How to become more accurate and precise?

[mpang14]

Hi all. I've recently got back into guns, and really want to be a more accurate and precise shooter. I've got 4 guns, a Firestorm, Shield, 642, and 686+.

I want to spend more time at the range, but it's going to start get pretty pricey even shooting 9mm.

If I pick up a 22lr handgun, will that help me with my precision for all my guns, or is the only way to get good with a gun is to use it?

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[spuds015]

Best thing to do is find an instructor. No use in shooting off 1000 rounds if you don't know what you're doing wrong.

[mpang14]

I have a couple LEO friends that go with me as much as possible, I'll have to look into a instructor, not sure how pricey they are.


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[Kowan]

Dry fire. Be honest with yourself and know when you pull the trigger and you don't have a good sight alignment.
Practice slow mechanical and the accuracy and speed of shot to shot will come.

[kentactic]

Proper Grip, front sight, pull trigger to the rear. If you miss on a pistol you messed one of these up. Rifle is another story...natural POA, load bipod, proper and consistent shoulder pressure, trigger pull etc...

[heidad01]

Best thing to do is find an instructor. No use in shooting off 1000 rounds if you don't know what you're doing wrong.

This^^^^

I do not know what a "firestorm" is but I suspect it is one of those tiny guns. If so, do not waste time with that and the shield. Those are not made for precision shooting nor is your 642 for that matter. Do not listen to mall ninjas claiming a 1" group at 25 yards with a Shield.

Use the 686 with .38 special loads to start with if you are looking for precision shooting.

You can watch utube videos to lean basic stuff in theory. There are instructional videos by some highly rated and ranked folks (read champions).

You can attend Calgun Shoots and get help from members and the event directors. There are a lot of NRA certified instructors among the members who will help you.

Use a target that shows you possible reasons for inaccuracy. Do a Google search for "correcting shooting target with instruction". You will see what I mean. Print a bunch and use them.

Do not push the target too far back if you can not hit accurately at close distance. No need to complicate things.
Shoot slowly and deliberately. DO not just empty the gun. Pay attention to what you do and where it hits. Next round should go/do better. Also, remember that 3 dot sights are not for precision shooting but for fast and kind of accurate shooting.

All that said,,,,,,,,,,, there is no substitute for practice.

[tbc]

First, do not get advice from your LEO friends.

Second, find a reputable instructor.

Third, dry fire practice every day.

A .22lr handgun will not help as it just masks your flinching habit.


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[bombadillo]

Slow down. Slow down. SLOW DOWN.

Be aware of your foot positioning, youtube proper grip techniques by Todd Jarrett or Jerry Miculek. Jerry Miculek also has great videos on finger position where they should and should not be on the trigger. Check out some videos on body mechanics and then just as said before dry fire as much as you can humanly do. An old guy with only one rifle once told me, you know what makes a good shooter good, shooting!

[Gun Kraft]

Good advice can come from anywhere, LEO or not. The problem is determining whether it's good advice or not.

Dry fire practice can help, but like any practice if you don't do it correctly then you're just learning bad habits.

A .22 handgun can help improve accuracy. It removes one variable (recoil management) from the equation and allows you to concentrate on sight alignment/sight picture and trigger control. If you shoot better with a .22 than a 9mm, that says recoil management is a problem.

Instructors can be pricey (I charge $75/hr for private lessons) but if the money you spend on an instructor nets you more improvement than the same amount on just ammo, that's a win. Unfortunately it can be a case of trial and error finding a good instructor for you.

[mpang14]

This^^^^

I do not know what a "firestorm" is but I suspect it is one of those tiny guns. If so, do not waste time with that and the shield. Those are not made for precision shooting nor is your 642 for that matter. Do not listen to mall ninjas claiming a 1" group at 25 yards with a Shield.

Use the 686 with .38 special loads to start with if you are looking for precision shooting.

You can watch utube videos to lean basic stuff in theory. There are instructional videos by some highly rated and ranked folks (read champions).

You can attend Calgun Shoots and get help from members and the event directors. There are a lot of NRA certified instructors among the members who will help you.

Use a target that shows you possible reasons for inaccuracy. Do a Google search for "correcting shooting target with instruction". You will see what I mean. Print a bunch and use them.

Do not push the target too far back if you can not hit accurately at close distance. No need to complicate things.
Shoot slowly and deliberately. DO not just empty the gun. Pay attention to what you do and where it hits. Next round should go/do better. Also, remember that 3 dot sights are not for precision shooting but for fast and kind of accurate shooting.

All that said,,,,,,,,,,, there is no substitute for practice.

The Bersa Firestorm is pretty accurate soft shooter that my wife likes. The Shield and 642 are going to be for CCW. I'm hopeful that I'll get my CCW license, and with that, it is my responsibility to shoot those weapons as accurately as possible, if the need to ever presented itself (hopefully not). I will be doing more training than what is required by law, but in the meantime, I want to get as much range time as financially possible.

[mpang14]

Good advice can come from anywhere, LEO or not. The problem is determining whether it's good advice or not.

Dry fire practice can help, but like any practice if you don't do it correctly then you're just learning bad habits.

A .22 handgun can help improve accuracy. It removes one variable (recoil management) from the equation and allows you to concentrate on sight alignment/sight picture and trigger control. If you shoot better with a .22 than a 9mm, that says recoil management is a problem.

Instructors can be pricey (I charge $75/hr for private lessons) but if the money you spend on an instructor nets you more improvement than the same amount on just ammo, that's a win. Unfortunately it can be a case of trial and error finding a good instructor for you.

Thank you. I'm sure all instructors are different, but approximately how many rounds do you go through in an hour lesson, and typically, for just a casual shooter that won't be competing, how often do you suggest a person takes lessons?

[heidad01]

First, do not get advice from your LEO friends.

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Funny but true. Most of them and precision shooting are mutually exclusive. Proven time after time.

[mpang14]

Are those laser practice targets worthwhile?

[357manny]

Accuracy has been on my mind as well. Outside of finding the right guns, getting the safes setup at home, buying ammo... As a new gun-owner, I haven't figured out how to get better on my own, outside of basic firearms safety.
I can hit a target at the range but I don't have the grouping. I'll be doing youtube university for now as money is tight.

Thanks for asking this question mpang14, and thanks for the helpful replies, CG'ers. KEep em coming!

[jimmykan]

Randomly slip dud rounds into your firing string.

It really shows you what your flinch looks like.