Is blinking flinching?

[woodlotowner]

This is opinion more than science, but I believe blinking and flinching are not the same thing at all. I know I blink, but I always see the perfect target picture as the trigger breaks and what happens beyond that is irrelevant IMO. If I get good groups consistently from any shooting position under any circumstances then I am not worried about blinking. Having said this, perhaps in some cases a blink can develop into a flinch without conscious effort to prevent same. Do I ever flinch? On occasion. When I get one of the big bores out after a long period of inactivity I have to be very careful to focus on the first shot. After that, no problem. Life is going by in a blink, however.

 

[EdGCNM]

This is opinion more than science, but I believe blinking and flinching are not the same thing at all. I know I blink, but I always see the perfect target picture as the trigger breaks and what happens beyond that is irrelevant IMO. If I get good groups consistently from any shooting position under any circumstances then I am not worried about blinking. Having said this, perhaps in some cases a blink can develop into a flinch without conscious effort to prevent same. Do I ever flinch? On occasion. When I get one of the big bores out after a long period of inactivity I have to be very careful to focus on the first shot. After that, no problem. Life is going by in a blink, however.

IMO, if the blinking is evidence of (a result of) anticipation of the shot it can result in bad shooting. If you can blink without anticipating the shot and messing it up, then it isn't a flinch, but you're in the minority!

 

[BCRider]

Being able to analyze your own behaviour like you're doing is a big step towards getting better. Not everyone seems to have the ability to watch themselves with a critical eye at the same time they are performing a function such as shooting. Well done and keep it up. It's how you'll improve.

If you are more about shooting well and accurately than about going out for recoil giggles then you will LOVE your new Ruger. And it's almost scarey how well they can shoot. Try some rested groups where your hands and the butt of the mag sits on a bag rest with it from 25 yards in calm conditions and you'll realize just how well they shoot and how much you, I and lots of others around here that are not on some Olympic bullseye team can improve.....

 

[MartyK2500]

I take shooting sports quite seriously. If there is no objectives/incentives to my hobbies, i tend to lose interest. And tracking down my progress gives me quite the satisfaction.

There has been a change in my .22lr pistol. I went in the shop today to check if my ruger was in, and then the salesman showed me a pistol that had just came in on consignement during the weekend. A ruger, single 6, .22lr/hmr, 5", blued with wooden grip, 300$ no tax, a few years old in A+++ condition. It looks the same as new, and i do have a weak spot for revolvers. For the training exercises i wish to do, i am sure that it will suit me just fine. If i do not flinch on .22lr i could then give it an extra kick with hmr's.

 

[BCRider]

That IS a great deal for a Single Six. And revolver or not they are sweet shooting guns by any measure.

I've got an older 3 screw SS and despite having a fairly wide variety of .22 handguns it's got a place of honor in my collection already and isn't going anyplace any time soon. There's all the time in the world for a new Mk III. By all means if you like revolvers get that SS and don't look back.

To my mind there are three true "grass roots" .22 handguns that are worth finding. One is a Single Six. The second is a S&W Model 17 or K22 and the third is a S&W Model 41. None of them are inexpensive but then none of them will bust the bank unless the person looking at them has to struggle to afford a couple of bricks of ammo a week. So if you jump on that SS or have already then you're one third of the way towards obtaining the "middle of the road" rimfire triumverate....

 

[bobbyjack]

I sold a 303 to a friend and he complaned he just could not hit a garden gourd at 3 yards,I asked him to try it and he flinched

bad. I then said try it agan and pushed my thumb down on the mag allowing the bolt to close empty. He aimed and flinched

when he pulled the trigger. I then showed him how to hold the rifle in tight and keep his eyes on the target and just squeese

off the trigger slowly,well you know the rest.

Bob

 

[MartyK2500]

That IS a great deal for a Single Six. And revolver or not they are sweet shooting guns by any measure.

I've got an older 3 screw SS and despite having a fairly wide variety of .22 handguns it's got a place of honor in my collection already and isn't going anyplace any time soon. There's all the time in the world for a new Mk III. By all means if you like revolvers get that SS and don't look back.

To my mind there are three true "grass roots" .22 handguns that are worth finding. One is a Single Six. The second is a S&W Model 17 or K22 and the third is a S&W Model 41. None of them are inexpensive but then none of them will bust the bank unless the person looking at them has to struggle to afford a couple of bricks of ammo a week. So if you jump on that SS or have already then you're one third of the way towards obtaining the "middle of the road" rimfire triumverate....

I am now scared that i might have weak spot for classic revolvers. This is my 6th firearm, and i have never manipulated a firearm so much before hitting the range with it haha!
Salesman delivered it to my house today, hence saving me the ATT (my local gun shop offers that service). I was going to make new thread about this, but i might as well drop this here.
As this will be part of my learning experience, i will soon get to tell you if i blink on 22lr, if i get thru it i always get the option of swapping my cylinder for the 22wmr (both cylinders came
with the firearm). This week-end i practiced much with my ruger 10/22. I could follow thru about 25% of shots without a blink, and when i did shot placement was more than expected.
Anyways enough blabbin' and here are quick iphone pics of my new purchase.

At 300$ cash i can't wait to see how it shoots. Sights are adjustable tough, i am scared that once adjusted to 20 yds, that they compensate for my flinch (lower left) and that i end
up not seing my mistakes as much.

 

[BCRider]

That is in SUPERB condition. You really did fall in the lucky puddle and come out smelling like a rose on this deal...

A couple of tricks for you to try.

First off when you sight it is do so from a seated and rested position. Unlike rifles this does not mean you brace the barrel on the bag. Instead you hold the gun like you would otherwise but you rest the heels of your hands on the bag or other support to allow you to aim precisely and so that the gun achieves it's normal kick travel. That's something it won't do if you're pressing the barrel into a bag rest.

Second, when you pull the trigger don't pull to the BANG!. Instead work on smoothly building pressure and allowing the trigger to move on its own to the rear travel limit. If you tend to pull with a bit of a snap to your action this could be part of your flinch. By instead simply building up the rearward pressure of your trigger finger in a smooth and consistent manner you avoid this sort of snapping action. At the same time by focusing on a smooth build until the trigger is at the rear extent of its travel you are focusing on the trigger and not the upcoming BANG! event. After the gun fires you should still be holding the trigger back as it comes to rest from the recoil. Only when things are again calm do you release the pressure with the same care as you built it up.

The trick here is that by building pressure instead of forcing motion you let the gun fire when it's ready instead of you forcing it. And it makes it easier for you to focus on nothing BUT the sights and building up the pressure to fire the gun. So the BANG! actually surprises you but doesn't distract you from your "job" of moving the trigger to the rear travel point.

Try it! I've helped quite a few folks that had a flinch by telling them this and getting to do a couple of dry fires to get the idea ingrained. In the case of your Ruger dry fire it with spent casings in place or plastic dry wall anchors. You'll punch through either in a half dozen or so dry fires but it's easy to move then around to a new spot and carry on.

If in doubt about how well you set the sights then get someone that seems to know their stuff to shoot the gun.

Finally if you are there with a buddy have them load the cylinder with 5 live and one spent casing randomly placed without you watching. Then shoot freestyle. If the gun moves at all other than to go "CLICK" at the spent casing then you have a flinch that needs correction.

You're quickly going to find that a .22 is a great training gun. You'll soon be shooting without even an eye blink.

 

[nimrod#1]

I had a friend call BS when I told him he flinched shooting my 308,said my gun was crap so I loaded a dud and told him to try again he flinched so hard his hat came off,I loled.