DA shooting - tips please..

F

fungusmunkey

New member
Hi,

Just back from the range with a bit of a newbie question.
i have been shooting for years but always single action for plinking and target fun.
Now i am thinking more about serious defensive situations.

i was shooting a nice smith model 10, 2" and model 19 4"
If i stack the trigger i can group the shots great.

the problem is that stacking is slower and not how a real world defensive situation would be. (in my mind at least, i figure i'd be pumped/scared and yanking that trigger)

if i shoot fast DA i pull the shots to the right by a few inches.
is that normal for a right hander?
should i practice fast DA shooting instead of stacking or keep with the stacking until i can do it faster? (is that possible?)

thanks!
 
Smooth, not fast or stacking would be a better way to train for self-defense.

Finger pad centered on trigger (get a trigger job if you're not happy with a "to the right by a few inches" grouping.)

Pull straight back with index finger.

Some aftermarket grips will improve your hold.

I always take a deep breath and let half a breath of out it out when shooting seriously.

I'd adopt a stance and stick with it if accuracy is you aim (versitility is another matter altogether.)

I don't like stacking triggers due the the lack of surprise at hammer drop.
 
fisherman quote:
"I don't like stacking triggers due the the lack of surprise at hammer drop."

i'm not sure i understand that that means..
so you would like more suprise as to when the trigger breaks?

i was attempting to not be suprised by the break, so i know where i have the sights when it will break.

sorry, i'm not trying to be obtuse..
 
Monkey, stacking is an acceptable method for precision shooting, but you are right that you need to learn to stroke the trigger smoothly through.

Going right is too much finger on the trigger for a right handed shooter a lot of times. It could also be grip rotated to the right a little too far. Back out your trigger finger a little if you are right handed, if that doesn't help rotate your hand back behind the gun a little bit.

Stop trying to be perfect with your sight alignment, instead focus on stroking the trigger without disturbing the gun. Aiming is easy, we all know how to do it. Stroking the trigger without moving the gun ISN'T, and that is what you need to learn.

Dryfire against a blank wall, no target to focus on. Work on keeping the gun still. As you get stronger and the gun becomes more still your grouping will improve dramatically.
 
What fisherman says and a smooth trigger is the key. Start out with a large target at close range and then as your groups improve, move it back just a bit. When you're comfortable with the group, move it back a bit more.
 
For close-quarters defense, do not use the sights.

Keep both eyes open and look at the target instead of the front sight. Pull the trigger all the way through in one stroke.

~Ichiro
 
weirdly I find my groups get better with my 2" sp101 if I tighten and tense up My arm. shooting 2 handed with magnums.
 
Thanks for all of the tips!

Well i understand better what fisherman and hsmith are saying after thinking on it a bit.

i was not using the pad of my finger, but instead at the crook of my first knuckle. (or whatever you would call that)
So toward the end of the pull that tends to pull the trigger to the right.
The pad of the finger seems like it could keep a more consistent pushing force.

Thanks again to everyone for the tips!
i have a lot of practicing to do now.
 
Don't worry about your finger placement, grip, stance, or even sight picture. Fundamentals are assumed.

Just get the sights "sorta close" and pull through. Your natural hand and eye coordination will make the last split second sight adjustments needed. If you try to do these fine adjustments while thinking about it, the sights will have moved before you get the shot of anyway. The more you practice the more natural it will become.

Think of a baseball batter trying to hit a pitch. If he waits until he can clearly see where the ball is going, it's too late. Strike!!! He has to start his start his swing before he really knows where the ball is going. The last part of the swing he makes the micro adjustments to meet the ball.

Double action shooting can work much the same way.

Good Luck...

Joe
 
Easy enough to check yourself for flinch/jerk. Here's an idea for next time at the range. Try practicing by loading only two or three chambers of the cylinder with live rounds, put empties in the other spots. Now, close the cylinder and pull the hammer back just enough to spin the cylinder several 'clicks'. Idea is, you won't know if a live round is the next one due under the hammer or not..
 
This is how I learned to shoot double action.
Give it a try .
The best revolvers to shoot DA are S&W's
And the best grip is the small magna grips that let you choke up on the grip with the web of your hand tight against the hump on the back strap of S&W guns.
This keeps the gun from moveing in your hand between shoots and also cuts down on muzzle rise from recoil due to the higher hold.
Start by pulling the trigger and stacking till it fires
Keep shooting this way till you start hitting as good as when you shoot single action.
--THEN-- start adding a lil speed to your stacking .
Keep increasing the speed as long as you can maintain accuracy.
Before long (it depends on how much you shoot) you will be able to pull a smooth DA shot off.
BTW-- I put the first joint of my trigger finger on the trigger and pull back in a upward arch because of the high grip on the gun.
If you look at a revolvers trigger movement you can see it is differant than an auto's straight back movement(1911 style guns)
A revolvers trigger sweeps upward when pulled back.
So your trigger pull should pull in the same direction.
Also, I focus on the front sight then the target then back to front sight.while shooting DA.
Give it a try and see if it works for you.
But make sure you get grips that let you get your hand up high on the grip.( NO FILLERS BEHIND THE TRIGGER GAURD)

GOOD SHOOTING

WILLY
 
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