Difficult time shooting Glock 19 accurately.. tips?

[wristtwister]

Dang... I thought Glocks and Sigs jumped out of the holsters and lined up all by themselves, to hear the proponents talk. I'm really stunned that you could have a problem shooting a tight group... just kidding.

I've said before that every pistol has it's "quirks", and you have to spend some time learning what they are before you start selling it back to the gun store. My Beretta 92 tends to shoot low and left(grip problem) and my Ruger SR-9 is dead on. My .40 cal Smith is also dead on, now that I've toyed with the sights a bit, and adjusted them to my particular line of vision.

While "aiming" is pretty standard, the "finger roll" of some guns causes it to misalign as you pull the trigger, or the grip you use changes and causes the gun to pull down or push up. I can shoot tight groups with one hand, and shoot the same gun with the other, and be all over the target using the same techniques and grip. It's a matter of practice and learning "where to aim" with each particular pistol.

I have a tendency to pull down and right with my Smith, but usually after the first couple of shots, I remember that, and adjust my grip, which shoots me back into the center of the target... so spend the time to learn where the problem is, and then practice to solve it. I suggest "bench shooting" it until you get the quirks documented, and then start doing things with your technique to get back into the center.

I shoot better from a kneeling "forward lean" position than a standing position, and shoot better "braced" off the wall than freehand... so try different things to figure out what's going on with the gun... and start with the target close enough to be able to shoot near the center as you see where the hits are being made. They will only get worse as the target moves away, so learn "close" first, and then move the target back. Our firearms instructor used to tell us "if you can't hit it at 5 feet, you won't hit it at 50 feet... line it up, then ... line it up further away".

WT

 

[Abunai]

I had similar problems with my Glock 23. I did OK with my 22 and 27, but the 23 was all over the place. I tried a couple things, but the cause was a rough trigger that actually moved the gun when released.

I installed the 5.5 pound 'tactical trigger kit' from Aro-Tek, and the results were amazing. The group sizes dropped dramatically, the gun functioned perfectly the first try, and the trigger pull was good. Not tuned 1911 good, but pretty crisp. Installation was easy, and took maybe five minutes.

I've got to add that it was a relief to find out that the solution wasn't my shooting skills (or lack thereof)!

 

[MarcusWendt]

Not everyone will shoot every gun the same. Glocks imparticular seem to be a love or hate gun.

I don't shoot Glocks well at all.

Try an M&P or an XD.

 

[Paladin7]

It doesn't surprise me that you shoot the 1911 or CZ better, they are heavier. I'd suggest that if you like to carry the Glock 19, the best way to deal with this is to focus on and practice the fundamentals. With practice you will shoot it much better.

 

[OOOXOOO]

My Glock 19 was my first carry pistol. I had a hard time learning the trigger. Many have already mentioned it but a good grip, proper trigger finger placement( I shoot better with the inside of the distal joint), and lots of dry fire practice. Dry fire practice is the only time I like a laser sight because it really shows the amount of movement at POI. Also I find that when I shoot to the left and to the left and low especially I am manipulating the trigger to fast and jerking my shot.

 

[JDGray]

Countglockula,
Thats some mighty fine target work!!

 

[Old School]

I had a glock 23 for over 10 years and never really did make friends with it. I can't explain why I stuck with it for so long. I traded it for a p345 ruger a few years back and never looked back. The ruger and I were fast friends.

Sometimes what you think you might like is different from what you find actually works for you. At least, that is how it was for me.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Seriously- Buy a Smith M&P. (had to say that since no one else has. Payback's a B****, isn't it Glockers?)

I think this thread illustrates that one gun doesn't fit everyone. Like Count proved, a tight group is possible with a Glock. Most everyone here, and in numerous other places I've seen, agree that the stock Glock trigger needs work. It's a combat trigger, sure. But if you can never attain that sweet group like the poster with the Sig, or even a nice clover-leaf, you'll never "feel" like you're shooting great. You might be combat ready, but that extra bit of success will elude you until you get the trigger job done.

Find the gun you love to hold, shoot, and shoot well. Life's too short to shoot a gun you dislike. Oh, and take a basic pistol course if you haven't already. Basics basics basics.

 

[nelson133]

As others have said, maybe the gun just doesn't fit you. Glocks sure don't fit me. I've tried them and can't shoot them well at all. I took a friend from work to my club range and he brought his pair of Glocks. He told me he thought he was a bad shot because no matter how much he practiced, he couldn't hit the target consistently. I let him try some other makes, Sig, Beretta, and a couple of S&W M&Ps. Even they were new to him he shot them all better than his guns. Glocks work very well for some people, I've seen some amazing shooting by Glock users. They just aren't for everyone.