Aiming Tips?
- Thread starter AJCrowley
- Start date
Looks like I have much to read...
As a point of interest, between my first and second weekly visit to the range (and this is general, the shots were on paper, but by no means tightly grouped), on the first week, the shots seemed to be most common low and to the right, second week, it was high and to the right. I wasn't aware of changing anything between the two shoots.
Hopefully on my next visit, I'll be armed with a little more knowledge, and we'll see if it makes a noticeable difference to my shooting.
As a point of interest, between my first and second weekly visit to the range (and this is general, the shots were on paper, but by no means tightly grouped), on the first week, the shots seemed to be most common low and to the right, second week, it was high and to the right. I wasn't aware of changing anything between the two shoots.
Hopefully on my next visit, I'll be armed with a little more knowledge, and we'll see if it makes a noticeable difference to my shooting.
i would find someone experienced. most people won't offer advice unless asked.
two hand: heal to toe foot distance (weaver). thumbs tight (no space).
left arm slightly bent at the elbow.
trigger pull back smooth (see above post on dry fire with quarter).
exhale, shoot in the "arc" - around 3-4 seconds
concentrate on breathing, your (break) shot will be in the exhale part.
no alcohol
no caffeine
no ###
ok, i made that last one up
two hand: heal to toe foot distance (weaver). thumbs tight (no space).
left arm slightly bent at the elbow.
trigger pull back smooth (see above post on dry fire with quarter).
exhale, shoot in the "arc" - around 3-4 seconds
concentrate on breathing, your (break) shot will be in the exhale part.
no alcohol
no caffeine
no ###
ok, i made that last one up
Look in particular at the trouble shooting targets that are the last link in the three that I posted. It points to a lot of the issues you may be finding.
And as always a great way to promote learning to ignore recoil forces is to shoot some .22. If you shoot .22 while practising what you've read it'll be easier to concentrate on the basics and proper application of the information we've all pointed you towards. The biggie is learning to avoid the ever popular anticipatory flinch downwards with the center fire guns.
I don't think it's unfair to say that good pistol shooting benifits a lot from a Zen like mindset that focuses on the front sight and its link to the target along with a stable body and grip while moving only the trigger finger to the exclusion of all else. A big part of this is teaching your mind to ignore the recoil and just let it happen on some other disconnected level. If you focus on the recoil it WILL end up making you flinch.
i had that IN SPADES when i went to the range this past saturday, and tossed a box full of 45ACPs down towards the general vicinity of the 2-foot-by-2-foot target. at 25 yards, i think 10% of the shots landed on paper, the rest were under it and i could see "skipping" marks along the ground towards the backstop.
oddly enough, the 22LRs were in a decent group all ON the paper, and the 44Mag were all on paper as well (the 5 rounds that i did shoot)
And that's why for much of my early shooting and still on occasion when needed that one of my .22's goes to the range with me. None of us are immune to flinching and re-occurances can occur. When that happens my solution is to have the .22 sitting alongside the center fire gun. Two magazines of .22 while concentrating on all the right things and then I flow to the center fire while the Zen like mindset and control is still upon me. It's a superb and enjoyable way to kick a bad habit....
i'd have to agree - it was quite the revealing experience. first a bunch of 45ACP totally off-target, then a few rounds of 22LR in a decent group while noticing just how my hand reacts to the gun (and vice versa), and then a 44Mag just for kicks. really did highlight my pre-flinch or excess-squeeze on the firearm when shooting the 45ACP.
on the 22LR (ruger i guess), it was also much easier to focus on the front sight than on the 45ACP (glock 21).
on the 22LR (ruger i guess), it was also much easier to focus on the front sight than on the 45ACP (glock 21).
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
IMHO, when done properly, with a centerfire pistol, dry firing can be a valuable aid to the pistol shooter. The trouble is that unless you've had good instruction, it might reinforce some bad habits that you then have to unlearn before you are able to improve or progress. Basically though, dry firing will help you identify the mistakes you make with breathing and trigger control. Center the front sight in the rear, place the front sight on a target across the room, a picture or wall switch will work, then pull your focus back to the front sight and steadily increase pressure on the trigger until it breaks. Continue to hold your focus on the front sight, and see if you can detect it jumping slightly to one side of the rear sight notch, which also reinforces follow through. When the shot breaks and the front sight doesn't move, you've nailed it. The bullet will land where the front sight ends up pointing.
As with rifle shooting, practice shooting from different positions, supported and unsupported. When you are able to group your shots in a reasonable manner, try shooting a negative target. This is a target that has irregular cutouts in it, and the goal is to shoot through the cut outs without hitting the target. The purpose of this exercise is that a shooter will often look for a bullet hole to use as a sight reference, in other words he has lost his focus on the front sight, and this exercise makes you keep the front sight focus even with multiple target problems.
Don't get sucked into using a 6:00 hold! When shooting bulls-eye type targets, light conditions will change the apparent size of the target, and the 6:00 hold will result in a shot, or a group, hitting low or high. The center of the target is the center regardless of light conditions, and a center hold on the target makes consistent results much easier to attain. Your windage will also tighten up, as the front sight will have a relationship to the width of the black that is not apparent with a 6:00 hold. Thus, if lets say the front sight is exactly the same width as the apparent size of the bull, holding the center of the bulls becomes quite easy as an elevation error will make the front sight appear wider and a windage error is immediately noticeable as the front sight no longer fits the bull. Remember though to pull you focus back to the front sight prior to breaking the shot. If you ever shoot at a live target with a handgun, you'll be glad you learned to use a center hold rather than a 6:00 hold.
As with rifle shooting, practice shooting from different positions, supported and unsupported. When you are able to group your shots in a reasonable manner, try shooting a negative target. This is a target that has irregular cutouts in it, and the goal is to shoot through the cut outs without hitting the target. The purpose of this exercise is that a shooter will often look for a bullet hole to use as a sight reference, in other words he has lost his focus on the front sight, and this exercise makes you keep the front sight focus even with multiple target problems.
Don't get sucked into using a 6:00 hold! When shooting bulls-eye type targets, light conditions will change the apparent size of the target, and the 6:00 hold will result in a shot, or a group, hitting low or high. The center of the target is the center regardless of light conditions, and a center hold on the target makes consistent results much easier to attain. Your windage will also tighten up, as the front sight will have a relationship to the width of the black that is not apparent with a 6:00 hold. Thus, if lets say the front sight is exactly the same width as the apparent size of the bull, holding the center of the bulls becomes quite easy as an elevation error will make the front sight appear wider and a windage error is immediately noticeable as the front sight no longer fits the bull. Remember though to pull you focus back to the front sight prior to breaking the shot. If you ever shoot at a live target with a handgun, you'll be glad you learned to use a center hold rather than a 6:00 hold.
