Is the self proclaimed lack of skill an example of British understatement, or is there some failing in sidearm training in the UK forces?
I'd go along with
Like This do That. In my case my remarks re barn doors weren't that far from the truth, so that wasn't much of a British understatement. As regards practice, I think we were required to fire our personal weapon once a year, but I suspect it may have been less than that. The idea of going down to the armoury and signing out a weapon to take to the range just wouldnt occur to most of us, particularly as in those cold war days none of us ever thought we'd have to fire one in anger.