First time out with a handgun...ever

[roushstage2]

So I finally found a bit of time to take my first ever handgun out yesterday. I picked up a "Service Model" Springfield XD-40. Now, being a rifle guy, I apparently started out too far back for my own experience level (about 50 feet IIRC), hence the spray of bullets from the first 30 rounds everywhere besides on the 6"x8" target. I was also figuring out the 6 o'clock aiming. I'm used to aiming on the target I want to shoot, with my rifles. I moved forward somewhere into the 15-20 foot range, and started hitting the target. The next 3 mags were on target.



For the most part, most of my shots went in a 1'x1' area (the red square). I mean, for absolutely no prior handgun experience and no guidance from someone who knows what they are doing, I didn't do horrible with a .40S&W, did I? Obviously it's a case of practice, practice, practice, but hopefully I'll be able to go to the range with someone who can correct flaws in my form and technique.

[fullrearview]

Not bad. Try this next time... Start at 2 yards (yes, that close) and try and put every single round in the exact same hole. Take your time, focus ans squeeze the trigger.

Again. That is not bad at all for your first time.

[G-forceJunkie]

Not bad. I would suggest some basis training, its so hard to brake bad habits formed when you just try and figure it out yourself. A couple hours of basic instruction will at least show you the proper methods so that you are practicing them correctly. Practicing the wrong way just makes you really good at doing it wrong!

[ElvenSoul]

Good job!

[roushstage2]

Not bad. Try this next time... Start at 2 yards (yes, that close) and try and put every single round in the exact same hole. Take your time, focus ans squeeze the trigger.

Again. That is not bad at all for your first time.

Will do! That sounds like a good exercise to practice consistent hold, aiming and trigger pull. Thanks as well!

Not bad. I would suggest some basis training, its so hard to brake bad habits formed when you just try and figure it out yourself. A couple hours of basic instruction will at least show you the proper methods so that you are practicing them correctly. Practicing the wrong way just makes you really good at doing it wrong!

Yes, that is something I do indeed want to do. I want to try and save a bit to do a class over the summer. I want to do a rifle one, but I need more help with a handgun than a rifle.

Good job!

Thank you!

[m98]

Thats pretty good for first timer. I've seen shooters completely miss the whole target or bullet strikes ground 10yds out. Last range session i went to a whole group of thugs was shootin thier glock 9's and fo tays and their shootings riddles the entire man size target. Many holes outside the man target and many many completely miss paper. They shot aleast 500rds between all of them. There wasnt 500 holes on target. Lol

[FalconLair]

my first gun a Colt King Cobra 4" Stainess .357 magnum I took with me to the Long Beach Police Firing Range, this was back in the early 80's when they allowed the public to shoot there too. Not even sure if the range is there anymore, there's a Walmart Store right by where it was, anyway, I remember gettting so frustrated after firing about 50 rounds at about 25 feet and not one hit. "This gun is defective", thats what I thought to myself, even though deep down inside I knew it was me.

I walked over close to another guy firing his gun and he was doing pretty well and at the end of his round I just started flat out talking to him and I told him it was my first ever gun purchase and I couldn't hit the side of a barn at 25 feet. He actually took some time to give me some pointers with my stance and lining up my sights, some breathing tips and not too long after that I started raking up hits and started to get the feel for my first hand gun.

I still have that "defective" Colt King Cobra, in my safe, prolly only put about 250 rounds through it before I got my second gun, a Browning Hi-Power 9mm, so it looks like the first 2 guns I ever bought and kept still have a pretty good resell value to them. FYI, they are NOT for sale, my son gets them both lol, its just strange how one event lead to others.

Enjoy your purchase, roush, may you have many rewarding days and memorable experiences and, in short, you never know where it might lead you. And I guess a good moral would be, if you're ever in doubt, don't hesitate to ask for help.

[lilro]

One thing that's helped me get a straight trigger pull is to pretend the trigger "slides" like a sliding door instead of a hanging trigger on a hinge. Pretend it's on rails. Don't know if that makes sense. But a class with a good instructor is definitely a neccessity.

[Bobula]

Hit me up. I'll help

[jimster716]

Thats pretty good for first timer. I've seen shooters completely miss the whole target or bullet strikes ground 10yds out. Last range session i went to a whole group of thugs was shootin thier glock 9's and fo tays and their shootings riddles the entire man size target. Many holes outside the man target and many many completely miss paper. They shot aleast 500rds between all of them. There wasnt 500 holes on target. Lol

Explains why you always hear or read about the innocent bystanders who get shot. I, too, have seen thug life shoot at ranges many times only to see some seriously horrible shooting.

[Sac-AR15]

Not bad at all for being your first time with a handgun. Congrats

[MrChubbyMcLard]

Congrats on your new pistol! Next time buy Glock! Remember, squeeze, don't pull the trigger.

So I finally found a bit of time to take my first ever handgun out yesterday. I picked up a "Service Model" Springfield XD-40. Now, being a rifle guy, I apparently started out too far back for my own experience level (about 50 feet IIRC), hence the spray of bullets from the first 30 rounds everywhere besides on the 6"x8" target. I was also figuring out the 6 o'clock aiming. I'm used to aiming on the target I want to shoot, with my rifles. I moved forward somewhere into the 15-20 foot range, and started hitting the target. The next 3 mags were on target.



For the most part, most of my shots went in a 1'x1' area (the red square). I mean, for absolutely no prior handgun experience and no guidance from someone who knows what they are doing, I didn't do horrible with a .40S&W, did I? Obviously it's a case of practice, practice, practice, but hopefully I'll be able to go to the range with someone who can correct flaws in my form and technique.

[nocomply25]

good job, the 40 is not a easy introduction to shooting handguns! Keep it up and you will be on target from 50 yards in no time.

[MrChubbyMcLard]

Thats pretty good for first timer. I've seen shooters completely miss the whole target or bullet strikes ground 10yds out. Last range session i went to a whole group of thugs was shootin thier glock 9's and fo tays and their shootings riddles the entire man size target. Many holes outside the man target and many many completely miss paper. They shot aleast 500rds between all of them. There wasnt 500 holes on target. Lol

While growing up I was one of them "thug lifes!" Thank the good Lord I grew out of that CRAP!

I started shooting quiet young and I wasn't bad at all. Last year I qualified for my CCW with an LCP 380, Glock 27, and Taurus Tracker 357 mag. The instructor complimented me on my shooting, I scored 99%. I got cocky with the last shot and just pulled the trigger without really aiming, and I hit the 9 point section instead of the 10, lol!

[MikeDre]

My newbie advice that has gotten me pretty proficient in a few months and usually leaves my friends shooting much better than earlier in the day. Your results may vary.

The thing that helped me the most is realizing that the error was all because of me and not my gun
Next, the error is mostly from manipulating the gun right before pulling the trigger obviously since your sights arent wavering that much when you are holding steady, right?

Now, realize that if you just pull the trigger before you manipulate the gun's aim it will hit where you want.
So, how do you do that? First off dont be afraid of the gun jumping out of your hand. It wont happen. Next up, calm down, get the gun solidly in your hand and pushed back against your palms so if you tighten your grip a bit more it doesnt dip the muzzle, get your left hand and thumb in there to keep it all nice and solid

If your shot doesnt go where you want, quickly load up a snap cap and shoot until you dont flinch. You will realize that you are doing something when you try to shoot like pushing the gun forward. Using the snap cap think about feeling the trigger break, and not flinching before that point. Keep shooting the snap cap until you dont flinch for a few times and then go back to shooting the same way as you did with the snap cap, just with real bullets.

Rinse and repeat.