Help me to hit the target consistently down the center.

[DeeL2003]

Made my 3rd trip to the range. First time there I was just getting acclimated to firing my first ever handgun(HK USPf .40). Second and third time there I noticed I'm shooting low and to the right. I'm a lefty, I try my best to get my sights lined up evenly, tried adjusting trigger finger to where I'm using the pad of instead of the 1st joint. I watched the Jarrett Youtube vid on how to use proper grip, etc. What gives? I keep practicing but I usually go alone so there's no one to give constructive feedback. It's starting to get frustrating at times because I'll hit the bullseye dead on sometimes and mostly others start to hit low.

I know you guys can't give me the most accurate feedback since you're not there to watch me but if you can give me pointers on what you do to prepare to pull the trigger. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

There's actually an instructor at the range that offers training by appointment only. I think I'm gonna give it a go. Does $50/hour sound right? He said I'll most likely just need one hour of training or slightly less. He said something about getting my sight alignment right. Getting my eyes focused more on the sights, etc.

Either way I'm having alot of fun at the range and it's getting addicting(spending too much $$$). I'm already waiting for my Glock 21SF after my 10 day wait.

[Matt C]

You are most likely jerking the trigger and anticipating recoil a bit. It's hard to show you how to shoot over the internet though, I'll leave that to someone else. I'll be happy to give you some actual range instruction in exchange for a free lunch, if you are in the LA area.

[What Just Happened?]

I see you're out in Corona. I go there every couple weeks for the SSA Steel Madness at Raahauge's. There's one this Sunday. If you were to go there, I could help you out.

I'd do some snapcap / dryfire practice. Basically, you're not keeping the gun steady enough. As you're pulling the trigger, you're not keeping the gun balanced and too much of the trigger pulling action is being translated to the whole gun.

Unload the gun. double check it. triple check it. dryfire at home and you'll notice how your gun is ticking when the hammer falls. You want to eliminate that. The easiest way requires a trigger job. The best way is to work on your trigger pulling.

When you go to the range, get some snap caps and mix them into your normal ammo. when it gets chambered and you pull the trigger, you might see yourself flinch in anticipation of recoil. You want to train yourself to not do that.

[BamBam-31]

If you ever come up to Angeles Shooting Range, I'd be happy to help you. IMHO, BWO is probably right. .40S&W for a beginner is a very flippy caliber, and that can give you a bad case of the flinches.

My suggestion is for you to buy some snap caps and dry fire LIKE CRAZY. You can do this at home, but do it in a room w/o ammo. When you get your Glock, dry fire that puppy to death also. Dry fire at least ten times for every live round you're gonna fire at the range (if you're gonna shoot 100 rounds on Saturday, dry fire 1000 times during the week). Concentrate on keeping the sights aligned on a small point on the wall, then squeeeeeeeze the trigger. Don't let the sights become unaligned before, during, or after the whole trigger pull process. Keep the gun steady (some people like balancing a coin atop the slide to see how steady they can pull the trigger).

Also, invest in a good .22 for practice (Rugers and Brownings are highly recommended). Cheaper ammo, and the technique for shooting a .22 accurately is the same as it is for a .45.

Good luck.

(Ah, WJH beat me to the punch! )

[Beelzy]

The others said it, its all in the flinch that you have a tiny case of.

Try different ammo, maybe a lighter load won't transmit so much recoil back to you and will help the grouping. At least you are on the paper and consistent. Parctice makes perfect, and you are on the right track.

[pnkssbtz]

This youtube vid has some good tips for proper grip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48

+1 on the flinching.


Try switching to a .22 and see if you have the same problem.


My first pistol was a USP .40f also. And the problem with the light polymer frame and high pressure cartridge, as well as the dual buffer springs is that the slide snaps back pretty hard before the 2nd spring even effects it. I believe the stock main spring is 12lbs while the little spring is 20+ lbs. I have since upgraded the main spring in my USP to a 14lbs and have noticed less issues with snappiness.

This makes the USP .40f have a really snappy recoil and I would develop a horrendous flinch after the first mag. It took about 3k rounds through my usp to over come it. But I also practiced a lot with a SW mk41 (22LR).

[randy]

Move your finger out from the trigger that might help with the right hits. The down is a flinch. Spend some cash with a shooting instructor it will save you money in the end.

[DeeL2003]

Thanks!

Thank you very much for all the advice. Flinching is what I think I'm doing alot of. Earlier at the range there were two occasions when I forgot the safety was on and when I pulled the trigger, I could see my hands tense up and kind of point down for a millisecond. And for sure I'm not using the trigger correctly. I don't know the correct way to pull the trigger.

BWO: I might take you on your offer. I commute to the South Bay for work and sometimes stay a little longer and go to So Cal Sharpshooters in Torrance. Is that near your neck of the woods?

What Just Happened: Sunday I'm unfortunately working. I always wanted to check out Raahauge's but they don't offer public handgun range use. Members only I think.

BamBam: Angeles is too far for me. I had to drive 80+ miles to Metroshot to order my Glock. The only other time I'm planning to go back there is when I pick it up. Thanks anyways.

pnkssbtz: Yeah that's the vid I was talking about. I think I watched it about 10+ times.

About ammo, I was using WWB and tried out Blazer brass for the range. I was using Magtechs during my very first trip, but Walmart prices are just too hard to beat even though I liked the Magtechs.

The .40 is pretty snappy, I tried a .45 1911 and only noticed a slight difference in the amount of felt recoil. I kinda liked it, that's probably why I ordered the Glock 21SF(will get a 1911 in the future). The .22 sounds like a great idea for practice, especially when that ammo bill passes

Do you guys think the $50/hour instructor is a decent price? I'm willing to learn from anyone that has the time and is kinda close by. BWO, does Taco Bell for lunch sound good. j/k

[Black Majik]

DLee,

If trigger control is what you're really looking for, dryfiring really helps. Bambam-31 is one of the best shots I've seen, so his offer to help you at Angeles is a good one. I guarantee you'll learn a lot from him.

Also, email the Grayguns group at Dryfire@grayguns.com . You'll get a dryfire packet of important tips to helping your dryfiring sessions.

Also, understanding your trigger system will help a lot. Learning the trigger slack, break and reset points in your trigger will help you tremendously also. Your USP40 will have a lot of slack in the trigger. (Make sure the chamber is empty) As you slowly press the trigger all the way back, you'll start to feel heavy resistance. The free motion in the trigger prior to the resistance is the slack. Kinda like a clutch in a car, theres free motion before the clutch engages. As you hit that resistance, slowly press the trigger until the hammer falls. That's the break in the trigger. The hammer falling should come as a surprise, if it doesn't, you'll anticipate the recoil and flinch causing those low and right shots. As the gun cycles, slowly release the trigger until the trigger "clicks." That'll be your reset point until you can start pulling the trigger slowly again for your subsequent shots.

If you need help I can meet with you sometime at The FiringLine in HB. I'm not that great of a shot, but I can recite techniques pretty well.

[Para]

Control your breathing.

The above is all great advice.

The only thing I can add is learn to control your breathing do not hold your breath when pulling the trigger.

A few trick that help.
---slow your breathing down
---half way through breathing out
---continue breathing out and slowly pull the trigger

Work on it till you are able to time it to where you fire the gun when you are out of breath and have that second or two before you breath in.

Give it a try you might find it helps.

[BamBam-31]

I'm not that great of a shot, but I can recite techniques pretty well.

Where's the sandbagger smiley?

[What Just Happened?]

You don't want to use Raahauge's rifle or handgun ranges if you're not a member. They charge exorbitant prices for public use. Something like $30 / hour. I only go there for the IPSC and SSA matches.

[thebloodsonthewall]

I have been having the same problem as the OP. I will try the tips the everyone posted as well. Thank you. If anyone in Sacrament/Elk Grove wants to come to the Gun Room or another range with me one day to give me some tips, I will buy you lunch or do something to repay the favor.

[kamagong]

You've only been shooting three times? Don't fret, learning to shoot well is a lifelong challenge. Don't expect to become a master overnight, it takes a lot of time, money and practice.

[Black Majik]

I'm not that great of a shot, but I can recite techniques pretty well.

Where's the sandbagger smiley?

I learn from the best