Why can't I hit a frigging barn?

DMeNTED

DMeNTED

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Grrrrr....

Out at the range yesterday and I took my .45 1911 Norinco POS and my 9mm Springfield XD. Shooting @ 25yds I had the majority of hits in the 8-9 ring with the .45 along with 4-5 X's. With the 9mm I'm all over the freaking place...

I just can't seem to get a handle on the damn trigger....

Tips? Ideas?

Its getting to the point where I might be better to just throw the XD at the target...
 
I had a 9mm Sig P-226 and had the same problem; couldn't keep it in the black with any consistency. The lower bore axis (the grip many people complain about) of a G17 made all the difference for me.
 
I have the same problem with my Browning HP and can't hit shiet with it, but when I change over to my USP .40 it's like I'm shooting a rifle! From what I have gathered the 9mm barrel twist rate is higher then most other HG's so it tends to torque in your hand causing poor accuracy.
 
You've heard the saying "squeeze, don't pull" the trigger. This applies 100% to an XD. You need to take your time and slow down to practice this....line up the sights, gently move the trigger until you feel resistance and just 'squeeze' through until the pistol fires. It should almost come as a surprise when the XD goes bang. This is easier to demonstrate than explain....lots of other stuff like grip, stance, etc affect your shot placement as well, but mastering the trigger goes a long way to getting decent groups at 25 yards with a pistol. Also, accuracy is a decaying skill...it's only something that is produced and maintained with continuous practice.
Bartledan's DRY FIRE advice is right on....you really have to practice, practice and practice some more to get a feel for the XD's trigger that becomes second nature.
IMHO, the XD40 is more accurate than the XD9.
 
hold the gun relaxed for distance, it is not going to fly out of your hands. I find my biggest problem was gripping it too tight, trying to control recoil. That makes the gun vibrate more and the sights move around. Dryfire is also very important.
 
lets head out to GRGC saturday.....
DMeNTED said:
Grrrrr....

Out at the range yesterday and I took my .45 1911 Norinco POS and my 9mm Springfield XD. Shooting @ 25yds I had the majority of hits in the 8-9 ring with the .45 along with 4-5 X's. With the 9mm I'm all over the freaking place...

I just can't seem to get a handle on the damn trigger....

Tips? Ideas?

Its getting to the point where I might be better to just throw the XD at the target...
Click to expand...
 
"...get a handle on the damn trigger..." Done the trigger yet? All new firearms(except the over priced Python) need a trigger job. Change the grips and the ammo you're using too.
 
I think my stance and grip are ok. Placement seems to be everwhere so I don't think I'm pulling gun... the trigger is a little bit on the stiff side... I don't know anyone who works on XD triggers, I'm almost tempted to tear it apart and take a set of polishing stones to it myself.

Its getting to the point where I'm temtped to sell it and the norinco and get a nice 1911.
 
I will give you $236.87 for it. (my life savings)
I shot a XD9 once and found it very accurate.

1. Do you have any glock experience? similar trigger.
2. Do you know and understand trigger reset and how it can affect your technique?

Take your gun and rack the slide. (unloaded and cleared of course)
Align the sights on something (use your favorite talk show host on TV if you need too)
Gently press the trigger until the slack is taken up, just before the trigger breaks, this is where the trigger will fire the gun every time.
Now, gently squeeze while focusing hard on the front sight (Oprah should be slightly fuzzy in the background) CLICK.
DID your sights move? They shouldn't have.
REPEAT as needed.
Hope this helps a little, and that you can get that gun working for you.
 
Try this:

When you aling the sights on the target, start to sing a little song in your head called
"Press, press, press while I'm looking at the front sight"

It works! Most likely you have a flinch (everyone does!) and you need to occupy your mind to concentrate solely on trigger press. I actally find 9mm to be more snappy than .45.

Hope it works!
 
Well... I usually take the trigger up the full travel and then squeeze through the shot. I usually only release the trigger afterwards - and only far enough for it to "click" back into the ready position.

I wonder if its a function of the trigger being so heavy that when it does break I'm waving the gun around...
 
I agree with the dry fire practise. Once you can squeeze off clicks on your xd-9 and the sites don't move, head back to the range and I bet you will be surprised and happy.
Fwiw, I personally found the xd-9 not suited for me on my trial run with one. That being said of course 1 week of dry firing and I bet I would have a different view on that pistol.

Dry fire daily till your forearm is sore. It does wonders for shot placement. :D
 
Next time you go to the range mix in some snap caps with live ammo and start shooting. When you get to a snap cap (make sure you don't know what order you put the ammo into your magazine) you may get a nasty surprise, like pulling the gun down and left or something else. It will at least give you a starting point to help solve your problem by seeing what you are doing.
 
I agree with the dryfire comment.

When I first got my XD40 I didn't shoot it much, because I was uncertain if I liked the trigger. I was all over the target at 15+ meters.
I was considering selling it to 'Head dammage' here on the board here, and had him out to the range trying it out. In a short while on the trigger he was grouping 10 rounds into a 3" cluster at 25m:mad: :p
Bastard convinced me to keep at it.:) ;)
 
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DMeNTED said:
Well... its dry fire every night this week then... wish I didn't have to rack the damn slide every time...
Click to expand...

Try just pulling it back about an inch, this re-cocks it -or was that a joke that went over my head?:redface: :)
 
So what`s` the concensus here for dry firing pistol or revolver...if no snap cap, use an empty ( fired ) round, or empty chamber ?

Any thoughts?
 
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