Marksmanship question

[the Scholar]

Question:
Why are my groupings better when firing slightly more rapidly as opposed to taking my time?

Background:
So I was at the range today getting some practice and trying to correct some long term mistakes I have recently found out that I am doing (i.e. working on a better stance, trying not to push my pistol out so far/rolling my shoulders so far forward, etc...)

Anyways, going slow and taking my time between shots, my groupings kind of suck. It got a little better as I kept practicing but I notice that I anticipate my shots/break in the trigger a bit too much. As I switched to a faster rate of fire, my groupings were better and more on target.

Now, I am not a great marksman but I am not terrible. Anyways, I was just wondering if this is common and what the reasons may be.

For reference, I was shooting my H&K P2000 9mm

[Che762x39]

...
Anyways, going slow and taking my time between shots, my groupings kind of suck. It got a little better as I kept practicing but I notice that I anticipate my shots/break in the trigger a bit too much. As I switched to a faster rate of fire, my groupings were better and more on target.

Basically over thinking the shot.

[Rnlinebacker]

You may be flinching when going slow. On your first shot, look at the spot in target you want to hit and bring sights up to it then squeeze trigger straight back quickly. That's your reference point now.

Try to hit that first shot hole on target every time when going slow or fast. Only thing you would need to adjust is your sight high or low depending on where consequent shots are placing. The groups should be tight which verifies right grip, sights, trigger squeeze, etc

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[divingin]

It's not uncommon. Many bullseye shooters see a similar thing, shooting better scores timed fire vs slow fire. It's generally trying to be too accurate during slowfire - trying to let the shot go when sights and position on target all look good, which leads to less than ideal trigger control. Timed fire, you watch the sights more and trust that if they're lined up, the shots will be good no matter where on the target it is, and they usually are.

[randomBytes]

shooting at regular cadence can improve your group by avoiding over thinking

[hambam105]

Imagination has a lot to do with it.

Actor R. Refford had a little different take on it in the movie, Butch & SD kid.

[SandDiegoDuner]

Are you trying to spot your shots as soon as you have fired them? Squeeze the trigger and keep focusing on the front sight and don't bother checking where the last shot went until well after it has been fired.

[FreshTapCoke]

For me, arm strength was a factor too. My weak arms would get tired supporting the gun in the air, not to the point that it was shaking, but to the point that I was more sloppy.

[javaduke]

Remember that movie, "The Last Samurai"? "Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind enemy -- too many mind. No mind."

Just focus on the front sight (or dot), keep it consistently in the aiming area, let it wobble naturally and let your subconscious to pull the trigger. Work on your stance, exercise to reduce the wobble, maintain proper stance and grip, and your groups will become sub-MOA before you know it (well, not really sub-MOA, but you catch my drift, ).

[IVC]

The answer is in your post - you anticipate the shot.

The most important part of accurate shooting is trigger control. You don't even need to aim until you have figured out how to pull the trigger without disturbing the sight alignment. What you see won't be what you hit until then.

In faster fire, there is a good chance that you're concentrating on the clock instead of anticipating the recoil, which reduces the flinch. If you are pushing the limit and firing as soon as the sights are back on target, you also reduce flinch because you use the next shot to compensate for the downward movement of the gun.

Hard to tell without a video, though, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

[hambam105]

The most important part of accurate shooting is trigger control.

I am pleasantly surprised. You are the first shooter, other than me, to recognize that accuracy comes from trigger control. There is still hope.

Wait! What am I saying? Accuracy doesn't depend on you. You can buy accuracy when you purchase, we do accept PayPal, this gadget from me. We are having a 1 day gunshow special just for you. And later, after you buy a NV condominium, you too will be the gunfighter from hell.

[the Scholar]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to try and hit the range a bit this week to practice a bit more.

[IVC]

I am pleasantly surprised. You are the first shooter, other than me, to recognize that accuracy comes from trigger control. There is still hope.

Well, ahem, it's not exactly that I *recognized* it or that I invented it, although it would've been really nice if I did...

(I've been taught and it makes sense so I stick to it until I find a better explanation or method.)

[9mmepiphany]

(I've been taught and it makes sense so I stick to it until I find a better explanation or method.)

You don't have to keep looking, there is no more accurate explanation. No matter what other people choose to believe, trigger management will always have the greatest impact on accurate shooting

[Packy14]

Question:
Why are my groupings better when firing slightly more rapidly as opposed to taking my time?

Background:
So I was at the range today getting some practice and trying to correct some long term mistakes I have recently found out that I am doing (i.e. working on a better stance, trying not to push my pistol out so far/rolling my shoulders so far forward, etc...)

Anyways, going slow and taking my time between shots, my groupings kind of suck. It got a little better as I kept practicing but I notice that I anticipate my shots/break in the trigger a bit too much. As I switched to a faster rate of fire, my groupings were better and more on target.

Now, I am not a great marksman but I am not terrible. Anyways, I was just wondering if this is common and what the reasons may be.

For reference, I was shooting my H&K P2000 9mm

Flinching/anticipating