Help me shoot better

[Trriemferent]

It seems Im consistently shooting low left (around 6-7 oclock). I took some pics today after a shooting session to show you guys. Any advise?

- Im shooting a Glock 17 with Trijicon 3-dot night sights
- Im right hand dominant and sight of aim is sight image #3 (pic below)
- Im shooting at 7-10 yards

[Ronin2]

Flinching/lack of trigger control! Google "surprise break" and take your gun, remove all ammo from the house, and get a snap cap and spend a lot of time dry firing to get that "surprise break" down.

It would be more telling if you also shared a 15yrd and 25yrd target as the distance will exaggerate the error.

[Trriemferent]

Ronin ...
I forgot to mention I have a laserlyte system I dry fire with at home and I shoot pretty well with it but when Im shooting live rounds, I shoot low.

[Erick Danielsen]

What Ronin said, dry fire dry fire dry fire. I can't tell you how much it helped me.

[voodoomedman]

As stated you are whacking the trigger. I know because I used to so it. It's in your head if you are doing it clean with the laserlyte.

Personally I'd drop the laserlyte and spend 15-20 minutes a day for two weeks just doing dry practice. This way you are focusing on your grip, sight picture and trigger control. Aim and don't PRESS but aim and preeeeeeeeeeeesssss. When it clicks it should be a surprise. Do it for for a couple weeks and then hit the range and you'll be pleased. What you will be doing is building it into muscle memory rather than your head telling you what to do.

Your head should tell you to point in, finger on or off trigger, re holster, when to start to preeeeeessssss trigger etc but your muscle memory should determine your mechanics.

[sanjosebmx]

I have to remind myself to just move my finger..squeeze straight back. Snap cap will provide a lot of insight. I catch myself still pulling like you do..practice makes perfect(er)

[Ronin2]

Ronin ...
I forgot to mention.... when Im shooting live rounds, I shoot low.

Again, flinching when you know its the real deal.

[AeroEngi]

I agree with everyone else. Dry-firing is the key. Get some snap caps and dry fire until you're able to consistently keep your sights lined up after pulling the trigger.

[9mmepiphany]

Yup, I agree with the folks above who are saying flinching.

If you are only doing it in live fire, it is most likely anticipatory flinching...you are snapping the trigger back when you see the sights perfectly aligned on the target.

When holding the sights on target, the trick is to press the trigger back at a constant rate. Don't speed up when the sights look great and never slow down when the sights drift off target.

It also looks like you are tightening the fingers of your strong hand as you press the trigger

[Matt P]

All pretty accurate information offered here... Excellent to see the outpouring.

My suggestion for a tool to use while at the range and shooting.
Begin whatever drill you are doing.
As soon as you miss, or strike the target in an area outside of what you are trying to hit or impact....Stop shooting.
Unload the handgun and do Five dry fire presses with the sights aligned where it is you want to hit. Take your time with the dry fire presses. See the sights aligned properly but with that front sight in perfect focus as you move the trigger to the rear.
(5) Dry fire after a gross miss, or one outside what you would like to be impacting the target.
As soon as done with the five dry fire load your handgun back up and shoot. You should see that next bullet impact near or exactly where you want it to.
If not, unload and five more dry fire.
If you do this while practicing at the range, you will improve your control of the trigger.

Without an instructor helping you while you shoot, it may be difficult to rid yourself of this tendency.
Video yourself shooting with the camera focused on just your hands. Side view ideal where you can see your trigger finger at work.

[trigger945]

OP, I am with the people above.

In addition, you may want to consider a different target. Smaller ones. And take five shots at each target and assess. Shoot slowly but applying constant pressure on the trigger until it breaks.

Also, lighten the grip on your strong hand a little and tighten the grip on the weak hand more.

Is this yout first handgun by chance? Or first Glock? My targets looked very similar to yours when I first started (Glock 17) so looking back at what I have been through, the above tips should help.

Good luck!

[trigger945]

Oh, and yes, private instruction will help a lot!

[Lead Waster]

Also, try doubling up your ear protection (plugs and muffs) it will help with flinching until you get a lot more live fire under your belt.
Seriously!

[AragornElessar86]

flinching or pushing

[Ronin2]

Another suggestion, get a sharpie or sight black and black out your three dot sights ( comes off with most all cleaning solvents) so you can focus "on the CLEAR TIP of the front sight, leveled off and centered left to right in the rear sight aperture" at which time you exersize proper trigger control; "a slow, steady, even pressure straight to the rear and careful not to disturb sight alignment and sight picture, so that the conclusion of the pressure ends in a SURPRISE BREAK"