Went to range with XDm 9mm and it was terrible. What am I doing wrong? w/video

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Freezebyte

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Well, I need some serious input, suggestions and ideas on what this gun noob is doing wrong here, which is probably everything. I took my new Springfield XDm 9mm to its 3rd time to my local range today and attempted to practice some more. Lately, i've been shooting at a target around 37 feet away but my accuracy has been terrible as my previous vids will show.

Today I decided to get up closer to my target like I should have in the first place. I was firing Blazer Brass brass 9mm JSP. I was using both eyes and keeping my 3 dots as level as I could before firing. I was trying to stay cautious and avoid *twitching* before the shot as I'm still getting used to firing a gun of this caliber.

Needless to say, it wasn't pretty. I"ll let the video do the rest of the talking. Help a gun noob out please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxwLY0ACHBU
 
Okay, I'm a novice too, but here goes...


It looks like your grip is a little loose. How tight is the web between your right thumb and 1st finger pressing against the beaver tail? It should be very tight. Also your thumbs should be paralell to the barrell and pointed at the target. Tightening the web of your right hand against the beaver tail should help.

It looks like your elbows might be bent a little. I think you might want to try straighting your elbows a little more, almost locking them.

I can't really see what your trigger finger is doing, but make sure you're squeezing the trigger smoothly with the pad of your finger (the part directly behind your fingernail, not the joint).

I also think you might be heeling a bit (anticipating recoil by pushing forward with the palm of your hand). Are you missing high? Try dry firing......load your mags with 2 or 3 dummy rounds mixed in with the live ones and see if your sights stay steady when you pull the trigger. If they don't, concenctrate on smooth trigger pull and avoid any flinching.

Also, focus only on the front site, not the target. Cover the target with your front sight but keep the sight in focus.

There's nothing to be embarassed about, shooting a pistol accurately is not easy.

Please check out this video and watch his technique:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4584332856867071363&q=ipsc


Best of luck, and since I'm a novice too anyone should feel free to correct my advice if you feel its incorrect.
 
I agree with the above post.

You may want to try a different brand of pistol to see if you get similar results.
 
Also, try pulling the trigger back as slowly as you can without ever stopping it. "one hair at a time" as TJ likes to say. When you move it that slowly you won't be able to predict when the gun will fire so you won't tense up in anticipation. Try and surprise yourself when the gun goes off. When I use the proper grip & stance, and squeeze slowly, it's pretty amazing how much of an improvement I see.....the trick comes in when you try to speed up the process and stay accurate, but I wouldn't worry about that for now, just try to be accurate in slow fire.

Here's a good article

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob85.html

Also, I agree with what the folks on TFL were sayig abut distances. I do almost all my shooting at 7 yards. It's easier to see what you're doing wrong at those distance since at least you'll probably be hitting the target. I change it up with some shots at 3, 15, an 25 yards but 80%+ of what I do for practice is at 7 yards. Maybe someday I will do more of my shooting at 25+ but I've got a long way to go before I get there.

Get bigger targets too, if you can. That way when you do miss at least you will have a better chance of seeing where it's going.

On the plus side, it looks like you're drilling it pretty good when you step up to about 10ft.
 
Funny....by best buddy also had a Springfield XD 9mm and had a ton of trouble with it. Design issues?? Maybe, but some basic changes and he was able to really shore up his groups.

I'm not impressed with how "tall" the slide is on the XD.....
 
You asked.
It appears you've had little training with stance, grip and most importantly safety.

All firearms, loaded, unloaded, out of ammo, or broken are pointed down range; NOT at the cameraman. I even cringed when the barrel was pointed at me-the viewer.

In one series you put most of weight on your left foot. You then switched and put your weight on the right. You need a method to maintain good balance and comfort while shooting.

Watching film we can't see your sight picture and trigger pull. Look at the target ( specifically at a very small point--1" max). Line up your sights, look again at the specific point you want to hit on that target, focus on the front sight, target, front sight , shoot. Use a smooth trigger press with the pad of your trigger finger- not the joint.

P.S> Being closer doesn't improve your shooting, it hides your mistakes. Try about ten yards and look for a VERY tight group.

I recommend you GOOGLE "Todd Jarret pistol Grip Lesson". I couldn't find my link to it, be he shows and explains one popular method to grip a pistol that works for many/most shooters with minor variations.
It is a good video and training aid.

If we could see your hits we might be able to give more help.

Good luck and Shoot SAFE.
 
Cool post.
The one thing that helped me with pistol shooting is starting out closer ranges (7-10 yards). This helped me make small adjustments and still stay on target. Also, realize that your trigger pull and the movements that surround it, will probably be the most important aspect of accuracy with your handgun.
 
What am I doing wrong

"It looks like your elbows might be bent a little. I think you might want to try straighting your elbows a little more, almost locking them."

I agree,,,, The heavy jacket might be preventing you from holding your arms straight out. That and smooth trigger control should help alot.
 
Man, I could really use Todd Jarret or Rob Leatham standing next to me at this point....
 
all these suggestions seem spot on, that video of jarrett is just nuts.

anyway, the one thing i would add would be to use a larger target. at least that way you can keep it on the paper to see where your misses tend to be. it will help you address your shortcomings if you have a more detailed view of your shooting results.
 
all these suggestions seem spot on, that video of jarrett is just nuts.

anyway, the one thing i would add would be to use a larger target. at least that way you can keep it on the paper to see where your misses tend to be. it will help you address your shortcomings if you have a more detailed view of your shooting results.
Click to expand...

I know, he moves and shoots like a farking Terminator.

My GF's dad suggested the same thing. Get a big ass piece of cardboard and see where your shots are landing.
 
you said "using both eye's"...does that mean you're trying to "aim with both eyes? do you know which is your dominant eye?

you should shoot with both eyes open but only be aligning the sights with your dominant eye.

you said "keeping the 3 dots level"...that tells me that you're switching your focus back nd forth between the front and rear sights.

the other thing is that it is self defeating to try to align your sights by aligning the 3 dots. you should be trying to have to top of the front sight level with the top of the rear blade. there should be an equal amount of light, in the rear notch, on either side of the front blade.

there's no sense working on your stance or grip or trigger control until you get the sight alignment down.

get a free copy of Bruce Gray's Dryfire packet by going to www.GraygunsTraining.com. go to the Dry Fire Packet tab and ping the link. it will automatically send you the Packet
 
Man, I could really use Todd Jarret or Rob Leatham standing next to me at this point....
Click to expand...

The next best thing would be to take a handgun training class by somebody in your area (within any reasonable distance)...an experienced and certified trainer standing beside you can see things we can't, he can better illustrate how to fix any problems you may have with "the Fundamentals" (grip, stance, trigger control, etc.)<<< that's what you're doing wrong.

I won't even attempt to explain it in detail here...but the most obvious thing that you're doing wrong is your stance...you're standing up (even leaning back a little at times), you're not distributing your weight.

You should be bending your knees, leaning just a tad forward, with weight on both feet and one foot a tad in front of the other (which foot in front depends on which way you're planning on moving after the shot)....that makes you a more stable platform.

I mean no offense at all...but you need an instructor, as willing as I am to help, it just can't be done on here. I'm not a certified trainer anyway...but I have had professional training. I have been around guns all of my life, all types of guns...but when I got serious about CCW, I figured out in a hurry that I needed training and lots of practice before I was going to be accurate under stress.

Its easier to start off on the right foot and learn the "correct way" than it is to unlearn the bad habits you will teach yourself.
 
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And don't be embarrassed...you're doing the right thing by seeking help...but you're looking in the wrong place.

I don't mean any offense to THR...but "The Fundamentals" can't be taught or learned from a keyboard.

I don't think anything is wrong with your pistol...I have one just like it. The XD's are not super accurate...but at 10 yards I can empty the mag into a paper plate in just a few seconds.
 
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A pistol is a weapon. That means that when you practice you should practice like you are fighting.
What do you do when you fight? Assume a fighting stance.
Left foot slightly forward, leaning slightly forward at the waist.
Pretend that you are in a boxing match. That's the stance.
It appears to me that you are kind of shooting an isosceles stance.
If that is the case, assuming a more aggressive stance will place your shoulders and more of your body mass behind the weapon providing a more stable platform.
You aren't likely to have to shoot a pistol in the real world at the first distance in your video. If you are that far, you can run away.
For starting out, about 3 yards is more appropriate.

Safety issues duly noted, and you have been properly chastised.

Stop treating that weapon like it is grampaw's watch. When you put that magazine in the weapon, slam it home with authority. When you rack the slide, first make sure it is pointed down range, and rack it like you are trying to break it. In your video, it was an "oopsie". In a real situation, it would likely be RIP.

Frankly, the pistol is arguably the most difficult weapon to master. The very best thing you could do is to get some good professional instruction.

I know it seems expensive, but believe me, if you are serious about learning to shoot a pistol well, it is worth it. Until you have received some good instruction, you really don't even know how much you don't know.

In spite of the fact that I can't restrain myself from spewing advice, ridgerunner is right. You aren't likely to fix your issues on an Internet forum.
 
SAFETY 1st, ACCURACY 2nd, SPEED 3rd.

BRING that target in to about 1/3 the distance you are shooting now. People who have shot thousands of rounds through their pistols will have trouble at that distance.

9mm is not a big recoil round but you want to lean into it a bit.

When aiming, you should have the FRONT sight post focused. The rear sight and target should be blurry.

and please insert the magazine like its a firearm, not Mi-ma's tea set. ( Had to say it ) :scrutiny:

I believe that some practice will do you good. That design is excellent and once it loosens up your accuracy should improve.

Do you dry fire?


PS: I have not read the other posts yet, but will now
 
After watching the video I had a few thoughts. First, you are being too gentle with the gun. It is a tool and is built for use. Don't be scared of it and don't treat itlike its made of glass. Let it become an extension of your hand and slap the mag in. This will come with time, use and familiarity.

The second thing, and I think this is as important, When you are holding the gun at the #2 or "ready" position you want to be able to see the front sight at eye level. The target should be blurry in the background. When you move to the #3 position you need to "PUNCH OUT" instead of "Cast". When you are moving the gun you are doing it as if you are casting a fishing pole out. That takes the focus off the sight and you lose your target. Try punching straight out toward your target in a straight line. Make sure you know which eye is your dominant eye and use it to focus. Try to keep both eyes open and don't get in the habit of closing one eye.
 
First off thanks for being honest by asking for help and showing your mistakes [the mag falling out]. How are you squeezing the trigger? Try to squeez it slowly. How much finger is on the trigger? I think if there is too much finger then it pulls out. Too little finger it pulls in or maybe the oposite. Try differant stances. You are switching feet. The left one is in front then the right. It looks like you are right handed so try this. Your right foot back and your left foot pointing towards the target about sholder width apart. Have your sholders/hips turned at about 45 degree angle. I hope this helps. And if you are still having trouble with the weapon you can send it to me:]
 
After looking at that video, guys like you scare me when I go to the range and you are in a lane next to me. First, research, read, and watch videos, magazines, and other shooters at the range. Shooting is easy if you practice and absorb what you see from as I said: Reading and watching.
 
the suggestions here are great and they will help you out, but at the same time it would be very helpful to you if you attended a training course of some kind.

i can recommend TDI Ohio, Blackwater, Tactical Response, and last but definetly not least Rob Pincus and the CFS program.
 
I have not been dry firing as I hear it ruins the gun, and those dry fire ammo are so expensive, but I may not have a choice.
 
have not been dry firing as I hear it ruins the gun
Click to expand...

Freezebyte, dry fire a springfield XD all day long. Nothing will be damaged. It is probably a good idea to not let the slide fly forward with an empty chamber. Just ride it manually forward. You will only have to pull it back far enough to reset the trigger, and not all the way back to slide lock.

**** Make sure the mags and ammo are in a different room!
 
Wow! Slap that mag in there good! It takes alot of practice so dont feel bad about it. When i first got my Glock 17 i couldnt hit anything but once you get a few hundred rounds through it you should have a better feel.
 
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