Shooting range Tips

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Hello all, I've crossed over the line to the dark side.

I've bought a pistol. Just something I've thought about doing for the past 20 years or so. I am a newbie, never fired anything before.

Actually I've bought two pistols, those little .380 automatics by Kel-Tec. One will be an anniversary present for my wife if I can get her down to the police station and get it transferred to her name. We plan to take the CCW (Concealed Weapons Permit) course together. I doubt that I will be walking around with it, just makes getting to the range easier.

I blew off my first 50 rounds at a indoor range on Sunday (mother's day). I kept two hands on it, the proper footing stance, and unlocked elbows.

However, I seem to be hitting the target down and to the left consistently.

At 12 feet I aim at the upper right hand corner and hit pretty good.

At 25 feet out I aim 4 inches above, and 2 inches to the right of the target. Went from 1 out of 6, to 5 or 6 out of 6.

I am right handed, small hands, small gun.

What I'm thinking is that the trigger finger is pulling the same way the aim is pulling.

How do I prevent this?

Should I bother to correct this, or just keep aiming high and to the right?

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kach22i
I am right handed, small hands, small gun.

...back to the "why are you still single" thread...

BlueSkyJaunte · 05-09-2005, 07:43 AM

Take a class.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Take a class.

I might do that in addition to the CCW.

I talked to my father-in-law, his target shooting has the same problem. I think this is a typical problem, is there a typical answer other than "take a class" or "practice, practice, practice"?

PS: I'm not single silly - small fingers are better for detailed work.

gaijindabe · 05-09-2005, 07:55 AM

Breath! Relax.... Squeeeeeze!

Danskman · 05-09-2005, 08:12 AM

Low left is very common for new shooters. Whether you realize it or not, you are anticipating the recoil. The giveaway would be if a round misfired (gun does not fire), and you see yourself flinch downwards, and to the left (because you're right-handed). Relax your right hand, and squeeze the trigger. You are most likely sqeezing your entire hand to anticipate the recoil.

Joeaksa · 05-09-2005, 08:16 AM

Take a class and get with a good instructor. Also, starting with low power rounds helps because the noise and recoil is less than the more powerful rounds.

All in all this really worries me. Next we might hear from you that you are intending on defending your house and home and thinking of voting conservative...

JoeA

928ram · 05-09-2005, 08:23 AM

What Danskman said, very common for new shooters. Another thing is to shoot slowly, I've seen alot of folks squeeze rounds of like they're in a Dirty Harry movie - and their groups always suck.

Don't leave the weapon out of the equation; are you sure it's sighted right? The range should be able to sight it in (if it wasn't done at purchase), or if you have a buddy who's an acomplished shooter he should be able to get you there.

id10t · 05-09-2005, 08:24 AM

Flinching or a very hard trigger pull. Get a good 22 pistol (Ruger Mk II, Browning Buckmark, S&W 422, etc) and practice practice practice.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kach22i
We plan to take the CCW (Concealed Weapons Permit) course together. I doubt that I will be walking around with it, just makes getting to the range easier.

LOL, good one...

targa911S · 05-09-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Danskman
Low left is very common for new shooters. Whether you realize it or not, you are anticipating the recoil. The giveaway would be if a round misfired (gun does not fire), and you see yourself flinch downwards, and to the left (because you're right-handed). Relax your right hand, and squeeze the trigger. You are most likely sqeezing your entire hand to anticipate the recoil.

Probably the best advice you will get. Those Ktechs are light and it would be easy to get the "flinch effect". Practice IS important. I go to the range once a month at least. I took the NRA newbie class as a refresher BEFORE I took the CCW class. It helped a lot. That way when you walk in the door for your CCW class you can focus on theh techniques and laws rather than "getting to know you" with your weapon. I think it's great that your wife and you are doing this together. Have fun and be safe.

targa911S · 05-09-2005, 08:39 AM

Oh and yes you will carry it......because you can!

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Don't change your point of aim to compensate for flinch.
Pratice, relax, practice, RELAX!
Don't expect tack driving accuracy out of a .380.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
Don't change your point of aim to compensate for flinch.

How tight should one hold the gun?

Firm ...............or extra tight?

Milu · 05-09-2005, 12:02 PM

Firm.
Extra tight will bring a tremor.

Relax, enjoy your range time, get an instructor.

Do not try to compensate by adjusting your point of aim. Once you are really consistent you can start making adjustments to sights.

targa911S · 05-09-2005, 12:05 PM

relaxed, not too firm but controlled, just the tip of the finger on the trigger no further than the first knuckle. It won't bust your lip if you relax. It's not a cannon.unless it's a desert eagle or the likes of that. Overcoming the flinch will come with familiarity with the weapon. In a self defense situation it's more point and shoot anyway. The front sight is all you use in that type of situation. My CCW instructor told us all day one that if we thought we were gonna be taught "Hold your breath, aim, squeeze." go home, you're in the wrong place. Plus any self defense shooting would be at 7 to 10 feet anyway. Not much time for hold, aim, squeeze.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Here's a great site for shooting and general gun discussions.

http://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?

rcm · 05-09-2005, 12:21 PM

You should drop by this site and look into the SAFEAIM.
www.wallerandson.com

targa911S · 05-09-2005, 12:44 PM

Ok I'll add to that www.packing.org

FrayAdjacent911 · 05-09-2005, 01:17 PM

One trick people do is get a 'snap cap', which is a dummy round, and have a friend put it in a magazine, in a random place, so that when you shoot, you don't know when the snap cap will be chambered. Then you'll be able to tell if you're flinching.

Get a few snap caps and try that. Also, just dry fire with a snap cap chambered, and pay attention to your movements and motions.

Remember, you SQUEEZE the trigger, not pull it.