Shakiest gun in the south...

R

Rapscallion

New member
Hello all, recently I've started enjoying shooting my handguns more than my rifles, and I've noticed that while aiming, my hands kind of "tremble" after the 3rd or 4th magazine. It goes away if I loosen my grip, but then the recoil gets wild on me and my follow up is ruined. I don't think its because Im not expecting the recoil ( I mainly shoot 9mm) and I don't find that I have weak hands, I mean, I'm not like an arm wrestling champion or anything, but my job requires hand strength so I ruled that one out. Its bad enough to where my front sight jerks around in semi-circles as my hand tightens during the trigger squeeze. Is this normal after shooting 45 to 50 rounds of 9mm? Or is it one of those "practice makes perfect" deals?

Maybe I'm destined to be a Barnie Fife?



I searched google but came up empty handed. So I'll take any advice you seasoned handgunners have .
Thanks in advance.
 
What specific gun are you shooting? A large framed duty 9mm is usually a lot easier on the hand than a subcompact 9mm for example.

Also, you want to have a nice firm grip on the gun but not so firm that you shake.
 
I'm shooting a Glock 34, and an H&K VP9, though I've been favoring the VP9 as of late because of the grip options.

Also to add to the original post, I am dominatly RIGHT handed, however when it comes to shooting I can only do it LEFT handed. I'm thinking This might be part of my problem.
 
+1 FrankenMauser.

You want to hold the gun firmly, but not so tight that you're cutting off the circulation in your own hand.

You may need to try a different grip also. (or lose the Glock ;)
 
Agreed Tex, I'll admit I have more trouble out of the Glock than its german sibling, but the problem is still there nontheless. I'll change out the backstrap and side panels on the HK to see if it improves. Will loosen the grip also because I probably am tightening up to much.
 
I'm curious why you can only shoot left handed. Is it a hand thing or an eye thing? It is not that uncommon to be right hand dominant but left eye dominant - I am. I shoot right handed but close my right eye. I suppose I am adjusting my grip and stance to compensate as well. Point being that you have to find what works for you and it might not be what comes completely natural.
 
. Is this normal after shooting 45 to 50 rounds of 9mm? Or is it one of those "practice makes perfect" deals?
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Yes and yes. Don't sweat it, the more you shoot the handguns the better your stamina will be for that platform. More importantly, just like Model12win said, there is a fine line between a firm grip and gripping so tightly that you fatigue yourself into shaking.
 
I usually shoot handguns for about two hours. After warming up a little with 22's, I am (on a good day) pretty much strong and steady and in the groove. After a certain point I get more wobbly and start to lose my concentration a bit. By the end of two hours I am not shooting worth squat.

Your situation might be similar. I have been shooting handguns regularly for 35 years, so my stretch of good shooting probably lasts longer than it did when I was less experienced.
 
Recoil control is more about grip technique than grip strength.
Check out the subject of how to shoot a pistol on youtube.
Lots of good videos there.
Lots of bad ones too, but just try what they show and you will find the good ones.
Also do a search here on the forum, there's been plenty of conversations and video links about it.
 
I know this contradicts conventional wisdom but every time I have the a problem with my shots going all over the place, I notice that if I grip the gun as tight as I can grip it, my shooting improves drastically. As, I stated, this goes against conventional wisdom but it works for me.
 
A neurological problem with a shaking hand, that can't be kept from shaking.
Many times these things sneak up with age, and even young people for many reasons have it happen.
 
Shaking hands are your "breathing" problem. Before each repeat shot, take a quick breath and slow release of your breath while "squeezing" your trigger , stopping before the boom. You need oxygen to the arms after every shot. You apparently are holding your breath too long.
 
I've had it happen with small decently recoiling guns. The last time I remember it happening I was really hosing rounds through a Kahr PM9. Somewhere around 250+ rounds, it looked like the front sight was on a paint mixer.

By then I decided the gun was reliable and good to go and I shut it down for the day.

I thinks it's just everything getting tired at once. Eyes, concentration, hands, forearms etc.

I have very strong hands and forearms, so, i'm sure it wasn't a strength issue. Just fatigue.
 
One thing I can recommend that helped me a lot in terms of shooting endurance is a ProHands hand exerciser. It doesn't have to be that brand, I just like that it allows you to have resistance for each finger. It strengthens your grip as well as your wrists.
 
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Boncrayon brings up an excellent point in your breathing, hold your breath to long and you will begin to shake, add gripping the gun to tightly and you are going to have issues. There are two natural respiratory pauses in your breathing that you should use in shooting, one after you inhale, one after you exhale. Both work but the pause after exhaling is longer and gives you a bit more time to get on target before you actually begin holding your breath.
 
I've had it happen with small decently recoiling guns. The last time I remember it happening I was really hosing rounds through a Kahr PM9. Somewhere around 250+ rounds, it looked like the front sight was on a paint mixer.

By then I decided the gun was reliable and good to go and I shut it down for the day.

I thinks it's just everything getting tired at once. Eyes, concentration, hands, forearms etc.
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Even with "mild" cartridges and/or platforms that tame "magnum" cartridges well, I can see the fatigue creep into the equation after a while.

It's just different muscles. I use different muscles when shooting handguns than I do throughout my daily schedule. As such, they get tired.

On top of that, I do have tremors to begin with. So, it's like running a paint mixer during an earth quake. ;)

After a really long day, say a 6-10 hour trip out into the desert, I might not even be able to hit a watermelon at 20 feet.

I work on strength and stamina by using various hand exercisers while I'm watching TV/movies; but there's nothing I can do about the 'natural' tremors. I just live with it and try to be happy when I have a good day.
 
In the past I had the opportunity sell stuff to the elderly. Felt any gadget will eventually end in the trash, closet or garage. All it takes is desire and some will power, isometrics is something that can be done virtually anywhere anytime.

Shoot enough and the shakes will happen. Hitting a dinner plate or a cup saucer when I actually aim at 25yds is good enough for me.. :o
 
There is a technique that can help with this problem, either as a permanent solution or just until over coming strength deficiencies.
But it's hard to describe in words.
Here goes though.
Instead of depending on just hand strength with maybe some assist from wrists and forearms, add stronger body parts to the equation.
Particularly the shoulders and chest muscles.
So, try this:
Grip the pistol with the usual isosceles grip, both thumbs pointed at the target and the support hand supplying most of the grip strength (check all the youtube videos on how if you're not familiar with it).
The elbows can either point straight out or slightly down toward the ground, which ever is more comfortable.
Then bend the elbows just enough until you feel the weight of the gun and your arms transfer to the shoulders and chest.
Then push the pistol forward with both hands toward the target while keeping the chest and shoulder muscles still involved.
If my attempt to explain it has been successful, this apparently little know method to steady one's shooting should help a lot.
It has for me.
 
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