Working on shot group

[Vinrx7]

I'm trying to get better shot groups with my HK p2000sk.
Is it better to master my shots at closer range then keep moving further out or does it not matter? I know the mistakes I make are more obvious when i shoot at further distance. Closer up, I might be making mistakes but may not know because it's less noticeable on the target.
Just curious.

[TheExpertish]

Well for starters what is it you think you are doing wrong? Are you pulling shots to one particular direction? You should beable to notice your mistakes no matter what range the targets are at.

[JTROKS]

When I was younger I tend to practice at 7 to 15 yards for fast double tap drills and for accuracy at 25 yards up to 50. Now a days if I get to shoot at all I'm happy. 25 yards is a good gauge to see if you can actually hold your groups together.

[CK_32]

Unless your shooting hole in hole shots then stick with shorter ranges.

Because if you miss the paper you wont learn much will you?

I only shoot at targets at 25 yards every so often to help my mind take a shot that far at a human target if the time ever comes to make a life or death shot at that range. But as for groups if a group is wide at short range just multiply it at a farther range the bullet is taking the same path either way.

Like a precision shooter. You dont start at 1000 to work on fixing your 100 yard groups. Your master the short range then move your way out.

But just stick to normal distance and work on your groups then unless they are tight groups. Then challenge your self a little when you master shorter ranges. Unless you want to train your self for CCW stuff then mix it up to keep your mind sharp so if you need to your head wont say man Idk if I can hit a target that far out.

Just my opinion.

[c-wick]

I actually was shooting that gun yesterday for the first time (buddies gun) and found it to be very difficult to keep tight groups. I would think thats a hard pistol to get accurate with. Or it could just be me

[Wolfhound9k]

Starting off close builds shooter confidence and gives you instant feedback for making quick corrections in your grip/stance/shooting technique. You should progressively move your target farther out as your groups tighten up. Starting off far back just isn't as fun IMO, and won't give you the encouragement you need when all you're seeing is miss, miss, miss, miss, where am I hitting??... in the beginning.

Also, if you're trying to cure a flinch throw some snap caps (dummy rounds) in the mix with your live rounds and blind load your mags or have a friend help you. Then watch the front sight dip when you break the shot and you'll see your groups tighten up dramatically!

[Hopalong]

I practice mostly at 7, 10, and 15 yards.

These are my qualifying distances, and most realistic.

I go to 25 yards just to show off

And shut guys up who have to tell me how much they know

[Kempfer]

I primarly practice at the 25yd w/ 5.5" bullseye when working on fundamentals (draw, sight picutre, trigger pull, reset, follow through) and accuracy. The best way to bring your group sizes down at a certain distance is to work from farther away.

This is my usual session for working on fundamentals and accuracy:

Each shot is from the holster, don't go fast but make a PERFECT draw.
Make sure you call each shot, if you can't then you are closing your eyes when you shoot. Keep them open.


@25yds :: 50 rounds total :: 7 dummy rounds :: 2 Magazines

1) 5x cold slow fire and score (5 rnds) Keep this so you can see your improvement.

2) Shoot one round, dry fire 3 times, repeat 10 times (10 rnds)

3) Mix two mags with dummy rounds and a total of 10 rounds of ammo. Slow fire. If you flinch dry fire 5 times after each one. (10 rnds)

4) Repeat 2

5) Repeat 3

6) 5x warmed up slow fire and score (5 rnds) Keep this so you can see your improvement.

This gave me good results. Don't cheat, put all you got into making sure each round hits the black and everything is perfect including dry fire.

If you can't hit paper at 25yds then start closer, maybe 20yds and if not 15yds. The goal is to do everything at 25yds slowly and perfectly.

[HighValleyRanch]

At the basic firearms class, they have students doing the five yard one hole drill.

They paint a one inch square on the target, and have students practice having all their shots touching or punching out the hole.

So many people can do this, but when they move out to ten yards, their group opens up quite a bit, and at 15 yards, they are more like 8 to 10 inches.

Now, if you can shoot a 1 inch group at 5 yards, you should be 2 inches at 10 and 3 inches at 15 yards.

So why is it that groups open up so much when moving back, more than the above formula?
Triangulation, which is sight ALIGNMENT mistakes rather than sight picture.
And of course the triangular difference by trigger control mistakes of pulling the gun off with jerks.

[BamBam-31]

Start close. Get quarter-sized groups at seven yards, then move out. To start at 25 yds. to improve group sizing when you're not doing that well to begin with is an exercise in futility and frustration.

Above all else, dry fire. Your group sizes will improve dramatically with practice you can do for free and at your very home. Just make sure there's no live ammo around when you do it.

[9mmepiphany]

Yup, start close. You'll be able to see your errors easier and will be able to see the results of corrections you make to your shooting. I also wouldn't shoot more than 3-5 shots at the same target before evaluating how I was shooting.

I usually start new students out at 5 yards. When I was recently at Gunsite, they were starting every new technique at 3 yards.

When you can shoot inside 2" at 5-7 yards, you can start moving to further distances

[Vinrx7]

Well, I usually move my target to about 15 yard.
I take 5 shots then bring it in to evaluate. My shots usually end up left and a little low. I definitely know I'm flinching or anticipating the recoil. I need to work on that somehow.
I'll give those snap caps a try and see if that helps.

[Vinrx7]

I'll try some of the tips you guys posted.
Thanks.