what was your biggest rookie mistake when target shooting?

Great posts guys...lotta overlap on the same issues I see. Tom that last post was interesting about mental "prep".

I dont think Ive ever taken the time after setting the targets, unboxing ammo and loading the mags.....to just focus for a few minutes and go through all the steps mentally. I usually just fire off a couple of prelim rounds to get loose....then by the 3rd or 4th shot I go through all my steps one at a time.
 
Leaving my finger inside the trigger guard when I didn't intend to shoot. I darned near blew my foot off with that stupid stunt.
 
Still a beginner . . .

But I noticed the following really help.

-Make sure to lower my head like a turtle pushing his neck into his shell. Not sure if this is correct, but it helps me to have proper alignment with my sights.

-When gripping my pistols, I find I shoot more accurately if I push my palms fairly hard into each otheron the backstrap area. Again, not sure if this is correct or not, but it helps me.
 
Great post.
I've seen lots of things that I did, and some I still do, dang it. :)
When I started shooting (pistols), I read everything I could find. Libraries, used bookstores, and even gun rags (they used to actually have lots of usefull info., not just tac/ninja accessory articles). I think the 2 best pieces of advice were: 1. Breath control, and 2. Front sight.
I remember it took me forever to get the take a breath and partially exhale bit.
Now it's just natural.
 
A different view

A different perspective. Gun handling discipline is an important part of the game. However, target shooting is..

Target shooting. As in an informal plinking or training session? Or is it a NRA Bullseye competition per se? Not picking a nit but......

Bad things.

Shooting things that could send the round back at me(and did:rolleyes:). Not making sure the gun was safe(once and it scared the stuffing out of me). Learning that even though I had what seemed a safe back stop, rounds could still skip over the hill. Believing that my new found shooting buddy really is a menace to society and shouldn't even be allowed to be around guns.

Bullseye comp. Stepping forward on the firing line before it's declared safe.
Cross firing on someone else's target. Not being ready when "ready on the right....." is being called. etc.

I learned, no harm to anything, thank a deity, and went on to a safe fulfilling experience with my family.

Hobie
 
Hold the phone. your saying you don;t drink coffee before you shoot. Are you a commie or just a nut case.
i thin my worst habit was not listenung
 
Trying too many diferent types of firearms in one day . Thinkng you are expert at everyting when you are a new shooter . Now I only take one type at a time. Lessons learned over the years.
 
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As others already mentioned, for me it was peeking at the target in between shots. It's like golfing and pulling your head up as you swing to see where it goes, it never turns out good. I practiced and still do a whole lot with a .22 to instill good shooting habits and work on fundamentals.

As for people saying don't drink coffee before you shoot, I often drink coffee before and during some of my shooting sessions and see no ill effects compared to when I don't drink any. I can also down coffee and fall asleep so caffeine doesn't really have a big effect on me.
 
Dragline45 said:
As for people saying don't drink coffee before you shoot, I often drink coffee before and during some of my shooting sessions and see no ill effects compared to when I don't drink any.
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I'm a regular coffee drinker and did nothing to change my routine when I made this video. Sticking to your normal routine is likely the best route. Sudden abstinence from coffee would likely affect your shooting as bad as too much coffee would.
 
Hold the phone. your saying you don;t drink coffee before you shoot. Are you a commie or just a nut case.
i thin my worst habit was not listenung
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I thin your worst habit was not listenung in school. (sic):rolleyes:

And for everyone else, caffeine from one cup of coffee is out of your system in 3 hours. If you drink only one cup a day, like I do, drinking it just before shooting is a stupid mistake. If you drink it all day long everyday, NOT drinking it before a shoot would be a stupid mistake.
 
Not a "problem" I have but a practice. I see people load a mag full and just blow through 15 rounds in a flash. My range rule for me and my son is to load only 5 rounds per mag. We methodically go through ammo, taking time to both enjoy the outing and improve skills.


Dfsixstring
SR9c
LCP
RST4S
 
Good point Stevie but I'm not quite sure what would be worse in a situation where you are gun handling:

-being tired, unfocused and risking making a common sense mistake because you werent alert and handling properly.

or....

-being so wired up on caffeine that you are over-stimulated and accidentally jerk a trigger or whatever else might happen when you are jittery and going turbo speed. Plus I feel THIS would drastically alter your accuracy versus being tired.

When I hit the range, I try to be right in the middle!
 
I've been chided numerous times from two good friends and handgun trainers that I lower my gun to check the target while I shoot. A habit I picked up when I was young and is proving very hard to shake. I don't do it every time but they claim I'll be able to shoot faster and more accurately if I didn't have that little tick. ;)
 
I have always had issues with not being able to lean forward in my shooting stance. I blame it on being overweight but it just seems so unnatural when I lean forward a little while shooting. Even when I think about it and lean forward when I start shooting I'm standing straight up again withing 4 or 5 shots.
 
I have always had issues with not being able to lean forward in my shooting stance. I blame it on being overweight but it just seems so unnatural when I lean forward a little while shooting. Even when I think about it and lean forward when I start shooting I'm standing straight up again withing 4 or 5 shots.
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Same for me. I'm also 6'4, so I have a high center of gravity + crappy balance. Leaning forward seems unnatural.
 
Took a while for "keep the muzzle pointed downrange at all times" to sink in .. fortunately, my elders and betters pointed out the error of my ways, loud enough to be heard over the gunfire and through my ears ...
 
Mine was learning that some things should not be shot at close range with a pistole,My first hand gun was a single 6 22lr/mag.
I was shooting at a old tin stove back of the farm ,was not problem untill I tried to cut the latch off at about 10yds.Thought I killed my self,The 22mag hollow point fraged and hit me in the neck.turned out the latch wasn't tin.
Reached up to check the sting and got a hand full of blood,scared the crap out of me.It was only 2 3" long scratches but for a few seconds there I thought I was done.that was 40yrs ago and Im a bit more carefull these day's.
 
The best practice you can do is with a revolver. Shoot it in single action with two empty cases mixed with live ammo. When you drop the hammer on an empty, bet you wiggle that gun all over the place.....flinch much???? The idea is to stop moving the gun because of recoil. This, if done without you knowing the empties are in there, will shock you when you shove the barrel out and down, way off target.
 
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