Devoloped a Flinch

[Okiecruffler]

Took off to a friend's place today to let him shoot a few of my rifles and deliver my old .30-30 to his youngin. I started off with my pistols, and everything was fine. Then I pulled out the M44, and couldn't hit a paper plate at 100yrds. This is the rifle that usually shoots at least 2 inch groups. But I had new ammo that I had never tried before, so I blamed it on that. At least until the guy I was with took it and hit 5 of 5. He and his son are taking turns blasting clay pigeons one after the other, and I'm lucky to hit 1 in 5. Same thing with my mauser, same with the Enfield, same with the Savage 99. So I start shooting the boy's 10/22 and I'm doing a little better, but something doesn't feel right. Then I had a FTF with the cheap 22 ammo. A quiet little click from the firing pin, and the muzzle jumped a good 3 inches! I've been shooting rifles, and I mean big rifles ( I cut my teeth on a 444) since I was 10. I've never had a problem flinching. I have noticed that my groups have been getting a little larger, but I've been blaming that on needing new glasses. Once I realized I was doing it, I was able to control it somewhat. Finished the day breaking clays at 100yrds with the pistols without any problems. So how does one get rid of a flinch? And how did I devolop one after so many years?

 

[capbuster]

Treat this like you would any other negative trait that you notice in your shooting. It may sound too simple but go back to the basic rules of marksmanship and conscentrate on these. Try to isolate yourself as much as possible by using the necessary eye and ear protection. You might try wearing a hat or cap if you are not already doing so.After all these years I sometimes find myself anticipating the cartridge ignition and I have to tightened up a bit. Go back polish your skills and enjoy your shooting.

 

[308win]

If you are breaking clay pigeons at 100yds with a pistol you don't have any problems.

 

[El Tejon]

Dry practice.

 

[Chipperman]

Pick the smallest caliber semi-auto you own (.22 preferably)
Have a friend load the mags, inserting a snap cap randomly in them. Practice slow deliberate fire, and when a snap cap comes up, you'll know if you're still flinching.

 

[Newton]

What Chipperman said.

Then work your way up, if your M44 will feed empty cases, get someone to load a few of those mixed in with some live rounds.

I have heard that shooting with your eyes closed works for some, but if you fail to progress to the eyes open stage your accuracy may suffer

 

[Okiecruffler]

Went out to the range today and left the heavy hitters at home. Shot 300rds thru my 10/22, concentrating on the basics. Then I ran 100rds of light .303's thru the Enfeild. Much better, not as good as I was hoping but much better. Then I came home and watched the King of the Hill episode where Hank is having problems shooting. Going back out tomorrow, maybe it will help. "Over the rainbow"

Oh, and FWIW, the pistols I was shooting were a 357 contender with a 2X scope and a Savage Striker 22LR with a 4X scope, so 100 yrd shots on 4 inch clays aren't that difficult. Now when I can do it with my snubby, then I'll start bragging.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Since the first day I started shooting, I had a flinch. I chalked it up to a mental anticipation of the trigger break. Pretty common I suppose. Firing a gun is a pretty violent act, and if you think about it too much, one might cringe at the thought of pulling the trigger. I found, the older I got, the more I thought about it, and the more I flinched.

The great Pros in any sport will tell you, that they don't anticipate the act. Golfers in particular. That is, they don't think of what they are doing, they just do it. Practice is part of it. Sort of a Zen thing, a meditation if you will.

I found that target archery helped me regarding firearms flinching. I just sort of lucked into this one day at my local sporting goods shop. I had always had the hankering of doing a little target shooting with the bow, and having plenty of money, and little else to do, I asked my dealer to set me up. He outfitted me with a Matthews Genesis target bow and everything I needed to go along with it.

I got a book on the subject, studied technique, and had a lot of fun hitting the bullseye. Draw, aim, let off, and follow through . . . repeat. I got pretty good at it. Then I noticed that my target shooting with a pistol (G17) got better at the same time. No flinch. It's because, you don't flinch during the let off when you let the arrow fly, and I think that automatic action followed through to shooting pistols.

Anyway, that was my experience. I put the bow down for about 6 months, got bored with it I guess, and my pistol shooting went to crap. Didn't think about it much. A week ago, I picked up my bow again (I had to unlearn all my bad habits by the way - shooting a bow properly is similar to golfing in a way) started to hit the bullseye finally, and then noticed, my target shooting with a gun also improved.

It works for me. I need to get Zen when I shoot, and the bow helps in this. My job tends to foster an active mind, and if I think too much when shooting, I can't hit the broad side of a barn. Playing Robin Hood seems to calm this mental activity.