Dumping my Shot. Need help!!!

[SkinnyGrey]

When I shoot my Handguns I am almost always down and to the left. Quite common as I understand.

However, when I squeeze the trigger very slowly my shots are more or less on target.

Should I continue to shoot (pulling the trigger very slowly) this way for a while in the hopes that my body will get use to the recoil?

Should my body eventually adjust and if so is shooting slowly, for now, the best way to approach this problem?

Any advise will be appreciated!

P.S. Yes I have had people look at my guns to see if the sights were ok.

 

[DoomGoober]

Maybe you're trying too hard to shoot fast? Don't mentally switch between slow and fast mode. Start slow, then try shooting a little faster. When you feel comfortable at the faster speed, try a little faster. Speed up gradually, while keeping correct trigger control.

Having a good timer also helps let you know if you're actually getting faster without having to worry about speed while shooting.

 

[Dr_B]

That can be frustrating. But how far down and to the left are you shooting? If I were in your shoes, I'd have to think about whether shooting a bit to the left really matters. If you're getting decent groups and getting them in an area that would be roughly center mass, then it wouldn't matter much in my opinion. On the other hand, if there is something wrong with your sites or you are competing...

 

[Hk Dan]

Don't worry, it's super common to shoot low/left.

1) Put a bit more trigger on the finger. You may have to rotate your hand on the grip to do this, but do it.

2) Relax the pinky finger on your firing hand.

3) Ease up on the overall grip strength.

It's not a flinch per se, it's a matter of torque. The trigger finger will have the biggest impact. If these 3 things don't work, drop me a PM and we'll get ya through it.

 

[Skylerbone]

Read a great post by 9mmepiphany on this and it links to a video about the support hand and grip. Seems many people try clamping the pistol and torque it out of position.

 

[Mad Magyar]

I'd venture to say it's "anticipation".....

 

[DFW1911]

I'd venture to say it's "anticipation".....

I'd venture to say that's correct. What caliber are you shooting? No, I'm not going to recommend a .22, but if you're shooting one of the "snappier" recoiling guns, like a .40 or 10mm, you may want to consider switching to one of the calibers that "pushes" recoil, like 9mm or .45.

Also, it sounds like you're on the right path. A few things come to mind:

1. Concentrate on the basics
2. Don't over-think your shot or aim too long
3. Check your grip and trigger finger: are you adjusting them while you shoot? How about your sight picture?
4. Don't worry about speed, it will come with time
5. Have someone who knows how to shoot watch you - and give you an "anticipation drill" - for input and insight.

A good friend of mine switched from .40 to 9mm based on recoil. I think it was a good decision since he shoots the 9 quiet well but was all over the place with the .40.

Hang in there and don't get frustrated. Give it some time and keep practicing the basics, provided you're performing the basics correctly !

Take care,
DFW1911

 

[9mmepiphany]

Here is the thread if you are interested

It's point is really common misdiagnosis the shots, but you might find it helpful.

anticipation has a lot of different symptoms, from blinking to snapping the shoot to tightening the grip

 

[Walkalong]

He is hitting when shooting slowly and shooting low left when pulling the trigger quickly, so it is trigger/grip control, not recoil anticipation.

 

[murf]

yup. sounds like pulling the trigger with the whole hand. try dry-firing and watch where the sights go when you pull the trigger fast and slow.

murf

 

[451 Detonics]

Ball and dummy drills will quickly show if you are flinching or anticipating the shot.

 

[chrome_austex]

AK Dan is the man

2) Relax the pinky finger on your firing hand.

3) Ease up on the overall grip strength.

This is what did fixed it for me.

Also, hold the gun with 60% of your grip with your offhand, and only 40% with your strong side hand. Basically an extension of point #3 above.

And make sure to learn the correct thumbs forward grip with both hands.

More dryfiring and ball & dummy drills. Once you get the feel for doing it without the flinch, you will be able fire quickly w/o flinching, but it will reoccur for some time if you don't keep up the practice.

 

[woad_yurt]

I think the OP answered his own question. When a right-hander jerks the trigger, the shot will hit to the left of the intended target.

DoomGoober nailed it.

 

[Hk Dan]

Not necessarily Woad. With the polymer framed autos they may not be jerking the trigger in the common sense. It can be that when the shot breaks the sudden lack of resistance moves the gun, and this is where we get into the amount of trigger finger on the trigger, the pinky, and the overall grip strength. I've probably coached 100 to 150 people through this, and those 3 things have cured every single one of them.