Handgun instruction/online help?

[heySkippy]

I went to the range this past weekend for the first time in ... a really long time, and I was appalled at how poorly I did with the pistol. At 25 yards I was lucky to hit the target and I ended up peppering the cardboard holder in no discernible pattern.

So maybe I need professional person-to-person instruction, but I'm hoping that I can find some decent online resources that'll help me figure out what I'm doing wrong and that I can teach myself. I'm not looking to win any target shooting trophies, but I'd like to not embarrass myself the next time I go.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AndyC]

First, shorten the distance radically - you haven't mentioned what you're trying to achieve (target-shooting vs. self-defence), but 25 yards is a long way to walk each time and get discouraged, plus you'll have no idea what you did right and wrong.

This might sound weird, but it's what I do - start at 5 yards and shoot at the target-patches, those little 1" diameter stickers. Try to put a bullet through the middle of each sticker (without breaking the outer edge) - you handgun may shoot low as they're typically sighted-in for longer distances, but you can adjust for that if necessary. Cool thing is you get immediate feedback because you can immediately see the results, encouraging good habits and helping you drop the bad ones (you'll see the results of a flinch immediately)

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you haven't shot in a long while you will not be too good. Good shooting takes practice at least once a month. I agree with AndyC in that you need to shorten the distance from the target. Start at, oh say, 7 yards and when you shoot to your exceptability move back to, maybe 10 to 12 yards and start again until you shoot good. Repeat this until you do what you expect at 25 yards again...Always remembering that most armed conflicts are at 7 yards or less.