cure a flinch on a semi-auto pistol

khahn79 · 11-19-2007, 10:20 AM

Anyone have any tips on how to "cure" a flinch on a semi-auto pistol? I know that on a revolver, you can "skip" a few and that way you never know when the gun will fire and when it won't but I don't know about a semi-auto. Any ideas?

rckymtnboy · 11-19-2007, 10:22 AM

Have someone else load it and throw in a couple of snap caps. It won't cycle, but at least you'll see your flinch. Squeeze that trigger just like you would a squirt gun. Nice even pull. You are wearing hearing protection, right? That would help tremendously if you're not.

neophyte · 11-19-2007, 02:44 PM

khahn: Ma'am; what gives you reason to question the "flinch"
Anticipation? Ma'am we will make millions with this answer

focus on the sights; do not stop looking at the sight picture

We all realize that we don't focus [concentrate] When we have a trigger that becomes a long drawn out affair; boredom sets in and there goes the concentration.
Ma'am I have a trigger in one Glock with a pull of approx. 2"'s

and it drives me crazy. The other; I doctored on; and my shooting reflects as much.
Crummy a$$ triggers are more of the culprit to the dreaded flinch.
Dry firing will help with proper focus; big bangers; having two sets of hearing protections has worked for me.
Follow up with your findings when you can

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 02:50 PM

Id say quickly working out of it wont happen, I haven't even noticed I dont do it anymore so you'll grow out of it no matter what im sure.

ArkansasHunter · 11-19-2007, 02:58 PM

Drive several's long nail in a 2 X 12 that is the same in length and if you have a micraphone stand fasten the board with nails in it to the stand or build a stand.

When you go to shoot your gun place the board with the nails in it about 1/2 from your your cheek, don't get one in your eye.
Now if you do flinch after doing all this, you want do it again.
Good Luck ...A.H

rckymtnboy · 11-19-2007, 03:07 PM

LOL. AH, I love the way you look at the world. Simple, yet effective!

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 03:09 PM

Aint it.

lefty o · 11-19-2007, 03:27 PM

wear both ear plugs, and muffs. most flinching comes from sound. if using both plugs and muffs for a while doesnt take care of it, it may be time to go back to 22 pistol.

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 03:28 PM

Or a better pair of muffs.

khahn79 · 11-19-2007, 05:56 PM

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I should clarify that this is for a woman I've been training with. I trained with her for a couple of weeks on her .357 (loaded w/ .38spec) and she never flinched once. I just got a new Ruger P95 this week and let her fire a few rounds with it. She flinched every time! Can't figure it out, cause this woman is an experience hunter and a pretty good shot w/ her .357 (which has alot more recoil than my Ruger). Just her first time w/ a semi-auto, I guess and it's got her spooked for some reason. Anyway. Thanks again for the advice. I'll have to try some of that out with her tomorrow when we hit the range.

A-10 · 11-19-2007, 07:47 PM

Dry fire.
Use snap caps if you like, but place a single sticky note on a wall and after clearing the weapon, align the sights on the sticky note from about a room's width apart and practice squeezing the trigger until it breaks all while keeping the sights properly aligned. When you're ready for more of a challenge, place multiple sticky notes about the wall do as you did before, but slightly quicker, while switching between targets.

After doing this for a while, muscle memory will take affect and when you live fire, your body will not expect the coming recoil and function as it did while you were dry firing.

Trust me on this one. I did this to eliminate my tendency to jerk and flinch while firing my heavy triggered keltec.

khahn79 · 11-21-2007, 08:39 AM

Thanks for all the advice. We went back to the range and I had her double up on her ear protection and that seemed to help. BTW, A-10, that sounds like a great training exercise.... think I might try that one myself... "perfect practice makes perfect", right?

Bravo · 11-21-2007, 08:43 AM

I used to have a major flinching problem. Mixing snap caps in with real ammo is a great way to cure it. There is nothing more embarrassing than seeing the gun shutter without hearing a bang

samuel · 11-21-2007, 09:16 AM

AH,s answer is going to be rough on her complection! If you both are training,where are the instructors? Also you dont state whether it has a hard trigger pull.Most centerfires can be dryfired.Explain to her that when dryfiring the sights should stay lined up when the hammer drops.Have her practice it for a while.It is the biggest help I know of outside of a decent trigger pull. sam.

rfc357 · 11-29-2007, 08:04 PM

Most double action autos encourage flinch with their miserable triggers. If all you have shot are DA autos, you have never experienced a decent trigger. I have seen many a soul have an epiphany when they shoot one of my 1911s. A good trigger will spoil you for DA autos forever.

Practice a lot with a .22 with a decent trigger, if you can find one. And no, my High Standards are not for sale.

DWARREN123 · 11-29-2007, 10:05 PM

Have someone watch you. Have to find what causes it before you can cure it.

toolman · 11-29-2007, 10:30 PM

khahn, does your P-95 have an accessory rail? If it does, go to E-Bay and buy a cheap laser (mine was $8.00 shipped). Mount the laser, put a snap-cap in the chamber and practice dry-firing while holding the dot on a target. This is just a high-tech version of A-10's method, but it has the added advantage of showing just how far off-target she's pulling the gun.

A-10 · 11-30-2007, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolman

khahn, does your P-95 have an accessory rail? If it does, go to E-Bay and buy a cheap laser (mine was $8.00 shipped). Mount the laser, put a snap-cap in the chamber and practice dry-firing while holding the dot on a target. This is just a high-tech version of A-10's method, but it has the added advantage of showing just how far off-target she's pulling the gun.

Even if there is not an accesory rail, there are lasers that clamp onto the trigger gaurd. They look fragile and horrid, but I suppose for practice, it should be alright. I don't think they cost much anyway out of cheaper than dirt and a few other catalogues.

toolman · 11-30-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-10

Even if there is not an accesory rail, there are lasers that clamp onto the trigger gaurd. They look fragile and horrid, but I suppose for practice, it should be alright. I don't think they cost much anyway out of cheaper than dirt and a few other catalogues.

Good point, I'd forgotten about those. I believe some are sold for airsoft guns as well.

khahn79 · 11-30-2007, 10:18 AM

Hey guys. Yes, I do have an accessory rail. I'll have to look into getting a laser for it. That sounds like it would be a good practice exercise.

11-19-2007, 10:20 AM	#1
khahn79 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 178	cure a flinch on a semi-auto pistol Anyone have any tips on how to "cure" a flinch on a semi-auto pistol? I know that on a revolver, you can "skip" a few and that way you never know when the gun will fire and when it won't but I don't know about a semi-auto. Any ideas?

11-19-2007, 10:22 AM	#2
rckymtnboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I am a dual resident. Posts: 340 Images: 20	Have someone else load it and throw in a couple of snap caps. It won't cycle, but at least you'll see your flinch. Squeeze that trigger just like you would a squirt gun. Nice even pull. You are wearing hearing protection, right? That would help tremendously if you're not. __________________ When they come for my guns, I'll give 'em the bullets first!

11-19-2007, 02:44 PM	#3
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: clt, NC Posts: 1,652	khahn: Ma'am; what gives you reason to question the "flinch" Anticipation? Ma'am we will make millions with this answer focus on the sights; do not stop looking at the sight picture We all realize that we don't focus [concentrate] When we have a trigger that becomes a long drawn out affair; boredom sets in and there goes the concentration. Ma'am I have a trigger in one Glock with a pull of approx. 2"'s and it drives me crazy. The other; I doctored on; and my shooting reflects as much. Crummy a$$ triggers are more of the culprit to the dreaded flinch. Dry firing will help with proper focus; big bangers; having two sets of hearing protections has worked for me. Follow up with your findings when you can __________________ Craig By the standards of most

11-19-2007, 03:07 PM	#6
rckymtnboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I am a dual resident. Posts: 340 Images: 20	LOL. AH, I love the way you look at the world. Simple, yet effective! __________________ When they come for my guns, I'll give 'em the bullets first!

11-19-2007, 07:47 PM	#11
A-10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 718	Dry fire. Use snap caps if you like, but place a single sticky note on a wall and after clearing the weapon, align the sights on the sticky note from about a room's width apart and practice squeezing the trigger until it breaks all while keeping the sights properly aligned. When you're ready for more of a challenge, place multiple sticky notes about the wall do as you did before, but slightly quicker, while switching between targets. After doing this for a while, muscle memory will take affect and when you live fire, your body will not expect the coming recoil and function as it did while you were dry firing. Trust me on this one. I did this to eliminate my tendency to jerk and flinch while firing my heavy triggered keltec. __________________ If there's nothing worth dying for, there's nothing worth living for.

11-19-2007, 02:50 PM	#4
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Id say quickly working out of it wont happen, I haven't even noticed I dont do it anymore so you'll grow out of it no matter what im sure.

11-19-2007, 02:58 PM	#5
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,717	Drive several's long nail in a 2 X 12 that is the same in length and if you have a micraphone stand fasten the board with nails in it to the stand or build a stand. When you go to shoot your gun place the board with the nails in it about 1/2 from your your cheek, don't get one in your eye. Now if you do flinch after doing all this, you want do it again. Good Luck ...A.H

11-19-2007, 03:09 PM	#7
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Aint it.

11-19-2007, 03:27 PM	#8
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,245	wear both ear plugs, and muffs. most flinching comes from sound. if using both plugs and muffs for a while doesnt take care of it, it may be time to go back to 22 pistol.

11-19-2007, 03:28 PM	#9
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Or a better pair of muffs.

11-19-2007, 05:56 PM	#10
khahn79 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 178	Thanks for all the advice. I guess I should clarify that this is for a woman I've been training with. I trained with her for a couple of weeks on her .357 (loaded w/ .38spec) and she never flinched once. I just got a new Ruger P95 this week and let her fire a few rounds with it. She flinched every time! Can't figure it out, cause this woman is an experience hunter and a pretty good shot w/ her .357 (which has alot more recoil than my Ruger). Just her first time w/ a semi-auto, I guess and it's got her spooked for some reason. Anyway. Thanks again for the advice. I'll have to try some of that out with her tomorrow when we hit the range.

11-21-2007, 08:39 AM	#12
khahn79 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 178	Thanks for all the advice. We went back to the range and I had her double up on her ear protection and that seemed to help. BTW, A-10, that sounds like a great training exercise.... think I might try that one myself... "perfect practice makes perfect", right?

11-21-2007, 08:43 AM	#13
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 1,467	I used to have a major flinching problem. Mixing snap caps in with real ammo is a great way to cure it. There is nothing more embarrassing than seeing the gun shutter without hearing a bang

11-21-2007, 09:16 AM	#14
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,503	AH,s answer is going to be rough on her complection! If you both are training,where are the instructors? Also you dont state whether it has a hard trigger pull.Most centerfires can be dryfired.Explain to her that when dryfiring the sights should stay lined up when the hammer drops.Have her practice it for a while.It is the biggest help I know of outside of a decent trigger pull. sam.

11-29-2007, 08:04 PM	#15
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 632	Most double action autos encourage flinch with their miserable triggers. If all you have shot are DA autos, you have never experienced a decent trigger. I have seen many a soul have an epiphany when they shoot one of my 1911s. A good trigger will spoil you for DA autos forever. Practice a lot with a .22 with a decent trigger, if you can find one. And no, my High Standards are not for sale.

11-29-2007, 10:05 PM	#16
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 660	Have someone watch you. Have to find what causes it before you can cure it. __________________ Will shoot for ammo.

11-29-2007, 10:30 PM	#17
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 4,498 Blog Entries: 14	khahn, does your P-95 have an accessory rail? If it does, go to E-Bay and buy a cheap laser (mine was $8.00 shipped). Mount the laser, put a snap-cap in the chamber and practice dry-firing while holding the dot on a target. This is just a high-tech version of A-10's method, but it has the added advantage of showing just how far off-target she's pulling the gun. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

11-30-2007, 10:18 AM	#20
khahn79 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 178	Hey guys. Yes, I do have an accessory rail. I'll have to look into getting a laser for it. That sounds like it would be a good practice exercise.

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