Lefty shooting low and right (4:30)

H

honkylips

New member
I'm left handed and my shots seem to be consistently low and right (about 4:30ish) when shooting my handgun. Any suggestions on what to correct?
 
so according to that, I'm likely "squeezing fingers while applying trigger pressure".

I'm not quite sure what that means though? I'm new (obviously :) ) to guns and am trying to learn, so I appreciate the help.
 
You also need to concentrate on squeezing the trigger STRAIGHT back, instead of pushing it or pulling it off to one side or the other; dry-fire practice is probably the best help for this.
 
I have a shooting double in this world...

I am also left handed and used to shoot low and to the right.

I got Crimson Trace laser grips and did a lot of dry fire practice and I'm a lot better now. When you can see that red dot dance off your point of aim when you pull the trigger, you know you're screwing up the shot and need mroe practice.
 
It can also mean you are dipping the weapon in anticipation of the recoil.

A good cure for this is to take the magazine out of your pistol after loading it and shoot a control pair. You will see that you are pushing down and to the right right before you shoot the 2nd round (which is a dry fire). This control this tendency and improves your ability to do doubles.
 
Sounds like recoil anticipation as STLRN says. For right handed shooters (me) the shots go lower left. The dry firing STLRN describes helps diagnose. A revolver with some dead rounds at random chambers is great for this. You will see the gun dip on the dead round.
 
I do this also with my 1911's but for some reasons not with revolvers or my Buckmark. I think it is trigger finger related unfortunately I am still working on diagnosing whether it is my finger or trigger length (all three of my 1911s have long triggers) so I have no advice.
 
i am lefty and that is where I shoot too, low and to the right. My friend says I am probably tightening my grip up too much and that I should pull the trigger with the tip of the finger.
 
You are jerking the trigger which causes your wrist to break. Quick way to see this is have someone load a "dummy" round into your magazine along with live ammo.
 
Dry fire sight picture and trigger control practice can help a whole bunch. With an empty pistol, aim at a door knob and tighten your pinky finger while holding a normal sight picture. You'll notice the sights move. That's 'squeezing fingers'. Grasp the pistol like you're shaking hands with a firm grip, but not a crushing grip. Your trigger finger should not be part of the grip.
"...should pull the trigger with the tip of the finger..." Nope. Usually just in from the pad of your finger allows you to pull straight back. Using the tip will pull your shot off. And, if you can't get more finger on the trigger, it means the pistol is too big for your hand.
 
Don't take those diagnostic targets as gospel. The ball and dummy drill that's been mentioned is a good idea. It's often hard to catch heeling or flinching when dry firing.
 
Is it a revolver? SA semi-auto? DAO semi-auto?

Depending on which kind of handgun it could be any number of things.

Are your sights adjusted? :)
 
The diagnostic targets are of little use if you are shooting two handed. They were developed for bullseye shooters.
The "ball and dummy" drill is equally ineffective. When you fire a shot, you compensate for the recoil. How? By moving the muzzle down. So, what is going to happen when you fire a shot and the next round is a dummy? The muzzle is going to go down. That is not a bad thing. What is a bad thing is when the timing is off - the muzzle dips before the hammer falls. All the "ball and dummy" in the world can't diagnose nor help that. I know for some this is heresy, but it has no training value.
If you are anticipating recoil, the best way to stop is to dry-fire.

If it is trigger manipulation, the best way to improve is dry-fire.

There are a couple of other techniques, but the explanations are rather lengthy.
Start with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQgLmQl1zDw

Also try this:
http://personalshootingcoach.com/store/
 
I've been shooting my new 1911 on a regular basis and found I've been dropping the barrell as well. I spend my last range visit working on controling barrell drop and was much happer with my groupings.

I am a left hander too...... what's going on with us?:)
 
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