How do these groups look?

[crazed_ss]

I picked up my XD last week. It's my first pistol. I took it to the range practiced a little bit from 8 yards using Winchester white box 115gr FMJ ammo. Didnt have much ammo.. this is how I did though.

Wal-Mart has Winchester white box (box of 100) for 11 bucks. I'm gonna pick up a couple of those and go practice some more this week.

Any tips? I dont want to shoot a bunch of ammo and end up just praticing bad habits.

Thanks.

 

[Meplat]

I picked up my XD last week. It's my first pistol. I took it to the range practiced a little bit from 8 yards using Winchester white box 115gr FMJ ammo. Didnt have much ammo.. this is how I did though.

Wal-Mart has Winchester white box (box of 100) for 11 bucks. I'm gonna pick up a couple of those and go practice some more this week.

Any tips? I dont want to shoot a bunch of ammo and end up just praticing bad habits.

Thanks.

If you can just get accurate enough to duplicate that hole in the upper left earlobe perfectly EVERY time, you might be able to go into the piercing bidness.

 

[ColoradoKid]

Groups

SS,
From the group size and assuming you have a factory trigger in your XD, my first impression is that you are able to hold the front sight on your intended point of aim and maintain slow steady trigger press to get those good COM hits. On about half of the shots, you may have a good hold, but you are speeding up your trigger press and "mashing" your shots a bit low. "Let the weapon fire it self, do not make it fire"...!! Try to acquire a slow steady trigger pressure through a regimen of focused dry practice. Say, 15 per day..three times a week. The rest of what is going on like grip, trigger finger position etal...I would have to be there on the range with you, in order to offer any further comments......Good luck

 

[osteodoc08]

Good recommendations above. Dry firing is definitely a way to improve without the cost.

If you want absolutely the best groups, try different ammo as well. I have a Kimber that can't group WWB to save its life. Put in some UMC green box and I get a ragged hole. On the flip side, my P-89 absolutely loves WWB, as does my wife's P230.

 

[Jeff Timm]

I suggest you work on your hand strength and arm strength.

Double your daily pushups and get a hand exerciser down at WallyWorld.

Geoff
Who notes if two times zero is zero, start out with five pushups a day and work up to 25.

 

[backlash]

I agree with what ColoradoKid said. Get some snap caps and practice dry firing, that has helped me a lot.

 

[possum]

It took me a while with the xd but after alot of practice and alot of dry firing, I came around and I am pretty darn happy with the results! keep practicing.

 

[BevrFevr]

keep practicing

your gun should be able to easily keep in the black on those targets at 50 feet.

For trigger control I will need to practice till the day I die but advice was given to me that cut my group sizes in half.

1. get a snap cap and dry fire when you are just sitting around the house.
2. While dry firing aim at a tiny little dot as far way as you can.
3. Lay a dime(or several) right behind the front sight. Dry fire till the dime does not move.
4. have a knowledgable shooter help you find a good shooting postions that work for you.
5. Shoot lots and lots and lots. Try to make every single one count.

I think you did fine shootin for your first piece. I think If you work at it you may be happy with the results.

I am of the school of thought that you have not really even got your hand under her sweater till you put at least 900-1000 through her. Lots of guys never put 500 rounds through a pistol and think they are good to go.

 

[Meplat]

3. Lay a dime(or several) right behind the front sight. Dry fire till the dime does not move.

Just tried this, and wonder why I've never heard of it before. GREAT practice tip. Showed me some things I didn't realize real quickly. Thanks for a great tip.

 

[Navy joe]

It is certainly a lot more competent looking shooting than I usually see out of first timers at the range. That said, lose the silhouette targets for awhile. 7-8 yards, get something with about a 2 inch aiming spot and practice to where you can hit the dot/bull everytime. You can make these on your printer, some target companies sell them with about 20 dots printed on. Once you can do that, do it faster. I say this because it enforces looking at the sights and concentrating on your trigger pull. You can do all the fast and fancy blasting later; I just seem to notice that most people shooting at man shaped targets spray and pray, kind of the aim small, miss small deal. Any time I see someone walk in with some situational targets(the photo targets simulating hostages and such, I know a few things.
1. The guy just spent $0.75 on a target that could have been saved for practice ammo.
2. I am glad I am not the hostage in the picture.
3. I am about to see an incredible demonstration of FWC shooting. (Floor, Ceiling, Wall).

Shooting a small target at close ranges will help you work on controlling your trigger and sights.
White box is fine for these purposes. I hate it, but is still plenty accurate for 80% of what passes for pistol shooting these days.

 

[crazed_ss]

Cool.. thanks for the tips guys.