How to practice follow-up shots

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matt-s

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Hi -

New shooter here. I am getting pretty confident with my ability to practice slow-fire from a variety of positions now.

One thing I am not sure how to do is practice doubles / follow up shots.

My instructor gave me a drill. Hold pistol low (on table, pointed down range). Look away from target. Look at target, raise pistol, release safety, bang-bang, engage safety, lower pistol, look away, repeat.

He also told me to practice keeping my eye on the target during reload (reload by feel). A little in conflict with the above, but I suppose by that point you are in the middle of the encounter, so there is no looking away!

What I don't get is should I always just look at the target (keep that in focus), and sort of "point" the pistol (no real aim), and bang-bang?

Should I be focusing on the front sight? Keep target fuzzy?

Should I just look down the top of the pistol? Keep target fuzzy?

I am not sure how to practice this drill. I bet IDPA would be fun in the future. I don't want bad habits.

I am interested in input.

Thanks.
 
There's no simple answer, as you'll so see...

But intil others get around to posting, suffice it to say that there is a place for threat focused point shooting and front sight focused shooting; close in vs at distance, respectively. Most folks advise practicing both.

A search may be in order, as it has been well covered.
 
When shooting slow fire practice follow through by bringing you sights back on target after the shot every time, don' t just fire and then lower the pistol. Rapid fire is the same procedure but when the gun is brought back on target the trigger is squeezed for the next shot.
 
"Should I be focusing on the front sight? Keep target fuzzy?"

Yes.
"Look at target, raise pistol, release safety, bang-bang, engage safety, lower pistol,"

Basically, he is getting you used to bringing the gun up to eye level, interrupting the plane of sight, At that point your focus should then go to the front sight for your rounds.

One other thing. Only let the trigger out to the reset point instead of coming all the way off the trigger before firing your second shot.
 
Every instructor has their own beliefs and methods. My instructor who I respect greatly teaches that you should keep your eye on the front sight all the way through the shot and not to peek and see where the shot went after each shot.
 
"Every instructor has their own beliefs and methods. My instructor who I respect greatly teaches that you should keep your eye on the front sight all the way through the shot and not to peek and see where the shot went after each shot."

+1 on that.
 
for folks interested in placing their shots on target, there is no such thing as "doubles", "controled pairs" or "double taps"...they are 2 separate shots with separate sight pictures for each. when done correctly, it isn't any slower

if your instructor is teaching...during the "bang,bang"...two shots with a single sight picture, he's doing you a dis-service

if he's teaching to reload "by feel", that will eventually become the limiting factor in your reload speed.

in a tactical situation, you need to be aware of your surroundings. when you need to place your shot, your focus needs to be on sight alignment...not just the front sight

i would recommend you take a 2 0r 3 day "shooting" class...not a tactics or gamming class.
 
Some great advice on here. Also, don't forget about learning your specific gun's reset point. It'll help very much to shooting the controlled pair as to ensure you're not slapping the trigger the whole stroke through.
 
I think your eyes should be focused on whatever is important.

i.e. Hitting something - front sight
Reloading - The mag/magwell or cylinder

Simply put, your eyes help you do things. Use them to do the things that you need to do.
 
Simplest way to improve.

There are no "easy" ways, just ways not quite so difficult. The first thing is to teach yourself follow-through. Every time you fire a shot, have it in your mind that it requires two sight pictures. Acquire the sight picture, fire the shot, and stay on the sights until you've recovered from recoil and the sights are back on target. With practice your recovery time will decrease and the sights will be back on target faster.

About what to look at. This is where the "flash sight picture" advocated by the good Colonel (Jeff Cooper) comes into its own. Especially in a conflict, your eyes will naturally focus on the threat. Instead of trying to fight this instinct, bring the pistol into the line of sight. Superimpose the sight picture on the target. Unless you're shooting for pinpoint accuracy, in which case you treat it like shooting an open sight rifle amd focus on the front sight.
 
This has been helpful. I have found tracking the sight during recoil to be the hardest part. For some reason, it never occurred to me to include that in my slow-fire practice. I think that will help a lot!
 
Put a paper plate or similar sized target at 7 yards and fire strings of 5-6 (depening on magazine capacity, so you can do a couple, reload, keep going).

Do this experimenting with different types of focus and see what works for you.

The quickest way to shoot is by "calling the shot" based on where you saw your sights when the gun went off. Seeing the holes is slow.

My focus isn't on a crisp front sight unless I'm doing bullseye, or shooting a steel popper at 15+, but its not a target focus either. Its a mix so that I see the sights and the target in a "good enough" level of clarity. I'd give the edge to the sights though, so 60/40?
 
Pairs are actually two seperate shots.

Try this, for each and every shot have two sight pictures. When the gun comes down from recoil, line your sights up again, like they were before you touched off the last shot. For every shot I have two sight pictures.

You will get faster at it, like all the good shooters do. You will then start thinking, not of pairs, but of quickly fired single shots. The further the target is from the gun the more critical it is to have a good sight picture.

BikerRN
 
He also told me to practice keeping my eye on the target during reload (reload by feel). A little in conflict with the above, but I suppose by that point you are in the middle of the encounter, so there is no looking away!
Click to expand...

If you're going to look into IDPA/USPSA shooting, it's only fair to tell you that this is something that can slow your reloads down. I was target fixating during my reloads and found myself fumbling at times. As soon as I started practicing watching my mags as I load them, my times dropped.This was something mentioned by the lead shooter at our local match. Obviously actual combat will result in a lot of things going by the wayside, but that's why it's important to practice.
 
What type of pistol are you shooting?

My first carry pistol was a GLOCK (hence the name) and have shot many, many rounds through it, but I've fould that the 1911 that I jsut got "points" better that my GLOCK.

I kinda have to search for the front sight post with the GLOCK, but my 1911 just lines up right off the bat!!!
 
the smoothness, and hence the reliability, gained by looking at your reload far outweighs any advantage to keeping you eye on the target.

...if you were truely in a dire situation, wouldn't you seek cover for the reload anyway?...it's not like a scene from Mel Gibson's "Patriot" where you have to stand in the open ramming the ball into your single shot blackpowder pistol
 
Practicing reloads.

You don't need to shoot through a full mag before you reload. Make this a part of your practice routine (now that you have decided to improve your shooting, you should have a routine). Put all your mags in pouches, pockets, whatever and load them with just one or two rounds. When the gun is empty, get it loaded again.

As far as technique for the reload, here's the best I've found. Bring the pistol down from shooting position and into your "power range". For most people, this is close to the body and mid-torso. Push the mag release, strip and drop the old mag (never rely on drop-free mags to do so). Continue the hands motion rearward to your mag pouch. Mags should be oriented on the off side, base plate up, primers to the rear. Grasp the mag with the part of your hand somewhat close to your wrist, kinda enveloping your hand around it. As it pulls free of the pouch, wrap your fingers around it, index finger on the point of the top bullet. This will give you a reference point "by feel", and speed you up slightly. Be sure to seat the mag hard. No putzing with a few slaps to make sure. Just one good one to, in the words of my friend David, a Swede, Tooo mek fer dem shooor".
 
matt-s - which part of the country are you located in?

there are several Grayguns class around the country coming up...you might not have to travel far to get some very useful instruction
 
I live in NJ.

My original training / shooting was done w/ a 1911. I am shooting a CZ-75B to keep ammo costs down somewhat.
 
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