Slowfire at 50 yards and consistent sight alignment

[milotrain]

So I recently shot my first EIC match and was having real trouble. I could tell that my trigger pull was shifting my sight alignment causing shots off of intended POA. I know that this is an obvious "practice practice practice" problem but I would like to know of any training you guys do to specifically address trigger control and sight alignment. I want to start training without building up a pile of bad habits. Any coaches in the SoCal area in regards to Bullseye?

1911, one handed standard, 230gr load. Shot an abysmal 177-1x.

[fritztkatt]

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, and I'm no bullseye shooter, but I focus on sight alignment and rely on muscle memory for trigger control... if that helps.

[Rhyyke]

Dry fire at home sounds like the way to go for you. Check that your weapon is unloaded, then pick something across the room to point at and practice your sight alignment and trigger control.

[milotrain]

I know I need a boatload of dry fire and holding drills. It's a very strange feeling for me as I'm used to rifle wobble, which is the whole system wobbling, not the sight alignment wobbling. I'll get some dry fire in, and do some holding drills with dumbbells, or maybe the 1911 with some lead on it.

I've been here before with the rifle, but I don't remember how I got out

[fritztkatt]

Hopeton, I just have to think about pulling, muscle memory makes it consistent.

Dry firing and weight training should help.

[bwhited]

Bullseye is an interesting game.
Try holding a 2 litter bottle while holding aligning the top of the bottle with you intended POI.
As this becomes easier start increasing the contents of the bottle.
This should easily increase how steady you can hold the firearm.

Yes, the only way to deal with this issue if practice.
Dry fire and conditioning will work wonders when you get to the firing line, especially the long line.

You will also want to make sure your equipment lets you perform at your best.
How heavy is your trigger?
How clean is your trigger?
How much overtravel is in trigger?
What types of sights are you using?

Just a few things to keep in mind.

When you are at the range determine the distance where you can put every shot into the same hole. As you practice, this distance should increase.

So I recently shot my first EIC match and was having real trouble. I could tell that my trigger pull was shifting my sight alignment causing shots off of intended POA. I know that this is an obvious "practice practice practice" problem but I would like to know of any training you guys do to specifically address trigger control and sight alignment. I want to start training without building up a pile of bad habits. Any coaches in the SoCal area in regards to Bullseye?

1911, one handed standard, 230gr load. Shot an abysmal 177-1x.

[j1133s]

So I recently shot my first EIC match and was having real trouble. I could tell that my trigger pull was shifting my sight alignment causing shots off of intended POA. I know that this is an obvious "practice practice practice" problem but I would like to know of any training you guys do to specifically address trigger control and sight alignment. I want to start training without building up a pile of bad habits. Any coaches in the SoCal area in regards to Bullseye?

1911, one handed standard, 230gr load. Shot an abysmal 177-1x.

Is that score from 60 shots?
If so, than yes, not so good a score... but OTOH should be easy to improve.

If it is from 60 shots, then I'm going to say not to work on trigger pull yet, but work on sight picture and pistol adjustments. Are you shooting irons or dot or scope? Have you zero'ed at 50yd? How did you zero?

[j1133s]

Also, what's you 22 score?

we can help, but need more info.

[j1133s]

opps, I see you said slow fire. Ok, that score isn't good, but much better than 60 shots

Trigger pull should be on the finger pad.
Is your arm getting tired? You should rest the arm and you've got plenty of time in slow fire.
Break should be surprise.
I assume you are using a 6-oclock hold? You can attempt to leave a little gap between the top of sight and bottom of target instead of a straight 6-oclock.
Have you asked the better shooters for help?
Are you reloading? If not, try a good shooter's gun and reloaded ammo.

[milotrain]

It was a 300 point match, so not good but not as bad as a 600 point match. I crossfired twice in slowfire at 50yards. I have not really zeroed the sights, but a friend who is a decent shot set them up for me. The pistol is a 1911 that Jim Hoag tuned for Bullseye, trigger is 4lbs and it's fitted with a Kart barrel and Novak sights. My load is 4.4gr of Bullseye under a 230gr SMK FMJ in Winchester brass.

I am actually shooting a COM hold, because that's what I am used to in Highpower, but i'm willing to shoot a 6-oclock hold if that makes sense.

Currently I don't shoot the NRA bullseye matches, I've just shot the EIC match which doesn't have the optics or .22 allowance. I don't have a 22 as of yet but have been considering a marvel conversion.

How should I go about confirming a zero? I've never had luck testing the rifle on a bench, I always just shoot it in the sling prone as it's the best I can shoot it. Short of a ransom rest (which I may be able to borrow) what is the best method of supporting a 1911 for accuracy/zero testing?

I'm in the LA area and don't really know any Bullseye shooters around here, everyone I know is a Service Rifle shooter. I would LOVE to find a crew that shoots Bullseye and just hang out with them for a spell.

Thanks so much for the help!

[Pardini]

Everything you need to know.....Google....... The Encyclopedia of Bullseye Shooting. Check out all the links particularly the AMU link. Also Read Don Nygords stuff online.

[j1133s]

Here're some things to try:

1 Definitely try the 6 o'clock hold. The target is black so it is very hard to get a good aim COM. 6-o'clock outside of the black, so the black circles are just above your sight.

2 To zero your gun, you can put it on sandbags. What I do is set it up so that it would stay up by itself with bags under the dust cover and grip. Then I'd aim and fire with the slightest of contact between the pistol and my hand. The pistol will pop up on fire and drop back onto the sandbags.

3 I can't comment on your load, but as long as you reload, your ammo should be very good/consistent compared to factory.

4 Do you use up all /nearly all allotted time? You should get a count down timer (or use your smartphone) and rest as much as possible between shots. If you don't fire in x seconds, just come down and retry. To rest, I like to continue to hold the gun, just rest its muzzle on the bench.

5 To practice trigger pull, use the pad of your finger. You can use the coin trick by placing a coin on your front sight and see if you can keep it on during dry fire. Later, you can probably remove the coin and just go by feel with the dry fire.


I once helped a friend and improved her match standing from bottom to near the top with mainly the #4 advice above. (There were also some other thigns, but #4 is amazing for most).

[j1133s]

Everything you need to know.....Google....... The Encyclopedia of Bullseye Shooting. Check out all the links particularly the AMU link. Also Read Don Nygords stuff online.

The above encyclopedia is good resource too.

[milotrain]

I didn't use all the time at all. I know with the Service Rifle if it doesn't come up the way I want it to feel I take it down and start over, problem with the pistol is I don't know yet how it's supposed to feel. I know, that'll come after piles of rounds down range. I will take all your advice, thanks for giving it.

I've been reading the encyclopedia, it's very useful, but I also know how much I read about the Service Rifle that didn't scratch the surface of what I learned with a few great coaches. I'll keep hunting for a coach and doing some drills.

The coin/case trick has always been odd to me, I can absolutely keep it on the top of the barrel (even my RIA with no rib) but the sight alignment is moving all around when I do. I can break the trigger smoothly, but the gun is still in motion beyond what I consider wobble.

Thanks for the continued advice, I really appreciate it.

[j1133s]

I didn't use all the time at all. I know with the Service Rifle if it doesn't come up the way I want it to feel I take it down and start over, problem with the pistol is I don't know yet how it's supposed to feel. I know, that'll come after piles of rounds down range. I will take all your advice, thanks for giving it.

I've been reading the encyclopedia, it's very useful, but I also know how much I read about the Service Rifle that didn't scratch the surface of what I learned with a few great coaches. I'll keep hunting for a coach and doing some drills.

The coin/case trick has always been odd to me, I can absolutely keep it on the top of the barrel (even my RIA with no rib) but the sight alignment is moving all around when I do. I can break the trigger smoothly, but the gun is still in motion beyond what I consider wobble.

Thanks for the continued advice, I really appreciate it.

I never took any official lessons for NRA bullseye, but I was fortunate to shoot with some pretty good shooters who gave good advice. My first local match score was less than 550 (out of 600); I think it is 535(?). I didn't know anything besides the format and practiced prior and got around 550, so I was a bit disappointed with the match score.

But I got some advice and within 3 more matches (1 match/month). I got my score into the "respectable-for-newbie" zone of 560s. My 22 and cf scores were nearly identical, with the 22 slightly hgiher by just a few points. From 560, it took a year to break 580 in both cf and 22. Those initial easy gains were so encouraging!

My rapid fire scores were pretty good. Timed fire and slow fire, I know I was losing points. The trick there (at least for me) was to treat each shot independently and slow down.

Coming from an action pistol background, it was hard for me to slow down and get the best sight picture I can. But once I did that, I realize that each shot is independent and should be the best shot possible, it made a huge difference. Also, holding that gun 1-handed gets tiring and my wobble becomes larger, so why not use up all that time and rest up my arm.

So what help me the most was getting to know the better shooters at the local matches and just asking them for some advice. They can see what I'm doing and hae always been very friendly. I've found bullseye pistols shooters to be very friendly competitors (they are also usually old, like your highpower rifle competitors) and love to help newbies (probably because hardly any new shooters join).