My groups is drifting down and left

O

Oysterboy

New member
With my Sig P250c I shot 50 UMC 40sw 180 HPs and 20 WWB 40sw 165 FMJFNs today at the range. On the fresh mag (10 rnds at a time) I get a few in the center and drift down left. Fill the mag and repeat, same thing. As I shoot more it gets lower.

I think the long trigger is making my hand tired. Reckon so?
 
Are you sure you're not milking the trigger? Shooting low and to the left is pretty indicative of such. If not... then your gun was not factory sighted correctly. That's not something I would know how to do.
 
Actually, I have no idea how I'm shooting. I got a suggestion from a fellow member to bench rest next time and check the groups. Then I can find out if it's me or the gun.
 
I highly doubt it is the handgun, it will shoot real real close to the same spot everytime (even if the sights are off) if there are no variables in the trigger pull and hold of the firearm. If you are a right handed shooter then you are flinching or milking the grip. Next time take a dummy round with you, have the person next to you fill your mag up and place the dummy round in there where you wont know where it is. When you come up to your dummy round while shooting you will see just exactly what you are doing. I'm gonna stick with flinching though.
 
Might be you are tightening up the bottom three fingers as you work the trigger, which tends to drive the muzzle down.

If you tighten your grip in anticipation of recoil, that can also drive the muzzle down. (pre-ignition push)
 
Trigger slam: this brings your shots down. Try not to yank the trigger at the moment when the sights are perfectly aligned. Just build pressure on the trigger when the sights are very close to perfect.

Squeezing the whole shooting hand instead of just the trigger: this is bringing your shots to the left (I assume you are right-handed). The left hand should do the bulk of the gripping and the right hand should merely be pulling the trigger while maintaining a snug grip.

Keep your focus on the front sight as it lifts off the target under recoil. Then, get another sight picture, even if you don't intend to shoot again for the purpose of follow through.
 
I have the same problem with my Glock, it's because you're flinching when you pull the trigger. I was pretty sure it was my fault, but when I came to the end of the mag and tried to shoot again and then gun dipped, I knew my problem.

Like people above said, practice dry firing and getting a smooth and consistent trigger pull.
 
Probably flinching. Next time you're shooting, try this: Shoot a mag at a target, when your groups start going low and left, dryfire 10-20 times at the target. Watch your front sight when dry firing to make sure it's staying on target. Then shoot another mag and see if all rounds stay on target. YMMV, but this has worked for me.
 
OYSTERBOY:

Sounds like you're jerking the trigger. A good dry fire drill will help to train you not to jerk. Here's how I dry fired when I was shooting on several Marine Corps pistol teams. Yes, I dry fired even after earning my master's classification.

Stand in front of a blank white wall with no target. Remember this drill is to
eliminate trigger jerking; however, you will develope the proper grip and trigger finger placement also. A kitchen chair's back represented the firing line. I would practice with different grips and trigger finger placement untill I found one that would allow me to release the trigger without disturbing the sights.

The human eye can only focus on one point at a time so the eye must be focused on either the front sight or the rear sight. If your eye is focused properly, when on the firing line, the target will blur.

Think about this, the target will not move before the shot, during the shot, and after the shot. Your hit on the target will not move either, so there's no reason to take your eyes off of the sights: this is called follow through, this is a must for good pistol shooting. After following through you can look to see where you hit.When your sights are properly aligned the targer will blur; however, the pistol can sway the size of the black and you will still get a hit in the black,

By the way I dry fired for thirty mineuts each day.


Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeaht
Clifford L, Hughes
USMC Retired
 
Get yourself a cheap-o airsoft laser sight to hang on it and practice dry firing while you watch the laser to see how it moves. Good way to work on your grip and trigger control.
 
One time my groups started drifting left. Got home and realized my front sight had come loose and started moving right. Loctite took care of it.

If only it could always be that easy when you start shooting off center eh?
 
I think I'm getting better with my shooting. I had injections in my neck and lower back last Thursday and my right shoulder will be next on the 23rd.

I shot 50 today at 21 feet.

 
+1 for dry firing.

I agree it's likely a combo of trigger control, flinch, and just plain old time to get to know your gun better.

Good thing dry firing is fun.

I've shot about 1/2 as often as one of my friends, and use 1/2 as much ammo and although we're talking about holes in paper rather than combat, my groups are tighter. Dry firing will give you more chances to analyze your trigger finger position, grip, habits of contracting certain muscles in your hand, and specific quirks like that. Clifford has a lot of info in that post.

I met someone at a range not long ago who had a Sig 250 (full size grip frame) and he was rather new to handguns - trying the cup-and-saucer hold, grab the wrist hold, etc. He said he wanted to sell his gun because of that long trigger - but it was a smooth trigger pull, perhaps smoother than some revolvers I've seen. A "surprise break" or "compressed trigger break" helps for those long trigger pulls. And a bit of patience :) He was used to shooting shotgun and rifle.
 
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