
It was fascinating to see how small adjustments in technique could have such a big impact on shooting results. Kjeld Renshi was aware of individual challenges, and gave useful advice for improvement and kept an eye on our safety. It was clear that pistol shooting not only requires skill, but also an understanding of one's own skills, strengths and weaknesses.
We finished with an evaluation, and then got feedback from Kjeld Renshi and Pia Shidoin. It was clear that even small improvements in technique and focus had a big impact on the results. Another important thing was the focus on safety and responsibility. This aspect of the training helped create an awareness that shooting is not only about accuracy, but also about responsible handling of weapons. It is clear that the POMW course will challenge us on many levels, and I left the training with a sense of accomplishment, a deeper understanding of the importance of proper technique and concentration, and an eagerness to learn more.
