Flinching/blinking >_<

[Gorax]

I'm rather new at this, and my first gun (Win 270WSM, model 70) is probably not the ideal noobie gun--but it was on sale AND a left handed bolt, so I thought it was a good idea. I don't regret it, anyway.

My dad and I were at the range a few hours ago, shooting paper targets to get ready for moose season. I wasn't doing as well as I would have liked, mainly because I kept closing my eye (and moving a little) whenever I pulled the trigger. The result was that I was always 4-5 inches off the centre of the target. Lame.

Does anyone know of any strategies to stop this blinking reflex? I was thinking of simply getting a 22 that can hold a lot of rounds and blasting the hell out of things while making it a point to keep my scope eye open, just to get used to the BANG. I think that's a big part of the problem: I'm not used to the incredibly loud bang that accompanies the trigger pull. I can deal with the recoil, and I know I won't get scoped in the face, but the loudness seems to be what's throwing me off, or maybe even the anticipation of the loudness. I don't know. All I do know is that my eye closes automatically, no matter how many times I mentally prep myself and think *DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYE!!1*

Does practicing with a lower calibre (22 or 223) sound like a good idea, or should I just practice with my dad's 30-06 since the gun is more similar? (30-06 ammo is cheaper than 270WSM ammo )

If anyone else has had the same problem as a noob, what did you do to get past it?

Any info will be appreciated

 

[Ryan j]

If you think it's the *BANG* that's making you flinch; get some better hearing protection. It's probably a combination of the Bang/concusion/recoil that's making you flinch. Pick-up a slip on recoil pad at CT or get a Limbsaver shoulder pad from your gunshop and some good hearing protection and I think your groups will tighten up. Once you get your rifle shooting how you want it you shouldn't have much of a problem dealing with that one important shot in the field.

 

[Shrek]

Fire the rifle a few times with a spent case in the chamber. Practice keeping your eye open the entire time. When you are doing pretty good, have someone else load your rifle without you looking, and have them mix a few spent casings in. Not knowing if your going to get a click or a boom will help cure a flinch.

 

[sunray]

"...not the ideal noobie gun..." It's not really a magnum. Good rifle for an FNG.
"...was always 4-5 inches off the centre of the target..." Decent sized group? 3" at 100 yards is good enough for Bullwinkle. Adjust the scope.
The recoil pad and good hearing protection will help some, but your brain is thinking something is coming at your eye. Perfectly normal. Practice matters. No point practicing with your da's rifle though.
Sight in, then practice shooting, off hand, with the ammo you intend using, at a 9" pie plate, at 100, until you can hit it every time.