what was your biggest rookie mistake when target shooting?

S

StainlessSteel215

Moderator
Only in the last 2-3 years thanks to YouTube videos and online research....I found out why ALL of my groups no matter what caliber or distance was low and left. I almost cried with joy the day I learned what I was doing wrong!

Grip control:
I used to use the infamous rookie grip on my semi auto pistols.....full grip strength in my primary (right) hand including the pinky....support hand was basically just cupping my other hand instead of wrapping it properly. Now, I use a high choke grip as close to the slide as possible.....thumbs facing forward....covering all 4 corners of the grip. No pressure/control on the pinky.

Trigger coverage:
I used to slip my entire index finger up to the 2nd joint inside the trigger guard....and squeeze hard and fast. Now, I keep barely the tip of my index finger on the trigger and squeeze slower and more controlled....the finger joint now work independently of the knuckle which helps maintain stable front sight picture.

My biggest problem: recoil anticipation
I think everyone experiences this one. You are basically waiting for a mini explosion to happen and you know its coming.....so you prepare for it which throws off your entire grip and mental focus. I used to squeeze hard and fast and jerk the gun right before discharge. Now....with a proper stance, grip control, trigger finger placement and proper focus....I am able to acquire my target fast....keep a steady sight picture and keep the front sight locked on the target. Now I Slowly exhale and let the gun surprise me with each round.

Took me about 2 years to perfect these techniques but it absolutely works once you recalibrate your shooting techniques! Hopefully others with the similar issue I had can benefit as well :)
 
StainlessSteel215 said:
what was your biggest rookie mistake when target shooting?
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Failure to watch (really watch) the front sight - throughout the shot

Trying to time the shot

Peeking at the target between shots
 
I do ok with the grip, with the trigger coverage, etc.

But - I KNOW that the recoil anticipation thing is giving me screwy groups. Frustrating, because I know I can do better. I didn't get my Pistol Sharpshooter medal by accident.
 
When I went from 22 to 45 I had to learn to give a firm consistant grip. When I learned that I found my 22 scores increased !:o So a firm consistant grip is always important , 22 or 45 !
 
Still trying to figure that out. This will be the first time admitting this openly.

I am kinda a bad shot with a pistol.

I have correct form based on everything I have read and seen. For some reason just can't put it all together in one cohesive package. :mad:

Much better with a rifle... :confused:

That's pretty much why you won't catch me offering opinions on others technique questions..
 
Great feedback...I am also still guilty of peeking at targets in between shots and not following through the whole golf swing, so to speak.

Yung, why dont you practice each one of the things I mentioned above....really drill it into your head so it becomes muscle memory? It really has changed my accuracy
 
Yung.gunr said:
Still trying to figure that out. This will be the first time admitting this openly.

I am kinda a bad shot with a pistol.

I have correct form based on everything I have read and seen. For some reason just can't put it all together in one cohesive package. :mad:

Much better with a rifle... :confused:

That's pretty much why you won't catch me offering opinions on others technique questions..
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat as you, I'm good with a pistol at about 5-8 meters but after that forget about any kind of groups.

I'm great with a rifle though and can shoot a decent size group at 500m with iron sights but I usually train at 300m for a rifle.

Sent from my LGL75C using Tapatalk 2
 
Biggest Rookie Mistake and Biggest Long Term Mistake

My biggest Rookie mistake was recoil anticipation. For YEARS all my handguns fired low and left (I'm right handed.) Finally a good coach had me work on Timed and Rapid Fire with the goal of keeping my eyes open when I fired. It worked, finally. When I could see the outline of the bullets going downrange - in good light - I knew I had that one licked.

Biggest Long Term Mistake was trying to 'squeeze' the shot too slowly. Another good coach told me to basically just keep 'mashing' on the trigger no matter what in Timed and Rapid Fire. I didn't believe it at first, but trusted the coach and sure enough, my Timed and Rapid Fire scores went up. Then I had to learn to apply the same technique in Slow Fire. My Slow Fire scores went up as well. A proper trigger pull is much like ringing a door bell; not a wild slam, but a deliberate and steady pull (squeeze, mash, press) on the trigger.

Of note, learning to fire a double action revolver in double action by a steady long pull aided in learning the technique for single action with either revolver or pistol.

As with all skills, they require practice to learn and practice to keep them up.
 
Bull gazing, jerking the trigger and squeezing the grip so hard it squealed in agony. Took me a year to get over the first two and another 2 years after that to stop doing the third one.
 
When I get a malfunction at the range, I stop to look at the type of failure it was. I also end up taking a loooong time before another is cycled and the shots continue. Something I need to work on.
 
thinking I should 'take my time' between each shot or even when not doing that, thinking i should readjust or move between shots(I am talking about rifles). Once you are set, you don't need to move or change anything.
 
The problem I had for many years was recoil anticipation. The best thing I ever did was buy an old Ruger MK I and have it suppressed. I got lots of cheep trigger time and learned to shoot much better. Im not saying that the suppressor was unnecessary but it certinally helped. I found that I was forcing the muzzle down before the shot in anticipation of the recoil.
 
mete said:
When I went from 22 to 45 I had to learn to give a firm consistant grip. When I learned that I found my 22 scores increased !:o So a firm consistant grip is always important , 22 or 45 !
Click to expand...

Same here.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
 
I still have trouble with anticipation when shooting DA on my DA/SA pistol. I get half way through thal long DA pull and flinch. Dry firing seems to help.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
 
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