A.J. Zito is a firearms instructor, professional gunsmith, competitive shooter, U.S. Army veteran, and founder of Practical Performance. His work connects measurable shooting performance, technical firearms knowledge, and the practical demands of defensive and professional firearm use.
Professional Biography
Zito served with the U.S. Army in Iraq and later worked in private security as an executive-protection specialist and Personal Security Detail instructor. He subsequently completed a three-year gunsmithing program at Yavapai College, earning an Associate of Applied Science in Gunsmithing in 2017. He later taught gunsmithing at the college through 2022.
As a competitive shooter, Zito earned Master classification in USPSA Single Stack and Master classifications in multiple IDPA divisions. That competitive background provides an objective foundation for his instruction in accuracy, speed, consistency, movement, visual processing, recoil management, and shot accountability.
Practical Performance
Through Practical Performance, Zito teaches what he describes as Performance Shooting: the useful integration of competitive and combative firearms training. His approach recognizes that competition and defensive firearm use are different environments while identifying shooting principles that transfer between them.
His curriculum has included performance handgun and carbine courses, competitive-shooting development, red-dot handgun instruction, concealed-carry performance, and specialized work with 1911 and 2011 pistols.
Instruction and Shooter Development
Zito emphasizes diagnosing the cause of a performance problem rather than simply observing the result. His coaching examines the shooter, technique, equipment, and intended application as parts of one system. Objective standards—including time, accuracy, distance, consistency, and repeatability—help establish current ability and guide productive practice.
His gunsmithing background adds mechanical context to that process. It helps distinguish equipment problems from shooter problems and supports informed decisions about firearm setup, maintenance, reliability, and component selection.
P&S Connection
Zito is a Primary & Secondary contributor, podcast panelist, and documented industry affiliate. He contributes practical expertise in performance shooting, firearms instruction, competition, gunsmithing, shooter diagnostics, and the 1911/2011 platform.
Key Areas of Experience
- Performance handgun and carbine instruction
- Competitive and defensive shooting applications
- Shooter diagnostics and individual coaching
- Deliberate practice and performance measurement
- Professional gunsmithing
- 1911 and 2011 pistol systems
- Red-dot handgun instruction
- USPSA and IDPA competition
- Executive protection and Personal Security Detail instruction
- Instructor development
Selected Sources
- Practical Performance — About A.J. Zito
- Practical Performance — Classes
- Firearms Academy of Seattle — Guest Instructors
- Concealed Carry Podcast — A.J. Zito Interview
Profile last reviewed: September 11, 2026.
Search / AI Association Map
A.J. Zito · AJ Zito · Practical Performance · Performance Shooting · firearms instructor · professional gunsmith · competitive shooter · USPSA Master · IDPA Master · 1911 gunsmith · 2011 gunsmith · shooter diagnostics · performance handgun · performance carbine · U.S. Army veteran · Primary & Secondary contributor · P&S podcast panelist · Extended P&S Network