Handgun Shooting Problem

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HuntAway

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So I'm out to the range last night to do some bullseye shooting @ 20 yds. Load up, take aim, fire.

Nothing on target everything about 8 inches low, grouping centre line. Ok, fire off another mag. Same results.

Hmmmm, time to bench this thing to see if it's me or the gun. Load, aim fire. 9 of ten in the black.

So one thing has been determined. It is not the guns fault.

Does anyone have any idea of what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks,

HA
 
Looking over top of your sites +/or anticipating recoil [dipping the nose of your pistol] would be my guess.

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NAA.
 
NAA said:
Looking over top of your sites +/or anticipating recoil would be my guess.

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NAA.
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Sort of like peeking in archery. Guarenteed low if you do. Hmmm.

Thanks NAA I'll keep that in mind next time out. Not sure if I'm flinching. I would think if I were I would be all over the place. I'm grouping half decent just way low.

HA
 
HuntAway said:
Sort of like peeking in archery. Guarenteed low if you do. Hmmm.

Thanks NAA I'll keep that in mind next time out. Not sure if I'm flinching. I would think if I were I would be all over the place. I'm grouping half decent just way low.

HA
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Not so much flinching, as your subconsciously anticipating the recoil and "handing" into it. The chart posted about is ok, but it's not gospel...but it does lay down the most common new shooter faults.
 
pick up some snap caps and load them in a few of your mags without looking where,mix the mags up, and then use your phone camera for video and set it up to watch how your reacting on the snap caps...
work pretty good and you can see what your doing wrong.
 
Dry fire practice at home will help.

1. Obtain a sight picture
2. Pull trigger until hammer/striker releases without disturbing sight picture.
3. Refocus on sight picture.

I used to do 50-100 repetitions daily to maintain skills over winter.

On the range, sight picture, press, reacquire sight picture (follow through). Don't worry about where the bullet hit.
 
NAA said:
Looking over top of your sites +/or anticipating recoil [dipping the nose of your pistol] would be my guess.

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NAA.
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That how I do it....

When I get a dud round I keep it and mix it with each handful of ammo I load in the mag. When the gun jumps on the dud, I can see and acknowledge my flinch.
 
When I started pistol shooting I had the exact same problem. I would put the holes way South to my aiming point. It was all anticipating recoil. So shoot like there is not going to be any recoil-like and you won't unconsciously aim your muzzle down.

Gilbert
 
HuntAway said:
So I'm out to the range last night to do some bullseye shooting @ 20 yds. Load up, take aim, fire.

Nothing on target everything about 8 inches low, grouping centre line.

HA
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Why don't you start @ 7rds then gradually move out to 20….
I've been shooting my revolver(s) in double action regularly and its helped with all my trigger-toys.
 
johNTO said:
Why don't you start @ 7rds then gradually move out to 20….
I've been shooting my revolver(s) in double action regularly and its helped with all my trigger-toys.
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I was shooting at our indoor range and unfortunately, that is the way it is set up for bullseye shooting and it's too darn cold for outdoor shooting just yet. But I do agree with your idea of starting close then moving out.

HA
 
OP ...

You can do a dry-fire drill called the "wall drill" to identify the issue.

Unload and clear your gun, make sure there's no ammo around. Stand in front of a wall about 2-3 yards. You don't need a target, a blank wall will do. Make a stance and dry-fire the gun slowly with proper grip while focusing on pressing the trigger to the rear and maintaining a proper sight picture. See where the front sight goes when the gun goes click. You can do some experiment with your grip and trigger finger, to find a combination that works for you, i.e. the front sight does not move when the gun goes click.

I found that my old eyes can't really see the front sight movement very well. So I went out and bought myself a $2 laser pointer (made to entertain dogs!) from Dollarama. Taped it underneath the trigger guard, made sure the laser points parallel enough with regards to the barrel. Did the above wall drill again, but this time I can watch the dot "dancing" around while I pressed the trigger. I found my grip + trigger finger combo that works for me this way, i.e. the dot stays within a post-it note from 10 yards away.

Hope this helps!
 
williss said:
Anybody know what exactly is "Tightening fingers" at 8 O'clock? Gripping too tight? squeezing grip as you squeeze the trigger?
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Yep, just what you typed. I've most frequently seen it on newbies that put a death strangle grip on the gun. That makes it extremely hard to isolate their trigger finger movement from the rest of their hand. They end up pulling the trigger with all their fingers. If you see anyone with literally white knuckles and white finger nail beds tell them to ease off to a friendly but firm handshake sort of pressure.

Huntaway, try focusing on a smooth and consistent pressure build all the way to the rear of the trigger's travel with a momentary hold at that point. Ignore the fact that the gun is going BOOM! along the way. Your job is sight picture and an even pressure build until the trigger no longer moves. It's called "follow through" by some and if nothing else it'll eliminate the possibility that you're reacting to the BOOM! by encouraging a good and proper follow through.
 
Thanks for all the tips everyone. One thing I noticed last night in the basement was that when I wore my glasses that the front sight was fuzzy when I took them off it was sharp but the target was fuzzy. I have dilemma. I think it's better to have sharp sights than a sharp target so next time out I'll just wear safety glasses and see what happens while trying to keep in mind all of your tips!

I have plenty to learn with this aspect of the shooting sports.

Thanks,

HA
 
better to have sharp front sight and fuzzy target....by far...on a good day i can shoot 1.5" at 23 yards with a fuzzy target, but with fuzzy sights i have a hard time getting past 4".....
 
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