Tips to improve grouping

[Markus]

Im actually left handed just so you know.... I find it hard to look at what people do and then try and flip everything around for me. Makes me want to take a class but also worry that it would be a waste of money if the instructor cant help a lefty.

[Bill Steele]

It is likely not the gun.

On the failures, if you didn't strip and lube everything before shooting the first time, I would give a strip, clean and lube a try.

On the target, looks like you are pushing in anticipation. I agree with the advice of the benefit of dry fire practice. Another drill that will show you immediately if you are pushing in anticipation; have a friend load your magazines. After a few mags, have him start inserting an occasional snap cap. When you get to that dud, you will see your motion immediately after the hammer/striker drops, if you have any.

[OneSevenDeuce]

Well, I agree about the fundamentals and basic mechanics of operating the weapon and shooting it safely. But I would argue that people could pick up point shooting faster and succeed at it in shorter time than would be possible with slow group fire - taking your time and placing shots tends to exacerbate any flaws in your mechanics and technique. And I think that kind of shooting is best for people who spend a decent amount of time at the range rather than the guy going out there once a month or less just to practice so he feels confident in a self defense situation. I think that scope is too narrow for someone who first should be capable of picking up that gun and putting some well placed shots on a man sized target, I can't count how many people I have seen who can shoot sub 2" groups when slow firing, but can't even get half their rounds on center mass when doing a practical fire exercise.

It's much more likely that someone will need to fire a string of rounds in self defense, than need to shoot a hostage taker in the head with one well placed shot.

JMHO.

The problem isn't that slow fire isn't as good for new shooters, or that people who are very good at slow fire wont be as good at combat shooting. The problem is that if there is a deficiency with one or the other then it usually indicates an imbalance between the two. You need both. The guy that goes to the range once a month very much so needs to slow fire as much as he needs to practice combat drills. The key is finding the balance between the two that will allow you to reach your greatest potential with the time available to you. As with everything, start slow and build speed. If you just go out once a month and sling lead then you probably aren't doing yourself as much good as you could be.

[kermit315]

Is this your first handgun? If so, might try with a .22 before you switch over to the .45 next time out.

Also, I would say if it is your first handgun experience, you probably have a flinch. If you have a buddy, have him load a random snap cap into each of your magazines, in a different position (1-10). Make sure you dont know where in the stack it is. Then, when you get to it, the gun wont fire, but will ID any flinch you have. If all is steady, then its a form issue (pushing, etc....go by the chart).

Also, the slide lock problem could be your thumb, due to the location of the slide release on sigs.

[HCz]

Evaluating firearm accuracy from a standing unsupported position is counterproductive, especially when done by a novice unfamiliar with the platform.

and your comment has very little, if anything, to do with the original post. The original poster is talking about his skills, not dealing with inherent accuracy of his pistol. A few of us here on Calguns know you are a bit eccentric(and I'm being very gentle here), but please try to at least know what the subject is about.



As for trigger control, you have to learn it. It is a lot easier to have a good trigger control and then lose it, than to not have it and try to bring it up in situation of need. Bullseye shooting may not be as sexy as tactical shooting, but having a good trigger control is definitely a plus. Learning how to bring speed up after you have trigger control is more effective than trying to learn trigger control after bad habits set in.

My suggestion is to dry fire and use a .22 pistol(SIG has conversion kits, if you are interested). You are definitely flinching and need to get rid of it ASAP.

[Greg-Dawg]

Makes me want to take a class but also worry that it would be a waste of money if the instructor cant help a lefty.

It won't be a waste if you do your research. This is what you ask: "how long have you been teaching?".

[tiko]

Before to see how accurate is the shooter, you have to see how accurate is the gun and do you have to adjust its sights, place it on a sandbag to shoot then compare to shoot off hands.

[J-cat]

and your comment has very little, if anything, to do with the original post. The original poster is talking about his skills, not dealing with inherent accuracy of his pistol. A few of us here on Calguns know you are a bit eccentric(and I'm being very gentle here), but please try to at least know what the subject is about.

You know what, dude? I know what the subject is about. It is about a guy who does not know how to shoot. And the best way to learn, in my opinion, is to understand each element. Therefore, if he sits down behind some sand bags and learns sight alignment, trigger control, and breathing while not having to worry about flinching and shaking, he'll do alot better.

I'm being gentle here, so please understand what my reply is about before you comment.

[FrankDux]

I had same exact issue when i first got mine. With "The Sig failed to lock 3 times, the first two times I think had to do with the magazine springs being really tight." you mentioned about. I was all over the place and actually hated the gun. After bout 200 rnds or so had no mech issues.

[HCz]

You know what, dude? I know what the subject is about. It is about a guy who does not know how to shoot. And the best way to learn, in my opinion, is to understand each element. Therefore, if he sits down behind some sand bags and learns sight alignment, trigger control, and breathing while not having to worry about flinching and shaking, he'll do alot better.

I'm being gentle here, so please understand what my reply is about before you comment.

Really? I'd have better understanding of your rambling if you used 'shooting' instead of 'firearm' in your post. considering that in the past you could not get over how awesome it is to shoot from benched position, and it is so important to know the mechanical accuracy of a pistol, I think my reply was quite on the spot.

You can have an opinion, but it probably is either wrong or out of touch that it is practically useless. Putting a gun on a bench and shooting it will help with accuracy and so forth, but when it comes to learning how to shoot, standing unsupported is better method. Anything that goes wrong can be shown, and IIRC, NRA basic pistol course tends to go with standing unsupported shooting position for pistol instruction.

[J-cat]

You can have an opinion, but it probably is either wrong or out of touch that it is practically useless. Putting a gun on a bench and shooting it will help with accuracy and so forth, but when it comes to learning how to shoot, standing unsupported is better method.

No it isn't. Benching your gun allows you to control the variables better than standing unsupported. You can control breathing, sight alignment, and trigger control more easily. This is not an outdated method. It is an alternative method, something you fail to comprehend.

Why don't you mind your own business and stop correcting people especially when you don't know what you are talking about.

[fullrearview]

Thats not to bad dude....Just look at the chart above and practice, practice, practice.

The good thing about sigs, is you can dry fire all day long and not have to rack the slide to do so.

[HCz]

No it isn't. Benching your gun allows you to control the variables better than standing unsupported. You can control breathing, sight alignment, and trigger control more easily. This is not an outdated method. It is an alternative method, something you fail to comprehend.

Benching your gun will help with controling variables which may help in figuring out if it's the gun or the shooter, but it is no more efficient than the off-hand shooting for teaching purpose. You can control breathing, sight alignmnet and trigger control just as easily with standing unsupported position when learning. Your 'method' doesn't really help with learning how to shoot, but it may help with you stroking your own ego. Think about it for a moment. Even the NRA pistol instruction doesn't start off with benched shooting, IIRC. The 'gains' from benched shooting is no more than shooting while standing unsupported. The alternative doesn't mean that it is any better.

Why don't you mind your own business and stop correcting people especially when you don't know what you are talking about.

Take your own advice - you could really use it instead of trying to show off your (limited) knowledge.

[J-cat]

Benching your gun will help with controling variables which may help in figuring out if it's the gun or the shooter, but it is no more efficient than the off-hand shooting for teaching purpose.

This thread isn't about efficiency. The OP does not have a train to catch. This thread is about understanding each variable and how it affects accuracy.

You acknowledge my point, but just can't help yourself to throw in that one last insult. Congratulations.

[redcliff]

Theres more than one way to skin a cat, and J-cats method has value in showing that its the shooter, not the pistol or ammo thats causing misses. Conversely you can show them the same thing by shooting a tight group with their pistol off-hand. Different strokes for different folks.

The OP's problem comes back to fundamentals as most problems do; sight alignment, trigger squeeze, or front sight focus is changing for the latter shots in his group. Often this is caused by shooters looking "over the sights" at the target to see how they're grouping. Visual focus needs to be maintained on the front sight and is important for follow through and "calling" the shot.