I found that shooting revolver actually helped the most for learning to shoot handguns better. The longer trigger pulls make you learn to stand properly and have stronger arms and better overall fundamentals. That was my personal experience anyways.
I can't shoot handguns worth a $#&@!!!!
- Thread starter TheArmyMan204
- Start date
My recommendation PAY someone to teach you. You can practice a long time to figure out what you are doing wrong, but if you don't know what you don't know you will burn a lot of powder to make little headway.
I find solid rifle shooters that have trouble with pistol are too tense in body and mind, you need to relax and do what you know, Ease down on the coffee on range day.
I find solid rifle shooters that have trouble with pistol are too tense in body and mind, you need to relax and do what you know, Ease down on the coffee on range day.
Nothing can substitute ammo and trigger time is what I found out.
Every week, once a week, rain or shine, +10 or -20 I'm out at the range in full winter gear popping off minimum 200 rounds.
Shooting at 10 yards on PAPER targets so you can actually see what your hitting and then track your progress.
I see too many guys that show up once a month, set up ONE sheet of paper at 25 yards, make loud noises for half an hour and then go look at their target which has turned into Swiss cheese. No way of knowing their average groups because the whole thing is shot to ####.
I find that traditional ranges make it harder to learn. The range I am at has an indoor section, which is 25 yards. Can't shoot ahead or behind that. Since there always a lot of people you can't be going down range every two seconds to check your targets, adjust/set up fresh target. So you become the guy I just described above.
Every week, once a week, rain or shine, +10 or -20 I'm out at the range in full winter gear popping off minimum 200 rounds.
Shooting at 10 yards on PAPER targets so you can actually see what your hitting and then track your progress.
I see too many guys that show up once a month, set up ONE sheet of paper at 25 yards, make loud noises for half an hour and then go look at their target which has turned into Swiss cheese. No way of knowing their average groups because the whole thing is shot to ####.
I find that traditional ranges make it harder to learn. The range I am at has an indoor section, which is 25 yards. Can't shoot ahead or behind that. Since there always a lot of people you can't be going down range every two seconds to check your targets, adjust/set up fresh target. So you become the guy I just described above.
I have to agree. I was at the range with a G22 and there was another member with a SW .357. We tried each others pistol and it was amazing the difference. It was like night and day for both of us. In addition the revolver was much softer shooting, which I did not at all expect
Like I have heard said "shooting a handgun is simple it is just not easy".
The basics as I understand it.
The flinch: most people do it at some time and you need to train yourself out of it. Dry firing is a good start. The other thing I do is mix in some snap caps in a random order when firing. If the gun moves on the snap cap you are flinching or anticipating the shot.
Surprise: When the gun goes of it should be a surprise not a fright but a surprise if it is not you are anticipating the shot and probably moving the gun.
Sight: Focus on the for-sight everything else should be a bit blurry.
Eyes: Keep your eyes open, with a semi-auto you should see the spent case being ejected from the gun. If you blink you don't follow through properly.
Follow through: The shot is not complete until you are on target again.
Grip: There are a number of different methods so I won't get into that other than to say the higher up you can hold on the grip the better. It helps reduce muzzle flip.
The Gun: Heavier guns are easier to shoot accurately when learning. If you start with a 24oz poly gun it is going to be tougher to shoot well, recoil will be more noticeable as will muzzle flip. Weight helps control these things.
The distance: Start at a short range until the groups are really tight. It doesn't really make that much difference but it can be discouraging at longer ranges as the groups will be bigger and you are already thinking about a lot of things so you don't need to feel discouraged.
Practice: Practice lots but it needs to be good practice. Shooting is not practice it is only practice if you are concentration on improving. Personally I pick one of the above to concentrate on at a range session and then work on that until it becomes reasonably automatic. I have heard that it takes approximately 10,000 correct repetitions of trigger pull before you can do it right without thought. I am personally not a big believer in the 22 theory. Yes it is cheap and yes it is good for trigger control but you can also be more sloppy with regard to managing recoil and develop bad habits without noticing. Personally I find if I shoot my 45ACP and then move to my 9mm my 9 groups are better than if I just shoot the 9. The more recoil the more you are forced to concentrate on doing it right.
The basics as I understand it.
The flinch: most people do it at some time and you need to train yourself out of it. Dry firing is a good start. The other thing I do is mix in some snap caps in a random order when firing. If the gun moves on the snap cap you are flinching or anticipating the shot.
Surprise: When the gun goes of it should be a surprise not a fright but a surprise if it is not you are anticipating the shot and probably moving the gun.
Sight: Focus on the for-sight everything else should be a bit blurry.
Eyes: Keep your eyes open, with a semi-auto you should see the spent case being ejected from the gun. If you blink you don't follow through properly.
Follow through: The shot is not complete until you are on target again.
Grip: There are a number of different methods so I won't get into that other than to say the higher up you can hold on the grip the better. It helps reduce muzzle flip.
The Gun: Heavier guns are easier to shoot accurately when learning. If you start with a 24oz poly gun it is going to be tougher to shoot well, recoil will be more noticeable as will muzzle flip. Weight helps control these things.
The distance: Start at a short range until the groups are really tight. It doesn't really make that much difference but it can be discouraging at longer ranges as the groups will be bigger and you are already thinking about a lot of things so you don't need to feel discouraged.
Practice: Practice lots but it needs to be good practice. Shooting is not practice it is only practice if you are concentration on improving. Personally I pick one of the above to concentrate on at a range session and then work on that until it becomes reasonably automatic. I have heard that it takes approximately 10,000 correct repetitions of trigger pull before you can do it right without thought. I am personally not a big believer in the 22 theory. Yes it is cheap and yes it is good for trigger control but you can also be more sloppy with regard to managing recoil and develop bad habits without noticing. Personally I find if I shoot my 45ACP and then move to my 9mm my 9 groups are better than if I just shoot the 9. The more recoil the more you are forced to concentrate on doing it right.
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Crystal clear Front sight and smooth consistent trigger press, most important. Everything but front sight, out of focus, with a smooth consistent trigger press. Keep your finger on the trigger while shooting, only bringing it back far enough to reset. Do not adjust between shots, i.e opening your fingers on grip or moving your finger off trigger. Learn the proper technique first and then improve your accuracy.
FWIW, I also think learning to shoot pistols should also be done on something with a recoil i.e. not a .22.
FWIW, I also think learning to shoot pistols should also be done on something with a recoil i.e. not a .22.
At the range you need to also be aware of mental fatigue. No real point in blasting away once your (relaxed)focus is gone if you are trying to improve your muscle memory in a good way.
If you have space in your house for some indoor shooting a good pellet pistol will help with trigger time and sight picture.
The Youtube stuff won't help with your self evaluation but it is helpful to learn about different stances, grips, basics of good shooting that you can then adapt to suit your body.
If you have space in your house for some indoor shooting a good pellet pistol will help with trigger time and sight picture.
The Youtube stuff won't help with your self evaluation but it is helpful to learn about different stances, grips, basics of good shooting that you can then adapt to suit your body.
Everybody has their own technique, but the same fundamentals apply for most. For me it's all about front sight, squeez, and repeat. Don't worry about speed, it comes. In fact, to ensure your focused on accuracy only load 3 rounds in a mag and aim at the exact same spot on the target. Start close and work back (say 5 feet). It seems silly, but it will ensure a lot of things. Don't look at where each round goes, just point, aim, squeez and repeat. After three rounds look a your group and assess. Also, look at your trigger finger placement, just use the tip and apply even pressure backwards.
Once you have the basics down, practice comes into play. Without this foundation, you can simply be slinging lead the bad guy off a Steven seagul movie. And it can be very frustrating.
Once you have the basics down, practice comes into play. Without this foundation, you can simply be slinging lead the bad guy off a Steven seagul movie. And it can be very frustrating.
Busta Capp
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Town of the Blue Mountains (ON)
I find this a great video for the basics
try to get a video camera and video tape yourself while you shoot.
confidence in your skills and knowing your weaknesses is the key. If you think you are guessing how to shoot, you probably are. It is not a guessing game, it is pretty simple. If it feels weird, ankward, you are doing something wrong.
It could be anything and asking here without watching you shoot will not take you anywhere. It might be your stance, your grip, the way you pull the trigger, your breathing. Many things.
Get a skilled shooter guide you a couple times, not your buddy who shot 3 times more than you twice a year. Someone skilled, someone who competed in IPSC or similar would be a good starting point. Go to a range that has this or similar activity, introduce yourself and ask for help. Joining a similar sport will put you shooting next to skilled shooters and you will enjoy hand gunning a lot more too.
Videos online are ok but not the way to go, you will understand how YOU shoot ONLY if you have someone who knows the fundamentals watching you while you do it.
Dry fire drills help a lot. Look for those.
It is not brain surgery, really. Sight alignment and trigger control. It's all in your brain and getting frustrated with yourself with not take you anywhere. Practice practice practice and one day it will click.
Have fun.
confidence in your skills and knowing your weaknesses is the key. If you think you are guessing how to shoot, you probably are. It is not a guessing game, it is pretty simple. If it feels weird, ankward, you are doing something wrong.
It could be anything and asking here without watching you shoot will not take you anywhere. It might be your stance, your grip, the way you pull the trigger, your breathing. Many things.
Get a skilled shooter guide you a couple times, not your buddy who shot 3 times more than you twice a year. Someone skilled, someone who competed in IPSC or similar would be a good starting point. Go to a range that has this or similar activity, introduce yourself and ask for help. Joining a similar sport will put you shooting next to skilled shooters and you will enjoy hand gunning a lot more too.
Videos online are ok but not the way to go, you will understand how YOU shoot ONLY if you have someone who knows the fundamentals watching you while you do it.
Dry fire drills help a lot. Look for those.
It is not brain surgery, really. Sight alignment and trigger control. It's all in your brain and getting frustrated with yourself with not take you anywhere. Practice practice practice and one day it will click.
Have fun.
Sort of like asking how to improve your golf swing to get rid of that nasty slice. Lots of advice and everyone really, really means well but.... Only one reply has suggested to pay someone to help. Heck, take a vacation day or two and sign up for a course or two. I've only taken a handgun 1 course and it's freakin' amazing at what a trained eye can pick up and how a pro can suggest a subtle tweak or 2 that can yield dramatic improvements. Huge value & bang-for-the-buck (especially considering the cost of .40 ammo). A 2nd course is definitely something I plan to take this spring/summer.
Another vote for getting some training. It's not that you can't learn on your own; you can if you're determined enough. But it will take a long time and you will have to go through the process of un-learning a whole bunch of stuff that you learned to do incorrectly. You will Likely have to do this many times. A few sessions of training with someone competent can save you years of headaches and frustration as well as much-o dollars.
boss351cleveland
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Down by the river
Concentrate on grip ,trigger pull and trigger reset , always shoot off the reset if you can, dont let the trigger come all the way forward . Also shoot your pistol off a rest and make sure its zeroed at 15- 25m .
I highly recommend seeking out a Black Badge instructor and taking the course even if you don't plan on competing in IPSC or other action pistol disciplines. After about a year of building up 'technique', I went to the BB course and my brilliant instructor happily demolished much of it. After two days I was a significantly improved shooter. A good instructor will help you more than anything, and at the class they will be watching you and correcting you in real-time. As others have stated, this is the most important thing: getting feedback from somebody with credentials as you are performing the task. Not every Black Badge teacher will be a championship-caliber shooter, but many are very accomplished and almost certainly know how to shoot better than 90% of people at any given range.
Others have recommended dry fire practice, which I also recommend highly. The key is to actually practice instead of wasting time with a gun in your hand. Spend maybe 15 minutes doing trigger pulls trying to keep the sights even. Practice freestyle, strong- and -weak hand. You need to be honest in your assessments; if you're shaking the gun all over the place, that's not good, but recognizing it is and you can work to change it. Doing a little bit every day helps a lot. During a strict regimen of dry-fire practice I was recording my groups at the range each week and in about six week they'd shrunk more than 100%. I wasn't doing anything else differently.
I also recommend a training buddy who you can have some friendly competition with. It helps you stay motivated as long as you're both positive with each other, and makes the whole experience a lot more fun. Try to outshoot each other in bullseye-type arrangements and each week you'll both likely improve. The range buddy can also help by loading snap caps into your mag/cylinder to check your flinch, use a stopwatch or shot timer, and so on. The social element will also encourage you both to shoot more often, because taking yourself to the range and shooting in dead-serious silence alone isn't a horrid experience, but sharing it with a friend is much better.
Good luck! If it's any consolation, after about a year and a half of constant pistol shooting and plenty of competing, I'm still horrible at everything, but I make me from the past look EVEN WORSE!
Others have recommended dry fire practice, which I also recommend highly. The key is to actually practice instead of wasting time with a gun in your hand. Spend maybe 15 minutes doing trigger pulls trying to keep the sights even. Practice freestyle, strong- and -weak hand. You need to be honest in your assessments; if you're shaking the gun all over the place, that's not good, but recognizing it is and you can work to change it. Doing a little bit every day helps a lot. During a strict regimen of dry-fire practice I was recording my groups at the range each week and in about six week they'd shrunk more than 100%. I wasn't doing anything else differently.
I also recommend a training buddy who you can have some friendly competition with. It helps you stay motivated as long as you're both positive with each other, and makes the whole experience a lot more fun. Try to outshoot each other in bullseye-type arrangements and each week you'll both likely improve. The range buddy can also help by loading snap caps into your mag/cylinder to check your flinch, use a stopwatch or shot timer, and so on. The social element will also encourage you both to shoot more often, because taking yourself to the range and shooting in dead-serious silence alone isn't a horrid experience, but sharing it with a friend is much better.
Good luck! If it's any consolation, after about a year and a half of constant pistol shooting and plenty of competing, I'm still horrible at everything, but I make me from the past look EVEN WORSE!
jester3006
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I got private lessons from a BB instructor. We spent a good half hour on proper grip, stance, sight picture and so on. My groups immediately got better. No use in trying to compensate if you have bad form, much like golf. An instructor watches you and can point out what you're doing wrong, even when you can't tell. I took 3 lessons, then took my Black Badge, best money spent for improving my accuracy. No practice and amount of rounds would have accomplished the same.
