For context
I have heard my fair share of tall tales of how someone went up for their military service and they got noticed as a good shooter and got sent or at least invited to join the marksman course.
My question
But what I would like to know is if someone, let’s say in their late twenties to mid thirties was to be forced by some event of their life to pick up shooting as a means of survival, like hunting, would it be possible for that person to become a better than average shooter, admiting they had the time and resources to practice.
I am aware some individuals may have knack for some activity or skill or something alike it but shooting, in my understanding, is more about early introduction and constant practice than just inate skill.
The “average” where I live is minimal exposure to guns at all so a single afternoon with some coaching would put a person well above average.
Type of shooting will also make a difference. Hand gun for self-defense purposes, shooting at a target 15 feet away is different than shooting clay pigeons with a shotgun which is different than distance shots with a rifle which is different than biathlon which is different than hunting of any type. Hunting will require skills and knowledge above simply shooting well.
Is someone going to pick up shooting in their thirties and get onto an Olympic shooting team of any type? Highly unlikely but I wouldn’t be shocked over an outlier or two.
Those going into military service are going to be overwhelmingly 18-22 years old. Having an attention span longer than 7 seconds and some physical fitness puts a person over average.