Target Shooting Advice

Jim Richards · 04-04-2009, 03:49 PM

My wife consistently shoots low and to the left. She does this even when the target is placed up close (3 yards). She's a right-hander. What is she likely doing wrong? Thanks for your advice.

bell · bell's Garage

aiming at the wrong spot?

jriera · 04:01 PM

Left and low is consistent with 'Trigger Pull'

Either she is pulling the trigger to hard or she is 'afraid/expecting' the noise.

Smooth/consistent trigger pressure is the key to avoid that..

Unless of course she is aiming to the wrong spot and then she is doing everything fine ...

m21sniper · 04-04-2009, 04:00 PM

Next time you're at the range, hand her an unloaded weapon and tell her it's hot.

Watch the muzzle closely as she "fires".

If she is flinching it will be obvious. What you're describing typically comes from flinching. At 3 yards it would typically be severe flinching.

If you determine that's what it is, tell her to squeeze the trigger super slowly. So slowly that the moment the weapon discharges she will be surprised. Flinch is caused by anticipation. If you are surprised when the weapon fires your flinch will be after the fact.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellCrackShot.htm

VincentVega · 04-04-2009, 04:08 PM

Jim

Borrow my Ruger .22 for a while and see what happens.

m21sniper · 04-04-2009, 04:11 PM

Lots of dry fire practice should solve her problem. Lots of dry fire practice will solve pretty much anyone's shooting problems.

Jim Richards · 04-04-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bell

aiming at the wrong spot?

Come to the range with us sometime, wise guy.

Jim Richards · 04-04-2009, 04:23 PM

Thanks for the advice, guys! Sniper, I'll get her to try the dry fire practice you suggested. I was wondering if she was tensing up (even though she says "no"). Chris, maybe in a couple of weeks we can come out to Annapolis and shoot with you.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

If you mix snap caps in with regular rounds at the range you'll know immediately if she's anticipating. That actually is a great exercise for anyone to do.

Seahawk · 04-04-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

My wife consistently shoots low and to the left. She does this even when the target is placed up close (3 yards). She's a right-hander. What is she likely doing wrong? Thanks for your advice.

What caliber, Jim?

I recommend about 1000 rounds of .22 through a little Ruger with no pressure to hit anything at first...shooting is fun.

Bring her south about 60 miles...my son and I went through 400 rounds of .22 today, pistol and rifle.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Bring her south about 60 miles...my son and I went through 400 rounds of .22 today, pistol and rifle.

Slow day, eh?

I think the last time with Calvin at the desert we burned through about 700 rounds of .22, 150 of .223, 50 of 9mm and a box of 12 gauge shells. Last night at the range was cheap with about 200 or .22, 50 of .38 and a few .357magnum for good measure (trying out cheap reloads to see if they'd work with the 1894).

The good thing is that groups are getting smaller. And removing the sight hoods from the Buck Mark solved my sighting issues. Practice is a good thing. The bad thing is that windage is off with the 1894 and for the life of me I can't get the tang to slide over. "Tap with a hammer" isn't working like it should...

m21sniper · 04-04-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

If you mix snap caps in with regular rounds at the range you'll know immediately if she's anticipating. That actually is a great exercise for anyone to do.

Yep.

m21sniper · 04-04-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

The bad thing is that windage is off with the 1894 and for the life of me I can't get the tang to slide over. "Tap with a hammer" isn't working like it should...

Tap with a brass punch and hammer.

Try that bro.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

If only I had a brass punch...

Of course the g/f pipes up, "well, we could go to my studio..."

She has all the tools. I'm trying to actually shoot less rounds but make the count more. My son is the big problem though - he love to empty magazines. I'm hoping that the lever rifle will slow him down a bit.

FrinkFrog · FrinkFrog's Garage

Better get a Dillon.

bell · bell's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Come to the range with us sometime, wise guy.

Sounds like fun, I'll bring my 303, michelle likes my .22 semi-auto rifle

double date at the range

. Tell Lu that we said hello, and when are you coming to florida to visit? We have plenty of room for you two

Jim Richards · 04-04-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

What caliber, Jim?

I recommend about 1000 rounds of .22 through a little Ruger with no pressure to hit anything at first...shooting is fun.

Bring her south about 60 miles...my son and I went through 400 rounds of .22 today, pistol and rifle.

We're shooting 9mm, Paul. Thanks, we'll need to head down your way one of these weekends.

Todd, that's a great suggestion.

Jim Richards · 04-04-2009, 06:24 PM

Hey bell, Lu says hi to you and michelle, too.

And she asked me to thank you guys for all the great advice.

m21sniper · 04-04-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

If only I had a brass punch...

Of course the g/f pipes up, "well, we could go to my studio..."

She has all the tools. I'm trying to actually shoot less rounds but make the count more. My son is the big problem though - he love to empty magazines. I'm hoping that the lever rifle will slow him down a bit.

Make him pay for his own ammo, that'll slow him down.

Seriously though, i had the same problem with my Dad's mini-14 series 178 when i was a kid. I used to love to empty out the 20 rd mag as fast as i could, "I need more ammo again dad."