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Help me shoot straight!

6K views 85 replies 32 participants last post by  OttoLoader 
#1 ·
Ok so im definitely a beginner shooter here. Probably shot about 3000 rounds sofar. I tend to still shoot left and occasionally low and left. Everything ive read said im milking the trigger, or not pulling straight back on the trigger.

Any suggestions to fixing this? How long did it take for you to shoot well?

This is me at about 7 yards? Is this decent progess?

Also i noticed i get worse after about 150 rounds, i think its grip fatigue.
 

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#4 ·
Sound like some dry fire practice is in order. Also, slow down and focus on the fundamentals. If necessary, fire a shot, recover, and set the firearm down. Take a breathe, pick it back up and shoot, again.

Have you had instruction? It’s sometimes hard to know what you’re doing while you focus on proper steps of firing a shot. A second person, with a trained eye, will quickly see what needs addressed.

I’ve been shooting most of my life and spent the last twelve years as an armed professional. I still don’t shoot good enough to stop practicing.
 
#9 ·
Sound like some dry fire practice is in order. Also, slow down and focus on the fundamentals. If necessary, fire a shot, recover, and set the firearm down. Take a breathe, pick it back up and shoot, again.

Have you had instruction? It’s sometimes hard to know what you’re doing while you focus on proper steps of firing a shot. A second person, with a trained eye, will quickly see what needs addressed.

I’ve been shooting most of my life and spent the last twelve years as an armed professional. I still don’t shoot good enough to stop practicing.
I think signing up for a lesson is in order. I was waiting until i join a shooting club, which is 2 weeks out since some shooters there said they would help
 
#6 ·
That's not bad shooting though. It does look like you are anticipating. If you are shooting with someone you can get them to load a dummy round/snap cap into a mag. You load a round or 2 then a dummy round, then finish loading the mag. The object is you don't know when the gun is not going to go off. So don't watch them load the mag. It could be the first round or the 3rd. You just don't know. Have them chamber the round and put on safe then place on the bench. It helps you to see what you are doing. Maybe bring the target in to 5 yards and work on that as well. I think you are doing well for a beginner.
 
#7 ·
Ok so im definitely a beginner shooter here. Probably shot about 3000 rounds sofar. I tend to still shoot left and occasionally low and left. Everything ive read said im milking the trigger, or not pulling straight back on the trigger.

Any suggestions to fixing this? How long did it take for you to shoot well?

This is me at about 7 yards? Is this decent progess?

Also i noticed i get worse after about 150 rounds, i think its grip fatigue.
Is the pistol a 1911?
 
#16 ·
I always wondered if that was useful. John on ASP recommends it every day in his videos and it looks interesting but never heard any reviews other than his.

I put a CT grip on my 1911 and focus on things around the house as I pull the trigger and try to hold the laser on that spot, usually an outlet cover screw or switch etc. I can mostly keep it on the target now without loosing focus.
 
#11 ·
I like this training video from Adam Painchaud from Sig Sauer Academy. Anticipation is common for new and experienced shooters. Another good way to train for it, is to have a buddy load your mags and mix in snap caps. You will quickly see if you are anticipating the shot by puling the muzzle down on a blank cartridge. :)

 
#13 ·
The following comment may or may not be of use to you.

Recently I had to start shooting with the other eye. This required a slight modification in my grip. All of a sudden I was sometimes shooting left or low left. Discovered I had started placing finger joint on trigger. Made a conscious effort to use finger pad, which solved about 90% of my problem.
 
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#14 · (Edited)
It’s human nature to flinch when there’s a small explosion in front of your face. We as human beings want to get that over a fast as possible which leads to “jerking” the trigger. You have to consciously fight it and the best way to do that is to slow down the process. Try to press the trigger as slowly as possible and just let the shot break whenever it happens for a full box of ammo.
 
#17 ·
During my CCW course qualification, an old Marine loaded a magazine for me, with a snap cap mixed in. I was shooting my first lightweight carry gun, for the first time. Boy was I flinching. He suggested dry fire practice with an empty balanced on the front sight. You have to squeeze the trigger without jerking to keep the case from falling off. You then imagine the case there when shooting live ammo. It helped me out.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Grip the heck out of the gun with your left hand. probably twice as hard as the right and then
LOL keep the sights aligned through the complete trigger push.
The gun going off doesn't actual hurt CORRECT! Tell yourself that out loud!!
Double muff with ear plugs and muffs especially indoors
Those thing have helped a lot of folks I've help learn to shoot. Along with all the other correct stuff you have to learn to do.
Keep at it with some good instruction or at least watching video's from well established teachers.
 
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#19 ·
Get a good quality 22 with a very crisp manageable trigger and shoot it every day like your life depends on it till you develop trigger control . Learn to accept your wobble area and concentrate on pulling the trigger .
After 5k rounds in you should be seeing noticeable improvement and be able to start moving the target back Keep working till you can keep them all in the black on a B16 at 25 yards with the 22 .
Then start practicing with the 45 at close range at the end of your 22 practice sessions . If the 45 makes you flinch stop and continue with the 22.
Becoming a good shooter dosent happen overnight you need to put the time in to develop trigger control and muscle memory. If you can find an experienced Bullseye shooter that will spend some time with you it will expedite this process somewhat.
 
#22 ·
Some good advice here. One thing I found when I shoot low, I'm looking for the hit and taking my eye off the foot site. Trust youll get the get by locking your eye on the front site. You are doing very well in my opinion. If you can find a good instructor, he will probably pick out one or two things you can do to help improve. Guys that tell you what youre doing wrong are a dime a dozen. Gettin someone to tell you an action on how to fix it are harder to come by. I lucked out and my best shooting pal is a pistol instructor. He has told me two things that have made me a hell of lot better shooter. He never said I was doing anything wrong, rather he'd say " try this" . The guy found two things that gave me better than 100 % improvement . I think your shooting is bery respectable as is. It's great to see someone interested in learning more. Once you introduce the passion to learn along with the joy of pulling the trigger, the journey is so much more interesting , fun and rewarding.
 
#23 ·
I appreciate the advice here so far. I've made some friends on a local gun forum who im going to shoot with Sunday. I'll bring some snap caps.

I find this to be such a fun hobby, been shooting 3 months and purchased 3 pistols (nj is one every 30 days). I've watched alot of videos and did alot of reading so I'll try these techniques and dry fire the hell out of my gun (with snap caps).

Thank you
 
#27 ·
I appreciate the advice here so far. I've made some friends on a local gun forum who im going to shoot with Sunday. I'll bring some snap caps.

I find this to be such a fun hobby, been shooting 3 months and purchased 3 pistols (nj is one every 30 days). I've watched alot of videos and did alot of reading so I'll try these techniques and dry fire the hell out of my gun (with snap caps).

Thank you
Watch your sights when you do. Also watch them as you release the trigger, that's follow through. You're also building muscle memory so do not come out of battery right after releasing the trigger. Doing so is another way to develop a bad habit. Take your time, good skill sets do not happen over night.
 
#28 ·
I'm so curious why the reaction is to pull the muzzle. Im going to watch some videos and try the blank trick. The mantis seems a little pricey although so is ammo. Maybe ill purchaae that down the road. Thank you
A couple things are going on first like Slapshot says new shooters have to get used to the bang going off next to their face also the wobble area for a new shooter is greater and they tend to try and snatch the shot on its way through the center of the target usually leading to shots going low and left for right handed shooters

Hours of practice with a good quality target 22 will yield good results . Loud heavy recoiling guns are not conducive to a new shooter developing accuracy . A 22 with a great trigger pull is your friend right now
 
#49 ·
A couple things are going on first like Slapshot says new shooters have to get used to the bang going off next to their face also the wobble area for a new shooter is greater and they tend to try and snatch the shot on its way through the center of the target usually leading to shots going low and left for right handed shooters

Hours of practice with a good quality target 22 will yield good results . Loud heavy recoiling guns are not conducive to a new shooter developing accuracy . A 22 with a great trigger pull is your friend right now
Solid advice ^^^^^^
 
#29 ·
You already are familiar with your Walther.
Consider some evaluation technique by using a one hand style. This is not the end point only another exercise.

The PPQ has a short travel to the point
that the trigger trips( the wall).
Should not have problems as with a long pull.
Trigger placement is unique, no one size fits all
The old advise to " use the pad of the trigger finger" has never worked for me.
I wear large gloves but medium hand size. Pretty much normal size hands.
Reason:
This is because of the geometry of pistols especially striker fired.

If the trigger finger pad is on the trigger and especially near
the end of the trigger ( rather than in the middle of the trigger) , and you have mid size hand .
When at the point of tripping the trigger (the wall)
you will be exerting force on the the trigger (diagonally).
Result the pistol rotates or pivots such that the barrel dips left and downward, shot ends up low left.

Grip
As first determine the best combination of grip and finger placement.

I start with a one hand method similar to target style. This is only to determine the proper location for me for trigger finger placement combined with solid secure grip.

Grip alignment . Get the barrel level with your extended pointing finger. Bore axis is parallel to finger and wrist and elbow .
Grip will be at the meat of your hand at the thumb, not very far into the web
Hold the grip with finger pressure applied at the fronts push back so the hand secures the backs
No crush grip etc. Should be able to control very well without exerting extraordinary effort.
Dry fire with snap caps. Experiment till you get the fronts to stay on target through the trigger squeeze
You can feel the wall so at the portion of the cycle be sure the fronts is on target.
Once you determine the best combination and getting results, Move on to two handed techniques.

As you are already familiar with you PPQ using this backtracking evaluation style could really help.

This works for me so you may like to experiment with some of the suggestions.
 
#34 ·
I did this ... and then got hooked on 22 pistols ! They can be finicky so a secondary hobby comes out of it to customize and improve reliability and performance . I’m currently training with a red dot on a 22. I didn’t think I’d ever shoot it better than iron sights , but I got past that hurdle after 500 rounds.

Oh , and did I mention when you shoot 22 pistols, you’ll meet guys that lust for 22 rifles? Yeah that bug bit me too. They tend to be inexpensive by 1911 standards , so they can multiply quickly!

They make your trigger control better with everything and are fun and inexpensive to shoot.
 
#42 ·
#32 ·
mikegalway has posted the best advice on how to shoot a pistol I know of. Do what Rob Leatham says and you will learn how to shoot well.

1. Hold the gun really tight
2. Put your sight/dot where you want the bullet to to
3. Pull the trigger WITHOUT MOVING THE GUN

That last bit is easy to say, hard to do. Dry fire without aiming is about the best thing you can do to learn trigger control, and trigger control is the key to shooting a handgun.
Jeff
 
#41 ·
mikegalway has posted the best advice on how to shoot a pistol I know of. Do what Rob Leatham says and you will learn how to shoot well.

1. Hold the gun really tight

Been doing this for 44 years including shooting a lot of IPSC in the bad old days. I have never held onto a gun really tight. I hold it as much as I need to and do nicely that way. Give the guy time to learn what he needs to learn.[/QUOTE]
 
#33 ·
For a long time I dry fired with a coin on the slide . When I'm at the range and after a while feel a little flinch or anticipation coming on , I take a break (piss break) , stretch a little , remind myself of Leathem's tips and go back at it . It also helps to have a friend watch and critique . It's easy to backslide . I'm also the kind of shooter that doesn't waste a lot of time . When I'm on target I squeeze the trigger . None of this staring at target too long . Rob Leathem's video served me well . Trigger control is where it's at . You can get lots of practice without bullets .
 
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