Still a horrible shot

[santacruzstefan]

Took the new Glock 21SF out with another Calgunner today, and man, I am all over the place. Its not as bad as how I was with my old Glock 17, though I was a bit better with a CZ P-01 (sold both guns a while ago due to financial constraints at the time). However, I shot his 1911 (SA Operator) and was dead on with the first shot, then keeping the whole mag within a 4" area at 15 yards or so. This was the first time I've shot a 1911, too. So what is it? A friendly stranger came over and told me I was flinching with the Glock, and sending my shots low. That could be it. I much prefer the recoil of .45 to 9mm; everyone says 9mm is soft shooting, but it has more flip for me than .45, which is more controllable/ pleasurable to shoot. So any hints about the problem? Should I just keep dry firing it, practicing, maybe get some training? I don't think its the Glock, I'm sure its me, although maybe its me getting used to how the Glock is angled? I dunno fellas, tips are appreciated.

Please don't say I should get a 1911 instead, although after shooting Neve's... I think one is on the horizon for me anyway. But I know the Glock is capable of great accuracy, so I'd like to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

[Astig Boy]

1911s have excellent ergonomics(a more natural angle) as well as an excellent trigger. Most people experience better shooting with a 1911, even when the shooter is new. It is more forgiving even if you suffer from the flinch of anticipating the next shot with other handguns. Newer guns, notably the plastic ones have a lot of slop on the trigger, which lends itself to more flinching. I notice the better the trigger the better I shoot. The Glock may not be the hand gun for you AT THIS TIME. I myself started with a Sig P220 and moved on to a CZ, and then the HK USP...my worst shooting being with the HK even though I had years under my belt of shooting pistols...I then moved on to a 1911. The 1911 was the eye opener for me...it was like a whole new world of shooting. It was dead on since the beginning and my groups just got tighter and tighter. The more I shot the 1911 the better I got with all my hand guns.

[santacruzstefan]

1911s have excellent ergonomics(a more natural angle) as well as an excellent trigger. Most people experience better shooting with a 1911, even when the shooter is new. It is more forgiving even if you suffer from the flinch of anticipating the next shot with other handguns. Newer guns, noteably the plastic ones have a lot of slop on the trigger, which lends itself to more flinching. The Glock may not be the hand gun for you AT THIS TIME. I myself started with a Sig P220 and moved on to a CZ, and then the HK...my worst shooting being with the HK even though I had years under my belt of shooting pistols...I then moved on to a 1911. The 1911 was the eye opener for me...it was like a whole new world of shooting. The more I shot the 1911 the better I got with all my hand guns.

Ah, so maybe become proficient with something like a 1911, then transfer my skills over to a Glock. But if I learned the basics with the Glock, wouldn't those skills transfer to a naturally- superior gun like a 1911, and make me an even better shot in the long run?

[kTC xDEICIDEx]

Buy some of those self adhesive orange targets and place one at 25 feet and practice some dry firing. It's helped me out a lot. 

[llamatrnr]

For what it's worth, I was shooting today with four other guys (one an NRA master pistolero (forget the designation, but top of the game) with no Glock experience (except 1 with a Glock 21 and they went ape shooting my Glock 30 - loved it, went on and on about it...

I agree with you about the recoil: I find the 9's to be very "snappy" compared to the gentle "push" of the .45, and the rest of the guys were pretty amazed at how soft shooting it is.

My shooting improved when I added Pearce extensions to the mag, allowing use of all fingers. The 21 felt horrible in my hand.

Oh, to veer off topic a bit, one guy had a brand new Mossberg 930 and we all ran a few rounds of bird and buck through it . . .yeah, baby, it's nice!

[junkit_boy]

I find Glocks bruise my middle finger under the trigger guard after 20 rounds..Can't do them. Not to say Glock are bad..I just never found them comfortable to shoot.

[Spirit 1]

Something that may help is to try some casual 'point' shooting also called 'snap' shooting etc. You're just pointing the gun on your target, not aligning sights & casually squezing of a round or two. Less demanding and takes much of the anticipation out of it. Actually helps become more familiar with the ergo's and can be downright priceless experience in a true high stress emergency. You get to learn where the gun naturally points with your various grip stances. 50 to 100 rounds of zero stress point shooting can get rid of whatever flinching you did have before, plus it's good old fun, nothing wrong with that!

[PRCABR4Christ]

go to the range, pick a spot on your target, and just pound it, focus on your front sight, sight alignment and trigger press...start off at 15ft or so and keep moving back, you'll get more accurate the more you do it

[aermotor]

Not sure how a 1911 can be superior to a Glock or even vice versa... Anyway.


Keep shooting the Glock. A bunch. Just need to get used to the trigger. I hope you're taking up all of the slack on the Glock, the crisply breaking that last little bit. Dry fire dry fire dry fire! I do it a lot with all my Glocks and it definitely helps me. Also, don't start off trying to shoot 1 inch groups or something... paste a 4" target up at 7 yards and get them all in there.

My Glock 21SF is my favorite gun to shoot. It's just so soft, to me there is far less perceived recoil than a 1911. People who say the 1911 recoils less because it's heavier are off their rocker. Shoot them both side by side and notice the difference. Just keep at it and learn where the gun needs to be aimed to impact. I had two 1911s and sold them both cause I like Glockms and their simplicity better.

I didn't like the recoil with the G17 and 9mm, it flips like you're saying. But I recently shot a G19 and was very surprised at how buttery smooth it shot... So I added it to my collection as my first 9mm. I love this little guy.

Good luck!

[Killawhale415]

I must agree that I think nines flip a little more than .45s

.45s seem more like a generous push backwards rather than a snappy flip upwards, but then again I've only shot a few 9mms

Keep shooting the Glock and have a range buddy randomly fill a mag with snap caps and live rounds, imo this is some of the best flinch training you can.

[tacticalcity]

PROBLEM SOLVED...

http://gofast1.com/handguncourses.php

[razr]

You could be pushing, heeling, tightening fingers and or grip, slapping trigger or even not breathing correctly. Hire a trainer for an hour and have him work with you on your tigger and sight and a bit of double tap at the end. Its muscle memory and when you stop it goes away. At 15 yds you should get the same result with a Glock as you would with a 1911. Glocks are not known for their accuracy. If you think 9 is snappy try a 40.

[himurax13]

I would need to see you shoot but it sounds like your need to work on your grip. A 1911 with a nice trigger would mask this problem. If you could I would try shooting a glock with a 22 kit for a while till you can get nice tight groups.

[1911RONIN]

PROBLEM SOLVED...

http://gofast1.com/handguncourses.php

this. or this:

http://www.internationaltactical.com/index.html

[Lead Waster]

I'm not a pro, but I believe that practice makes perfect! However, it's expesive unless you reload or use a .22. I think spending an hour or two at the range with just a .22 will help a lot. However, if you keep repeating bad habits and have no-one there to help you out will have diminishing returns.