NGS-SAD: New Gun Syndrome/Spontaneous Accuracy Deficiency

I work with a bunch of great guys, loyal, well trained, weird senses of humor, cynical, some with street experience too. The ONE thing that really bugs me is when they adopt a new duty firearm after a trying one out for a couple of magazines or just  reading a magazine article on it.

I have been pondering this new syndrome for a while. I meet folks who buy a brand new gun, claim it’s accurate, works well, reliable etc.  Weeks or months later these same folks are calling me for training, wondering why qualification went so poorly and generally wondering what happened to that magic shooter that they purchased.

Here is my take on the issue.

When a shooter picks up a new gun, he goes back to the basics, stance, breathing, sights, trigger control.  Think back to the fundamentals of marksmanship, apply them. This makes most pistols fairly accurate and passable for defensive accuracy.

Once acclimated to the pistol, some experienced shooters skills appear to degrade.   I can attest to watching a few shooters become lobotomized during training and quals and completely blowing them with poor groups. I have handed them my pistol and watched them qualify, then go back to missing with their own. I take their pistol and pass.  (showing off on my part, but also a hardware check to make sure that something is not amiss).

Forgetfullness? Apathy? What is your take on this?