Question for you Target shooters

[evollep3]

Question for all you target shooters I was always taught to shoot never fully extended (Arms) so all the body can help absorb some of the recoil for control, however me and another shooter who says he was always taught the opposite. So now my question is what does everyone here do?

[NorCal Einstein]

Hahaha

I've been told both ways when I've been instructed.

1) Fully extend, then slightly back off so you're not hyper extending.
2) Fully extend. A lock in the elbows isn't bad.

I noticed I was a little more inconsistent when I used #1 a few months ago. In the recent months, partly because I forgot...I've just been fully extending my arms. Overall, I've been shooting a lot better than I was, and I don't have to mess around with "Are my arms extended enough? Should I have a little more bend in them?". I don't notice any difference with recoil, but then again...I'm shooting 9mm on a gun with a 5" slide.

I'm curious to see what my next instructor says re: arm extension.

[evollep3]

Hahaha

I've been told both ways when I've been instructed.

1) Fully extend, then slightly back off so you're not hyper extending.
2) Fully extend. A lock in the elbows isn't bad.

I noticed I was a little more inconsistent when I used #1 a few months ago. In the recent months, partly because I forgot...I've just been fully extending my arms. Overall, I've been shooting a lot better than I was, and I don't have to mess around with "Are my arms extended enough? Should I have a little more bend in them?". I don't notice any difference with recoil, but then again...I'm shooting 9mm on a gun with a 5" slide.

I'm curious to see what my next instructor says re: arm extension.

its funny that you say that cause I tried the extended way and I like it but whats weird is either one of my arms is shorter or when I extend and lock my elbow I can only lock my right elbow when my arms are parallel.

[zfields]

Target shooting I've herd lock them out,
USPSA / Action shooting, I hear don't since followup matters more then dead on accuracy.

Personaly, I shoot 1 arm locked, one arm supporting. Locking both makes me shake to much.

[morrcarr67]

I was trained not to lock.

[Call_me_Tom]

I was taught both but practice locked. For me, it's easier to stay consistent with my arms locked under stress as my arms will go to the same spot everytime.

The way my body is built my arms aren't fully extended when they are locked out, they have a slight bend to them. It sounds strange but if I'm standing up with my arms to the side at the position of attention my arms have a slight bend even though I have them fully locked.

[JanG]

i shoot right handed and my left arm is fully extended and my right arm is slightly bent

[bigred1]

I shoot all autos from a modified weaver/fighting position with my right arm locked and left bent to compensate for distance.

Concentrate more on what your grip pressures are doing rather that how your arms are. Firing hand pushes and support hand pulls. Oh and don't forget to breath and wiggle your toes.

[shooterdude]

Do what works for you. Try different positions and when you consistently shoot well then it is hard to argue with success. There is no wrong answer while there are many right answers.

[huckberry668]

i've heard a lot of discussions on what method is best but it really depends on the type of shooting and individual physique. It doesn't work very well shooting fast and making hits if you lock your elbows with a high recoil caliber. bending your elbow(s) doesn't work well for high accuracy from off-hand. Some people can't possibly lock elbows in 2-hand hold.

but the fundametals don't change, the hold, the sight picture and trigger control apply to all situations. My opinion is, know the purpose of each method, practice them and adapt them to your shooting conditions.

[vmwerks]

I can do both but I tend to pull my arms in a little and it seems to work for me.

[BamBam-31]

modern iso, arms slightly unlocked to soak up recoil.

[odysseus]

No, not at full lock/hyper-extension.

[gizmo7718]

i shoot right handed and my left arm is fully extended and my right arm is slightly bent

^This is how I was taught, along with pushing with trigger hand and pulling with support hand.

[Black Majik]

Modern Isosceles, arms slightly unlocked. Thing of your arms as shock absorbers during recoil to help manage the recoil. With arms locked your shoulders take the recoil and you'll end up bouncing around shot to shot.