Learn To Shoot It

S

Sarge

New member
Here's a little food for thought on a Sunday afternoon. Instead of buying another handgun, or a ton of bolt-ons or 'modding' the one you have- make a concerted effort to master THAT gun. I don't care what it is. Learn to shoot it. For example...

I see a lot of folks berating the S&W Sigma because of its trigger. If you believe half of what you read on the web, it is impossible to shoot really well.

Folks, the Sigma trigger is little different than numerous old less-than-perfect DA revolvers I was issued over the years. The simple fact is this- if you apply the basics of marksmanship, you are going to get hits!

Given the fact that a lot of people shoot indoors these days, at 15 yards or less, I was at first perplexed that so many were reporting problems in getting good hits. But with years as a handgun instructor, I've seen this many times before The problem can be an improper zero but almost invariably, it is a failure to apply the basics of marksmanship.

First, get a good firm grip on the gun. Volumes have been written on the topic but the critical elements are that the grip you use has to be easy to maintain, yet firm enough to keep the sights on target throughout the firing stroke. People are different and gun handles are different, too. Find something that works with your hands on your gun. Then stick with it!

Next, you must align your sights properly, in relation to your target. This is called 'sight picture and the finished product should look something like this:

6-00sight.jpg


You're almost there... now all you have to do is hold it steady while you press the trigger straight back in one fluid motion. Your attention should be on the sight picture, particularly the front sight and its relationship to your target. The gun actually firing should almost surprise you, because your attention is on the target and the front sight.

If you concentrate on doing those very basic things, only one outcome is possible.

DirectZero.jpg


Dry-firing is an excellent way to practice it, but be sure the gun is unloaded and that you dryfire at something which will safely stop a bullet.. Live fire confirms that we are doing it correctly.

Hope this was of some help. If all else fails, resort to a diagnostic target ;) Stay safe and have fun.

RealityTgt-1-1.jpg





You have made the decision to shoot.
 
One sarge to another sarge:

Thanks for putting shooting a handgug clearly. I agree with you whole heartly. I read the gun writers driving home that the gun must fit your hand. By examining this statment its fallacies become evident. If I need a small conceales carry gun and I have big hands, the gun won't fit my hand and to keep it concealable large grips are out. On the other hand, If I need a hunting pistol and I have small hands a grip change is out. A handgun must be purchased for the intended job and then the shooter must learn to shoot it.

Now for dry firing. When I shot pistol competiting for the Marine Corps I dry fired aginst a blank white wall. I practiced a solid uniform grip from shot to while getting the pistol's trigger to release without the sights moving.

Your diagram of proper sight alignment is great. However, let me add to it somewhat. No one can hold a pistol perfectly still during siight alignment. However, if you keep the sights aligned the sights can wobble the size of the bullseye and you still will get a hit in the black. Try to remember this: The target isn't going anywhere; it will be stationary before the shot, during the shot and after the shot and the bullet holes won't move. The only thing that moves is the sights, watch them closely.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
Sarge!
What on earth are you thinking?
We should actually give up time at the keyboard, and pouring over gun catalogs, to go learn to shoot?
Next thing, you'll want us to know how to actually drive the cars we own.
Now, really.
 
At my last match, I was shooting behind a guy who did pretty poorly. After he finished, we talked a bit and he finally asked me how to line up the sights.

Sometimes fundamentals are overlooked...
 
Sarge, that chart made coffee come out of my nose. My sinuses may be burnt. You owe me for my pain and suffering. You can make up for it by giving me permission to reprint it and post it at work :)

You're spot-on in your observations. I've lost count of how many M16 pattern rifles I've seen on which the owner has doubled the weight in accessories, yet has never thought to zero the irons. That is, if they even have irons.

Then there are the new pistol owners. Hand fit, reliability, and accuracy are no longer priorities. People want a tiny, light gun with unusable sights and a wretched trigger. They tell me that "most self-defense encounters occur within six feet" and that it is therefore unnecessary to shoot at any greater distance.

Apparently, being able to keep most shots on a B-27 target at three yards is the new benchmark for self-defense marksmanship.

Anyhow, they "learn" on mouse guns. If they ever shoot the thing for practice and if they notice no noticeable improvement, they might come to me for advice. "Get a .22 and shoot slow" is almost never what they want to hear. Yeesh.
 
Try to remember this: The target isn't going anywhere; it will be stationary before the shot, during the shot and after the shot and the bullet holes won't move. The only thing that moves is the sights, watch them closely.
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I suppose that depends on how you shoot.

Old school "target" shooting and qualifying maybe, realistic shooting, both of you are likely to be moving, and shooting, and the sights might not even be an issue at all.

No doubt, we should all definitely have the basics down, but dont stop just there. Theres a bit more to work on beyond that if you want to be a well rounded "realistic" shooter.
 
I've got to add 'not responsible for nasal damage' in fine print at the bottom of that target, Tom. Sorry for your schnozz trauma, Amigo. Of course you can use it and there's even a PDF, as well as the story behind it, here. Each notation on that target represents recurring fliers of my own. Since I couldn't print what I'd usually say, I can at least convey the concept of laughing at my own screw ups- as well as the fact that I have to remind myself of the basics on a frequent basis.

John, I shot on public ranges between 2000-2005 and the stuff I saw was not at all unlike your experience. Sometimes I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

AK103K, I get your point and generally agree. My general target audience here was the poor guy who goes to the range, struggles along and never finds a helpful soul to coach them in the basics. Often I have done just that and when they figure out that they can actually produce hits on demand, it's like Ralphie opening the package with the Red Ryder in it. Hot damn! I can not only hit the target, I can hit it right where I want to hit it! I had just as much fun as they did, too.

To the rest- thank you all for your kind comments and encouragement. Share it with somebody who really needs it.
 
Thanks for the post Sarge. Nice to see a post that is actually trying to help others enjoy our sport more.:cool:
I've always been challenged with shooting hanguns, especially "service caliber" autos. I can hit pretty good with my gp100 and my .22 pistols, but I have struggled with my 1911, HK USP and others I have owned. I bought a CZ75 many years ago and immediately had better results. Not as well as I would liked, but better than I shot the others.
Then it occured to me that I liked "the feel" of the pistol in my hand. And since it fit me better, I shot it more. In turn I became better with it and enjoyed shooting it, so I shot it more and the circle continues.

Another trap that I think many new handgun shooters fall into is the mindset that a handgun is like a smaller version of a rifle. We don't realize the practice and disipline it takes to become really proficient shooting pistol.
Let's face it, rifles are a hell of a lot easier to shoot accurrately.
This is what always got me when I first started with pistols. I figured if I could easily hit a clay target at 100 yards with my SKS, I should easily be able to hit one at 30 yards with my 1911.
Once I got it into my head that a handgun is a totally different animal, I practiced differently and really worked at it, and continue to work at it.
I still don't consider myself a "good pistol shot", but at least I don't feel discouraged at the 20 yard targets anymore
 
...so, what you are saying is if I get that new taticool rail on my vintage Model 10, I'll stop pulling my shots to the right?

Geez... I just wasted all these years of practicing trigger control and sight alignment...

:cool:
 
Sarge, I have yet to find a weapon with which I can't qualify. Good fundamentals are good fundamentals.

And there are way too many people out there who think an equipment upgrade will make them better shooters.

But I did want to point out that there are benefits to smoothing out a trigger, and to finding a gun that fits both the intended purpose and the shooter. Ergonomics can be overcome by good training and fundamentals, but ergos do matter.
 
At my last match, I was shooting behind a guy who did pretty poorly. After he finished, we talked a bit and he finally asked me how to line up the sights.
Click to expand...

This is what makes the shooting sport so good. Shooters helping fellow shooters. Its always nice to see the helping hand come out.
Kudos JohnKSa, and to all that help novice shooters.
 
At my last match, I was shooting behind a guy who did pretty poorly. After he finished, we talked a bit and he finally asked me how to line up the sights.

Sometimes fundamentals are overlooked...
Click to expand...

Now, did you take the time to explain stance, grip, and trigger pull? Fundamentals go hand in hand, there's more than one. And they are different for accuracy and speed. :)
 
Thanks Sarge. Good info.
I basically started shooting about a year ago, at age 73. Bought a S&W 617 and have about filled a 3 pound coffee can full of empty .22 brass.
Just a couple of weeks ago I felt confident enough in my consistency to adjust the sights on my 617 and a Ciener .22 conversion unit. Really made a difference on where my groups were centered, but until I had some consistency it would have been useless. ALWAYS having to coach myself on sight picture and trigger.
I am somewhere between horrible and terrible, hoping to advance to bad. But it keeps me out of the house.
 
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