Look for disconfirming evidence: How to measure real pistol shooting performance
If you’re using words like “I think,” “I believe,” or “I’m probably” when talking about your pistol shooting performance, you’re talking aIf you’re using words like “I think,” “I believe,” or “I’m probably” when talking about your pistol shooting performance, you’re talking about opinion. Without quantitative evidence — personal range data — it’s not objective reality. It’s just a personal judgment. Or, to put it more bluntly, it’s fantasy.
Because I carry concealed, I want to be able to reliably predict my performance in real life. I want a demonstrable, verifiable level of proficiency that’s evidence-based. How I feel or think I’ll perform — untested — has no basis in reality. In order to predict my performance, I must measure my skills using benchmarks or recognized standards. And it’s only then, after I establish benchmarks for my own personal performance, that I have a reference point from which I can gauge my progress, identify skill gaps, and set goals. “You can’t change what you don’t measure.”bout opinion. Without quantitative evidence — personal range data — it’s not objective reality. It’s just a personal judgment. Or, to put it more bluntly, it’s fantasy.
This article was originally published on www.shootingclasses.com. “Look for Disconfirming Evidence: How to Measure Real Pistol Shooting Performance,” by Helene Cavalli, January 7, 2026.