Handgun rookie question

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rtracer13

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First the info: I just started firing my G17, and have 100 rounds through it now.
From my time out at the range firing, I tried firing with both hands as a primary to see which i felt more comfortable with, as I shoot rifle left-handed, but shotgun right-handed. I'm definitely a better shot with left-hand, though the weaver and Isoscelese stances feel a bit more awkward.

My question: From my shots fired, I averaged hitting 30% of targets at 25 yards with right-hand, and 60% with left-hand at 25 yards on a 18x14" paper.
Is this fairly average for a starting shooter at this range or should I be kicking the range down to 10 yards?

Also, any tips that are left-hand shooter specific? Tips on the stance? I'm firing a glock 17 RTF2
 
I am certainly no expert, but it has been suggested to me to get more miles under my belt at 10 yards, concentrate more on sight picture, grip and trigger squeeze.
 
Buy a .22LR conversion kit for your G17.

LE17_22RightSide.jpg


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You won't regret it.
 
Start at 7 or 10 yards, then go further. It's easier to correct/detect problems at closer range. As you do good, put the target further down range.
 
I shoot my Glock 17 left-handed. After several hundred rounds,I have found that breathing/trigger pull is the most important thing to achieve any accuracy. Try a half-breath during the last click of the trigger and you should hit paper at 10 yrds almost 100 per cent of the time.
 
25 yards is a pretty long way for starters...I would move back to 7 or 10 yards and get used to what you're doing. At the very least I find it hard to see my hits well enough at 25 yards to get immediate feedback. It's not so bad on outdoor ranges but inside, I find there's not enough light to easily see the holes, so you don't get that same "okay, that went there" effect.

Also, any shot that misses the target tells you nothing. Did you go high? Low? Off to one side? Other side? Who knows?

I'd cut down on the distance and think about the fundamentals while shooting. Sight picture, sight alignment, good grip and calm, smooth trigger control.

What works for me - at least I would call it working, Slavex may tell you otherwise - is to think "front sight front sight front sight" as I squeeze the trigger. That keeps me from thinking too much about the trigger pull, and keeps my attention where it ought to be.

But I am not a great pistol shooter. I would describe myself as "low intermediate". There are better guys to get advice from, but this works fairly well for me.

The other thing that might be worth thinking about is your grip...I don't know how you grip your gun but my shooting improved substantially when I went to a modern "thumbs forward" grip. If you are trying out Weaver, I'm guessing - no offense intended - you may not be using the best grip. I don't think I have seen a Weaver shooter in a long time. Not since I got back in to guns maybe five or six years ago, anyway...it was definitely being done the last time I was doing the gun thing, but that was in the nineties.

So I would look up "thumbs forward pistol grip" and give that a go. With a good grip and a decent trigger finger and all your focus on the front sight, you'll shoot well.
 
misanthropist said:
So I would look up "thumbs forward pistol grip" and give that a go. With a good grip and a decent trigger finger and all your focus on the front sight, you'll shoot well.
Click to expand...

I was using the thumbs forward grip, and had watched the vid from hickok45 on youtube, trying out his advice. Neither stance felt real natural, but I imagine that will come with practice practice practice.
 
you should also figure out your dominate eye. Try to shoot with hand that is on same side as dominant eye. For me tho, I am left handed and right eye dominate (screwed twice over LOL).

Cheers
 
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