Poor day at the range

[Wedge]

Well today was a not so great day shooting the Glock 17.

I haven't been to the range in 2 weeks, which the only shooting I did then was my Texas CHL qualification. 250/250 (which really isn't that much to brag about).

Anyways, probably 3 dry fire sessions and 1 air soft session led up to todays shooting.

All shooting was done with WWB 115gr 9mm ball ammo out of my bone stock G17. I believe that the UMC Remington is a little more accurate but not by much. This was definitely not a case of the ammo.

My grip was all over the place. A case of a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I tried modifying my grip a little bit from what normally works and had my weak hand back more so that the heel of my strong and weak hands touched each other. Normally I have my weak hand more in front and the heels of my hands never touch. The grip I tried today was very awkward feeling and ended up fatiguing me as it was not natural to me.

Second problem and one i have been working on for a while. I tend to use the "tip" of my trigger finger instead of more of the pad, even closer to the joint. In doing so my shots when I was "off" were all going left.

I worked on some dry fire between strings and that helped me get focused. By the end I was shooting about 70% of my shots in a 6" ring, worse than the 85% I am usually able to accomplish at 15 yards.

I learned to stick with what is comfortable, fatigue means take a real break and sit down (not just the break to load some magazines) if you want to keep shooting or just pack it up and go home, a 9mm still has enough recoil to screw you up if you aren't on your game and I should buy a .22LR to work on my shooting in addition to dry fire and I need to get out and practice more.

[51Cards]

Bad days, good days. Get 'em next time! :D

Sometimes, you look at the sheet and it looks like no hits --- but they're all in the black. Other times, it looks like no hits --- and all the paper's still there.

If you were there before, you'll be back there. No sweat ... :)

[Bullet]

I read something like this on the net. –

My worst day at the range was still better than my best day at work.

[Wedge]

I read something like this on the net. –

My worst day at the range was still better than my best day at work.

Ain't that the truth!

[Dionysusigma]

I learned to stick with what is comfortable...
Best lesson, IMO. You can read all day long about "correct" stances, grips, guns, carry rigs, and so on; in the end, however, it all boils down to what works for you.

I've been chided for shooting pistols mainly one-handed. I have trouble missing when I do it, though. :D

[wally]

Best lesson, IMO. You can read all day long about "correct" stances, grips, guns, carry rigs, and so on; in the end, however, it all boils down to what works for you.


Big +1

As to finger placement, use what works best! For me it depends on which gun I'm shooting and usually is different for the off hand (I broke my right wrist and had to have a plate put in many years ago, so my hand geomentry is not as symmetrical as it used to be, its not too noticable for most things, but holding a handgun seems to maximize the difference).

For 1911s right handed, I do best with seam of the first knuckle is on the right edge of the trigger and the pad sticking way out the side. This gives me the straighest pull, it may not be "correct" but it clearly works best for me, left handed the tip works best. For guns with longer trigger motion I position the part of the pad on the trigger that lets me get the straightest pull, it varies with the gun. Maybe this explains why I'm such a hard core single action fan. Glocks are the guns I shoot the worst (I've a 17 and 21) its not the gun as they group great off a rest I just can't shot them as accurately as I can anything else.

--wally.