aiming handgun

jiggadog

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I realize it's likely easier to show than explain, but I'm looking for pointers on being more accurate. I just tried out my cz sp-01 shadow (cdn ed) and I find most of my shots @ 25 yards were left of the bulls, which is what I was aiming for. I'm assuming it's the way I'm looking through the sight as when I aimed to the right of the bulls my shots also moved over, but any input would be appreciated. The RSO tried it out and he was pretty accurate for first time picking it up so it's more me than the pistol.
 
Hummm - probably it's your trigger control.

If your shots are the correct height, only just to the left of your aim point - you've probably got too much finger in your trigger.

If you're left AND low - you're likely jerking / pulling the trigger quickly at the last moment.

Abby
 
If your group is left and low you could be squeezing your whole trigger hand. You don't want to "squeeze" the trigger. You want to press the trigger with only your trigger finger moving, the rest of your hand shouldn't move. Your sights should have equal light, equal height. The front sight should be level with your rear sight and equal amount of light between the front sight. If sight alignment is correct, it's your trigger control affecting your shot.
 
Pistol-shooting-chart.jpg
 
Trigger control is really important. You can practice at home. If you've got snap caps or you don't mind dry firing your piece, you can work on getting that trigger to break using just the pad of your forefinger without anticipating recoil, noise, or whatever. You can practice while watching tv. Pick a focal point, line up your sight picture, and really feel what your hands are doing. If your muzzle moves when the trigger breaks, you know you've not isolated your trigger finger.

It's a painstaking process. I was two years before I saw noticeable improvement. I'm still not brilliant, but I can keep my shots inside the ten ring. Do you have a .22? That may help your live-fire experience as well.

Most of all, get more lead downrange. Get out and shoot. There's really no replacement for experience. This is supposed to be fun! In most of Canada short of the northern wilderness, the only reason we own handguns is because they're a buttload of fun. If you're having a good time, then that's all that matters. Good luck!
 
The RSO tried it out and he was pretty accurate for first time picking it up so it's more me than the pistol.

It's probably you, but did your RSO confirm that the sights were aligned on the slide?

There's no point in "correcting" your grip and trigger pull until you are absolutely sure that the sights are where they should be.
 
Hummm - probably it's your trigger control.

If your shots are the correct height, only just to the left of your aim point - you've probably got too much finger in your trigger.
If you're left AND low - you're likely jerking / pulling the trigger quickly at the last moment.

Abby

I think you got this one mixed up Abby. Pushing to the left is due to too LITTLE finger on the trigger. This assumes a right hand shooter. For a leftie pulling to the left would be too much finger onto the trigger.

Jiggadog, one thing I've seen in newer shooters is a tendency to death hold the gun. If you are doing that it becomes very hard to isolate your movement of the one finger on the trigger from the rest of your hand. So the shooter ends up pulling the trigger with the whole hand instead of the one finger. A proper grip pressure is the sort of pressure you'd use in a handshake with a friend where you're not trying to crush their knuckles. If in doubt ease up a little. If the gun moves around in your grip then firm it up a little. But just a LITTLE!

The reason why the finger position is somewhat critical is that as you build pressure on the trigger if you're pushing or pulling to either side the rest of your hand can compensate. But when the trigger breaks that pressure jumps back to push the gun around. And that's why you want to work on a neutral trigger pull. You can work on this by dry firing the gun while watching the sight picture. If it jumps AT ALL to either side then you need to alter your trigger finger motion and/or placement. If the sights just jiggle around when the trigger breaks then you're likely holding on too hard and having difficulty with isolating motion in your trigger finger from the rest of your hand.

Do NOT try to "control" the gun. You'll lose every time because no human can precisely compensate for recoil. Instead concentrate on supporting it in a stable and steady manner and just hold it while it recoils. The only thing that should ever move is your one trigger finger.

Focus on pulling the trigger through to the rear stop and hold it for a moment until the recoil kick is done. That way you're not pulling the trigger to the firing point but instead to the rear travel limit. That in itself can do a huge amount to avoiding a flinch due to expecting the big BANG!.
 
Seek professional training and stop shooting at 25 yards. If you cant group in close, you're wasting your time at distance. All the verbal advice won't serve you at all if you aren't being critiqued and coached by a competent individual..

TDC
 
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