Just finished my solo range trip and deflowered my pistol.

[relatively-anonymous]

There is a big difference between firing an instructor/rental weapon and firing your very own. I sent 100 yards down range with mixed results at 7 yards. 19 rounds on that with the 20th flying away from a flinch. Those results were typical, and more pronounced at 10 yards. Several pure bullseyes, but almost always down and to the left. I stopped myself at 100 on purpose: I don't want to develop muscle memory for BAD HABITS.

I know my problems are grip, trigger break, and anticipation. I also decided that I really DO NOT like stock Glock sights, but that's hardly a controversial opinion.

What I'd like to ask the community: What would you do? Hire an instructor/coach again for more 1:1 time? Or just practice through it? Also at what point should I consider replacing parts (like the sights or trigger break) to improve performance?

Or am I honestly just being too hard on myself for my third time on a range and first time out with a new toy?

[perpetual otter]

Get some professional training.

[CinnamonBear723]

Look up dot drills and print out your own targets. Start slow and let yourself get naturally faster and more accurate. There is no reason to be shooting at 100 yards with a pistol (parts of your post were confusing; it might be just me though). "Professional" training isn't always necessary, however if you feel you want more help then go for it. It's a perishable skill so practice practice practice.

You can accomplish a lot by doing dry fire drills at home to work on your trigger pull. Snap caps help too at the range and will really show you just how bad you flinch when mixed with live ammo.

[CinnamonBear723]

Don't be too hard on yourself. We all have to start somewhere and nobody is a crack shot their first few times out.

[relatively-anonymous]

Thanks, CinnamonBear. Clarification: I stopped myself at 100 rounds. 80 at 7 yards and 20 at 10.

I actually think I may have spoiled myself with snap cap dry fire testing at home before taking it to the range. My first few rounds were a bit too loose because I was holding it as if I was expecting no pop and got a normal 115 grain 9mm pop out of it. Then I overcompensated by holding it too tight trying to fight the recoil and eventually tiring myself out. I need to find the right balance of grip comfort.

I left the flashlight installed but off because I want to develop the skill of shooting with it on: In a home defense scenario, the flashlight will be there.

Thanks for the idea: I have a couple more magazines coming in. Next time I go to the range, I'm going to put snap caps in random spots in most of the mags and try to mix them up so I don't know when to expect them.

[aca72]

DIY maybe?

Just one of the many videos to help you...


...and the don't forget the Target Correction Chart.

[perpetual otter]

Just finished my solo range trip and deflowered my pistol.

Anybody that says "professional training isn't necessary" is giving horrible advice. Unless you have VERY experiences friends and family to guide you, how are you going to know what you are doing correct/wrong?

It doesn't even have to be a ton. A few one hour sessions or even one of those day classes with a small group is better than nothing.

[CinnamonBear723]

Anybody that says "professional training isn't necessary" is giving horrible advice. Unless you have VERY experiences friends and family to guide you, how are you going to know what you are doing correct/wrong?

It doesn't even have to be a ton. A few one hour sessions or even one of those day classes with a small group is better than nothing.

Just for background I am an armorer and firearms instructor. Being an instructor has allowed me to experience people at all different levels of ability. I respect your difference in opinion but disagree that "professional training" is necessary. And you know, I'm only partly responsible for an entire police agency. What would I know.......

If you read my entire post you would have picked up on that fact that if the OP found it necessary to hire someone than he should. Ad away to put the cart before the horse.

I think that encouraging people presents the best results, not always telling people they are right or wrong, or what they should be doing.

[CinnamonBear723]

Just one of the many videos to help you...


...and the don't forget the Target Correction Chart.

The trigger control chart is another excellent tool to better your shooting though that particular one is a bit harsh. I wish I could help in person but being LE on this site makes it all to scary to deal with people in person. Hopefully someone in your area will step up to help you out. If not, don't get discouraged and keep going.

[aca72]

I think that encouraging people presents the best results, not always telling people they are right or wrong, or what they should be doing.

WORD!

[perpetual otter]

Just for background I am an armorer and firearms instructor. Being an instructor has allowed me to experience people at all different levels of ability. I respect your difference in opinion but disagree that "professional training" is necessary. And you know, I'm only partly responsible for an entire police agency. What would I know.......

If you read my entire post you would have picked up on that fact that if the OP found it necessary to hire someone than he should. Ad away to put the cart before the horse.

I think that encouraging people presents the best results, not always telling people they are right or wrong, or what they should be doing.

If you're really responsible for the firearms training of the officers in your department and you don't believe that formal training is necessary, I would question either your integrity or your competence. No offense sir, but that is possibly the strangest thing I have read from someone who SHOULD know that proper technique and diagnosing problems along the way of proficiency is NOT innate.

But what do I know? I don't claim to be a HSLD guy or even a local LEO, but I was a gun noob over a decade ago and the best thing I ever spent money on was proper training.

[dk94044]

Umm, new toy? Your barrel/firearm isn't even broken in yet. Spend the money on more ammo and range time. Also, try and make the Reed's monthly meetup shoot, you can talk to a lot of Calgun member very veteran shooters for free advice and tips.

[relatively-anonymous]

Anybody that says "professional training isn't necessary" is giving horrible advice. Unless you have VERY experiences friends and family to guide you, how are you going to know what you are doing correct/wrong?

It doesn't even have to be a ton. A few one hour sessions or even one of those day classes with a small group is better than nothing.

Yeah I paid for a proper training session the very first time I held a handgun and I am open to doing so again. I also had a second range trip with a guy who didn't give me a "lesson" (he was just taking a guy out shooting) but gave me very valuable advice as well. I wouldn't mind hiring that first guy again and probably will, but also know that shooting is a combination of science and style and learning style from multiple people could be advantageous.

As for family and friends, I'm out of luck in the Bay except the two guys I just met mentioned above. I have a number of shooter friends in Arizona and I'd go to my "20 year Navy veteran expert marksman and instructor" brother, but sadly they;re geographically unavailable.

As a result of this post and my other noob posts, I have received a couple messages from people introducing themselves as instructors. That's nice, but if anyone has any instructors they'd received lessons from and can endorse, I'd appreciate that advice and I'm sure they'd appreciate the business.

Oh and so I don't forget: Thank you all again for posting replies and advice. It's a great help.

[relatively-anonymous]

Umm, new toy? Your barrel/firearm isn't even broken in yet. Spend the money on more ammo and range time. Also, try and make the Reed's monthly meetup shoot, you can talk to a lot of Calgun member very veteran shooters for free advice and tips.

Jackson Arms is a little closer to me but Reed's isn't too far at all. I didn't see a meetup mentioned on Reed's calendar. I'll look for it in the forums here.

[Den60]

Look up dot drills and print out your own targets. Start slow and let yourself get naturally faster and more accurate. There is no reason to be shooting at 100 yards with a pistol (parts of your post were confusing; it might be just me though). "Professional" training isn't always necessary, however if you feel you want more help then go for it. It's a perishable skill so practice practice practice.

You can accomplish a lot by doing dry fire drills at home to work on your trigger pull. Snap caps help too at the range and will really show you just how bad you flinch when mixed with live ammo.

I think he meant 100 rounds.