I suck at pistols.. help?

You may want to buy a mag loader, this will save your thumb and make it easier to load your mags.

As for your shooting you can ask for all the advice you want online but nothing beats proper instruction at the range by an experienced shooting instructor.

Remember that the keys are proper grip, trigger control and keep your eye on the front sight all the way through the shot. Don't anticipate the recoil just absorb it and apply enough pressure to the trigger until the gun goes pop. Remember you don't pull the trigger you press it. The trick to not flinching is to just not do it, nobody can teach you not to flinch you just have overcome it.

Again there is no substitute for solid training from a professional who can stand next to on the range and critique your shooting. You'll get more advice than you need by asking how to improve your shooting on the internet. Without actually seeing you shoot it's pretty much all guesswork as to what you need to work on specifically.

Good Luck!

We can type all day until our fingers get more sore than yours after loading all day and it wouldn't be worth as much as 15 minutes with a good instructor going over the basics with you at the range.

Breathing, trigger control, sight picture, smooth stroke and follow-through, and familiarity with the firearm are all factors that help. There are others, but those are the major ones.

If you have the time and money, you can also buy some good training videos on handgunning and watch what the pros do. I recommend the NRA series. Be wary of buying some random guru and his own tactical weapon videos. There are a lot of yahoos who are self-proclaimed experts who will get you killed with their mall ninja antics... I mean tactics.

Actual trigger time, there is no substitute.

Just practice, practice, practice!

The hardest part in learning to shoot a pistol is either learning the specific trigger system for that gun, or the "flinch." In your case, it's both.

Just tune out the thought of the gun going bang, and keep your eye on the front sight the whole time. Keep looking at the front sight, then squeeeeze (ignoring the thought of it going bang, if that's possible for you). If you can avoid flinching when shooting a .357 magnum revolver, as heavy as it may be, you should still be able to avoid flinching while shooting the rather tame 9mm cartridge. Again, practice makes perfect.

Forgot to mention that I think "speedloaders" are a waste. Others might disagree, but eventually your thumbs will get used to the motion and your magazine spring will soften up a bit after a few reloads, making it easier to load a magazine. Most of the time strength isn't the problem. It's the positioning and motion of your fingers that you need to get used to. Try this:

If you are right-handed- Grab the empty magazine with your left hand, and sort of stick the base of the magazine into your abdomen or right below your chest. Make sure the magazine is facing away from you (ie round count viewing holes on the magazine should be facing your chest/abdomen). Then use your RIGHT hand to insert the first round by pushing it down on the magazine follower and sliding it back, almost at the same time, in one stiff motion. You will want to use your thumb on your LEFT hand to push down on the rear of the inserted rounds as you insert the next round with your RIGHT hand.

So basically, you are pushing down on each previously inserted round with your left thumb, as you slide in the next round with your right thumb. It becomes very natural and easy after you do it a few times. I definitely don't have super-human strength hands or anything, and I can load my Glock 33rd mags all day long without any discomfort A speedloader isn't a terrible idea, but there are times when you'll probably forget it, so you don't want to rely on it. I bought one when I got my first handgun, then literally threw it away after I stopped using it.

Use the pad of your finger, not the joint.

Only focus on the front sight. That sounds stupid, but try it. You'll be amazed.

Dry fire until you stop flinching.

If you want to dry fire, buy an A-Zoom snapcap and attach a laser to the rail. You will see every little movement of your hands on that dancing dot. The A-Zoom is the best snapcap and will last you forever.

Breath, sight in, exhale, draw in the trigger in 1 smooth pull, no jerking, no snatching when you see the sights lined up to get that shot in time, smooth draw, smooth pull, follow through with the recoil, repeat. Did I mention smooth?

ericyp

Something else you might want to consider if you've developed a flinch and/or are recoil sensitive; maybe think about getting a .22 pistol to practice with. No recoil to speak off, least expensive ammo out there for an autoloader, and it will give you the confidence you need as you concentrate on your trigger control, sight picture, and shooting stance. In other words, back to basics. And if you go this route, and want to save your thumbs, get yourself some magazine loaders.

Ericyp, sorry to see that you haven't had a good first experience with your new Cougar. I'm confident that things will change for the better as you work on divesting yourself of that annoying flinch that you've described.

As to the value of a magazine loader to speed the loading process (and, perhaps more importantly, to save your thumbs), that is probably the best $25 that I've ever spent on a gun-related item. A "gotta have" in my estimation. I immediately pressed my UPLULA loader into service as I first prepared to get my Cougar into action. Wouldn't be without it, and happily, it also works with the loading of the magazines of all of my larger-bore semiautos.

CP

All of the above are good recomendations. Getting a little private instruction can be invaluable. One hour with an instructor shrunk my groups in half. Aside from the flinch, there may be other things you are doing wrong that you won't realize until someone with a good eye points them out for you and helps you correct them.

Another thing that can help with a flinch is doubling up on hearing protection. Unless I'm shooting rimfire by myself, I usually muff and stuff (ear plugs and muffs). This is doubly so if you're shooting at an indoor range.

Another thing that can help with a flinch is doubling up on hearing protection. Unless I'm shooting rimfire by myself, I usually muff and stuff (ear plugs and muffs). This is doubly so if you're shooting at an indoor range.

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+1

I was having a lot of fun shooting a 1911 once, but I then picked up a Ruger 9mm and the noise kept making me flinch. Somebody is probably going to pipe up and say that I'm an idiot, since 9mm shouldn't be louder, but I perceived it to be so, which is what would make the difference.

You are correct... 9mm IS louder.


Jim

You've received some good advice in this thread. Hearing protection and dry firing will do a lot to help. One thing I would add is that, if you load up your mags and let them set for a few days, they will probably become easier to load. They certainly will as they are loaded and emptied over a period of time.

Cloudpeak

Have someone else load your pistols, put snap caps in place of random rounds.
This will tell you how bad your actual flinch is.
DONT FIGHT THE RECOIL.
It isnt going to jump up and bust you in the head.
Let the pistol climb some, I have seen a lot of flinch related to fighting the recoil.
Dry firing with a laser is great advise as is .22 training.


Jim

The UPLULA mag loader is the best invention since EGGO waffles! A wonderful tool!

I'd also recommend dry firing from a bench, sitting down, with a good beanbag shooting rest. Hold it steady and squeeze 'em slow.

Watch this a few times and pay particular atention to the part where he discusses gripping the gun.

BullitHolz, Youtube says the video is no longer available.

I was wondering when someone was going to mention grip. It is very important and it is important that you practice and apply it consistently.

The Jennings video was good, but appears to be unavailable (I searched around a bit).

This is a pretty good article, and pretty much the way I do it (Straight Thumbs Technique)

http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/combatg_100306/

There's a lot of good technical advice here, but I have had nothing but trouble with UMC in 9mm. When I shoot with UMC it looks like I am using a shotgun. In addition to working on grip, stance, and whatever else, you may also want to find what cartridges work best for you. I would suggest getting a white box of Winchester USA and see if that help. Otherwise step up to Fiocchi or some other recommended rounds. You don't need to go expensive, but consistent. And my experience shooting with (and disassembling) UMC says "Uh uh, nope."

You are flinching. I can also tell that you are right handed.

As to your accuracy with the revolver, I bet you're cocking the hammer for each shot, right? Try getting the same size group DOUBLE action. This doesn't mean to yank the trigger thru, but to only use your trigger finger to fire the gun slowfire.

Let us know how your DA (double action) works for you.

Lots of great advise . One of the things that really improved my shooting after learning the basics (breathing, grip, sight picture, etc.), is to try and be "surprised" by the shot, not to anticipate it. I focus on the front sight, and try to keep it on target all the way thru a gentle squeeze of the trigger.

Another thing that worked for me was to stay close to the target, untill I got better.

I know i'm going to catch hell for using this tired old cliche, but try to aim small... "aim small, miss small". Try to use targets that have a small bullseye, or just take a marker and make a small dot in the middle of the bullseye.

If you want to dry fire, buy an A-Zoom snapcap and attach a laser to the rail

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+1 for this. I was able to realize where I was going wrong with dry fire practice.. there's no better way.

Plus

10 on the UPLULA LOADER.. Makes range shooting fun or funner..

Go to http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ read all the articles under "Perfecting Technique". Shoot paper bullseye targets at their specified range, large targets at close range do nothing to improve accuracy. "Aim small...shoot small". Keep score and write them down, its the only way to gauge improvement over time. Perfect practice makes perfect. Practicing using improper technique just reinforces poor habits. After you understand the basics and have tried them get some time with an instructor or another shooter who can act as a mentor. Re-read the Army Marksmanship training manual more than once, every time you read it again you will pick up something that will help.

When you get tired of paying $10 a box for shells, buy a .22 LR and continue regular practicing.