Is This Unusual?

M

montelores

New member
I really enjoy shooting .22s at the range, and my accuracy seems to be improving. Mostly Single-Six and 22/45. I do try to concentrate on trigger squeeze and even pull on the trigger. One bit of advice which has been extremely helpful is to feel both sides of the trigger against my fingertip as I squeeze. Also, I shoot with either one hand or two, standing.

Here's the problem. When I shift to a higher caliber pistol, my accuracy seems to suffer. As far as I can tell, flinching isn't an issue. I have rested the pistols on the bench for sighting-in purposes (fixed sights). The point of impact just seems to wander a bit.

Any advice or information would be much appreciated.

Monty
 
Difficult without watching you shoot. However, you are proabably squeezing the gun just before you shoot. Tightening your fingers or moving your wrist slightly will change POI. These are usually subtle movements you're hardly aware of.

If you're shooting 2-inch groups at 25 yards, that's very good shooting. 4-inch groups are perfectly adequate.

Try relaxing your grip somewhat. Just enough to hold on to the gun without squeezing it hard. Don't try to "squeeze the juice" out of the gun. Before firing, take a deep breath, let some out and squeeze the trigger.
 
Something I find helps is, sort out the accuracy potential of the gun first by "sandbagging" it and shoot careful groups. This tells you two things: where the windage and elevation are for that load, and what the gun's accuracy potential is. Once you know that, you can work towards actually using that potential with real shooting techniques, eventually bringing the speed up. The whole time, you'll know it's not the gun.

Something else: Ruger .22 autos are VERY inherently accurate. Unlike large-caliber autos the barrels on Ruger's 22s are fixed in place, with the sights fixed to the barrel. Stock, they're very good. Tuned, they can be exceptional. With high-dollar additions some can run close to Olympic target pistol grade accuracy. It's possible you've gotten VERY good with a good specimen and you're finding out that combat autopistols are often a bit sloppier. If this is the barrier you're running into, you're already a damned good shot.

A tip: $500 worth of revolver (used Ruger GP100 or S&W 686, typical fighting revolvers) will often outshoot any combat-capable auto below the $900 to $1,000 mark. Fixed barrel again on the wheelgun. Single Action revolvers have an even bigger advantage: fixed cylinder on a locked axle (called a "base pin" on SA wheelguns) versus swinging it in and out on a "crane".
 
You can check to see if you're flinching by having someone mix a dummy round in with the live ones. Dry fire practice will help too.
 
Thanks to all for the replies.

I don't believe that I'm using a death grip on the larger guns, but I'll give that some close attention next time.

Oddly enough, the larger guns HAVE been autos. I have rested them on the bench for the first few shots to see where the fixed sights take them. Even then, the poi seems to wander, whereas the Rugers are consistent when I am consistent. It is quite noticeable with the 22s how a "rushed" or "hurried" trigger pull will skew the shot. If I am truly focused on the trigger pull, I seem to be able to be consistent.

I am by no means a good shot, but I am improving. I'll look for a fixed barrel large caliber to borrow and see if that makes a difference. I'll also try to ask advice of someone at the range who seems to have some skill.

Thank you again, and any more pointers are appreciated.

Monty
 
It's easy to get good accuracy from a decent .22 pistol. It takes a lot more practice and familiarity with higher caliber weapons to get constant and equivilent accuracy to a .22. That's normal.
 
Bench shooting puts you in the ball park, shooting on your hindlegs without the rest will change your point of impact because the vibration of the barrel is different in your hand than when its supported.

Shoot several targets, carefully measure the groups back at the bench and make appropriate adjustment. After that its a matter of sight and trigger control till you shringk your groups. When you do you will probably need to adjust again because you are becoming more consistent.

Its all part of the game. I have 3 points of impact, one from just my dominant hand offhand, one from my weak hand shooting offhand and one for my bench supported groups with my hands resting on my Caldwell Bag or on a sandbag. My right hand offhand is the important one and the only one I adjust for.
 
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