Your best tips for accurately shooting pistols (share vids, links, advice).

[FireInCairo]

I recently purchased my first semi-auto pistol (M&P .40c) and it's quite a different beast from the revolvers I've shot over the years.

I found a couple of great videos, but feel free to share any vids, links, or advice you have about accurately shooting pistols.

How to hold a pistol, how to aim your pistol, how to train with your pistol. Whatever you've got, please share.

Here is a great video I came across regarding dry-fire training at home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebRQY1ts0yE

Here's another about how to grip your pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQgLmQl1zDw&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL0389951BB6D47FC7

 

[Gryffydd]

This is one of my favorites-- Todd Jarrett on pistol shooting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Wil Terry]

SHOOTING IS VERY EASY.
Sight alignment;
Trigger press.
THAT is t-totally it; there is no more to it than that PERIOD !!!

HELL NO. I do not know why I cannot do it all the time either.Geesh....

 

[JoeMal]

Practice

You can read, watch, dry-fire, draw, etc all you want, but nothing compares to putting live rounds downrange.

Practice makes perfect. Learn your gun, learn how it shoots, learn how to shoot it

 

[rcmodel]

Focus on the Front Sight.
You can't focus on three things at once, (rear sight, front sight, & target) so don't even try.

Squeeze, not jerk the trigger.

Continue to focus only on the front sight, and contine to apply more pressure every time you wobble by the center bull of the target.

Sooner or later the gun will fire when you wobble by the center of the target.

That is all there is to it.

rc

 

[BCRider]

Hmmmm.... I've always been of the opinion that if I can shoot well with my DA revolvers that I can shoot almost anything. This assumes that you shoot your revolvers using the DA model and don't "cheat" by cocking the hammer first.

The M&P trigger is a fairly long build up to the release. In that way it's very much like your revolver's DA trigger action.

From there all you need is to use the links shown above on how to grip the gun.

 

[Pyro]

Practice

 

[ATLDave]

If you want to find just a wealth of information about how to really shoot pistols well, check out Brian Enos' forums. (A google search will find them quickly.)

 

[.44 Associate]

I keep a few copies of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Pistol manual on hand to give to friends who are learning the game. I don't trust the internet on the topic simply because there is so much nonsense floating around. Some of it doubtless very good, but separating the wheat from the chaff can be difficult and time consuming. The USAMU stuff is concise and correct.

 

[jeepnik]

Well, I hope this doesn't get pulled, but once upon a time I was told to imagine I was wrapping my index finger around a woman's nipple and squeezing it gently. Seems to work pretty well.

 

[Yelovitz_503]

You can read, watch, dry-fire, draw, etc all you want, but nothing compares to putting live rounds downrange.

A friend of mine in special forces taught me that for close range shooting you want to think of simply pointing with your thumbs. In a good shooting grip you should have both of your thumbs along the frame of the pistol, pointing forward. Instead of trying to get the sights lined up perfectly (wasting precious time you should be firing) just try pointing your thumbs and learn to aim instinctively. You will find with enough drawing practice and a sturdy grip that this will save you time and keep you accurate at short range. I am NOT telling you to NOT look down the sights though! This should be a starting to aim muscle memory time saver, not a replacement for aiming. By the time you are firing you need to have a clear sight picture.

Another thing to avoid is putting your non-dominant index finger on the front of the trigger guard. (for purposes of explanation I'm going to assume you're right handed) Having that left finger up there outside the trigger guard may look cool in movies but a lot of people find that they inadvertently squeeze with both index fingers instead of only using the right hand. This will cause a minute pull on the front of the gun (usually down and left) which you won't notice but it will be obvious on the target when all your rounds show up at 7 o'clock.

Other grip advice I'd give you is to use your dominant hand ONLY to pull the trigger. Don't get your dominant hand in a death grip because you will end up shaking the gun and not allowing yourself a smooth trigger squeeze. At least 75% of your grip force should be in the non-dominant hand to keep the weapon steady, that way your dominant hand (while still gripping) can be devoted to squeezing the trigger. You want to learn where your trigger breaks (fires) by practicing dry firing, but as said above: there's no substitute for actual range time learning a gun. Also if you bought your gun new it won't be broken in fully until you put a few thousand rounds through it. This should be enough time to learn how it handles, but shooting is a perishable skill and must be practiced regularly.

Welcome to the sport, be safe and have fun! It might not be a bad idea to do some classes. Having a trained instructor on hand can help you correct things you don't even know you're doing wrong. Same as any sport, practice practice practice. Familiarize yourself with the 4 basic rules of gun safety; I, for one, don't trust a gun owner that can't list them off the top of their head.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Personally, my biggest hurdle was learning not to flinch. I still struggle with it, every now and again.

Get some good-quality, 40 caliber snap caps. Have a friend load a couple of them in random places among the live ammo in your magazine. Take a few very careful, aimed shots. Eventually, you'll get a 'click' instead of a 'bang', and if you are anything like me, you'll see the muzzle dip an embarrassingly large distance when it happens.

You can cure the flinch by doing the same trick in reverse - have your friend load a couple of live rounds in among a mag full of snap caps. Click, manually cycle the slide, and repeat until you hear the unexpected bang - usually accompanied by a lovely hole right through the center of the target.

Another nice trick is to grip your (unloaded) gun, aim at a convenient point, and tighten your grip while watching the sights. Do the sights move around? If they do, you'll either have to train yourself to maintain steady pressure while firing, or adjust the grip of your gun (with a slip-on sleeve or something) to help minimize the effect. The more you can isolate your trigger finger from all your other fingers, the less likely they are to tighten as you squeeze the trigger.

 

[wildehond]

If you want to find just a wealth of information about how to really shoot pistols well, check out Brian Enos' forums. (A google search will find them quickly.)

+1000

A live fire drill I find very good is the bill drill. Before I explain what it is here is what is important in the drill.

1. Make sure your grip is 100%. (I shot with the one finger on the trigger guard for many years and recently switched to the grip as shown by Mr. Todd Jarret. I prefer the more modern grip now. Just works better for me.)

2. Do not go to fast. Make sure you see and feel every round going downrange. After the drill you must be able to play back the whole shooting sequence in your minds eye.

So the bill drill is this:

The gun loaded and ready in the holster. Draw and fire six shots at a target. Start at say 7 yards and work you way back to 25yards or so.

1. Make sure you hit the A zone not just hits on a target. Test yourself after the drill to see if you can score the string without looking at the target.

2. Very important to observe and be aware of EVERYTHING that happens while you are shooting. Feel the trigger breaking and the gun recoiling and the trigger reset. Be aware of where the front sight is when the shot went off and just after the shot. Feel and see your grip through the recoil process and getting it back on target.

This is NOT concentration but working very hard at being AWARE.

WHY? This will help you tremendously in finding the issues with your shooting and places where you can improve.

REMEMBER, the main aim here is observation and seeing what you are doing much more that just shooting scores.

This is not my idea but Mr. Brian Enos. Find everything can on this man's process of improving your shooting. Beware, it is really hard work. Fire 150 rounds like this and you will know you have done some shooting for the day

Variation.
Have a nice friendly competition with a friend. Only the shots that you called correctly after each string counts. The guys that loses buys the meal after the range session..

 

[1911 guy]

Learn about handgun fit.

Get a handgun that fits you.

find the "sweet spot" for your trigger finger to move the trigger directly to the rear, not right or left.

Grip the handgun with "firm handshake" pressure with your dominant hand. Wrap your non-dominant hand around any and all exposed grip area.

Isocelose is usually easier for novices to learn than weaver.

Focus on the front sight.

Repeat often, at the range and with a cleared weapon in your living room (dry fire).

There are many fine points to shooting well, but those will get you started. Some of the links provided by others explain these well.

 

[basicblur]

Whatever you've got, please share.

It may depend on what you're training for - my main concern is SD, so that's how I practice.

As such, I go against conventional wisdom, and:
1. I use a controlled slap with the trigger (although I see some schools are now teaching this method). Talk to folks that have been in SD shootings, and see how many were sqeeeeeezing / riding the trigger, releasing to the reset point, and how many were just trying to put rounds downrange fast as possible (that doesn't mean you have to abandon accuracy).
2. I focus on the target, and not the front sight.
Maybe it's my eyes (interestingly, my brother also focuses on the target), but I shoot 'bout as well with one as the other, and since in a high stress situation (which SD will probably be), human nature is to focus on the threat, so I figure why try to fight it - learn to embrace and use it.

I've seen grip suggestions all over the map. I've seen a lot of folks recommend against the death grip, but I've seen videos of Rob Leatham where he says he grips the gun with 'bout all the strength he can muster...go figure!

Decide what your primary purpose is, and try what you wish, but learn what works for you and keep a wary eye on folks that have a 'my way or the highway' attitude when it comes to the 'proper' way to shoot.

 

[B1gGr33n]

I don't know why, but I absolutely cannot get a decent group by focusing on the front sight. I've put hundreds of rounds downrange with my S&W 22A while trying it, and can never get the same consistent grouping as I can if I focus on the target. And it doesn't matter what the cadense is either. I know it's not what's proper, but it is what works for me. My point being, figure out what works best for you, and stick with it. Confidense in your ability is much more important than form.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I don't know why, but I absolutely cannot get a decent group by focusing on the front sight. I've put hundreds of rounds downrange with my S&W 22A while trying it, and can never get the same consistent grouping as I can if I focus on the target

It has to do with shot anticipation...jerking the trigger.

When you aren't looking at the sights, you aren't concerned where they are as you press the trigger to the rear. That is why I have clients experiencing this problem shoot in DA...it distracts them from anticipating when the shot will break

1. I use a controlled slap with the trigger (although I see some schools are now teaching this method). Talk to folks that have been in SD shootings, and see how many were sqeeeeeezing / riding the trigger, releasing to the reset point, and how many were just trying to put rounds downrange fast as possible (that doesn't mean you have to abandon accuracy).

I have, all over the country, and I've read the after action reports also. What becomes apparent is that folks under the pressure of a SD shooting will revert to their lowest level of training. If your lowest level is slapping the trigger, that is what you will do. If you've trained to see your sights and press the trigger, that is also what you will do. Look up the writings of Jim Cirillo.

I've watched it proven, with an electronic timer, and proven it to myself, that a controlled slap is both less accurate and slower than a controlled press...using correct trigger management techniques

You can cure the flinch by doing the same trick in reverse - have your friend load a couple of live rounds in among a mag full of snap caps. Click, manually cycle the slide, and repeat until you hear the unexpected bang - usually accompanied by a lovely hole right through the center of the target.

That isn't how you cure flinching, that is how you either detect it or confirm that you are flinching. The way you cure flinching is to stop trying the make the shot go off, but to let it go off as you watch the sights

Have a nice friendly competition with a friend. Only the shots that you called correctly after each string counts. The guys that loses buys the meal after the range session..

Another fun game that builds skills is Robin Hood...it is similar to Horse

1. From 5-7 yards, where just about any pistol should be accurate enough and yet still presents a challenge, take turns shooting at a blank piece of paper.
2. The 1st shooter fires a shot.
3. The 2nd shooter tries to hit the first hole
4. If he does, he gets a point, if he misses, the 1st shooter gets a point.
5. Switch who goes first
6. 3 consecutive points wins

 

[B1gGr33n]

Originally Posted by 9mmepiphany

Quote: Originally Posted by B1gGr33n
I don't know why, but I absolutely cannot get a decent group by focusing on the front sight. I've put hundreds of rounds downrange with my S&W 22A while trying it, and can never get the same consistent grouping as I can if I focus on the target

It has to do with shot anticipation...jerking the trigger.

When you aren't looking at the sights, you aren't concerned where they are as you press the trigger to the rear. That is why I have clients experiencing this problem shoot in DA...it distracts them from anticipating when the shot will break

Ok, well I can't shoot the 22A in DA, but I get the same results with my PT111 and TCP, so... ??

 

[jmorris]

My best advice is a good optic. Pistol sights are not ideal for accuracy. Had a .22 pistol I thought was pretty accurate until I installed a 1.5X leupold and put 10 rounds just under 3.5" at 100 yards, couldn't do that with the factory sights.

 

[basicblur]

I've watched it proven, with an electronic timer, and proven it to myself, that a controlled slap is both less accurate and slower than a controlled press...using correct trigger management techniques

The article I read said they had used high speed cameras to see exactly what's going on with some world class shooters (I believe Rob Leatham was the primary participant), and they discovered that his finger was actually coming off the trigger during high speed runs.
Possibly based on this research?, I read of one school that was now teaching the controlled slap technique for SD.

One also has to wonder how testing under non-life threatening situations is going to transfer to actual SD shooting?
It seems to be generally accepted that in a stressful situation, fine motor skills are the first to go, accompanied by adrenaline dump. One would have to wonder exactly how those two physiological reactions are going to affect a controlled press, releasing to reset, etc?

I don't doubt that a controlled slap may be less accurate than other techniques, but I'm more concerned with SD accuracy vs. bullseye, etc.

 

[basicblur]

Ok, well I can't shoot the 22A in DA, but I get the same results with my PT111 and TCP, so... ??

Don't sweat it...by all means, try various techniques, but decide what works best for you and your situation, and filter out the 'my way or the highway' attitude.

I've had folks try to tell me I absolutely have to shoot with both eyes open.
Sorry, but I'm cross dominant, with the added bonus of the dominant eye changing due to varying pressure on my dominant eye.
If I try to get off my first shot with both eyes open, I have no confidence if I'm going to be on / off with the first shot, probably due to my varying eye condition.

So...I listen to those that say both eyes open, tried it, and it just doesn't work for me, so if they persist you eventually have to tell 'em to just take a hike!

I remember seeing Tom Gresham being chased by a remote controlled device with a bear target on it. He laughed and told the instructor yeah, as soon as you sent it at me and it closed in, I focused on the target. The instructor told him he just had to train to look at the front sight (and you know Tom's had enough training to already know he's supposed to focus on the front sight).

I wonder how wise it is to fight human nature / physiology? I'm of the opinion ('specially after comparing my shooting with focusing on the front sight vs. the target), that I'd kinda like to embrace X number of years of evolutionary development and work with it, rather than fight it.

 

[Josh45]

The best thing I learned to do is to get into a comftorable position first.
Align my sights, Then focus on the front sight only.
Have my trigger finger in the trigger guard up to the first line on the finger. Sorry, Don't know what it is called. And then while holding my sight where I want it, Slowly pull the trigger back.

Do not jerk it and try not to flinch. Also, Learn how to place both your hands correctly on the firearm as it will help you immensly when trying to control your shots.

You will get used to it after a while and as others have said, Practice.

 

[basicblur]

And then while holding my sight where I want it, Slowly pull the trigger back.

Just curious...if you found yourself fighting for your life, do you think you would slooooooowly be pulling the trigger back?

 

[9mmepiphany]

The article I read said they had used high speed cameras to see exactly what's going on with some world class shooters (I believe Rob Leatham was the primary participant), and they discovered that his finger was actually coming off the trigger during high speed runs.
Possibly based on this research?, I read of one school that was now teaching the controlled slap technique for SD.

When shooting quickly, 4-5 shots/second, you finger does come off the trigger in reset...at least mine does...that doesn't mean you are slapping the trigger. There is plenty of time to get your finger off the trigger and back on, take up the slack and start putting pressure on the trigger before the sights return to target. You use the upward portion of the muzzle flip to come off the trigger and then take up the slack before the muzzle reaches the top of it's arc. You're just waiting for the muzzle/sights to return onto target before applying the final press to break the next shot

Resetting the trigger by keeping in contact and releasing to the reset point is only a waypoint in the training continuum of trigger management..it isn't the goal

One also has to wonder how testing under non-life threatening situations is going to transfer to actual SD shooting?
It seems to be generally accepted that in a stressful situation, fine motor skills are the first to go, accompanied by adrenaline dump. One would have to wonder exactly how those two physiological reactions are going to affect a controlled press, releasing to reset, etc?

I addressed this in the post you quoted from...that's why I recommended the writings of Jim Cirillo

I don't doubt that a controlled slap may be less accurate than other techniques, but I'm more concerned with SD accuracy vs. bullseye, etc.

That is what I am addressing also, I don't have the self-discipline or patience to shoot bullseye. Believe me, shooting in excess of 4 rounds per second isn't bullseye accuracy

 

[9mmepiphany]

Ok, well I can't shoot the 22A in DA, but I get the same results with my PT111 and TCP, so... ??

You're just trying the make the shot go off instead of letting it go off.

With one of your DA pistols, try holding the sights on target and start pressing the trigger. Once you start, don't stop; but don't speed up the trigger press either...especially if the sights are perfectly aligned. Just keep pressing until the shot breaks.

Then, without looking at where the shot struck, repeat the procedure. You can take a look after you've fired 3 shots. You should see an improvement, unless your grip is the cause of your shot dispersion