[itgoesboom]

Looks like i need some more help here guys....

A few months ago, i purchased my first carry pistol, a little Bersa .380. So far i have been very pleased with it; very accurate when i do my part, and so far, extremely reliable.

On my first few range trips, i was very impressed with how well i did. The groups were pretty tight, even when i was firing very rapidly.

However, my last range trip didn't go so well. My groups were pretty bad for the most part. My first shot would go low left, then my second shot would go low right, and then i would straighten out and get most of the shots into a decent group in the center of the target. A couple times i shot fairly tight groups, but i was going much slower than normal. Also, if i was to just fire a single shot in either DA or SA, i would hit were i wanted, but i was having a tough time trying to put them together. So i was pretty frustrated.

So i need advice on how best to improve my transition from a DA first shot, to a SA second shot.

Thanks upfront for any advice.

I.G.B.

[Soap]

Either one of these three things, or all of them helped me out:

1- Dryfiring constantly in both modes
2- Shooting a lot of live fire
3- Ignoring the transition and/or it becomes unnoticeable

[jrpeterman]

The cheapest way is to practice your trigger pull by dry firing. I do it with a snap cap in the chamber and dry fire in front of a mirror. I watch for barrel movement to determine if I'm jerking the trigger.

[antsi]

Yes, dry firing.

When you do go to the range, try this drill:
Draw, DA shot, SA shot, decock, re holster. Repeat.

I have also shot all-DA groups, decocking after every shot.

There are lots of variations on this theme. The idea is, try to reproduce and practice on the shots that are giving you trouble.

[New_comer]

Stregthen the trigger finger.

Up to the point where the 12# pull doesn't really pose that much of a difference in trigger resistance as the 5# pull.

Dry firing is not a fast enough method for you to get to that level...


More stringent exercise like inverting a regular V-shaped hand grip exerciser and pulling one leg with just the trigger finger, just like when you're firing.

You'll be able to squeeze the heck out of a 25# trigger in no time! :D:D:D

[WESHOOT2]

Shoot groups at 25-40 yds.
Start with the DA shot.
Go slow, seeking best accuracy.
Shoot the second shot SA.
Repeat.

Use the distance to discipline your trigger work and sight alignment, constantly seeking the highest accuracy.

Speed will (slowly) come.

[Coltdriver]

This is what works for me for both DA/SA guns and my DAO revlovers.

Get the level of grip on your pistol consistent. By this I mean you have to squeeze the grip at the right level. Probably much firmer than you are squeezing it when you shoot now.

Squeeze the grip hard enough that your trigger finger does not affect or throw off your aim when you shoot DA.

Maintain the same grip for your second shot.

Then learn to teach yourself to keep your trigger finger independant of your hand and grip.

Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes for perfect execution. Doing the same thing over and over the wrong way only re inforces the wrong way.

Once you learn the grip squeeze level that allows you to shoot consistently the way you want, practice that until it becomes part of how you shoot that particular gun.

[10-Ring]

No shortcut for practice & trigger time. A few years ago, I found this Taurus revolver w/ a terribly heavy trigger. I put alot of time into it as a learning tool. End result, I still hav that gun and when I pick up my other DA guns (semi's & revo's) they're much easier to shoot.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

[Blackhawk]

Lots of good tips, but they all boil down to practice.

A DA/SA gun is like two different guns, and you say that a single shot in either DA or SA works for you. Fine. Practice shooting only DA for 25-50 rounds. Then practice shooting only SA for 25-50 rounds. That teaches your muscles and your brain that you're dealing with 2 different guns.

Imagine that you've got a DAO and an M1911. Does it make sense that you'd shoot them the same? But it does make sense that you'd hit the same place if you're familiar with both.

Just get familiar with "both" of your Bersa's personalities to the point that you don't confuse them.

[itgoesboom]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will see how things go the next time i get to a range.

Currently i dry fire a lot, at least everyday. I work on getting my grip consistant, my trigger finger to be in same place, and then i fire D/A for a while. No idea how many shots, probably 50-100 or more. Then i work on single action, getting used to where the S/A trigger breaks.

I.G.B.