For guys that shoot for tight groups... how do you do it?

are you bow shooter? using an anchor point with a pistol is definitely a recipe for contorting your body into a unnatural position, therefore not allowing for repeatability.

A) shoot with both eyes open.
B) you can either be fast or have precision.. Most of us cannot do both.

There is a reason why "A" scores are 6"x6" and 8" diameter in IDPA
3.93"x5.9" and 5.9"x11.02" rectangle in USPSA

we are not shooting for .5" groups.

Without getting into discussing your form (others will likrly tackle that better than I can), I'd say focus on shooting slowly. Take your time, control your breathing, and press that trigger slo o o w l y. Let it surprise you. Put entire mags on paper this way. Your groups should slim down quite a bit.

This may not be helpful to you but I find that if I was shooting pretty tight and then I start really having a hard time, more often than not, its because I am over thinking the whole operation.

I just focus on sights and trigger pull. Groups *usually* tighten back up (for me).

I don't try to control recoil at all, either. I focus only on my part: line up the sights, press the trigger. Everything after I press the trigger is the gun's job.

Let me start by saying that, in most forms of shooting, maximum accuracy isn't required. But, learning to shoot with that in mind is detrimental. No matter what kind of shooting you're doing, you need proper fundamentals. Press the trigger in a way that your front sight does not move, and keep the trigger back until the gun is finished moving. That's about all there is to it. As long as you're pressing the trigger straight back in a way that your sights don't move, you're golden. Whether you let the shot surprise you, or you break it when you want, as long as you do so without the sights moving, you're going to hit your target. My best tip to you is dry fire... You'll see if you're letting your front sight move at all, and you'll get a solid feel for your trigger. Dry fire practice is the single-best thing I ever did. Also, when you're shooting, put some dummy rounds in the gun, or just stop and dry fire. You'll see if you're flinching.

Here are a few really good videos that deal with fundamentals.

Trigger Control
Grip Video 1
Grip Video 2
Follow-Through

Start with some of that info, maybe watch some other videos from good shooters, and then figure out what works best for you. There are a lot of different grips out there, and you really have to try them to see what you like, but trigger control is always the same. Also, don't be afraid to take a class. If you find yourself still printing 8" groups at 12 yards slow-fire, then having an instructor look at you and your targets WILL make you a better shooter.

Breathing right and using the pad of my finger.

Lots of dry fire practice, while staring at the front sight, it should not move at all. Shoot like you dry fire, and stare at the front sight, bullets will start stacking for you....

Practice, practice, practice and work hard at bullseye shooting. There are techniques as already mentioned by others that are important like breathing, trigger control and grip.

Many years ago when I tried to learn self taught I failed miserably until one day an old timer was watching me shoot and asked me if he could make a few suggestions. I was thrilled...he changed the way I was standing and the way I was gripping the gun (I was shooting a Dan Wesson .357 with 6" barrel) and gave me pointers about a slow squeeze and trigger control.

In 15 minutes I was shooting groups so tight all the bullet holes touched each other at 50'.

A few lessons sometimes really helps if the instructor is knowledgeable.

For me now, 37 years later renewing my love of shooting sports I have finally learned to point shoot and *not* use the sights but concentrate on the target and shoot accurate and rapid follow ups to a 6" X 10" target. I love bullseye shooting as well but point shooting/quick kill is my passion now and the thing I am working hardest on. Either way, having fun at it and banging it till it gets better is the way.

VooDoo

1. Focus on only the front sight.
(Your eye can only truly focus on one thing at one distance. That HAS to be the front sight at all time.
The rear sight and target will be slightly blurry. But that's O.K.. your eye will automatically line up the rear sight and target without you trying to focus on them at the same time.)

2. Control breathing.

3. Control trigger squeeze.
(Only increase trigger pressure as the front sight wobbles over the center of the target.)

Sooner or later, the gun will go off while the front sight is centered on the X-ring.

rc

Try to maintain a proper sight picture while squeezing the trigger.

Some great shooting advice above.

You should also make sure it's not the gun or the ammo. Go borrow a gun and ammo combo that shoots accurate from a friend and see if your shooting improves. If it does improve, then you have an equipment issue. If not, then you know it's you.

Get glasses or lasik. You might be surpised

We learned trigger control in Army by placing a dime on the barrel and learning to dry fire without the dime falling off. I have found this to be a valid teaching method with new shooters and other shooting having control issues.

I am not much of one to shoot a sidearm, but holding position for an extended period of time is a bad thing. Do like rcmodel said; align your sights concentrating on the clear front sight post; find your aiming point and shoot. The more time spent between sight alignment and sight picture means more time before you shoot; and that is bad.

A natural point of aim stops most of this... Walk to, or stand, at the firing line; close your eyes for a few moments and then take a firing position; and then open your eyes. You should be looking down the sights on your desired point of aim; if not, work on it...

Always go back to the basics of marksmanship; to heck with how coach Bob stands, or how coach Fred holds his pistola... The basics dude; learn and know the bedrock foundations of marksmanship: if Fred and Bob can not teach you them; you don't need it.

You will get off track all your life; it is natural and human to do so. You always, always, always go back to the basics of marksmanship. This is the only cure, and it is always, always, always some problem with your basic marksmanship.

CC

a. align the sights with the target
b. pull the trigger.

remember to do step b without disturbing the step a.

that's really all there is to accurate shooting. Its just that a lot of us might spend lifetimes learning how to do that.

tarosean said:

A) shoot with both eyes open. .

Click to expand...

Used to. No longer can with all sights. Aging is not fun.

I wrote a document, part of which is about shooting.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/90303706/...-1-Chapter-1-Basic-Gunnery-Release-2012-04-20

Hope it helps.

The "teacup" method was taught by the military years ago. Other than an accuracy problem, if you ever have a KB, one place you don't want any of your body parts is under the mag well.

Try pulling back with your "weak" hand @ about 60% and pushing forward with your strong hand @ about 40%. Don't lay your head over on your arm. That's ridiculous.

I'm severely left-eye dominant, and I shoot pretty well, having only fired about 300k rounds through my Glocks over the past 20-yrs-or-so.

I hold the gun really steady, and try to delicately pull the trigger when my sights approach the bullseye or target center.

one-handed.

tuj said:

one-handed.

Click to expand...

I can shoot my P-38 one handed very well...maybe better than 2 hands...but certainly not fast.