How to shoot really well!

[Midas]

Originally Posted by TexasT

For me a lot of the time it's the trigger. Partly my fault for having flinchitis and partly my gun's fault for having a heavy trigger pull. I only have a handgun but it might span both handguns and long guns. I really had to practice a slow steady trigger pull. When you get more comfortable it will be more automatic. I think head position might also have something to do with it.

+1 a good trigger pull can make all of the difference in the world, the gun should go off almost by surprise, while you maintain a good sight picture throughout the shot.

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

How to really shoot well.
You get a new Rifle and you have to check it out until you know everything about it. You smell the cosmoline coating it. You clean it slowly stripping it and checking every part. You oil up the parts making sure you coat them rubbing oil all over them. Then wiping them down leaving a sheen like the morning dew. You put it back together running your fingers over every part touching them. When you take it out to shoot it the first time you know that firearm. Rub your hands over the top then grab it by the butt. You wrap your arms around it holding it gently but firmly. You snap your round into the breech. Grab your bolt handle strip the round lock it in and rack the round feeling smooth and lubricated as it slides into lockup. You put your finger on the trigger rubbing it up and down then pulling it back. You line it up and then holding your breath, holding your breath. Waiting for it waiting for it. Slowly slowly you squeeze that trigger and there it is, there it is, YES,YES, the explosion the release and the round is gone leaving only a hole in your target.
Damm almost like sex.
No wonder so many like it.
Ok go smoke your cigerette now.

[tlarkin]

This is a great thread, and reminds me of when I practiced martial arts on a regular basis. The training concepts are very similar. I guess I should not be surprised because a literal translation of the word Kung Fu means "skill derived from hard work," just like lots of practice.

Also, I find that all my problems start with my trigger pull. If I pull slowly and steadily I can group the bullseye at 25 yards with my hand gun, if I do it too quick I drop low and to the right almost every time.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

This is a great thread, and reminds me of when I practiced martial arts on a regular basis. The training concepts are very similar. I guess I should not be surprised because a literal translation of the word Kung Fu means "skill derived from hard work," just like lots of practice.

Also, I find that all my problems start with my trigger pull. If I pull slowly and steadily I can group the bullseye at 25 yards with my hand gun, if I do it too quick I drop low and to the right almost every time.

You will never shoot a good group if you are moving low and to the right while firing a gun.Try to stand still. sam.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by Capt'n Mil Coll

How to really shoot well.
You get a new Rifle and you have to check it out until you know everything about it. You smell the cosmoline coating it. You clean it slowly stripping it and checking every part. You oil up the parts making sure you coat them rubbing oil all over them. Then wiping them down leaving a sheen like the morning dew. You put it back together running your fingers over every part touching them. When you take it out to shoot it the first time you know that firearm. Rub your hands over the top then grab it by the butt. You wrap your arms around it holding it gently but firmly. You snap your round into the breech. Grab your bolt handle strip the round lock it in and rack the round feeling smooth and lubricated as it slides into lockup. You put your finger on the trigger rubbing it up and down then pulling it back. You line it up and then holding your breath, holding your breath. Waiting for it waiting for it. Slowly slowly you squeeze that trigger and there it is, there it is, YES,YES, the explosion the release and the round is gone leaving only a hole in your target.
Damm almost like sex.
No wonder so many like it.
Ok go smoke your cigerette now.

Capt

You were touching on another fine point.

Hold your weapon, fondle your weapon, feel it, make love to it and get to know it as a friend. Don't wait till the day before Deer season or the Day before you go to the range to pick it up, it may feel STRANGE to you. Hold and caress it whenever you possibly can, get it to become a familiar feeling in your arms and not a stranger. This will help to improve the COMFORT ZONE.

[ArkansasHunter]

I don't practise. practise practise until a few days before, in my case Deer season .
I've bought some new guns since July 2007 to 2008 and 3 of the new ones were rifles.
The other 11 guns I owned before I bought the new ones which are a mix of rifles and shotguns.
I know them personaly because most of them I've owned 25 to 45 years.
So if i go out to shoot, it to check the zero on one of my center fire rifles or to plink with one of the 22's.

I really don't care to shoot rifles and shotguns to target practise and I do quiet well when I hunt.
A.H

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by samuel

You will never shoot a good group if you are moving low and to the right while firing a gun.Try to stand still. sam.

It is when I pull the trigger fast I drop low and to the right. Not too far off target but definitely off target. When I do slow concentrated pulls I am way more accurate.

[mym1a]

Originally Posted by Palladin8

Well it sounds like you know some of the things that need to pay attention to. One exercise I learned in the Army for proper trigger squeezing was the dime or washer drill. You place a small dowel in the barrel and then balance a washer or dime on the dowel. You then slowly squeeze the trigger and try not to allow the waser or dime to fall off the dowel. I would recommend using a snap cap as not to damage the firing pin. Do this exercise until you can squeeze the trigger 10X in a row without the washer falling off. It will help with your trigger squeezing as well as breathing because you have to concentrate on both so not to knock the washer off.
Hope this will help a little.

I learned to shoot pistol with this exercise years ago! trigger squeze and the anticipation of recoil seriously affects ones ability to be accurate

[Skibum]

I would urge one caveat to the "two eyes open" advice. If you are left-eye dominant and right handed, and shoot from the right side (or the mirror, right eye dominant, left handed, firing from the left), don't waste your time trying to learn to shoot with both eyes open. It is impossible. if you don't know which eye is dominant, a simple test is to keep both eyes open and place your index finger (it doesn't matter which hand) over a distant object. Then close your right eye. If the object appears to jump, you are right-eye dominant. Now open both eyes again, and close your left eye. As before, if the object appears to jump, you are left eye dominant. If the object appeared to jump with both eyes, you did something wrong, and just need to try again.

As an aside, left eye dominance is rarer than left-handedness, and is not correlated with left-handedness, so left handers are far more likely to be right-eyed than right handers are to be left-eyed. This means that most left-handers are cross eye ahnd dominant, which can give an individual an advantage in hitting baseballs, which in part accounts for the prevalence of left-handers in baseball. It also means that it is very reasonable to teach a left hander who is right-eyed to fire long guns right-handed, because so many more firearms are available in right-hand. Right-handers, who are cross eye-hand dominant have a more difficult choice to make in deciding how to fire a rifle, because they hold the rifle naturally right-handed, and at the same time have a wider choice of equipment. When it comes to shotgun shooting, however, it really helps to have both eyes open, so righties with left-eye dominance are better advised to learn some left-handed shooting. None of this is as critical with handguns, as it is very easy to hold a handgun with one hand and align it with the other eye.

[Wingwiper]

Learn to call the shot.... and learn to call it at the moment of recoil. Where was the FRONT SIGHT at the moment of recoil? IF it wasn't on the X ring, chances are you aren't going to hit the X ring. Work on the basics of Sight Picture, Sight Alignment, trigger control and Breathing and most of all work on SOLID SKETETAL POSITIONS, the more muscles that you use the more spasms you will endure. Have fun and be SAFE.

[nathangdad]

is my key. Review and relive the expected recoil, the noise level,
the pressure needed and trigger travel, the sight picture, and any other
relvant experiences prior to going to the range. This way you do not need to shoot and then think about what it will be like for the next shot.

Make the same process your preparation for the hunting shot.

[Cyrille]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

Learn to call the shot.... and learn to call it at the moment of recoil. Where was the FRONT SIGHT at the moment of recoil? IF it wasn't on the X ring, chances are you aren't going to hit the X ring. Work on the basics of Sight Picture, Sight Alignment, trigger control and Breathing and most of all work on SOLID SKETETAL POSITIONS, the more muscles that you use the more spasms you will endure. Have fun and be SAFE.

I beg to differ with the line "If it wasn't on the X ring, chances are you aren't going to hit the X ring."
I have to aim low and to the left in order for me to hit the X ring It is the way the [fixed] sights are alined, took me a long time to figure that out but I can put most of my shots through the same ragged hole useing that hold @ 25 feet. I haven't tried it a longer distances but I believe that's fair for revolver distances.

[wunhunglo]

The four basic principles were drummed into me many years ago. For Rifle you could substitute, pistol, shotgun, law, etc.

The position and hold must be firm enough to support the rifle

The rifle must point naturally at the target without undue physical effort

Sight alignment and aim must be correct

The shot must be released and followed through without disturbing the position

[Turbo]

Get ya a copy of MCRP 3-01A. Read it, then read it again, then practice the techniques over and over and over again.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by Cyrille

I beg to differ with the line "If it wasn't on the X ring, chances are you aren't going to hit the X ring."
I have to aim low and to the left in order for me to hit the X ring It is the way the [fixed] sights are alined, took me a long time to figure that out but I can put most of my shots through the same ragged hole useing that hold @ 25 feet. I haven't tried it a longer distances but I believe that's fair for revolver distances.

Cyrille

No insult intended, but where that front sight was, at the instant of the start of the recoil is where that bullet is going to impact. If you feel I am wrong, I will have to say, you are not seeing your sight at the exact moment that recoil starts. Learning to control the sight and have it where you want it, when the recoil begins is where the shot is going to be EVERY time.

I am saying this with the presumption that the sights have been checked and are lined. If you have proper Sight Alignment and Sight Picture and your weapon has been checked from benching or whatever way. IT WORKS 100% of the time.


Wun

You are correct.

1. Natural Point of Aim with a good sketetal position.

2. Sight Picture

3. Sight Alignment

4. Breathing control

5. Trigger control with a follow through and a controlled trigger squeeze.

Pistols will vary a bit over a rifle, I had Millard Butler tell me once that shooting a rifle is with controlled trigger control and shooting a pistol is with controlled trigger jerking. He was a far better Pistol shooter than I was, so I will have to accept his advice. All in all everyone will tell you YOU need to be able to call your shot and that isn't just so you knwo the score before the target comes back up, but rather so you learn to point the sights where they should be before the recoil starts. It is all about CONTROL.

[troy2000]

Excellent thread, guys. Next time I shoot I'll be reviewing what I'm doing, using the material on here.

[Cyrille]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

Cyrille

No insult intended, but where that front sight was, at the instant of the start of the recoil is where that bullet is going to impact. If you feel I am wrong, I will have to say, you are not seeing your sight at the exact moment that recoil starts. Learning to control the sight and have it where you want it, when the recoil begins is where the shot is going to be EVERY time.

I am saying this with the presumption that the sights have been checked and are lined. If you have proper Sight Alignment and Sight Picture and your weapon has been checked from benching or whatever way. IT WORKS 100% of the time.

No insult taken. All I know is that I am aiming approxemately two inches low and left when I begin trigger squeeze, recoil does without a doubt shift the position of the barrel. But it took me quite a while to figgure out just where to hold to hit center. Both my fixed sight Rugers shoot that
way no matter what load I use be it factory or my own reloads with the 250 grain bullets. I've tried lighter bullets and diffrent amounts of powder and still have to aim to the left if not as low or as far I am right-handed with a domanate left eye. And that I'm convinced has a lot to do with it.
However with an iron-sight rifle I have no problem holding and hitting where I'm holding.


Wun

You are correct.

1. Natural Point of Aim with a good sketetal position.

2. Sight Picture

3. Sight Alignment

4. Breathing control

5. Trigger control with a follow through and a controlled trigger squeeze.

Pistols will vary a bit over a rifle, I had Millard Butler tell me once that shooting a rifle is with controlled trigger control and shooting a pistol is with controlled trigger jerking. He was a far better Pistol shooter than I was, so I will have to accept his advice. All in all everyone will tell you YOU need to be able to call your shot and that isn't just so you knwo the score before the target comes back up, but rather so you learn to point the sights where they should be before the recoil starts. It is all about CONTROL.

[Wingwiper]

Cyrille
No insult taken. All I know is that I am aiming approxemately two inches low and left when I begin trigger squeeze, recoil does without a doubt shift the position of the barrel. But it took me quite a while to figgure out just where to hold to hit center. Both my fixed sight Rugers shoot that
way no matter what load I use be it factory or my own reloads with the 250 grain bullets. I've tried lighter bullets and diffrent amounts of powder and still have to aim to the left if not as low or as far I am right-handed with a domanate left eye. And that I'm convinced has a lot to do with it.
However with an iron-sight rifle I have no problem holding and hitting where I'm holding.

Cyrille

Think CAREFULLY about what I am saying.

It DOESN'T matter where the weapon is pointing when you BEGIN the trigger squeeze, it matters where the sights are pointing when it goes BANG. That is what I am saying.

IF you have good trigger control, you should be on the THRESHOLD for the next round. You will be controlling movement with the firearm and ONCE you get to know your weapon, you will have a pretty good instinct about the procedure and when that weapon goes bang and the muzzle starts it's lift, what was the last thing you saw in front of the sight is where the bullet is going to hit. IT doesn't matter where the sights are when you BEGIN THE SQUEEZE, it matters where they are when it goes BANG. CONTROL CONTROL.ONCE you have started the TRIGGER SQUEEZE you must have control and keep the sight steady on the target, with no variation, so when it goes BANG it is where you want the bullet to go. If you see the front sight at 1:00 at the moment the recoil BEGINS, that is where the round is going. If your sights are lined up porper with the plane of the barrel, the round is going to go where the weapon is aiming and not where it is aiming before you start the trigger squeeze, and not where it is aiming when you take your breath, but where it is aiming when the recoil begins.

Try it with the CONCENTRATION of what I just told you and then tell me, if it helped you concentare and get those Xs you have been looking for.

This is a PROVEN procedure with Handguns or Rifles.

If your sights are fixed and that weapon shoots HIGH and RIGHT when it is benched and tied down, then you will have to find the aiming point. But if that weapon is straight and true when it is benched, then it is the trigger control and follow thru that is getting the best of you.

[tlarkin]

Staying calm and steady is also a good thing to practice. Some people get a rush from shooting and then their adrenalin goes up, and then their blood pressure and heart rate, and all of that can have negative effect on your ability.

[knightRider]

jerky and cheesy poofs .

but practice makes perfect.