Dissect my pistol shooting

[41 Colt]

Gun is a Beretta 92FS, American Eagle 9mm Luger 147 grain FMJ, 20yrd distance indoor range, and I'm a left handed shooter.

These are the first pistol targets I have shot. The first two are from Monday night and the second two from Tuesday night.

60 shots standing with 34 hitting paper:

40 shots sitting with 27 hitting paper:

50 shots standing with 37 hitting paper, I adjusted the rear sight a TINY amount:

50 shots standing with 37 hitting paper, I changed my grip a bit half way through shooting at this target:

 

[sogetthis]

Funny, my first pistol targets looked EXACTLY the same. Low and to the right, from 10 yards with P229 .40S&W.

I happened to be shooting just before a Bullseye shoot, and got some good advice. A friendly observer first corrected my stance, then gave me a tip on trigger pull and sight alignment... And my next shot hit the bull. His exact words were "Quit while you're ahead". I can consistently hit where I aim now.

So to pass on the advice, I think what did it for me was working on my trigger pull. Also, I may have had a slight flinch that came from learning on a .40S&W (stupid idea in retrospect). That was cured by practice.

Take your time to line up the sights. There's no rush. Don't look at the sights, look at the target. Take your time pulling the trigger, learn the trigger pull. I found going extremely slowly (5-10 seconds) pulling the trigger for a few rounds really helped. Also, don't forget to rest your arms once in a while.

Good luck.

 

[PH Racing]

Pay attention to the sights while pulling the trigger. Even if you screw up the trigger pull the sights will tell you where the shot went and why. Conversely it doesn't matter how you pull the trigger, if the sights were in the center when the gun fired, then you should have good hits.
At Burlington on Sat. the Beretta distributor had a 90-two in .40 on the range for people to try. Everyone I saw shoot it had trouble getting on target. I've noticed quite a few shooters have trouble with the 92/96 when first shooting it, but improve as they got used to it. I'm not sure why but it seems a trait of the gun. I didn't have any trouble keeping the all in the black at 20m, but I've shot many Berettas over the years.

 

[prproulx]

Since you're a lefty you can reverse this chart. It's a typical flinch. Practice by dry firing at home keeping the pad of the trigger finger on the trigger and concentrate on moving that finger only when you shoot.

 

[Odinson]

I am a lefty also. Your target looks a lot like mine from a while back. Part of my problem was a flinch but the biggest problem was my grip. I am shooting a Para SSP 45. Stance is very important as well. This may sound silly but give it a try ... using a 2 hand grip, hold your pistol in a full arms extended position facing your target. With the pistol pointing at the ground in front of you , close your eyes and bring the pistol up to where you think the target is. If you are aimed to the left or right of the bullseye, shift your stance until you are on target. Point the pistol down again, close your eyes and repeat the process, if you have positioned your stance properly all you will need to do is adjust up or down. This worked for me. Hope my description makes sense.

 

[v65magnafan]

sogetthis has some good advice. I started with .40 and got a good flinch going. Shooting with a .22 and using good double ear protection enabled me to get rid of my blink. First time? 20 yards? You're not that bad.

Check this out: http://www.targetshooting.ca/docs/Pistol_Shot_Analysis.pdf

 

[capp325]

1. Shooting low = pushing the gun down in anticipation of recoil (a.k.a. flinching)
2. Shooting right = jerking the trigger and/or incorrect grip

 

[Striker]

This may sound silly but give it a try ... using a 2 hand grip, hold your pistol in a full arms extended position facing your target. With the pistol pointing at the ground in front of you , close your eyes and bring the pistol up to where you think the target is. If you are aimed to the left or right of the bullseye, shift your stance until you are on target. Point the pistol down again, close your eyes and repeat the process, if you have positioned your stance properly all you will need to do is adjust up or down. This worked for me. Hope my description makes sense.

That isn't silly at all. It's called natural aligment. Great advice.
From the look of your group (which isn't a bad group) it looks like you are pushing the trigger down and to the right. This is caused by using your finger tip. The Beretta 92 is a big gun..can you grip it comfortably and place the trigger in the joint of the first knuckle on your trigger finger? Keep your strong hand as high up on the grip as possible. Idealy the web between your thumb and trigger finger should be tight against the beaver tail everytime you take up a grip on the gun.

Also it looks like you are squeezing the grip with your strong hand when you squeeze the trigger. Applying pressure with your strong hand finger tips will put side pressure on the right hand grip panel..which will move your muzzle to the right!
You want the pressure applied on the front and back of the grip, not the sides. It doesn't ned to be a death grip either. Just firm enough that the pistol doesn't jump out of your hands.

From the look of your group your sight picture and trigger control aren't bad.
A hint..shoot 5 round groups and check them, then patch them out. It's hard to determine group size and shot placement when you fire more rounds.

 

[Rudy H]

Flinch!

 

[41 Colt]

You want the pressure applied on the front and back of the grip, not the sides.

Good tip.

The Beretta 92 is a big gun..can you grip it comfortably and place the trigger in the joint of the first knuckle on your trigger finger?

I thought you weren't supposed to use that part, only the pad or fingertip? But I think I can do that, my finger actually wants to do that most of the time but I pull it back.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

 

[ontgunner]

M_A_T_T, sorry to be the one to break the news to you... but you suck!
Do that fine gun a favour and send it to me right away... I'll P.M. you with the particulars!

 

[Trigun]

MATT, I think you are doing great for the first time at 20 yards. There are so many way to improve but I do suggest you go to a quiet range at week days. Where do you shoot?

Trigun

 

[41 Colt]

Where do you shoot?

Trigun

Langley Rod & Gun in Brookswood/Langley. I shoot the Beretta Monday & Tuesday nights. It's been somewhat busy the last couple times but I like that there are other shooters to watch and talk too, and the range officers are helpful.

 

[prproulx]

Like Trigun says, there's nothing wrong with those groups if you're just starting out. If that was a bad guy he would be dead.
Get some formal training and lots of practice. Buy a ####load of ammo.

 

[41 Colt]

Buy a s**tload of ammo.

I just bought 1200 rounds on Saturday.

 

[piperdown]

M_A_T_T, most new shooters who shoot low and left or right are typically snapping the trigger. Left handed shooters will shoot low and right and the opposite for those unfortunate right handers . This is a trigger control issue. Try this drill:
1.Put a 2" circle or playing card at 3M
2.Get comfortable in your stance, grip etc...
3.Place your front sight on the center of the target
4.Begin to slowly press the trigger to the rear, the entire time focussing on the front sight and say out loud "front sight, front sight, front sight", until the trigger breaks
5. Hold the trigger to the rear through recoil until you have aquired your next sight picture, and only then release the trigger
6. Lower the pistol to ready and then start the whole process over
7. Take your time

Do this at 3M until you can place all your rounds into a tight group, then gradually increase your distance every time you see good results. You can also do this drill as dry fire.

If you're in Langley, you should check out Slavex's Skills and Drills night's at Abby Fish & Game.

 

[Striker]

Good tip.



I thought you weren't supposed to use that part, only the pad or fingertip? But I think I can do that, my finger actually wants to do that most of the time but I pull it back.
Thanks for all the replies so far.

Your grip should be natural..the same as your stance when you bring your handgun up on target.
If you are using muscle to hold your site picture on target left to right and fire more then a couple of rounds, you will eventually move off target due to muscle fatique or relaxing them.

The same with having to hold your trigger finger back to get your finger tip on the trigger. It isn't "natural".

 

[SLANTO]

It is all pretty much good advice. What was said about natural alignment/grip is the first step. Secondly focus on the front sight aligned correctly on the center of you target. Slowly squeeze the trigger and allow the pistol firing almost be a surprise to you. Allow the recoil impulse to occur which should bring the pistol back to the point of aim then let off the trigger until you feel it reset at the SA point recheck point of aim and squeeze the trigger for your follow up shot(s). Natural alignment is key because it will allow the neutral position/aim of the pistol to be in the correct place with no effort hence allowing you to concentrate onthe sights and trigger control. If you practise your stance to that standard you will find that the correct alignment will begin to instinctually feel right. Everytime I fire a different pistol I will adjust the stance to it.

 

[SIGP2101]

That is an excellent shooting for the first timer at 20 yards. Your grouping is excellent, just adjust your sights and keep shooting. Your group will get smaller over the time.
What ever you doing you doing it consistently well.

 

[Ceska]

Congrats on popping your cherry.

Now start dry firing at home. Do a few thousand dry fires between range trips and I bet you will be surprised next trip to the range.

In particular watch your sight alignment whilst dry firing.