Pistol Accuracy

[johnpatrick]

I'm new to target shooting. I'm using an indoor range.

I suck! I'm afraid I'm practicing at being bad. I've visited with instructor Google. I have a low left miss so I'm sure it's because I'm milking my right hand. I've tried strengthening my left hand grip.

Any tips on how to get better other than continuing to practice being bad?

[sass2924]

[Tango_Down]

I assume you are right handed. If so, then too much trigger finger. Work on using more of the tip.

[ABR]

Anticipating recoil/ jerking the trigger for starters if you're a right handed shooter. Very common. Too much finger on the trigger/improper grip are others.

Practice dry firing (SAFETY FIRST! unloaded, no ammo in the room) easing the trigger until it breaks...no movement of the pistol while practicing trigger discipline. Then apply that concept the next time you're at the range.
Personally I keep my left arm straight and reasonably tight and right arm a bit relaxed and elbow slightly bent to allow no movement of the pistol while easing back the trigger.

Perhaps get some one on one training if you have a person locally.

[P5Ret]

A competent instructor who can see what you are doing wrong and help fix the issue. Self diagnosis and correction, do not often achieve the desired result.

Continuing bad practice isn't going to make it better.

[theLBC]

borrow or rent a .22 and give that a try.
if after some time, you aren't missing low left, you're issue might be flinch or recoil anticipation.

[sigstroker]

I assume you are right handed. If so, then too much trigger finger. Work on using more of the tip.

Just the tip.

[redcliff]

For a right handed shooter, too much trigger finger pulls your shot RIGHT, not low left. Low Left is usually caused by jerking/anticipating the shot break. Additionally, triggers that are hard to reach such as long triggers on 1911s for people with smaller hands can push your shot left (i.e. too little trigger finger).

I agree with the rest though, dry fire practice will help immensely. Also, try wearing ear plugs AND hearing protectors when you shoot. Taking away the scary noise helps reduce flinching. And finally, be sure you are focusing hard at the front sight, and only the front sight.

[Scratch705]

if practicing dry fire at home, i suggest you setup a camera to record your practice session.

what you don't think is happening (like flinch or recoil anticipation) can show up very easily on video when you play it back on slow-mo.

do this when going to the range for real too. cause i know in my case, when i was dry firing, i was not dipping my hands down from flinch/recoil anticipation since i knew the gun wouldn't go off at home.

but at the range, i dipped my hands like a mofo...

[tabascoz28]

This question comes up a lot, at least once every few months. Like they should have a sticky or something... Also a laser mounted on the gun would also show you what you're doing while dry firing.

I always teach noobs by saying, let it surprise you, pull the trigger so slow while aiming that when it pops you should be surprised but more accurate.
Work on your wrist strength and in the future you can start practicing faster shooting by anticipating muzzle rise and reset.
Lastly, this skill took years and thousands of round to perfect. Most noobs are 50-100rds in...

[Garv]

Shoot more, suck less.

Have someone watch what you are doing or get an instructor possibly.

What gun(s) BTW?

[theLBC]

Shoot more, suck less.

Have someone watch what you are doing or get an instructor possibly.

What gun(s) BTW?

there is something to be said for just shooting a whole lot, the idea being you would eventually become desensitized to the bang. i don't think that works for everyone.

[Rakso]

I'm new to target shooting. I'm using an indoor range.

I suck! I'm afraid I'm practicing at being bad. I've visited with instructor Google. I have a low left miss so I'm sure it's because I'm milking my right hand. I've tried strengthening my left hand grip.

Any tips on how to get better other than continuing to practice being bad?

Try 200 rounds a week. I'm a novice as well. For me, a weekly range visit has worked so far. I started at 10 yards, now I don't miss at 3/5
Yards.

[Erion929]

I'm new to target shooting. I'm using an indoor range.

I suck! I'm afraid I'm practicing at being bad. I've visited with instructor Google. I have a low left miss so I'm sure it's because I'm milking my right hand. I've tried strengthening my left hand grip.

Any tips on how to get better other than continuing to practice being bad?

You can pay an instructor or you can check put some YouTube vids for free, done by great shooting instructors.....there’s plenty of good videos. Handgun grip and sight alignment are especially valuable videos.

Then it’s just application and practice, practice, practice. Pay attention to every shot....don’t just bang rounds one after another haphazzardly downrange with no clue. I would only load 2-5 rounds routinely when I started out....take mental or written notes....otherwise you just blow through hundreds of rounds and go home with no idea what you did.

Bottom line.....pull the trigger WITHOUT MOVING THE SIGHTS
Don’t even worry about aiming until you can do THAT.



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[Rakso]

I'm new to target shooting. I'm using an indoor range.

I suck! I'm afraid I'm practicing at being bad. I've visited with instructor Google. I have a low left miss so I'm sure it's because I'm milking my right hand. I've tried strengthening my left hand grip.

Any tips on how to get better other than continuing to practice being bad?

Plenty of online info as well.