Looking for tips for shooting pistols

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Redeyes

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First off, I am a total noob to shooting pistols.

With that out of the way, I'm wondering if the people here would share some of your golden rules for shooting pistols?

I've watched numerous youtube videos and the biggest consideration I notice is a smooth controlled trigger pull. While I understand what that means, I seem to struggle doing it, even though I think I'm doing it, the target down range tells me otherwise.

So do you guys have any tricks or what is your though process before you pull the trigger?

I know that practice over time is important, but I want to make sure I'm practicing the right technique. Practicing bad habits will just make my bad habits even more pronounced.

Thanks for any advice you can share.
 
Depends what your target looks like. If you are anticipating recoil, your brain tells you to push the gun forward, just as you squeeze off the shot. That usually drops your shot lower than where you are aiming. A trick for that is to tell your brain to try and see how much you can squeeze the trigger, without the gun firing. Obviously, if you keep squeezing, it's gonna' go bang - but your brain is busy with something other than the enevitable recoil and it can't do two things at once, so it's concentrating on how much you can squeeze the trigger, without the gun going off - rather than telling your body to fight the recoil. I've shown this trick to quite a few new shooters and more often than not, it works for them.
 
fire@will said:
Depends what your target looks like. If you are anticipating recoil, your brain tells you to push the gun forward, just as you squeeze off the shot. That usually drops your shot lower than where you are aiming. A trick for that is to tell your brain to try and see how much you can squeeze the trigger, without the gun firing. Obviously, if you keep squeezing, it's gonna' go bang - but your brain is busy with something other than the enevitable recoil and it can't do two things at once, so it's concentrating on how much you can squeeze the trigger, without the gun going off - rather than telling your body to fight the recoil. I've shown this trick to quite a few new shooters and more often than not, it works for them.
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Thanks for that. I definitely think I am trying to push the muzzle down thinking it's going to help. That gives me something to focus on. Really appreciate the tip.
 
If you practice one handed bullseye shooting then two handed action shooting is a snap.

A good book: Pistol Shooting as a Sport by Hans Standl.
He's an Olympian medalist in pistol shooting.

When it comes to trigger pull, straight back straight back straight back is a mantra with any shorter barrelled firearm.
 
If you have a flat top front sight place a dime on the sight and practice your trigger pull until you can regularly follow through the pull without dislodging the dime (dry firing, obviously).
 
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focus on the front sight with both eyes open. do not look at the target. the target will look a little blurry ,
but it is more important to keep the sights in perfect alignment as you squeeze the trigger.
 
Take the class and PRACTICE PRACTICE to build up muscle memory so it will become natural to you almost without thinking.
Good shooting!
 
Thanks for sharing everybody. All great ideas.

I asked my range if they offer pistol shooting classes/trading but they do not. I’ll keep looking around but in the mean time. I’ll try the dime dry firing. That’s something I can try now.
 
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Redeyes said:
Thanks for sharing everybody. All great ideas.

I asked my range if they offer pistol shooting classes/trading but they do not. I’ll keep looking around but in the mean time. I’ll try the dime dry firing. That’s something I can try now.
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There are likely some good pistol shoots at the range , that will give you some help.
A lot of times, just watching you shoot will show them if your grip is good and you are not pulling off with the trigger finger.
May years ago I watch a old bulls eye shooter with a 1911, 45 showing some people some pointers on the 45, and he said most grab it with a death grip, afraid it will jump out of their hand. He held it with 2 fingers and shot it, I have seen others do the same .
Some guns are way easier than others to shoot good, when you are starting out .
And as said , don't worry about the target, front sight and slow trigger pull to start.
My favorite target is a sheet of paper, black dot in the middle, or just the first hole you make.
Keep at it and get the basics, the groups will come.
 
That makes sense. Even you guys here reminding me of the basics is helping me think more about what I should and should not be doing. Thanks very much.
 
Dry Fire. Lots of it. Use a blank wall, do NOT focus on any target on the wall. Focus on front sight and pull the trigger slowly. Watch what happens to the front sight and make any adjustments to your grip and/or trigger pull to correct the movement. Continue doing this until there is NO more movement of the sight. After you have accomplished this, take it to the range. Do the same thing with live fire, see what happens. Return to dry firing again to work on any further problems. I got this tip from a book by Ben Stoeger, a multiple champion of IPSC and USPSA, it was the first drill he starts with in this dry fire only book, with many more to follow. Have fun learning.
 
Also, what calibre are you using? I'm fairly new as well, and when I went into the gun shot he suggested I start with a .22 so I don't pick up a flinch due to not being used to the recoil. So I got a .22 to start, and a 9mm. So if you're starting with >9mm that may be something to think about?
 
Start with a .22, concentrate on sight alignment and trigger squeeze, don't choke the grip and tense your muscles, just use a light hold. If you find yourself pushing the trigger instead of straight back, tape a bb or something on the back of your grip and squeeze your trigger towards that mark, straight back, take your time and concentrate on maintaining the sight alignment and trigger squeeze. After the shot is fired, forget where it went and concentrate on the next shot. When you feel you've got it at 10 yards or meters, move out to 25. If you're wanting to fire a 9mm or bigger, still shoot 100 .22's for every 9mm until you've got it down.
This bit of advice is coming after 50 years of handgun shooting and easily 1/2 mil rounds!
 
Hey, OP, you are most likely experiencing "anticipation". It is a trait among new shooters, where they flinch the handgun downward prior to it going off. It is your natural aversion to the explosion that goes off after you pull the trigger. It can be remedied through constant exposure and mediation.

So keep on practicing, both live and dry! Have fun!
 
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