I'm shooting down and to the left....

[JoseM]

It is constant...I just really use "Kentucky windage" to hit the bulls eye (i.e. I aim high and to the right). But I do it so consistent that I can hit bullseye pretty regularly.

My question is...what in my grip/squeeze is causing this. I'd rather hit where I was aiming and not have to rely on aiming high and to the right.

 

[ZeSpectre]

JoseM
PM me with your email address and I'll send you the "wheel of misery" targets (used to help define what you are doing wrong).

They are very helpful.

Ze

 

[eflatminor]

Very common error. You're twisting your wrist down and to the left as you shoot. This is the way the wrist moves most natually, which is why it's such a common problem. Take a firm grip and tell yourself not to do that as you shoot. Concentrate on pulling the trigger STRAIGHT back. You'll overcome it with practice.

 

[Deanimator]

1. You don't say what kind of gun, or even whether it's a handgun or a rifle.

2. What ammunition are you using?

3. Have you fired from a bench or rest?

4. Have you had someone else fire your gun from a bench or rest?

Until you give people more information, any "advice" is going to be worthless.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Usually a hit, low and left, means an extra hard pull on the trigger which pulls the shot .

 

[El Tejon]

You are smashing and jerking the trigger.

Dry practice.

 

[testify4]

I have this problem with my XD .40. Research says I am tugging on the trigger.

I have been practicing dry firing as El Tejon mentions. It is improving.

I am considering a cheapo laser sight that I can aim at the (safe!) wall during dry fire practice to make sure I don't move the dot while I complete my trigger pull. I am also practicing "trapping" the trigger for an easier follow-up shot, but that's making a blister on my finger from the trigger safety. It's going to take more ammo for me to solve this problem!

 

[JoseM]

It's a S&W Gunsite 1911, also in my M&P 40, also in my .22 caliber revolver....it's not one type of ammunition obviously since it's across a few calibers. I know you were trying to trouble-shoot...but it's not the sights, or ammo, or any other "mechanical" flaw which is why I left out that information (which agreeably would have been beneficial initially). It's a fundamental error in my technique.

...I'm right handed.

I'm very good with a rifle (was good with a rifle before I went into the army and just got better). I may not be competition "grade" with a rifle, but don't have any complaints for plinking. So this was just for pistol questions...thank you.

 

[Mr_Rogers]

In case it helps I'll put in 2 cents worth.

Perhaps you are putting your trigger finger too far into the trigger guard. This can cause a problem if you have short fingers or a pudgy hand. When you pull the trigger the muscle at the base of your trigger finger expands. If you are gripping the gun incorrectly with your trigger finger too far into the guard this muscle expansion pushes the frame of the pistol over to the left. We positively identified this as a problem with a shooter who was using a Springfield XD. As soon as he started using the pad of his trigger finger instead of the joint the problem went away.

When we compared the XD with a Sig 228 it was clear that the XD frame was much wider at this point on the frame which made the problem worse.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Most likely jerking the trigger. If the gun's grip is too big, the gun way also be twisting in your hand as you pull the trigger.


Other possibilities, too.

I'm not sure I believe in the "Dear Abby" approach to marksmanship training. Contact the NRA, get the name of a handgun marksmanship trainer in your area, and let him/her sort it out after watching you.

Good luck--welcome to the struggle!

 

[bobbarker]

I don't belive you're jerking the trigger, typically jerking the trigger(right handed shooter) will pull the round up and right. Down and left suggests that you are anticipating the shot, or you need to adjust your grip on the pistol.

 

[3KillerBs]

With me and my DH's M&P it turned out to be that the gun was too big for my hand -- resulting in poor finger placement on the trigger.

If your gun fits well you should be able to fix it with improved technique -- look in your NRA Basic Pistol book (or take the course if you haven't yet), to see the diagnostic target wheel.

 

[kludge]

Tighten your grip.

Then watch the sights as you squeeze the trigger.

 

[glockman19]

If you are right handed then you are anticipating the recoil and pushing.

 

[Deanimator]

Then watch the sights as you squeeze the trigger.

ESPECIALLY, front sight sharp, rear sight and target out of focus.

Most times that I see somebody with inconsistent results, they're NOT focusing on the front sight.

 

[Khornet]

Also,

if shooting two-handed, be sure to do the hard squeezing with your support hand, not so much with your gun hand

 

[RobMoore]

There is no one grip for everyone. There is no one placement of the finger on the trigger for everyone (case in point - Jerry Miculek). Those circle diagrams that I'm suprised nobody has posted yet are misleading, vague, sometimes false, and don't tell the whole picture.

One person may achieve a low left miss a totally different way than another person.

You're doing something to move the gun off target during the execution of the shot. Dry fire and make adjustments as needed until you stop doing it. Its that simple. Go back to live fire. When the problem comes back, go dry again. Mix in dummy rounds, ect.

Dry fire should be done equal to if not more than live fire at first. You can cut down on it as you get better, but always keep it part of your routine.

 

[Cougfan2]

I had the same thing happen to me with a SA 1911 when shooting off hand. Thought there was something wrong with the gun until I shot from a solid rest. Figured out that the trigger pull was so heavy, 8 1/2 lbs out of the factory, that I was unconciously pulling the muzzle down and to the left. A trigger job and lots of dry practice eventually fixed it for me.

 

[AndyC]

I'm shooting down and to the left....
It is constant...I just really use "Kentucky windage" to hit the bulls eye (i.e. I aim high and to the right). But I do it so consistent that I can hit bullseye pretty regularly.

If it's as consistent as you say, adjust your sights accordingly, then.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

you're having trigger control issues.

if you can't take a shooting class, this DVD is probably a good thing to get.

 

[Lonestar49]

Mind over matter..

...

Do yourself a favor, buy and take some snap caps with ya to the range.

Load 2 of them per mag, starting with the 3rd or 4th shot, then around the 7th shot, a bit staggered, as it really won't matter if you do it yourself or have someone do it for you so you "think you will not know"..

When "the effect" happens, and IT will.. you'll see what your brain is trying to do, compensate, hold down, stop the effect of, for known recoil coming..

Once you can go thru mag after mag with a few snap caps in there and see no trigger jerk, no movement of recoil anticipation, then you will have found the answer within yourself..


Ls

 

[SSN Vet]

I was shooting low and left with my PT-111....

A fellow club member gave me some pointers that helped a lot.

I was lowering my head to get my sight picture....he had me switch to an isosceles stance and to be deliberate about keeping my chin up and bringing the gun up to get my sight picture.

This helped a LOT! and I saw more improvement in one day than a month of Sundays.