Interesting Range Finding

[MattTheHat]

First, let me say I'll never be a bullseye shooter.

After my last half dozen range trips or so, it would occur to me on the drive home that I'd gotten into the habit of leaning against the shooting bench
at the range, which is just about waist high. I kept making mental notes that I needed to stop that. I'd assumed it was probably improving my shot,
but that bench ain't gonna be there when the shot really counts. But, I kept forgetting this when I'd go back to the range.

Today, in the middle of shooting a new to me 1911, I consciously noticed I was leaning against the bench. So, I took a half step back, and otherwise
assumed the same stance. I was shocked to find that my groups immediately tightened. So I shot some more. Each additional target I
shot continued to tighten up a smidge. Then I ran out of ammo.

Interestingly too, the new pistol was shooting lower and left several inches until I backed off the bench. I haven't noticed the lower left thing with my
other 1911s, but it's interesting that it immediately improved after backing off the bench.

Fun range trip. Here are my last four targets. They were all 8 shot groups.


-Matt

 

[MattTheHat]

After looking again at that first pic, something Master Yoda once told me came to mind: "Many a good group has been ruined by continued shooting."

Those three shots betwixt the 9 and 10 were the first three shots, the next group of three shots was the three below them. Then I yanked the last two shots.


-Matt

 

[MrBorland]

My guess is that you were concentrating more when you weren't leaning against the bench. Same reason why it's common to shoot good groups with a new gun. Just my $0.02.