NMGonzo
Member
what cures it?
It is really annoying.
I am getting better, but I want it gone for good.
It is really annoying.
I am getting better, but I want it gone for good.
Flinching.
- Thread starter NMGonzo
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Lurp
Member
Get some snap caps and practice dry firing. I used to flinch a lot when I first started shooting handguns, but was able to get rid of it by dry firing. Aim at a distinct object and slowly squeeze the trigger increasing pressure until it breaks. I found you will notice your flinch much more when their is no recoil or muzzle blast. Overtime you will eliminate most of the flinch with dry fire practice. You can even do it while watching TV.
Took me a long time to realize this and I spent quite a few rounds trying to cure my flinch at the range. Little did I know curing a flinch was easier off the range, at home.
Took me a long time to realize this and I spent quite a few rounds trying to cure my flinch at the range. Little did I know curing a flinch was easier off the range, at home.
Mousegun
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2005
- Messages
- 739
Time and rounds cure it and it will cure. It took me a year to completely stop flinching because it is a natural reaction that you have to overcome.
I have not picked up a gun, since the flinch cure took place, that I have been afraid to shoot with zero flinch and that includes a 44 mag with a one hand hold. It does wake you up but not with flinch fear.
I have not picked up a gun, since the flinch cure took place, that I have been afraid to shoot with zero flinch and that includes a 44 mag with a one hand hold. It does wake you up but not with flinch fear.
MrFox
Member
Nope. Nothing to overcome. You just need more PPE. If you can't hear, you can't flinch.
Double up on hearing protection. Get the best NRR (noise reduction rating) plugs AND wear the best NRR over the ear muffs you can find. Make sure the plugs are being properly inserted and used and that the muffs have a snug and secure fit.
It is nothing related to the actual firing of the gun, but everything to do with sound. It is your body's natural reaction to a loud sound and the pressure wave it creates.
Don't believe me? Try it.
Double up on hearing protection. Get the best NRR (noise reduction rating) plugs AND wear the best NRR over the ear muffs you can find. Make sure the plugs are being properly inserted and used and that the muffs have a snug and secure fit.
It is nothing related to the actual firing of the gun, but everything to do with sound. It is your body's natural reaction to a loud sound and the pressure wave it creates.
Don't believe me? Try it.
NMGonzo
Member
I did not notice the detonation being loud.
i will try it next time.
i will try it next time.
MrFox
Member
Also, if shooting something with more boom in a smaller package (ala M44 or M24/47) you might want to try a recoil pad. There is no shame in saving your shoulder and shooting better.
NMGonzo
Member
redhawk .44 got to be from smooth to flinch city in 30 rounds.
It got better after I took a break for some minutes, picking up the garbage and stuff.
Then the 1911 came out.
I could GROUP!!!!!
My mosin ... well ... i forgot the ammo at home
It got better after I took a break for some minutes, picking up the garbage and stuff.
Then the 1911 came out.
I could GROUP!!!!!
My mosin ... well ... i forgot the ammo at home
doc2rn
Member
cure try shooting some down powered practice rounds
Dry firing is your friend. I had a problem when firing my 1911 but was amazed on how dry fire practice helped. It only takes a few minutes a day to get good results. Getting the sight picture and squeezing the trigger becomes second nature. I'll still do some dry firing when at the range. I find it relaxes me and improves my shooting.
The gray matter between your ears is what does it. Just turn it off. Practice helps, but mental focus is what does it. It's like coming to the plate with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Turn off the nerves and put your mind in the place where hitting is easy and fun. No pressure, it's fun in those situations.
Artiz
Member
Dry firing isn't going to sure it. When you dry fire, you know it won't hurt, but if someone loads for you and puts some snap caps here and there, you'll see what you're doing wrong. Try to think that you're firing snap caps all the time, you won't flinch.
Nuke8401
Member
Shoot a 1000 full power rounds from a S&W 500!!!
Seriously though:
1. Double hearing protection, this is a large part of the battle.
2. Shoot full power loads from the worst recoiling handgun you have or can use at the range.
3. As a drill, just forget about aiming. Grip and fire the gun several rounds with varying grip strength. If possible watch the gun recoil from the side slightly by tipping you head to the side, you will see your flinch, the gun dip, do this using a range of grip strength, from a light grip to a death grip. Of course this is only possible on an outdoor range with a sufficient berm/backstop.
Watch the gun recoil, not the sights or the target, this will let you see your flinch and can help you to learn to control it; you will see the effect of different grip strengths on the recoil, the goal being to control the gun for a rapid follow-up shots. You should realize that the gun is going to recoil no matter how firm your grip and that a death grip is not required for rapid follow-ups.
Another drill taught by Bruce Grey, among others, is a trigger control drill that helps with flinch:
1. Squeeze the trigger and let off, goal is to not fire a shot.
2. Squeeze the trigger a little harder and let off, goal not to fire a shot.
3. Repeat with slightly increased pressure until the gun fires.
This will teach you to be "surprised" when the gun fires instead of forcing the gun to fire=flinch. You can't flinch if you don't know when the gun is going to fire.
Once you master the slow fire trigger control (a few thousand rounds) you can move on to rapid fire.
To check you flinch, load three mags, one with a snap cap in the middle. Put them in a paper bag and mix. Without looking for the snap cap, load and shoot. When you get to the sap cap and the gun doesn’t fire, if you do flinch it will be apparent.
With all that being said, just plan on shooting a few thousand rounds. Shooting a gun well, any gun, must become second nature to you with no conscious effort.
Dave E.
IDPA SSP Master
CDP (45 ACP 1911) Expert
NRA instructor
Seriously though:
1. Double hearing protection, this is a large part of the battle.
2. Shoot full power loads from the worst recoiling handgun you have or can use at the range.
3. As a drill, just forget about aiming. Grip and fire the gun several rounds with varying grip strength. If possible watch the gun recoil from the side slightly by tipping you head to the side, you will see your flinch, the gun dip, do this using a range of grip strength, from a light grip to a death grip. Of course this is only possible on an outdoor range with a sufficient berm/backstop.
Watch the gun recoil, not the sights or the target, this will let you see your flinch and can help you to learn to control it; you will see the effect of different grip strengths on the recoil, the goal being to control the gun for a rapid follow-up shots. You should realize that the gun is going to recoil no matter how firm your grip and that a death grip is not required for rapid follow-ups.
Another drill taught by Bruce Grey, among others, is a trigger control drill that helps with flinch:
1. Squeeze the trigger and let off, goal is to not fire a shot.
2. Squeeze the trigger a little harder and let off, goal not to fire a shot.
3. Repeat with slightly increased pressure until the gun fires.
This will teach you to be "surprised" when the gun fires instead of forcing the gun to fire=flinch. You can't flinch if you don't know when the gun is going to fire.
Once you master the slow fire trigger control (a few thousand rounds) you can move on to rapid fire.
To check you flinch, load three mags, one with a snap cap in the middle. Put them in a paper bag and mix. Without looking for the snap cap, load and shoot. When you get to the sap cap and the gun doesn’t fire, if you do flinch it will be apparent.
With all that being said, just plan on shooting a few thousand rounds. Shooting a gun well, any gun, must become second nature to you with no conscious effort.
Dave E.
IDPA SSP Master
CDP (45 ACP 1911) Expert
NRA instructor
Nuke8401
Member
He did ask.
The tip about the hearing protection is a very good one!
One version of dry-firing I used in the military to cure flinchers was to load the weapon with either a live round or fired-round (I was a range-coach) . The shooter could see me load a round but never saw if it was live or not. After a few embarrasing flinches with no "boom" many, if not most, shooters found it easier to remember to "BRASSF" and not flinch.
Cheers
CW
One version of dry-firing I used in the military to cure flinchers was to load the weapon with either a live round or fired-round (I was a range-coach) . The shooter could see me load a round but never saw if it was live or not. After a few embarrasing flinches with no "boom" many, if not most, shooters found it easier to remember to "BRASSF" and not flinch.
Cheers
CW
chevyforlife21
Member
a lighter trigger pull can help
Uncle Mike
Member
That's it!
+1 MrFox
bdickens
Member
NMGonzo
Member
keep them coming, there must be more than one way to skin a cat!!
Winston_Smith
Member
In addition to dry firing, ball and dummy drills work great (dry firing without knowing it). Get a buddy to prep the pistol or rifle without you knowing if there is a live round in the chamber. Fire the shot, watch for flinch, repeat until flinching stops and groups get smaller.
It's the noise causing it, so get used to the noise.
Or at least be more conditioned to it. The only way to do it is with more shooting.
Go back to fundamentals, shoot a .22 for a bit and retrain yourself for the other gun, then practice with that gun that makes you flinch. Another tip would be to try ammo that is target grade before shooting the Full House Defensive ammo.
Happy Shooting!
PS. Flinching NEVER goes away, it waits for you to lose your edge then comes right back. Stay Sharp!)
Or at least be more conditioned to it. The only way to do it is with more shooting.
Go back to fundamentals, shoot a .22 for a bit and retrain yourself for the other gun, then practice with that gun that makes you flinch. Another tip would be to try ammo that is target grade before shooting the Full House Defensive ammo.
Happy Shooting!
PS. Flinching NEVER goes away, it waits for you to lose your edge then comes right back. Stay Sharp!)
Last edited:
Dulvarian
Member
I agree with #15. It drives me nuts when my friends complain that I shoot better and they don't listen about anticipating the shots. Give em a empty chamber and let them fire and wrench the gun all around and they look back over their shoulder like... Ok, Ok, I'll try not to do that anymore. And then they shoot better.
On an amusing note, after some long days of dryfiring, I can turn off the blink reflex. Seeing giant fireballs leap from the barrel is kind of entertaining.
On an amusing note, after some long days of dryfiring, I can turn off the blink reflex. Seeing giant fireballs leap from the barrel is kind of entertaining.
Nicodemus38
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2009
- Messages
- 583
a lot of flinch comes solely from fear of recoil and muzzle blast. heres two ways to cure it.
-take a lightweight revolver and have them fire a few cylinders of normal hunting ammo at a target with no pressure to hit anything. that tells seems to tell the brain on alot of people "this cartridge is most powerful for this gun, it make big boom" then give them normal practice ammo and they will subconciously be happy with "low powered low recoil ammo"
-youll have to handload for this part. take the revolver they intend to shoot, and load up some ammo for them. for example if the weapon in question is a 44 magnum, find yourself a partial box of high end hunting loads that can be used in that firearm. load up some of those cases with 44 special pressured loads with the same bullet as in the box.
brain will tell them that they fired the big he man round of 300 grain lrn from a 4 inch barrel and had no humongous muzzle kick, etc, and kept control at all times. this really works, at least in shotguns, but theory is the same to get the brain tricked.
-take a lightweight revolver and have them fire a few cylinders of normal hunting ammo at a target with no pressure to hit anything. that tells seems to tell the brain on alot of people "this cartridge is most powerful for this gun, it make big boom" then give them normal practice ammo and they will subconciously be happy with "low powered low recoil ammo"
-youll have to handload for this part. take the revolver they intend to shoot, and load up some ammo for them. for example if the weapon in question is a 44 magnum, find yourself a partial box of high end hunting loads that can be used in that firearm. load up some of those cases with 44 special pressured loads with the same bullet as in the box.
brain will tell them that they fired the big he man round of 300 grain lrn from a 4 inch barrel and had no humongous muzzle kick, etc, and kept control at all times. this really works, at least in shotguns, but theory is the same to get the brain tricked.
In addition to doubled up hearing protection, one drill that helped me was holding my eyes wide open, like I had seen a ghost. If you start squinting too much, you're anticipating the blast. Hold both eyes wide open, you can go back to one eye closed later. I've learned to shoot action and bullseye with both eyes open and it helps.
A pair of wrap around safety glasses helps too.
You ears are not the only thing sensitive to magnum blast.
Leather gloves for magnum revolvers helps as well. Cut the finger tip off the trigger finger.
Also reduce the number of rounds fired. When flinching creeps back on me, I'll load just three rounds at a time and tell myself, just three rounds, you can do it. Also by reminding yourself that it's going to recoil the same whether or not you hit the target, and the rounds are expensive, you can get through it.
A pair of wrap around safety glasses helps too.
You ears are not the only thing sensitive to magnum blast.
Leather gloves for magnum revolvers helps as well. Cut the finger tip off the trigger finger.
Also reduce the number of rounds fired. When flinching creeps back on me, I'll load just three rounds at a time and tell myself, just three rounds, you can do it. Also by reminding yourself that it's going to recoil the same whether or not you hit the target, and the rounds are expensive, you can get through it.
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