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How to Shoot Like a Navy SEAL: Combat Marksmanship Fundamentals
How to Shoot Like a Navy SEAL is the first book to reveal the secret training methods of the most elite combat unit in the world, the US Navy SEALS. Recently we ve seen several top selling books from other Navy SEALS that have taken readers behind the secretive walls of the Naval Special Warfare community by describing some of their most secretive missions. Now, for the first time, you will learn the actual techniques these warriors use during these harrowing missions. Written by retired Navy SEAL firearms instructor, Chris Sajnog, How to Shoot Like a Navy SEAL teaches you all the skills you need to shoot and survive in combat or any other high-stress situation. The book is a firearms instructional manual written for every level of firearms proficiency from beginner to expert and includes links to exclusive instructional videos showing you exactly how to perform the techniques.
122 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2013
458 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Chris Sajnog
5 books11 followersChris Sajnog is a retired Navy SEAL Master Firearms Instructor, Neural-Pathway Training (NPT) Expert, speaker and Disabled Veteran Small Business Owner. He is one of the most experienced and respected firearms trainers in the world, being hand-selected to develop the training for the US Navy SEAL Sniper program. As a Navy SEAL he was the senior sniper instructor, a certified Master Training Specialist (MTS), BUD/S and advanced training marksmanship instructor. After retiring from the SEAL Teams in 2009 to spend time with his family, Chris began training civilians and law enforcement officers. He is the founder of the New Rules of Marksmanship, a revolutionary approach to firearms training and has a passion for finding innovative ways to teach elite-level shooting skills online as rapidly as possible to his students. He is a federal and state certified firearms instructor and has trained DOD, DHS, FBI, CIA, Law Enforcement, and multiple foreign allies in all aspects of combat weapons handling, marksmanship, and tactics. He lives in San Diego, CA with his wife Laura and two boys, Caden and Owen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 6, 2014
I picked this book up for my Kindle on Amazon because I read one of Chris Sajnog's blog entries on centermassgroup.com and really enjoyed it. As an amateur self taught, hobby shooter. I thought I might pick up some useful information from the guy who trained the SEALs how to shoot. I was not wrong. Everything from effective stance and grip to proper sight alignment and trigger control is discussed in an entertaining and conversational style.
Now I realize there are a lot of shooters out there who have had formal instruction and may not find much of interest in this book - It is a book of fundamentals after all - but I found it to be full of useful information and interesting techniques to try out and practice. Chris has an engaging way of writing and doesn't come off as an ego-maniacal gun god who hasn't got the time of day for noobs (even though I've been shooting recreationally for 30 years, I still think of myself as a noob).
The book is broken down into sections covering the seven fundamentals of marksmanship and covers both handguns and carbines (where appropriate). The ebook even includes links embedded within the book in strategic locations which provide readers exclusive access to short videos Chris recorded to visually illustrate his instruction. Nice move!
As great as this book was for information and, even, entertainment; this book was LOADED with grammatical and spelling errors ranging from incorrect words being used and not caught by spellcheck to "their" being used instead of "they're" (a pet peeve of mine). But seeing as how this book is a "How to Shoot" book and didn't set itself up to be a "How to use English" book, I'll let it slide due to the quality of the information imparted. Not once did I have any trouble deciphering what the author intended to say or get stumped by a few misplaced words.
The writing is very straightforward and easy to read. The vocabulary wasn't profound by any means but was perfectly suited to the subject matter. The author has a witty sense of humor and did a good job of keeping me entertained throughout the course of the read.
One thing: THIS BOOK IS SHORT! I was expecting a bit more for the $9.99 price tag in the Kindle store. But I decided the section of the book which taught me how to determine my dominant shooting eye as well as the included video links were worth the price of admission.
Five stars for this excellent - if short - How To.
Now I realize there are a lot of shooters out there who have had formal instruction and may not find much of interest in this book - It is a book of fundamentals after all - but I found it to be full of useful information and interesting techniques to try out and practice. Chris has an engaging way of writing and doesn't come off as an ego-maniacal gun god who hasn't got the time of day for noobs (even though I've been shooting recreationally for 30 years, I still think of myself as a noob).
The book is broken down into sections covering the seven fundamentals of marksmanship and covers both handguns and carbines (where appropriate). The ebook even includes links embedded within the book in strategic locations which provide readers exclusive access to short videos Chris recorded to visually illustrate his instruction. Nice move!
As great as this book was for information and, even, entertainment; this book was LOADED with grammatical and spelling errors ranging from incorrect words being used and not caught by spellcheck to "their" being used instead of "they're" (a pet peeve of mine). But seeing as how this book is a "How to Shoot" book and didn't set itself up to be a "How to use English" book, I'll let it slide due to the quality of the information imparted. Not once did I have any trouble deciphering what the author intended to say or get stumped by a few misplaced words.
The writing is very straightforward and easy to read. The vocabulary wasn't profound by any means but was perfectly suited to the subject matter. The author has a witty sense of humor and did a good job of keeping me entertained throughout the course of the read.
One thing: THIS BOOK IS SHORT! I was expecting a bit more for the $9.99 price tag in the Kindle store. But I decided the section of the book which taught me how to determine my dominant shooting eye as well as the included video links were worth the price of admission.
Five stars for this excellent - if short - How To.
December 30, 2018
The positive side of the book is, that it won't waste too much of your time, because you can read it all in one evening. You might think 150 pages is a lot, but when you open it, it will take you back to the 3rd grade, judging by the the font size. Excluding blank spaces and low-res photos, it could be a leaflet.
I don't know, who is the target reader of this book. It contains only very brief and basic explanation of safety rules and "fundamentals" (in quotes, because even word "fundamentals" it too generous), so it is not for anyone that spent some time with firearms. If you wanted to know anything about SEALs and their way of practice, you will be very disappointed.
It is also not for beginners, because it contains absolutely minimal amount of knowledge to be even considered a book about shooting, so a novice will be totally clueless, what the author actually meant. There are little descriptions and no photos, that could tell you "do" and "don't", instead we have some random pictures of Sajnog itself. There are some illustrations concerning sights, but that's all. It contains zero drills, but there are 4 different methods to establish your dominant eye (even the author admits it have no value, so why even bother?).
It contains a lot of fillers - 4 first chapters are just promises, what you are going to learn, in all others there is a lot of Sajnog's opinions, loosely related to shooting, taken from his rear end. There is also a lot of repetitiveness. This is my first and last Sajnog's book. If you are considering spending $7 on this book - pick much more safer option: just open YT and choose any basic pistol/rifle video, if you necessary want to read something - army manuals are for free on the internet and they contains enormously much more knowledge.
I don't know, who is the target reader of this book. It contains only very brief and basic explanation of safety rules and "fundamentals" (in quotes, because even word "fundamentals" it too generous), so it is not for anyone that spent some time with firearms. If you wanted to know anything about SEALs and their way of practice, you will be very disappointed.
It is also not for beginners, because it contains absolutely minimal amount of knowledge to be even considered a book about shooting, so a novice will be totally clueless, what the author actually meant. There are little descriptions and no photos, that could tell you "do" and "don't", instead we have some random pictures of Sajnog itself. There are some illustrations concerning sights, but that's all. It contains zero drills, but there are 4 different methods to establish your dominant eye (even the author admits it have no value, so why even bother?).
It contains a lot of fillers - 4 first chapters are just promises, what you are going to learn, in all others there is a lot of Sajnog's opinions, loosely related to shooting, taken from his rear end. There is also a lot of repetitiveness. This is my first and last Sajnog's book. If you are considering spending $7 on this book - pick much more safer option: just open YT and choose any basic pistol/rifle video, if you necessary want to read something - army manuals are for free on the internet and they contains enormously much more knowledge.
April 17, 2017
Time will tell, ultimately, whether Sajnog's training works for me, but I intend to give his tactics and techniques a serious effort. Whether or not it is "official" Navy SEAL training, the information presented was practical and real world, delivered without an agenda ("My way or the highway") other than to improve your shooting skills. I chuckled warmly at the concept of "delivering outstanding customer service" from the muzzle of a weapon. If the Navy ever outsources the SEALs we're all doomed.
June 30, 2020
Great info
This is a very good training tool. Use it as a training tool and incorporate these techniques and they will help. Just reading will not help, actually use this book. I’m happy to have found this book and I know I’ll reread it several times as needed.
I reserve 5 star ratings for great works of literature so don’t let the 4 star rating dissuade you from reading this book.
This is a very good training tool. Use it as a training tool and incorporate these techniques and they will help. Just reading will not help, actually use this book. I’m happy to have found this book and I know I’ll reread it several times as needed.
I reserve 5 star ratings for great works of literature so don’t let the 4 star rating dissuade you from reading this book.
November 27, 2021
This will make you a better marksman. It will also give you the framework to give you the edge in self defense.
The key to becoming better at anything is to have a plan. This includes gun safety and mastery.
But Chris starts and ends by telling us, you have to practice. You can't just read a book and become proficient with guns. You must use the training framework he shares, and then, train.
The training framework alone is worth the price of the book.
The key to becoming better at anything is to have a plan. This includes gun safety and mastery.
But Chris starts and ends by telling us, you have to practice. You can't just read a book and become proficient with guns. You must use the training framework he shares, and then, train.
The training framework alone is worth the price of the book.
July 25, 2017
Great for tuning up and correcting shooting habits.
This book was great. Had awesome videos too. Gave me some insights into shooting I didn't know about, and I have been shooting all my life with hunting. I know any serious shooter would benefit from this book, even if in just a small way.
This book was great. Had awesome videos too. Gave me some insights into shooting I didn't know about, and I have been shooting all my life with hunting. I know any serious shooter would benefit from this book, even if in just a small way.
July 2, 2018
I got better
My main problem was shooting low and left with my Beretta U22 ( a really great .22 pistol). I reached for this book to find the solution. Found the answer with changing how I pull the trigger with large hands wrapped around a single stack grip. Loved the book. A lot of really good info. Should give it seven stars but the site won't let me.
My main problem was shooting low and left with my Beretta U22 ( a really great .22 pistol). I reached for this book to find the solution. Found the answer with changing how I pull the trigger with large hands wrapped around a single stack grip. Loved the book. A lot of really good info. Should give it seven stars but the site won't let me.
March 22, 2019
Great book to learn or even get a great refresher on the fundamentals of marksmanship. I've been shooting for a few years, competitively for a year and I found a few of these fundamentals to be 'a-has'as to why I'm having some of the problems I've been having. Looking forward to putting these into practice and improving my skills!
July 9, 2024
I appreciate Sajnog's characterization of the fundamentals as primarily a matter of molding the body and mind to the desired patterns. In that sense, he brings new information to the topic, but fortunately never compromises the insistence on training over sophisticated technique. His dry-fire instruction has helped me tremendously.
April 4, 2019
Not a difficult read, just insight into the basics of marksmanship. You are not going to find any really specific 'tricks' to magically getting better at hitting your target. It's all about practicing and refining the basics.
January 20, 2020
Very informative
This book is a must for any new shooter to read for the training knowledge contained within. I thought I knew how to shoot a pistol until I followed the contents of this book, then I learned the error of my ways. Thank you Chris for writing this book.
This book is a must for any new shooter to read for the training knowledge contained within. I thought I knew how to shoot a pistol until I followed the contents of this book, then I learned the error of my ways. Thank you Chris for writing this book.
October 23, 2017
Great Read
Good, fast, entertaining read. Covers the basics and helped me remember little things that I’ve gotten lazy about. Glad I read it.
Good, fast, entertaining read. Covers the basics and helped me remember little things that I’ve gotten lazy about. Glad I read it.
November 21, 2017
Helped me pick up a few things I’ve been doing wrong with my shooting technique. Didn’t have access to the videos but I’m sure those should be helpful as well.
October 26, 2018
Good read
Good book. Very similar to his other book which has more information than this one. I suggest the other one but you will be satisfied with this one too.
Good book. Very similar to his other book which has more information than this one. I suggest the other one but you will be satisfied with this one too.
January 10, 2019
Learned a lot in a short read
Anyone looking to improve should read this book. Very easy read and make you think about your current skill set.
Anyone looking to improve should read this book. Very easy read and make you think about your current skill set.
February 8, 2019
Buy this book and you also get access to the author's videos, showing what he writes in the book. Excellent course written with the humor of a Navy SEAL. Highly recommend.
October 29, 2019
Very fond of learning to shoot a handgun accurately
December 21, 2019
Excellent Instruction
I read this book in two days, and plan to read it again. The author picks apart the fundamentals in an easy to understand narrative.
I read this book in two days, and plan to read it again. The author picks apart the fundamentals in an easy to understand narrative.
January 9, 2021
Good, practical basics.
January 29, 2021
Short but very informative. The kind of book id like to read for topics like this. Great read
February 14, 2021
Very informative. I plan to read again and supplement with the training videos.
November 6, 2022
Simple and concise but including valuable advices. I recommend it.
May 27, 2023
There are some great tips in here, but a lot of concepts could use some further explanation and better visuals. It also could’ve been shorter. But overall I think it’s well worth the time and money.
March 3, 2024
Excellent book! A lot of useful knowledge! Recommended!
April 25, 2025
Great read for the shooterj
Sajnog knows what he is talking about. Good guidelines to improve shooting skills. Very helpful instructions. Go get it while you can.
Sajnog knows what he is talking about. Good guidelines to improve shooting skills. Very helpful instructions. Go get it while you can.
January 29, 2023
Fundamentals, like it says in the title...
March 14, 2017
Great Informatuon
Some really good information and training tips without being overbearing. Probably geared more towards new to intermediate shooters but full of good information for everyone.
Some really good information and training tips without being overbearing. Probably geared more towards new to intermediate shooters but full of good information for everyone.
August 15, 2022
More than a book
Chris provides an experience on how to become a confident shooter. He guides you through strengthening your body, mind, and sight. Chris also continues this support by providing motivation and tips to help keep your shooting ability strong. He's really created and environment and community to reinforce and allows each individual to contribute back to help others and themselves. I not only bought this book to become a confident shooter, yet to learn from the best! If I wasn't able to join the Navy and become a SEAL, as was a goal before my neck was broken. I hope to learn and grow through their teachings and experiences, as Chris has provided and more.
Joe Hensgen
Chris provides an experience on how to become a confident shooter. He guides you through strengthening your body, mind, and sight. Chris also continues this support by providing motivation and tips to help keep your shooting ability strong. He's really created and environment and community to reinforce and allows each individual to contribute back to help others and themselves. I not only bought this book to become a confident shooter, yet to learn from the best! If I wasn't able to join the Navy and become a SEAL, as was a goal before my neck was broken. I hope to learn and grow through their teachings and experiences, as Chris has provided and more.
Joe Hensgen
May 18, 2016
Hands down the most practical and effective manual on combat shooting!
Chris provides no nonsense and in many ways groundbreaking instruction while never losing sight of the ultimate goal - to make you a better combat shooter. If I could only take one book on shooting with me to an island for the rest of my life it would be this manual!
Chris provides no nonsense and in many ways groundbreaking instruction while never losing sight of the ultimate goal - to make you a better combat shooter. If I could only take one book on shooting with me to an island for the rest of my life it would be this manual!
May 28, 2018
A good book about the fundamentals of combat shooting. You will not get any specific long rifle info out of this one. Geared mostly to better your pistol and carbine shooting. A little pricy given the basic info. I would buy recommend buying it if it gets below $20.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews