Pistol training aids

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Bull_it

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I'm a lousy pistol shot and I want to get better. Unfortunately, I don't always have time to make the 2 hour round trip to the range. Getting dry fire time in though is much more feasible. I need to work both on my sight picture and my trigger pull. I was leaning towards the iTarget (https://www.firearmsoutletcanada.com/itarget-sled-and-laser-bullet-package-9mm.html) due to it working with a target. I don't think it analyzes trigger pull like the Mantis X as well. However, I love the fact that the Mantis X can be used for live fire training as well as dry fire.

Is it worth buying the iTarget in order to see where my shots hit in conjunction with the Mantis X to analyze my trigger pull? Or is one better than the other?
 
I think, although I have never used one, that the Mantis X assigns a "hit value" for dry fire usage. So it is effective for both live fire (which is what it was originally designed for), and can also be used for dry fire using algorithms to determine movement and where the impacts would be. If I understood what I read about Mantis X.
 
Don't buy anything. Keep dry firing. Your biggest hurdle will be learning to suppress your body's flinch response.
 
The MantisX is going to be pretty darn good bang for your buck. The X3 model has a lot of features built in, live and dry fire as well as CO2 modes. You can also use it on rifles, with a barrel mount.

Not a lot of reviews of it on this forum, but the reviews found online are very good.
 
4n2t0 said:
Don't buy anything. Keep dry firing. Your biggest hurdle will be learning to suppress your body's flinch response.
Click to expand...

Good advice for sure, though I'm fairly certain 80% of my problem is sight picture. Last time I was out, I had a 5x5" card on a 24x24" target backer at 15 yards. I wasn't even hitting the backer...

I only have a few hundred rounds through pistols in total and zero formal live fire instruction. I'm great with rifles and shotguns, but complete dog crap with a pistol.
 
No need for such systems. Sight acquisition is easy to work on. Just stand in the middle of the room with the pistol in the low ready position, head relaxed, eyes looking straight. Visualize a specific point in the room, aim the gun and pull the trigger. Repeat with another point

2 things to watch for and work on. How fast you align the sights with the target and take your shot, and how much your muzzle shakes after you take that shot. Double action is even more effective.

Even though you know it’s a snap cap in there, human nature will make you twitch in anticipation. Work on mastering that. There is no reason for the gun to move at all.

If you have a timer, then you can play with par times and work on speed
 
Salibas007 said:
No need for such systems. Sight acquisition is easy to work on. Just stand in the middle of the room with the pistol in the low ready position, head relaxed, eyes looking straight. Visualize a specific point in the room, aim the gun and pull the trigger. Repeat with another point

2 things to watch for and work on. How fast you align the sights with the target and take your shot, and how much your muzzle shakes after you take that shot. Double action is even more effective.

Even though you know it’s a snap cap in there, human nature will make you twitch in anticipation. Work on mastering that. There is no reason for the gun to move at all.

If you have a timer, then you can play with par times and work on speed
Click to expand...

Really good advise ^^^ .
For dry Fire I've taped a target on my wall . Don't get discouraged, It'll come in time . It's a skill set you have too learn, and keep at it.
 
Standardvel said:
http://www.bullseyepistol.com/

Lots of good pistol shooting tips, many hours of reading. Mostly comes down to front sight and move trigger without disturbing front sight and follow through. Oh and Practice dry fire is excellent and cheap.
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Salibas007 said:
No need for such systems. Sight acquisition is easy to work on. Just stand in the middle of the room with the pistol in the low ready position, head relaxed, eyes looking straight. Visualize a specific point in the room, aim the gun and pull the trigger. Repeat with another point

2 things to watch for and work on. How fast you align the sights with the target and take your shot, and how much your muzzle shakes after you take that shot. Double action is even more effective.

Even though you know it’s a snap cap in there, human nature will make you twitch in anticipation. Work on mastering that. There is no reason for the gun to move at all.

If you have a timer, then you can play with par times and work on speed
Click to expand...

Great info, thanks! I'll hold off on buying a training system for awhile. More reading and practice it is then.
 
Bull_it said:
Good advice for sure, though I'm fairly certain 80% of my problem is sight picture. Last time I was out, I had a 5x5" card on a 24x24" target backer at 15 yards. I wasn't even hitting the backer...

I only have a few hundred rounds through pistols in total and zero formal live fire instruction. I'm great with rifles and shotguns, but complete dog crap with a pistol.
Click to expand...
If I can make a suggestion, move your target in to 3-5 yards, it doesn't surprise me at all that you are not hitting anything at 15 yards! At 3-5 yards you will see what you are doing, are you pushing or pulling on the trigger, too much or too little finger on the trigger etc. Have someone load a mag for you with one or two dummy rounds mixed in with live rounds and watch what happens when you pull on a dummy round, you shouldn't see the barrel move. At home, balance an empty casing on the front of your slide and try keep it there when you pull the trigger. Hope this helps, but seriously move your target closer, increase your distance only after you are shooting consistent groups at 3-5 yards,,, good luck!
 
Standardvel said:
http://www.bullseyepistol.com/

Lots of good pistol shooting tips, many hours of reading. Mostly comes down to front sight and move trigger without disturbing front sight and follow through. Oh and Practice dry fire is excellent and cheap.
Click to expand...

Yes. These two points sum it up. I would like to add that front sight acquisition is paramount. Front sight to rear sight alignment should be natural and automatic if you are gripping the pistol correctly. Correct grip is the first thing every shooter should learn, anyways; its easier demonstrated than explained.

I like to acquire a sight picture with the front sight slightly proud above the rear sight. That is the fastest sight picture.

Once you have mastered the "front sight proud" technique at home, go to the range and compare your Point of Aim vs your Point of Impact. Adjust your aim accordingly at the typical distances you shoot.

I like adjustable rear sights so I can get the best compromise between POA vs POI.
 
Their is a guy on youtube that I like to watch called gunblue490 who just did a 9 part video series on getting good with a handgun. But I don't own one and only ever shot one a couple of times so I have no idea if he's any good or if half of what he says is valid.
 
If you have red dot, dry fire and watch which way your dot moves. Google why and you’ll learn. Or buy Mantis and it will teach you and the course forces you to dry fire everyday. Well worth it.
 
Bull_it said:
Good advice for sure, though I'm fairly certain 80% of my problem is sight picture. Last time I was out, I had a 5x5" card on a 24x24" target backer at 15 yards. I wasn't even hitting the backer...

I only have a few hundred rounds through pistols in total and zero formal live fire instruction. I'm great with rifles and shotguns, but complete dog crap with a pistol.
Click to expand...

Do you hit at first then start to miss completely? Flinch! Because aligning the sights and pulling the trigger are basic skills that shouldn't affect your shot to that degree. All shooters hope to master them but missing 24x24 at 15 yards? Not likely.

Sight Picture

Any of these will hit paper...

Sight-Image-NavyGuy.jpg


Trigger Control

There are many but this is one...

[youtube]9P3DxAE1dK8[/youtube]

Do you shoot with both eyes open? If not, do you shoot your dominant eye?
 
I put a air pistol range in the basement to help get trigger time. I found this helps for sight picture, flinch and trigger control. Also since most air pistols have heavy trigger pull it helps to strengthen the finger muscles. You could also try getting the green egg. It will help with your grip and strengthening the muscled used for shooting. You can get them online but there will be lots of lady items that show up in the search. Good luck and get all the trigger time you can however you can.
 
Barring a massive flinch, the people I see missing such a large target are shooting with two eyes open, seeing two target images, (like double vision), and shooting at the wrong one.

Close one eye - your non-dominant one, if you know which one that is. That will eliminate double vision issues. Then line up your sights, keep the front sight post in focus, (a slightly blurry target is fine), and slowly build pressure on the trigger in a smooth manner.

Let the gun decide when it goes off, not you. By that I mean I don’t want you to say to yourself, ‘I want to shoot..... NOW!’ If you do, you’ll probably really yank the gun off target as your whole body ‘helps’ you pull the trigger. :)

Just keep the sights on target as you slowly, and smoothly, build pressure on the trigger.

....and aiming at a 5x5 target at 15yds is way too small to start with. I start new shooters off at 5 yds, and focus on technique until they group well. Then move back to 7-10 yds, and repeat.
 
4n2t0 said:
Do you hit at first then start to miss completely? Flinch! Because aligning the sights and pulling the trigger are basic skills that shouldn't affect your shot to that degree. All shooters hope to master them but missing 24x24 at 15 yards? Not likely.

Sight Picture

Any of these will hit paper...

Sight-Image-NavyGuy.jpg


Trigger Control

There are many but this is one...

[youtube]9P3DxAE1dK8[/youtube]

Do you shoot with both eyes open? If not, do you shoot your dominant eye?
Click to expand...

I'd usually miss the then first few shots then get one or two on paper, then miss next few. I shoot both eyes open, and don't see double vision. My sights are lined up like #3 in your image.

Talking to my friend last night, he reminded me that when I shot his Jericho 941 a couple years at 10 and 15 yd ranges I did ok. I own a M&P9. He's wondering if the gun doesn't fit me as well and thus my grip is throwing something off. I've played with then different backstraps and settled on the smallest one. It still feels a little big though.
 
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