Curing the "shakes", shooting anxiety?

[BMartin1776]

When I shoot my H&K I'm pretty accurate, most errors I know why I did what I did. When I shoot my 1911 totally different story, target looks like how it did when I first started shooting (not "good" poor grouping, still combat effective). I wondered maybe since its an 80% something is mechanically wrong.

Well I got a training laser last weekend and its abundantly clear to me my 1911 is fine! I can sit around take aim, pull the trigger where that red dot will shine right where I aimed when it gets set off. So problem in range with live ammo is me!

I do get the shakes with the H&K, after abt 50 rounds Im much better, but the 1911 I dunno what it is. And frankly I hate the idea I have to get "warmed up" with 50-100 rounds until my grouping is ALL more or dead center. I went shooting with my brother in FL few wks ago and he was like why do you have to go through so many rounds? And he's right. Told him I get the shakes, and am all jacked up on adrenaline takes while to calm down.

Part of the problem is I don't shoot often. FYI I don't drink anything with caffeine, stimulants, sugar or anything like that either. Granted I get it, I understand the adrenaline is flowing, and theres some anxiety but is there anything else to calm down so Im not shaking, over-tense etc and throwing rounds in the wrong spot??

[71MUSTY]

Majority of the time your grip is the culprit. Maybe next time your at the range with it have a RO check your grip.

[Carcassonne]

Plastic may absorb some of the recoil force. Steel does not.

[Creampuff]

I had that issue awhile ago, but it was mainly because I hadn't gone shooting for over 6 months. I accounted that for a small amount of adrenaline rush because I was becoming re accustomed to shooting again. You already mentioned it too, overgripping doesn't help either. If my knuckles are turning white, I back it down

Not much you can do if you get adrenaline going other than slow down and breath slow and let the adrenaline fade out.

[onelonehorseman]

OP I would go back to basics and shoot slowly, working on breathing, grip, and trigger control. Take your time between shots and consciously work on the basics. If your arm starts getting fatigued from holding your gun our there, then bring it down and let it rest.

I think fewer, but more disciplined, shots will help you build your basic skills back with each gun, more so than long range sessions of doing the same thing that you've been doing, at this point.

[Erion929]

OP I would go back to basics and shoot slowly, working on breathing, grip, and trigger control. Take your time between shots and consciously work on the basics. If your arm starts getting fatigued from holding your gun our there, then bring it down and let it rest.

I think fewer, but more disciplined, shots will help you build your basic skills back with each gun, more so than long range sessions of doing the same thing that you've been doing, at this point.

I was going to suggest the same. Slow down.....load your mag with only 4-5 rounds....shoot....put it down....reload....go again.

Or practice reloads. Shoot 2-3 shots....drop a mag....reload another.

Anything to slow down and not just mindlessly dump mag after mag....

[Jeepergeo]

Your adrenalin is flowing while simply shooting paper targets at the range? You might want to check your pulse and blood pressure...you might have something medical going on that's causing the jitters.

[1911R SSS]

It's all in your head, the only cure is more range time. I'm not sure how long you've been shooting, but nearly 100%of new shooter's experience that type of anxiety.

[Cody]

This is common. I had experienced the same thing at the range, but noticed when I was out camping shooting with friends I didn't get the shakes. I realized I was shaking because I was nervous around people I didn't know shooting guns next to me. The more I went to the range the less it became a problem.

[Divernhunter]

Watch your grip and BREATH. That will help you to calm down.

[xSlapshotx]

Mix in some dry fire at the range.

5 live rounds of slow fire, trying to surprise yourself when it fires.
5 dry fire pulls. Same thing. Work on surprise break.
Repeat until,there is no difference.

If you are recoil sensitive and can't shake it, maybe try a multi day class where you shoot a lot. Getting some real training might be the cure.

[tmuller]

Plastic may absorb some of the recoil force. Steel does not.

Huh...for me I feel less recoil on full size steel 1911 or Sig 220 then my H&K's(both .45).

Watch your grip and BREATH. That will help you to calm down.

^^Great advice.

Part of the problem is I don't shoot often

Bingo!! The more you shoot the more this will stop. Good luck and good shotin!

[flyer898]

Shooting is 90% mental. Focus on the fundamentals - stance, grip, sight alignment, and trigger control - excluding everything else from your mind. You will not be able to do this at first, but with practice you will steadily improve. Pretty soon you will wonder why you were ever shaking.

[8886]

Load only a few rounds at a time and make a mental note of the situation. If you can't shake the adrenaline right away, put it down and walk around some to breathe and clear your head.

[Waffleobill]

As far as dealing with the adrenaline goes: close your eyes, clear your mind, take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can and slowly exhale. Just like everything else in life, if you can't get your mind right ain't nothing going to fall into place.