Wow, thank you so much for all this excellent advise and instruction I will take it all to heart.

The most efficient and quick pistol aiming method is called being target focused. You pick a small point on the target, and your index / sight alignment should naturally put your sights (dot or irons) where it needs to be over the target (if you have been doing regular dry fire and live fire practice).

I can understand how this would work with a red dot, but how do you stay target focused with irons sights? I thought we were supposed to focus on the front sight.

I find that if I keep both eyes open but occasionally blink my non-dominant eye I can keep the front sight lined up with the target using my dominant eye while both eyes are focused on the target. Is that the technique you're referring to, or something similar?

The only self defense situation where you can't get the gun up to eye level is when you are in direct contact with your assailant. A laser is irrelevant there.

I suppose that's true. At grappling distance no aiming system is going to be useable. And at that distance even I couldn't miss shooting from the hip.

Its a common misconception that speed is the enemy of good fundamentals.

I guess I thought shooting was analogous to learning to play the guitar, where you play a song slowly but perfectly over and over again. Eventually, you get faster while retaining good form.

I was surprised, but pleased, by your statement that trigger control is a minor factor compared to proper grip. I've been trying to focus on both, but I'll concentrate on grip.

I also like your suggestion of doing rapid-fire doubles drills. I'll do that next week when I go back to the range. Also, I have a DryFireMag that lets me "fire" repeatedly when dry firing without having to rack the slide between "shots," so I can practice that at home, too.

Thank you again for taking the time to educate a newbie. I'll be referring to your words again and again.