Training Aids
The training program described in Handgun Marksmanship
makes extensive use of two training aids:
- A target analysis spreadsheet. To assess shooting performance effectively,
you need to compute measures of shooting performance. Some measures are hard to compute by hand, but they are easy to compute with a spreadsheet.
- A marksman's target. The target that you use for marksmanship training makes a difference.
The right target will facilitate learning; the wrong target will inhibit learning.
Software Requirements
The target analysis spreadsheet is an Excel file (target-analysis.xlsm).
You can use the full desktop version of Excel to conduct target analyses with target-analysis.xlsm. (The free version of Excel, provided in Microsoft 365 for the web, will not work.)
If you don’t have the full desktop version of Excel, use LibreOffice.
LibreOffice is a free office suite that you can download at
libreoffice.org.
LibreOffice includes an application called Calc, and you can use Calc to conduct target analyses with target-analysis.xlsm.
There are two versions of the marksman's target, both in jpeg format:
- Target-1-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg. This version is a marksman's target with a 1-inch diameter bullseye.
- Target-2-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg. This version is a marksman's target with a 2-inch diameter bullseye.
No special software is required to use these targets. Just download the jpeg files and print them out.
Note: Both versions of the marksman's target were created in PowerPoint.
This PowerPoint file (targets.pptx) is included when you download the jpeg targets; so if you want to edit either target (e.g., change the size of the bullseye),
you can do that.
If you don’t have PowerPoint, use LibreOffice.
LibreOffice includes an application called Impress, and you can print or edit marksman's targets from targets.pptx with Impress.
How to Get Training Aids
You can send these training aids to yourself via email. Or you can download the training aids directly to your computer. Choose an option.
Then, follow instructions for the option you've chosen.
How to Download Training Aids
Follow these instructions to download the marksman's target and the target analysis spreadsheet:
- Click the "Download" button below.
- From the the dialog box that appears, Choose "Save File". Then, click "OK".
- Files will be saved to the "Downloads" directory on your computer.
- The files will be in a zipped folder, named "handgun-marksmanship".
- To unzip the folder, press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select "Extract All", and follow instructions.
When you unzip the folder, you will see four files: target-analysis.xlsm, target-1-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg, target-2-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg, and targets.pptx.
Important: The target-analysis.xlsm file contains visual basic macros. By default, Microsoft blocks the macros, which
prevents the spreadsheet from working correctly. To solve this problem, you need to unblock the macros (as described in the next section).
Send Training Aids Via Email
To receive training aids via email, enter your email address in the textbox below. Then, click the Send button.
When you receive the email, you will find four files as attachments: target-analysis.xlsm, target-1-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg, target-2-inch-diameter-bullseye.jpg, and targets.pptx.
Your email address:
Important: The target-analysis.xlsm file contains visual basic macros. By default, Microsoft blocks the macros, which
prevents the spreadsheet from working correctly. To solve this problem, you need to unblock the macros (as described in the next section).
How to Unblock Macros
When you open the target analysis spreadsheet (target-analysis.xlsm) for the first time, you may see the following message:
The "Learn More" button goes to an article that explains how to unblock the macros. Here is what you need to do:
- Find the target-analyis.xlsm file in the File Manager.
- Right-click on the target-analysis.xlsm file.
- Choose Properties.
- Check the Unblock checkbox on the General tab of the Properties dialog box and click OK.
The Calculate button on the target analysis spreadsheet will not work unless the macros are unblocked. Therefore, it is important to check the
"Unblock" option on the Properties dialog box.