Shooting left and down. Help with trigger control?

[AregularGuy]

Oh boy, I have developed this habit/problem of shooting left and low. This happens with all of my guns. The problem is magnified when shooting 45 vs 9 and at greater distance. The trouble shooter points to trigger control. I have no one to shoot with to school me on my problems so you good folks are where I turn. Any help is appreciated.

[tonyxcom]

Dry fire practice. Lots of it.

[Scotty]

Try slow deliberate trigger pulls. Try to take a couple seconds to pull the trigger from the time your finger touches the trigger till the shoot breaking. If you have a double action trigger, try shooting all your shots in double action.

[DVSmith]

Couple of things I see in class all of the time.

First, your right that it may just be flinch. ***SQUEEZE*** the trigger as slow as you humanly can. Practice with .22lr and dry fire.

Second, you have your sights aligned and you are acquiring your target picture, but the firearm is moving a bit because you can't hold it rock steady. You wait until it is a perfect sight picture and then yank the trigger to get the shot off. My solution: let the gun move a little. If you are doing bulls-eye, develop better breathing and trigger pull timing techniques. Many articles out there on the subject. If you are practicing, a little bit of movement isn't going to be as bad as trying to yank the trigger once you are on the x.

[AregularGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions. Definitely have a flinch, worse at times, more able to control at others. Thing is, with a basic pistol class, many of them I read about have you in a classroom for quite some time before the actual instruction. I have shot many, many rounds, certainly not as many as most folks here. But I am well familiar with the safe operation of my guns. Just not the proficient operation. Anyone know of a one-on-one instructor that can help in the Bay area?

[redcliff]

Do you double up with earplugs plus over the ear hearing protectors? That helped me a lot when I was trying to become a better shooter as the noise and muzzle blast are what we flinch from.

Shooting almost anything is a mind over matter exercise; you must train your mind to ignore the distractions and concentrate on sight picture and trigger squeeze.

[IVC]

Per the target description, you're shooting low left because you're a jerk (if I read it correctly).

Joking, obviously...

[AregularGuy]

Yes, doubled up on plugs and muffs. That's something I found made me flinch quite badly early on, even with shooters in the lane next to me I would flinch if not expecting a shot. I know, a big puss! I just use the excuse that my ears are sensitive.

[Voo]

Do you double up with earplugs plus over the ear hearing protectors? That helped me a lot when I was trying to become a better shooter as the noise and muzzle blast are what we flinch from.

Shooting almost anything is a mind over matter exercise; you must train your mind to ignore the distractions and concentrate on sight picture and trigger squeeze.

Quit telling people the advanced stuff!! How am I suppose to impress the ladies at the range if everyone else can shoot bullseyes?

Someone needs to post up that useless I mean super "chart".. I've always wanted to photoshop one where every pie piece said, "aim better" or "too much flinch". Helpful stuff!

[Ladyrr]

Don't squeeze as tightly with your right hand. Right hand shooter, squeeze like holding a fragile egg, left hand squeezes the snot out of it.

[gibt]

"Someone needs to post up that useless I mean super "chart".. I've always wanted to photoshop one where every pie piece said, "aim better" or "too much flinch". Helpful stuff!"

Here it is,

[Blackhorse2010]

OK, at Front Sight, 99% of the shooters we work with that are hitting left is due to increasing their grip pressure during the trigger stroke.
The low shots are due to anticipating the shot.
Presssss the trigger until you get a surprise break.

As others have said, dry practice is the key.

[tonyxcom]

I saw someone using that at the range a few days ago. From 5y he had holes all over it.

[Blackhorse2010]

The awesome chart...if you're shooting one-handed.

[DFence]

Thanks for the suggestions. Definitely have a flinch, worse at times, more able to control at others. Thing is, with a basic pistol class, many of them I read about have you in a classroom for quite some time before the actual instruction. I have shot many, many rounds, certainly not as many as most folks here. But I am well familiar with the safe operation of my guns. Just not the proficient operation. Anyone know of a one-on-one instructor that can help in the Bay area?

Dont discredit a class before you take it because you already think you are more advanced then the sllyabus it teaches.

You have a problem that can be fixed with proper instruction and practice. Don't worry about listening to things you "already know' and go take a class or 5 for that matter.