First visit to the spoon range

[Z-man]

First set of rounds through my HK P30 9mm, 7 yards out:

Note: first shot landed in the "B" My shots weren't the first set of shots at the target - the ones on the right were from my friend's 357.

Using my friend's Beretta 92 Inox, 7 yards out, but smaller target:


Back to my P30, again at 7 yards:


Later on, my shots were consistently low - my friend explained it was likely due to my anticipation of the recoil. At 10 yards out, I was consistent with my groupings, but low.

Thoughts? Pointers?

-Z

[legion]

Welcome to the club!

[Head416]

Dry fire. If the barrel dips down, that's your flinch in action. Have your buddy load an unknown number of rounds in a mag and watch what happens when you try to pull the trigger on an empty chamber. Practice with a .22 is also good, along with dry fire practice at home.

Brain farts with dry fire kill people, so be careful, clear the gun, then clear it again. Keep ammo in a separate room before starting dry fire practice, then clear the gun again before starting. And aim at something that can take a bullet without anybody getting hurt. If the phone rings, somebody talks to you, you leave the room, any interruption at all, clear the gun again. You don't want an article in the paper about how you "thought the gun was unloaded."

[Z-man]

Head416 - thanks for the advise!

I bought a set of snap caps when I got my spoon so that I can practice at home using dry fire. I am also thinking about getting the laserlyte system to work on aiming the spoon. The recoil is something I have to get used to - and I have to get used to not anticipating it! That is something which cannot be replicated without live ammo.

I clear the gun everytime I pick it up. Even if I know I am the last person who touched the gun, I still eject the mag, rack & lock the slide, and inspect for ammo in the chamber, down the barrel, in the handle. Live ammo is never part of my practice routine at home,

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Z-man

I clear the gun everytime I pick it up.

Excellent. I do too even if I pickup a gun at a gun show I check it's empty.

LOL, not speaking ill of the dead... But when I was a young boy living on a farm I used to pick up my .22 and practice trigger pull while aiming at a suitable target such as a sheep in the paddock. OMG, one day something in my head said to check the gun and it was loaded. My old granddad had borrowed it to take a shot at a rabbit and had forgotten to unload it.

I think you are doing fine with the 9mm. A tricky caliber to shoot well. You need to really hang on firmly to the gun but not so much that your hands shake. I do the "Todd Jarrett" method of weak hand finger around the trigger guard, two thumbs forward. And have fun

[weseeeee]

I agree that dry firing is a great idea. Aim at something small. Your goal should be to press the trigger completely with out the sights moving. Even the smallest movement will send your shot off line. Good luck and enjoy!

[Danimal16]

I used to do a drill with my nephews. You, the safety spotter, take the weapon and either load it with one or none. Hand it back, (remembering that the weapon and range are hot) and have them shoot. You can than watch the trigger pull, especially on the dry fires.

But remember this is done on the line and the weapon, when returned to the shooter will be locked with the hammer cocked.

It really helps. revolvers are even easier.

Use the BRASS method. Breath, Relax, Aim, Slack, Squeeze.

And another thing to consider, it is not speed, but Rhythm, Think Shooter Rhythm.

[id10t]

Dry fire, as said. Also, consider getting a 22 pistol to practice with. Even with outrageous prices on bulk 22 these days it is much cheaper than centerfire. I'd look at the Ruger Mk II or III, the Browning Buckmark, or a Sig, Colt, or GSG 1911-22

[Head416]

Oh, and most people flinch, they just don't want to admit it or don't realize it. Putting a snap cap somewhere in the middle of a magazine is the best way to find out. If the gun moves, that's a flinch. If somebody is bragging about how they don't flinch because they're a tough guy, give 'em the snap cap test. It's not about strength, it's about practicing control over involuntary reactions. Really good shooters can even keep themselves from blinking, but that will never be me. I don't have the money for that much range time.

Practice with a .22 helped me a lot to decrease my flinch. It's pretty embarrassing to watch the gun dip 4" when firing off a little .22. It's something to constantly work on and keep practicing.

[HardDrive]

Enjoy Z-man.

I'm sure anti-gun folks would scoff at the idea, but I find a trip to the shooting range a meditative experience. I think the safety concerns and desire to shoot well put you 'in the moment'.

[legion]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Enjoy Z-man.

I'm sure anti-gun folks would scoff at the idea, but I find a trip to the shooting range a meditative experience. I think the safety concerns and desire to shoot well put you 'in the moment'.

^This.

[masraum]

Dry firing will steady the gun while you pull the trigger which will help you shoot where you want to hit more consistently. If the issue that you are running into is flinching, dry fire probably won't help much (it'll probably help a little). Loading a snap cap randomly into your mags will help demonstrate to you if you are flinching. If you are aware of it, then you can practice controlling it. The more practice, the merrier (dry fire and live). I'm still very much a novice compared to many of the guys here, but I have seen improvement through practice.

If prices ever come back down and ammo gets easier to find, I'll practice a lot more.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Head416

Dry fire. If the barrel dips down, that's your flinch in action. Have your buddy load an unknown number of rounds in a mag and watch what happens when you try to pull the trigger on an empty chamber. Practice with a .22 is also good, along with dry fire practice at home.

Brain farts with dry fire kill people, so be careful, clear the gun, then clear it again. Keep ammo in a separate room before starting dry fire practice, then clear the gun again before starting. And aim at something that can take a bullet without anybody getting hurt. If the phone rings, somebody talks to you, you leave the room, any interruption at all, clear the gun again. You don't want an article in the paper about how you "thought the gun was unloaded."

This^^^^^^^^

[targa911S]

Drop the mag, clear the action, check the chamber, check the mag well. That's what I was taught.

[weseeeee]

I agree that you can't have enough caution when dry firing! I remove the mag, lock the slide to the rear to clear the chamber. Then visually and physically (I stick my finger in the chamber) check to make sure it's clear. You can't be too safe!
I recently heard a story from a competitive shooter that dumped the rounds from her revolver but failed to count them, and the empty cylinder holes. As she started to dry fire she blasted a hole in her dresser! It can happen to anyone. Stay safe.

[Bill Douglas]

At the end of a shoot, as range officer, I get the shooters to point the gun down range and I call "Show clear." they show me the empty gun. Than I call "Slide down." They release the slide catch and the action slams shut. Then I call "Hammer down." and they pull the trigger on an empty chamber while pointing it towards the target. Then I call "Holster." and they holster it. Then I call "Range closed."

So for any reason I have missed seeing a round in the chamber it will go off in a safe direction down range