Technique assistance: cant (tilt)

[Grouchy Bear]

Occasionally, I find my shot placement improves marginally with a slight (couple degree) cant towards 11 o’clock. I’m shooting righty, and I’m right eye dominant.

What’s going on here? Anyone ever experience this? Could this indicate I need to improve something specific in my grip?

I get why canting a rifle in specific contexts or for specific applications might be useful (quickly alternating ranges, awkward shooting positions, etc).

But is there some reason why my shooting might be improving when I cant my pistol slightly? Are these just fluke instances? For context, I’m new to shooting (~6-7 months, ~7,000 rounds down range, no formal training/instruction).

I can’t help think I’m doing something wrong and/or possibly building bad habits. Any thoughts?

[IVC]

One handed shooting in isosceles position usually involves cant even if the body is tilted towards the target. It's because the natural position of the wrist is canted if you point with a finger at the target, so holding the gun with one hand naturally requires that amount of cant.

As a side issue, precision pistol is normally shot from a completely different position, where the body is fully rotated and a single arm is lifted straight up from the shoulder with no cant in the wrist.

Why would that matter? Because you're likely not using your support hand correctly, so instead of getting the benefit of the two handed shooting, you're likely doing a variant of one handed shooting and cant helps there.

It would be best if you had someone evaluate your technique. My guess is that it would get fixed in an hour.

[scotty99]

[FeuerFrei]

Canting to the port side results in poi shift to the port side. Rifles or handguns.
OP fundamentals are needing corrective action.

[Jeepergeo]

Get some training from an expert that includes video of your stance, hold, and technique. Most likely, you are powering through with bad technique as compensation for something else.

Look at the best shooters out there and you will see they generally have excellent and consistent technique.

Learn and practice those excellent techniques and you will be an even better shot.

[P5Ret]

When you cant your hand it lock's your wrist. So probably what you are perceiving is the muscles in your forearm keeping you more locked into your sight picture through your trigger squeeze.

[hambam105]

It is all about getting your eye behind the gun.

The reason using a cant really is not a good or long term acceptable idea is because of recoil.

Without the proper bone structure, you need to muscle the gun more. And when the muscles fatigue bullet
impact will change and time on target lengthens when you are orienting the gun in your hand between shots.

I have no doubt about what TG told scotty99. I am 99.9% positive that TG included cautioning the shooter about canting.

[SnWnMe]

Are you hitting your target with good practical accuracy? If yes then I wouldn't worry unless you wish to be a world class competitor.

[Spyder]

^ Yep.

[hambam105]

I have seen canting the gun and I've seen shooters break or hyper extend the elbow trying to alter the arm's length
to get the front sight in focus. Nothing new. Some will argue for the side hold gangster stance which is canting on steroids.

People in general are often happy to stay in middle rather than excel in any form of human endeavor including shooting a pistol extremely well.

I can see TG recommending a cant position on the pistol. But I also firmly believe TG's advise came with more than
brief mention in regards to the limitations associated with canting the pistol.

[BigFatGuy]

Canting the gun a bit isn't terrible. If you cant the gun a bunch you can tell people you are practicing Center Axis Relock.

[Saym14]

U have the gangsta grip

[Barang]

have another person/s shoot you gun and see how he does.