Help me to be a better hand gunner

[vintagedude88]

No matter what I do, my rounds keep going low to the left.

At first, I thought it was my gun which was an S&W Sigma 40. Then I switched to an M&P 40 still the same result. I even went to the range and tried a Glock, a USP, and a Steyr. All with the same results. Someone told me to change the backstrap on the M&P to the smaller backstrap, still the same. I saw a tip on putting more grip on the support hand and less grip on the trigger hand and that still yielded the same result for me.

I'm at my wits end. What can I do to fix this problem?

[DaveInOroValley]

What type of grip are you used to? One or two hands? if you normally do two, switch to one for an experiment if you only do one switch to two....Trigger control will cause this as well if you are right handed and pulling instead of squeezing the trigger it will gravitate left and vice versa if you're left handed, concentrate on squeezing and breathing make sure when it goes off it surprises you.

[The Soup Nazi]

Marine Corps Shooting Team guys really helped us out at Far East Division Matches with some pro tips. (This is for right handers, if you use the wrong hand to shoot, it's just opposite hands) Pressure should only be directly in the center of the backstrap and the front of the grip of the piece (As in, your fingers tips should be exerting minimal/no pressure, only the joints in between making contact with the center of the pistol grip). Try dry firing a couple of times to see if you are jerking to the left. If you are, try moving your firing (right) hand left so that the insides of your wrist move inboard. (This works the opposite way as well if you seem to be jerking right) The nonfiring hand should not exert any pressure in any particular direction, it's just there to support the firing hand. Depending on what kind of jerk issue you might have (lose sight alingment right before you shoot, or your trigger pull takes a dump at the breaking point), I find it helps to mentally repeat "Sights, sights, sights, sights" or "Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze" as you take the shot.

[moosegun]

No matter what I do, my rounds keep going low to the left.

At first, I thought it was my gun which was an S&W Sigma 40. Then I switched to an M&P 40 still the same result. I even went to the range and tried a Glock, a USP, and a Steyr. All with the same results. Someone told me to change the backstrap on the M&P to the smaller backstrap, still the same. I saw a tip on putting more grip on the support hand and less grip on the trigger hand and that still yielded the same result for me.

I'm at my wits end. What can I do to fix this problem?

It can be that you are anticipating the bang. Try this. next time at the range in the middle of shooting stop yourself.. see if you dip the barrel end.. a bit..

It could be improper gun grip. for example..most common mistake.. gripping the pistol with the thumb.. thumb should rest against the pistol not exsert any pressure against the pistol.

make sure there is no gap between the support hand and the trigger hand.

It's kinda hard to help without actually seeing your shooting grip/stance..
you should post a youtube vid of you shooting.. wide view of stance and closer view of your grip while shooting..

[G-forceJunkie]

Where in So Cal are you?

[nmerced]

[racky]

you should consider buying a 22 pistol to hone your pistol fundamentals. they're fun as hell to shoot to!

EDIT:

I saw a tip on putting more grip on the support hand and less grip on the trigger hand and that still yielded the same result for me.

that's exactly what i do. grip harder with the support hand. here's a vid of my grip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6W7N4iOsE

[PandaLuv]

you should consider buying a 22 pistol to hone your pistol fundamentals. they're fun as hell to shoot to!

EDIT:

that's exactly what i do. grip harder with the support hand. here's a vid of my grip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6W7N4iOsE

That's some nice shooting. Seems like a lot of calgunners love that range lol

[HG77]

Yolo Sportmens FTW!

[corvetteguy]

Take a pistol shooting class!
They will teach you the proper grip, stance, sight picture, sight alignment, and trigger control needed to become a better shot. They can also diagnose any problems you are having with anticipation of recoil. I highly recommend an immersive class like a 4 day defensive pistol class at Front Sight!

Good luck and have fun!

David

[jamesonamac]

Practice with an unloaded gun at home. Slowly, and I mean slowly, squeeze the trigger while aiming at yourself in a mirror. Let it surprise you when it fires (clicks). When you go to the range take a buddy. Tell your buddy to randomly load one round or leave it empty, and cycle it weather or not he actually loaded one, while you look in another direction. Then your buddy hands you the gun, take aim, and slowly squeeze the trigger letting it surprise you when it goes bang, or not. Have your buddy watch the gun, especially when he knows its empty. You should both be able to ascertain weather or not you are "anticipating" by the muzzle dipping just prior to the bang or the click. I have been shooting for 18+ years and I still practice this.

Another tip is to concentrate your focus on the front sight. The rear sight should be a little blurry, the front sight should be crystal clear, and your target should be blurry. When you take aim, put that crystal clear front sight right in the middle of the blurry target and fire using the above ^ and you should see improvement.

If you don't have anyone to go to the range with, invest in a laser. It will "tell" on you. When firing with a laser, you will see the dot move as you are pulling the trigger. Keep that dot as still as possible as you squeeze the trigger.

[sanjosebmx]

have you had anyone stand behind you and watch what you are doing? My wife was having the same problem, I stood behind her and after her shot, told her how she was pulling the barrel down just before she shot (anticipating recoil I guessed). I just told her what she did, had her pull with her support hand a little more, and bang right in the bullseye. She still falls back on that old habit, but shes only got 500 rounds downrange or so....

[Bobby Hated]

i was doing the same thig and the range master at norco fixed my problem in < 5 min. my finger was too far through the trigger, and i was jerking in anticipation of the recoil.

practice dry firing at something in your house until you can do it with absolutely no movement whatsoever.

[HighLander51]

First you have to learn how to shoot a handgun. The fundamentals, stance, grip, sight picture and trigger control. You could take a basic handgun class, or have an experienced shooter take a look at your shooting and figure it out in about 5 seconds. Me and my crew will be at Norco this Saturday, go to the sign up desk and Jimmy for the 'Glock' guy and his kid, they will point you the right way. You don't have pay anything to watch.

[vintagedude88]

Lots of good help here. Thanks guys.

I'm in the Pasadena area.

I'll try to use the laser trick for training my grip. I mostly shoot alone.

I might consider a class. Anyone know of a good indoor range that has the class that I need?

Highlander51 - thanks for the invite but I won't be able to make it out to Norco. BTW what range is that?