View Full Version : Did a little practice with some handguns today
Took a little trip to the range today to get in a little handgun practice while the weather is nice.
First I shot a Sig in 40 cal. Everything went well.my first shot was fired double-action and went slightly left but everything else went where I wanted for the most part. (Ignore the little piece of tape at the bottom of the target. It was a "used" target and was there before I started.)
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps148eb49f.jpg
Next, I broke out my Glock 17. Everything went a bit high and to the left. I've always had problems pulling my shots to the left, especially with Glocks.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zpsfdeb254e.jpg
No matter how hard I tried, if I aimed dead center, everything would go left.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo2_zps8af641cd.jpg
Mildly frustrated with the Glock, I broke out a Sig in 9mm. I was hoping to repeat the good performance I had with the 40 caliber Sig earlier. No such luck. Everything still went slightly left.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zpsc5aaa7bc.jpg
Took a few "head shots" with the Sig and managed to keep nine out of ten of them on paper. Not sure how since everything in the middle of the target goes left. I fully expected a lot of misses on the head.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo2_zpsdf6ddfff.jpg
Just for grins, I got the Glock back out and took a few head shots. Once again, I kept nine out of ten of them on paper.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps493666fc.jpg
Not sure why I can hit something as small as the head part of the target OK but can't seem to hit the center unless I aim to the right. And why is it just with my 9mm handguns? I seem to do OK with the 40.
Stupid handguns.
This is why I like rifles.
You're probably executing better trigger control knowing your target is smaller. That's my take on it anyways.
I have had similar problems with certain polymer guns and also could not explain it. Other people shot them and had no such problem. I just end up selling those.
Take only head shots.....problem solved.
You're probably executing better trigger control knowing your target is smaller. That's my take on it anyways.
This is what I think, but I realize you have more trigger time under your belt than I do. Smaller targets ma ke for smaller misses or something like that.
It's all in your mind. When you are focused on the small target you are focused more on your trigger control and your trigger press. When you shoot the larger target you are forcing the shot and wristing the gun, right handed...pushing to the left. Put a 1 inch dot center mass and slow fire at 7 yards. Focus all your mind energy on the front sight and slowly press the trigger with increasing pressure until the gun goes off. It should be a surprise. Don't ever think about making the gun go off. You need to retrain your trigger finger to be isolated from the rest of your grip and then you can shoot faster with better accuracy.
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You're probably executing better trigger control knowing your target is smaller. That's my take on it anyways.
Possibly. It still doesn't explain why I can make decent groups right in the middle with the 40 but not either one of the 9mm's.
I have had similar problems with certain polymer guns and also could not explain it. Other people shot them and had no such problem. I just end up selling those.
That's kind if the direction I'm leaning right now. Sell them to someone who can shoot them and try to find something else I can shoot well instead.
BPTactical
01-17-2014, 19:04
Well you probably weren't holding the pistols sideways.....kill shot ya know?
It's all in your mind. When you are focused on the small target you are focused more on your trigger control and your trigger press. When you shoot the larger target you are forcing the shot and wristing the gun, right handed...pushing to the left. Put a 1 inch dot center mass and slow fire at 7 yards. Focus all your mind energy on the front sight and slowly press the trigger with increasing pressure until the gun goes off. It should be a surprise. Don't ever think about making the gun go off. You need to retrain your trigger finger to be isolated from the rest of your grip and then you can shoot faster with better accuracy.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
You are probably right. Twenty years ago I used to shoot a lot of handguns. IPSC mostly, a small amount of Bianchi cup, and then IDPA when it first got started up. I was in my mid twenties and had a small group of friends I used to shoot with. We would shoot after work three days a week and then compete on weekends. I shot so much handgun back then and was young and had good eyesight and it just seemed easy. Then I discovered high-power rifle and DCM competition and got away from the handgun stuff for many years. Now I am in my forties, my eyesight isn't what it was, I never have time to shoot, and whatever skills I had back in the day have vanished. My technique really needs work.
Well you probably weren't holding the pistols sideways.....kill shot ya know?
You're right. I probably wasn't. Silly me.
Had I been thinking, I should have invited you to come along with me.
nathan0259
01-17-2014, 21:18
Are you left eye dominant? I'm right handed left eye dominant and I do the same thing (slightly left shots when I'm aiming bullseye) until I push the sight slightly right.
Are you left eye dominant? I'm right handed left eye dominant and I do the same thing (slightly left shots when I'm aiming bullseye) until I push the sight slightly right.
No. I'm very right eye dominant. I do know what you are saying. My wife has the same issue.
Possibly. It still doesn't explain why I can make decent groups right in the middle with the 40 but not either one of the 9mm's.
Maybe again because it's the .40, you're expecting a greater recoil impulse so you're subconsciously implementing better technique. I'll get lazy with the wife's 9mm P30 and squeeze off rounds quicker with less accuracy then when I shoot my .45 1911. It's not the gun, and you obviously can shoot well enough.
Zombie Steve
01-18-2014, 10:00
For the love of God, Ray... get a 1911 or revolver and all will be well with the universe.
[cigar]
Don't worry, they don't score groups in real life, only hits and misses, and everyone's groups open up when the targets shoot back.
.40 S&W has been proven to be the superior caliber based on your shooting. Thanks Ray!
In all seriousness, how much dry firing are you doing? How much ball and dummy practice? Tight groups take lots of practice and only some of that has to be live rounds. Work on your grip strength as well as your timed strings. The more you shoot, the tighter your groups will get. But you all ready knew that [Flower]
For the love of God, Ray... get a 1911 or revolver and all will be well with the universe.
[cigar]
I do tend to shoot revolvers rather well.
Think I'll pass on the 1911. My love affair with them has finally ended.
Don't worry, they don't score groups in real life, only hits and misses, and everyone's groups open up when the targets shoot back.
.40 S&W has been proven to be the superior caliber based on your shooting. Thanks Ray!
In all seriousness, how much dry firing are you doing? How much ball and dummy practice? Tight groups take lots of practice and only some of that has to be live rounds. Work on your grip strength as well as your timed strings. The more you shoot, the tighter your groups will get. But you all ready knew that [Flower]
I'm not so much concerned with the size of my groups as I am with my shot placement. If, God forbid, I ever had to fire in self defense, I would rather put my shots center mass than off in the bad guys shoulder somewhere.
As far as dry fire practice, I try to do that when I have the chance. But, I have a busy schedule most of the time so I really don't do it all that often.
Trying to make it a point to get as much live fire in at the range as I possibly can.
Even if my plan was to go sight in a rifle, I would bring a handgun along as well and do as much practice as I could.
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