Need help with my 9mm semi-auto accuracy.

762mm

762mm

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
35   0   0
Location
The Maple Carneyval
Hi there,

I need some advice... I've been to the range a couple of times and I believe I have a serious issue firing semi-auto handguns. Every time I shoot, my bullets are scattered and most of them hit below the target and to the right, almost as if the sights were defective on them all. So far, I get the same results with my Glock 17, Walther P38 and Vis-35. No stovepipes or other issues though.

I don't believe I am holding the guns wrong, but maybe I'm missing something... I do it exactly as the instructor had taught me during the RPAL course, with the thumbs lined up together on the left side of the pistol (so the slide doesn't hit the thumb during recoil). The only thing I noticed is that my grip is a bit high... as, for example, my Radom Vis-35 has drawn blood after the first 10 rounds (hammer bite).

On the other hand, I shoot my .38/.357 Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel dead on target, even at 25 yards... especially when using .38's. I don't know why, but the 9mm seems to give me more recoil & more climb than the revolver, despite having smaller bullets. I'm almost at the point where I'm considering giving up on semi-autos, as they seem too tricky to master... at least so far. Every time I shoot, it's almost like wasted ammo. I'd literally be lucky to even hit "center mass" at 25 yards in the real world. With the revolver, on the other hand... ;)

Anyway.. Is there a training video or something to allow a better grip/control of a semi-auto? So far, all I have are 9mm in semis. Any input would be very appreciated... Thanks!

P.S. If possible, can you post any of your actual 9mm targets at 25 yards (as well as the kind of pistol used)? This would give me some idea of what kind of accuracy to look forward to once I master the techniques.
 
Last edited:
Don't give up, just start reloading! :)

How many rounds have you fired BTW, I mean, this skill set doesn't develop overnight.

Try shooting off a rest, perfectly lining up your sights, you may also need a sight adjustment, but I don't think this is the issue.
 
Adjust your trigger pull.

Your wrist is turning while you are squeezing the trigger and going off target.

If possible borrow a laser as it is tell tale and dry fire over and over and watch where the beam bounces around to.

Find a comfortable position on the trigger where the movement is the least and there you go.

You'll smooth out soon if you adjust your pull.

25 yards. Beretta 92. Close grouping left hand, head shots and wide shots right hand. 147gr Winclean 9mm FMJ.

IMG_1472.jpg
 
First of all, 25 yards is a long way.Shorten up your distance for a while - pistols should be shot at ranges from contact out to 25 yards, so take it down to 7 yards until you develop a comfort level, then move out a bit at a time. Second go to pistol-training dot com, look up the 'Wall Drill' in the drills section.
 
If your good with the 6" revolver, but bad with the semi's, it could be the sght radius. Your 6" revolver would have 1.5X the sight radius of a P38 of a glock, making bulleyes shooting much easier. Plastic Glocks and aluminum P38's are alot lighter than a full steel 6" revolver, so the revolver would be much more forgiving to shoot accurately. A perfect trigger pull isn't as critical with a heavy pistol.
 
Thanks guys, all the info is greatly appreciated.

I haven't tried any other calibers yet, as all I have are 9mm (Glock 17, 2 x post-war P38's, "Norkarev" M213, Vis-35).

I haven't really fired a bunch of 9mm ammo yet... just two boxes, so around 100 rounds total. The lousy accuracy I was getting was kind of a turn off... Since I do much better with both my revolvers (my .22LR and my .38 spl), I concentrated mainly on these. My 9mm's seem like wasted ammo in comparison, at least so far. I can't imagine myself taking a semi-auto in a combat situation over a 6" .357/.38... even with only 6 shots, I think the revolver would still be a better choice. It feels almost natural by comparison to a semi.

Anywho... I am not giving up yet! :p I will be looking for some 9mm dies very soon, as I already have a .357/.38 kit in the mail.

I was thinking maybe of getting some sort of a longer target barrel for the Glock 17, but I'm not even sure such a thing exists. Bummer...


P.S. Grove, thanks for the target pic. I'm pretty sure I could hit the 8 and 9 zones at 25 yards with the semis... but my revolver would definitely be hitting the X with all six shots. I just love wheelguns! :D
 
I only see my groups shink after around 4000 rounds thru my 9mm pistol. Keep shooting and take your time. Get a .22lr pistol to learn the trigger control for cheap.

Now target @ 10 yards, 50 rounds slow fire with a G17 in a good day.
DSC00460.jpg
 
Last edited:
Low to the left? You are right handed and you are flinching. The first thing you must do is make up or buy a handfull of dummy rounds, have someone else load your magazine then shoot off a mag full. In order to understand you are flinching, you need to see it and you will, when the gun goes "Click" and you pull the sights low to the left. Dry fire practice is one of the best ways to cure this little problem and mixing the live and dummy cartridges will help this most common of shooting falts!

Scott
 
Do lots of dry-firing for practice. Use a white background and concentrate on your sight picture. Your front sight shouldn't move when you pull the trigger. This will help you get the feel of what a proper grip and trigger pull are like.

The idea is to pull the trigger while keeping the rest of your hand stationary.
 
lol speak for yourself
Click to expand...

Hehe. Well, I am but it's also true. Virtually all of those technical "reasons" for the shot going to a certain spot come down to anticipation of firing the shot. Breaking wrist up (as you anticipate the shot), heeling (anticipating recoil), thumbing (as you break the shot), squeezing whole hand (with trigger pull -- anticipation), jerking, squeezing finger tips, etc. If you don't anticipate the shot they don't happen. They all have the same cause and the same solution.

Apply a smooth, even pressure to the trigger until the shot breaks as a mild surprise. It's a mild surprise because you don't care consciously exactly when it's going to go off, and so you aren't consciously making it happen.
 
Well, I'm definitely making the front sight move side to side when I dry fire, but I don't know why... I have to take some time to figure it out. Maybe my hands are badly coordinated when I squeeze the trigger finger or something and muscles in the hand react where they shouldn't? I will definitely pay closer attention and practice on it.

As for anticipation... I've heard that before, but I'm not anxious about the shots going off. I actually like the adrenaline and the louder the 'bang', the merrier. :D But maybe it's subconscious or something... Then again, why would my hand twitch during dry-fire with the semis and not with live-fire on the revolvers? I believe I need some serious practice or hand coordination training on those tiny semi-auto types... I may have cowboy genes for revolver shooting or something! :p

Thanks again for all your help guys, it is much appreciated! Practice makes perfect, I guess... I'll give it another go with the new info I now have. :yingyang:
 
Last edited:
Since you shoot revolvers, are you using the crease of your trigger finger to press the trigger - if so you're getting too much of the trigger. In this case what's right for the revolver is wrong for the pistol. Try using the pad of the trigger finger, instead of the crease -it'll feel unnatural if you're used to a D/A revolver, but you'll get less movement that way. Try the youtube Todd Jarret video, it'll show you what I mean.
 
Last edited:
Only tips I can give is:
a) Shoot more, don't get discouraged
b) Those shot analysis targets do work, try them
c) Shoot short distance to start and work your way back
d) The glock and other safe trigger systems are a different beast to get used to. Really concentrate on a straight pull back and take advantage of the reset.
e) Adjust your grip tension with your strong and weak hand to find something that works.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom