[numaone]

Hello,
I own a SIG P226 .40 and I am looking for some help with increasing the accuracy of my double action shots. When in single action, the pull is very light, and I can keep 5+ shots in 4" at 15 yards. Not great, but workable. However, the double action pull is long and hard, and I know I am "pulling" the gun off target.

What advice do you have for more accurate double action shots? I try to make my pull unreasonably slow and smooth (2 seconds to pull it back) and try to be surprised with the break, but this isn't helping accuracy. On the other hand, when I just give it a quick strong pull, it's also off target.

I'm looking for a technique I can try on my next trip to the range (about twice a month)

Thank You for any help,
Numaone

[orrwdd]

The strong double action pull is the disadvantage to the striker fired pistol design. You need to take it to a qualified gunsmith and see if he can either replace the spring with a lighter one or do a trigger job.

The only other thing is, you did not mention if you are using a one hand or two hand grip. A two handed grip will greatly improve your accuracy. Also you may need to learn breath control. Breathing while pulling the trigger can cause vertical deflection in your shots.

Hope this helps

Bill

[hammerklavier]

It sounds like you're not holding the gun firm enough, as you pull on the trigger your other fingers are tightening and moving the gun off target. I used the word firm, but maybe should have said tightly, show it who's boss.

[Kor]

http://www.craigcentral.com/fearnot.htm

Now, before you get out to the range to try Ernest Langdon's DA-shooting tips, here's some homework you should be doing for 10-15 minutes EVERY night:

- Grip the dickens out of the gun. The harder you hold it, the less likely the muzzle is to deviate off target and the less slack you have in your grip to contribute to muzzle-deviation. If you can't see your fingerprints embedded in the plastic grip panels, you're not gripping hard enough. ;) Fairbairn and Applegate of WWII-Commando-training fame would call this a convulsive grip.

- Dry-fire the dickens out of the gun. This should not damage a SIG in the slightest, but if you want you can go to your local gun store and buy a package of "snap caps," which are dummy rounds that have a spring-loaded plunger or a silicone-rubber insert where the primer is normally located, and which absorbs and cushions the impact of the firing pin during dry-fire. Dry-firing will help burnish any rough edges off of the moving parts in the trigger mechanism and "break-in" the internal springs in the gun, as well as strengthening your hand and trigger finger for the task at hand.

- As you do your DA-dry-fire practice, try balancing a quarter flat on top of the front sight. Once you have mastered the DA trigger-stroke to the point where you can keep the gun aimed at your dry-fire target and pull the DA trigger straight through without jogging the quarter off of its perch, you're on your way.

[franconialocal]

The basics that come to mind for me.....

1. Pull with MIDDLE of the pad of your trigger finger, not the joint. This simple change can make a ton of difference in the "pull" you are talking about. It keeps everything nice and in line.

2. Don't slap the trigger. In other words, concentrate on a smooth even pull without concerning yourself too much about where the break will be. Stay consistent. (Sounds to me like you may be trying to anticipate the break too much instead of just a nice smooth pull).

3. Work on your grip. This will really shore up the "big picture" about your overall sight picture.

4. BREATH!! This under-stated part of shooting should be a big consideration. Do you find yourself holding your breath and tensing up before every shot?? I'm a big believer that this stifness can translate right down the arm and wreak havoc with your shooting.....so practice relaxation techniques.

I remember when I was younger (pre 2 police academies and "wise" with age) breaking rule no. 1 all the time. I was always pulling my shots off to the right because of it.

There are a ton of good resources (videos and such) on the net, and this is a great forum for advice, but PRACTICE makes perfect.

One video I enjoy is Steven Segal in "Lawman" when he talks about the Zen of shooting....really becoming one with the weapon and having it be a natural extension of yourself and your personality when shooting. I know alot of people find him a bit "hoakey" but this particular segment has alot of wisdom in it. Attached: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn4d-UqPVN4

My own personal "Ahhhh...I get it now" moment happened several years ago when I learned how to really relax behind the trigger instead of whincing from sound, recoil, and all those other inhibitors. Just enjoy yourself and your time behind the trigger. It will all come together!!

[Vonderek]

Lots and lots of dry fire practice in DA mode. While dry firing note what happens to your muzzle when the trigger breaks. Are you pulling the gun to the right? Anticipating the break and pushing the nose down? When you realize what you are doing wrong fix your trigger pull and dry fire more. When your muzzle stays on target start live fire practice slowly (with the target in close). If you are off target go back to dry fire. If you are staying on target slowly move the target farther away. Be patient with yourself. Eventually you will train yourself to be proficient.

[cskny]

I know that people seem to have very opinionated feelings about lasers and shooting, and honestly I don't know what I think about them either.

BUT...one of the best ways that I've found to practice that DA long hard pull is by putting the laser on a far wall while dry firing and concentrating on being smooth. You can fiddle with your grip, finger, etc and see exactly what's happening to the barrel. It can be quite enlightening.

If you would never shoot with it, just dry fire, you could grab a cheap airsoft type version for $20 on ebay.

[Rexster]

Is the gun too big for your hand? Is the reach to the trigger too far for the length of your index finger? It may be difficult to answer these questions without a coach or mentor present.

My index fingers will fully reach the end of a size medium glove, and sometimes I need to move up to a large glove, and a "long" P229/P226 trigger is too much of a reach for my index finger. (This used to be the standard trigger; now SIG often ships pistols with the short trigger.) I have to use either a factory "short" trigger, or a custom trigger form a source such as TJ's Custom, available from TJ or Brownells.com. I do know how to shoot DA, but cannot do a good job of it if the weapon does not fit.

Conversely, if your hands are large, the short factory trigger will cause the trigger stroke to end too near your palm, complicating things a bit, and inducing pulled shots on target.

Once your pistol fits, then the advice already given, and the instruction written by Ernest Langdon, will be much more beneficial.

[deadeyedog270]

I found these and hope they help

Stance
http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/JARRETT4/jarrett4.html

grip
http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/JARRETT2/jarrett2.html

[Jed Carter]

There is a very good reason the DA trigger is so hard to pull, the SIG P226 is a service pistol not a target pistol. The strong pull in DA is to prevent accidental discharge in a real life situation. (ORRWDD it is also a "hammer fired" DA/SA pistol with a decocker and no manual safety)
All the grip advice and finger placement posts are correct and should help. I shoot at a range that allows drawing from a holster so I shoot my P226 (.40S&W) DA first shot a lot, but I do not use it to compete IDPA or USPSA, there are better pistols for that, but when the "ship hits the sand" I want my SIG P226 and my SIG 556, and maybe my 930SPX.