shooting low

[Creampuff]

How bizarre. It is not like I am new to shooting; I have been shooting since 1991. Out of nowhere, the past two times I have gone handgun shooting, I have been shooting low. It is not the gun's fault, as I have been shooting low and slightly right (I am a lefty), with the 226, HKUSP9, and 226ST (0.40).

I guess shooting low is a sign of jerking the gun in anticipation. Don't know why I am anticipating, I was primarily shooting 9mm - very little recoil to anticipate. Time to randomly mix in some snap caps, and break the habit.

To be honest, I haven't had much time in the past 3 months to go shooting. So I take it I lost a little muscle memory over the months.

How have you guys compensated for jerking due to anticipation? This is embarassing to post, as the 9mm really is a very mild round. The 0.40 snaps harder, but in a heavy stainless platform it feels like a 9mm.

[Elucidus]

Practice your trigger pull with snap caps a lot. will help a lot with jerking your pistol.

[What Just Happened?]

I just throw in some snap caps and pull the trigger slower.

[RAD-CDPII]

Put a snap cap in the pistol and a dine on the barrel, cock it and fire it. Keep doing that until you can consistantly dry fire it with the dime not moving or falling off. It's just a matter of practice.

[5968]

Hope this helps.

[InvictusManeo]

I don't know about creampuff, but that definitely helps me! My suspicion is confirmed, and I AM tightening my fingers while pulling. I was shooting right on the line between there and "jerking" last time I went out. Couldn't be sure why. Thanks!

[sloguy]

that chart says it pretty well. ive even seen that image printed as targets.

[AngelDecoys]

Stand up, you'll shoot higher

Mashing is generally a trigger control or anticipating recoil issue

+1 on chart.
+1 on dime method.

Also good to find a place to practice moving AND shooting (Most ranges frown on this).

Incidently, shooting low/mashing is why (in a hypothetical gun fight) you should not crouch, but instead practice - shoot and move techniques.

Generally under stress, you'll shoot half as well as you practice.

Under stress, let the 'other guy' mash sending their rounds low. Better to NOT get shot, of course. But if you got to take one, better in the legs than in the thorasic cavity. Crouching just increases the odds of taking one where you don't want it.

Hense the phrase, "stand up and fight like a man."

My .02

[5968]

I don't know about creampuff, but that definitely helps me! My suspicion is confirmed, and I AM tightening my fingers while pulling. I was shooting right on the line between there and "jerking" last time I went out. Couldn't be sure why. Thanks!

Glad to help out.

[randy]

operator error

[kap]

I like the chart. Sounds like a typical problem of mashing the trigger. You just need to practice slow steady trigger pulls.

[Creampuff]

operator error

Uh thanks..but I am pretty sure that was established at the beginning.

[5968]

Uh thanks..but I am pretty sure that was established at the beginning.

Some people offer all the help in the world.

[Creampuff]

I like the chart. Sounds like a typical problem of mashing the trigger. You just need to practice slow steady trigger pulls.

Yep..got the snap caps out and even tried the dime trick. In my 3 month absence from shooting, I somehow started to wrap my left hand more forward (more of a counter clockwise twist forward), and as a result had less of my trigger finger on the trigger. This caused me to push/mash down on the trigger rather than squeezing. Plus, I noticed I lowered the muzzle just a touch in anticipation.

Scary, how much I lost in only a 3 month break. That chart was fairly accurate in assessing what I was doing wrong (I had to flip it since I am a lefty).

[DWill]

You should also ensure that your support hand (right) grip is firm around your shooting hand. If the support hand grip is weak, the recoil tends to flip up the muzzle more and the hands can separate. Shooters tend to overcompensate by squeezing the grip more with their shooting hand resulting in the low left (right handed shooters) or low right shots (left handed shooters).