Confidence in Your Gun Is Everything

[Editor's note: Our Realtree.com Guns and Camo blogger Adam Millard says a good gun is based on your confidence in using it. Do you agree? Read on for more of his advice.]

By definition, confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; it means: firm trust.

Old and New Guns

It's getting to be about that time of year. Firearms deer season has opened in some states and is coming soon in others.

There are a few people out there getting ready to pull the ol' deerslayer out of the back of the gun safe. There are probably a few people out there looking at purchasing a new gun for the upcoming season, too.

People will ask me, "What makes it a good gun?"

Is it accuracy? Is it reliability? Is it power?

The answer is simple to me, it's confidence.

Why Confidence?

Let me explain. It doesn't matter if it's a shotgun for upland game, a handgun for self-defense or a rifle for big game, confidence in your gun is everything.

If you're confident that the gun will work every time you pull the trigger, will function in adverse conditions and hit with accuracy that leaves you grinning, then that's what makes your gun a good one.

You're confident in the accuracy, the reliability and the power. Without all three of these things you'll doubt your gun.

And oftentimes doubt leads to failure.

Gaining Confidence

How do you get the confidence in your particular firearm?

Practice and training. Get out and shoot your guns. Shoot them in conditions that you'll find yourself in for whatever the situation is.

I've dealt with guns that had spotty reliability. I've also dealt with guns that would throw shots off the mark. I never felt confident with these guns. I always felt that if an opportunity arose I would miss.

These guns were either fixed or sold.

It's no fun taking a gun to the field that you are second guessing. Failure will be on your mind.

Guns in Your Safe

I can honestly say that there isn't a gun in my safe that I don't have confidence in.

I've spent the time shooting these guns to build a relationship with each and every one of them, so when the moment of truth arrives, I know they'll perform.

When you go to the woods with confidence in your firearm, it gives you the ability to concentrate on the details that make people successful hunters.

Bonus Read: 7 Guns for Hog Hunting.

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