I can't shoot handguns worth a $#&@!!!!
- Thread starter TheArmyMan204
- Start date
The most important thing is that if you are doing it wrong, and you practise, you get better at doing it wrong.
It is like a French person learning English, but using French vowels, 30 years later they sound like Jean Chrétien.
So get trained to do it right soon.
It is like a French person learning English, but using French vowels, 30 years later they sound like Jean Chrétien.
So get trained to do it right soon.
I learned via my intro to IPSC through murray gardners courses in the lower mainland. i would highly reccomend them to newer or inexperienced shooters.
Now black badge certified and did awesome in my IPSC qualifier. All within the same year i got my 1911 kimber and couldnt hit a damn thing i pointed it at. Like others have said training helps to. Dry fire training is good. An example of one thing you can do to see if your pulling the gun any which way that was shown to me by a ipsc veteran. You will need a buddy. Have buddy Take an empty casing and rest it primer down in the middle of ur slide right on top(some pistols may require a small .22 casing to fit on their slide). All while in your normal shooting grip and stance. Dryfire and see if the casing moves or even falls off, if it does youre pulling too much or hitting the trigger too hard/improperly. Should help to pinpoint some issues.
Good luck and dont get discouraged!
Now black badge certified and did awesome in my IPSC qualifier. All within the same year i got my 1911 kimber and couldnt hit a damn thing i pointed it at. Like others have said training helps to. Dry fire training is good. An example of one thing you can do to see if your pulling the gun any which way that was shown to me by a ipsc veteran. You will need a buddy. Have buddy Take an empty casing and rest it primer down in the middle of ur slide right on top(some pistols may require a small .22 casing to fit on their slide). All while in your normal shooting grip and stance. Dryfire and see if the casing moves or even falls off, if it does youre pulling too much or hitting the trigger too hard/improperly. Should help to pinpoint some issues.
Good luck and dont get discouraged!
Shooting a pistol is just like shooting any other gun. Don't disturb the sights when you pull the trigger. If you can't see what is happening with the sights, you aren't looking at them hard enough. Start at contact distance, once you can keep the group in a 2 inch circle step back, start again. Until you reach your desired distance.
More time on the range, with experienced shooters who can give you some good tips on the spot. Dry fire practice, getting a .22 (it's cheaper than .40S&W, and you build good fundamentals) and learning from forums on CGN/Youtube video's.
Like it got said above, so long as you're enjoying yourself it's your ammo to shoot and money to spend.
Like it got said above, so long as you're enjoying yourself it's your ammo to shoot and money to spend.
Either way works, you don't need snap caps to dry fire a centre fire pistol
Since you really can't see yourself while shooting, it helps to find someone who can instruct you while you are shooting so that they can make the corrections in your form necessary for success.
Find someone who shoots really well, its better if they already instruct and convince them to instruct you, then watch your handgun shooting improve. It takes practice, lots of ammo and time.
Find someone who shoots really well, its better if they already instruct and convince them to instruct you, then watch your handgun shooting improve. It takes practice, lots of ammo and time.
Practice is not the sole answer. If your technique is poor, you will get good at shooting poorly. I made that mistake when i taught myself how to ski.
You need a good coach, to teach you some fundamentals. so you practice doing things correctly.
I agree withthew idea to start with a revolover, or a good 22 pistol. i learned hand gunning with a Ruger Mk1.
You need a good coach, to teach you some fundamentals. so you practice doing things correctly.
I agree withthew idea to start with a revolover, or a good 22 pistol. i learned hand gunning with a Ruger Mk1.
I spoiled myself with a tuned trigger on my first pistol (1911) and it gave me a false sense of accomplishment because even with poor trigger control it still broke the shot before I moved the gun too far. I have had a few pistols now and always seem to go back to the 1911's because the trigger is so much easier to use. That being said, Buy a .22 and shoot that. I saved money by retraining myself on my .22 even when including the cost of the gun over trying to shoot the equivalent number of centerfire rounds. Still, I have to really focus on my trigger pull and hold the trigger back during the shot, then consciously feel for the trigger reset to shoot well.
There are not trainers all over the place, there are not any in my area, at least none of the ones I know will start from the basic, they will expect you to come with at least something.
if you are already a member of a range, I highly recommend joining IPSC. IPSC is a game that is based on accuracy and speed (not defence) so it will help in getting your fundamentals right.
if you are already a member of a range, I highly recommend joining IPSC. IPSC is a game that is based on accuracy and speed (not defence) so it will help in getting your fundamentals right.
handofzeus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Trout Creekish Ontario.
+1! I just traded off my Ruger P944(brand new) because the grip seemed too big and I was never able to hit what I was aiming at. Usually low and left (7-8 o'clock area. I love my revolvers and do surprisingly well with them. I just ordered an M&P because the grip feels better and 9mm is less 'snappy'. I think the snap-back from the slide throws me off too. With revolvers there's only the recoil to contend with while autos have the double recoil from the chambering cycle. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully there won't be an EE listing for an M&P with light scuffs from being thrown!!I generally suck shooting my HG's also but I find revolvers are more accurate(for me)...none the less I still enjoy them and that's all that matters
I just picked up a black powder 1851 Navy....I guess I'll be visiting that forum now.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
Good advise here.
When I started shooting Bullseye, I had an Olympic shooter show me how to shoot Bullseye. Everything I knew I had to forget and practice what he taught me.
I've shot two handed modified Weaver, IPSC and quick draw styles, but when I want to be accurate, it's one hand hold, the other hand in my pocket. That style of shooting can produce 2" groups at 50 meters with the right training.
Where are you - if we knew, maybe we could help
First off is your hold on the gun. This is a great video for that;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZDttBfock
Second is to follow through on the trigger. With rifle you already know to steady your nerves and to smoothly and progressively pressure the trigger until it breaks and to follow through by holding it back for a little before you ease up to let it reset. Handguns are the same. You want to smoothly pressure the trigger and hold it there through the recoil and only then release.
Beyond that it sounds silly but there's a certain amount of Zen involved. You need to focus on a steady sight picture and the motion of your trigger finger and just ignore that it's going to go BANG! and jump around in your hand. If you stage the trigger in any manner it will hurt you.
It's also quite possible to be a great rifle shooter but have a helluva flinch with a handgun. I've seen it. By focusing on that trigger movement fully to the rear it aids in removing the focus on the big BANG! that's coming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZDttBfock
Second is to follow through on the trigger. With rifle you already know to steady your nerves and to smoothly and progressively pressure the trigger until it breaks and to follow through by holding it back for a little before you ease up to let it reset. Handguns are the same. You want to smoothly pressure the trigger and hold it there through the recoil and only then release.
Beyond that it sounds silly but there's a certain amount of Zen involved. You need to focus on a steady sight picture and the motion of your trigger finger and just ignore that it's going to go BANG! and jump around in your hand. If you stage the trigger in any manner it will hurt you.
It's also quite possible to be a great rifle shooter but have a helluva flinch with a handgun. I've seen it. By focusing on that trigger movement fully to the rear it aids in removing the focus on the big BANG! that's coming.
If you have the means and your range will allow a friend to load your gun/magazines for you, a mix of live rounds and snap caps (for automatics) or live rounds and empty chambers (for revolvers) will make your flinch so obvious it'll surprise you (if it's there). The revolver can be done alone if you can spin the cylinder, and you might pull off the automatic if you have a terrible memory.
Also, although I have a feeling these have been posted:
http://www.gunlink.info/targets/PistolChartR1S.pdf -for righties
http://www.gunlink.info/targets/PistolChartL1S.pdf -for lefties
You can get pretty far with these, but it's definitely no replacement for a good teacher. BCRider is also spot on about focus; the difference it makes is huge (although in my case I've found that after a certain point I start to overthink, so there may be a balance that needs to be found for you).
Also, although I have a feeling these have been posted:
http://www.gunlink.info/targets/PistolChartR1S.pdf -for righties
http://www.gunlink.info/targets/PistolChartL1S.pdf -for lefties
You can get pretty far with these, but it's definitely no replacement for a good teacher. BCRider is also spot on about focus; the difference it makes is huge (although in my case I've found that after a certain point I start to overthink, so there may be a balance that needs to be found for you).
One of the best and most comprehensive manuals
www.bullseyepistol.com/amucover.htm
This section of the website is dedicated to the Army Marksmanship Unit's Pistol Training Guide. Quite simply, this is the "Bible" of Bullseye Pistol Shooting. No one serious about the game of shooting should miss the information in this booklet.
www.bullseyepistol.com/amucover.htm
This section of the website is dedicated to the Army Marksmanship Unit's Pistol Training Guide. Quite simply, this is the "Bible" of Bullseye Pistol Shooting. No one serious about the game of shooting should miss the information in this booklet.
All of the above plus, get yourself (on the Internet) a pistol correction chart.
Google's your friend and they make them for right-handed and for left-handed shooters.
Rather than using the chart to analyze your shot placement and reading the errors committed,
make dozens, nay hundreds of photocopies of the charts and shoot AT the charts. This way
you'll have the memory of every shot that did this or did that fresh in your mind and the feeling
fresh in your conscious mind.
Google's your friend and they make them for right-handed and for left-handed shooters.
Rather than using the chart to analyze your shot placement and reading the errors committed,
make dozens, nay hundreds of photocopies of the charts and shoot AT the charts. This way
you'll have the memory of every shot that did this or did that fresh in your mind and the feeling
fresh in your conscious mind.
