I can't aim it is me?

[doitdave]

Well I "can" aim, but the round does not go where i expect it to.

I picked up my new XD .40 last week and went out to Clear Creek to unload some rounds. The gun worked flawlessly, 200 rounds no issues at all.... But..

It seems that I couldn’t figure where exactly the gun likes to be aimed. I read that there are two types point of aim for the XD HG's. One is "Point of Aim" where you line up the top of the sight with the target and the other is "6 O’clock", where you line up the sight at the bottom of where you intend the round to go.

I tried to use both and it seems that I need another type of point of aim.. About 17 yards to paper targets and tin cans.

I knew that the 6 O'clock was way to low, but when i tried to put the sights exactly where I intended to shoot it kept going 6-8 inches or more lower and sometimes to the left. After some rounds I tried to aim at the top or the #5 ring of the target and it did hit the target, but something seems amiss. When I aimed high the round went in the lower 5 or 6 ring. Even aiming at the top of the cans, the round kept going low and underneath the target.


It just seemed odd that I had to try and aim with the whole barrel over the spot I was aiming. I don’t think I was aiming wrong, firm grip, stable stance, etc but I would like to see if any of you have experienced this when shooting your gun for the first time.

[762cavalier]

DoitDave- Are you a first time handgunner? If so it sounds like you are anticipating recoil and "dipping" the handgun which is why it is shooting low and left. I had the same problem with the .40 recoil after shooting 9mm for years.One way to find out is to load a dummy round in the magazine. when you get the click-nobang watch how the gun moves. If you are doing everything correctly the gun shouldn't move. Practice at home (with an EMPTY magazine ) and put a dime on top of the slide. practice trigger pull and grip until you can do it without the dime moving. Others will prob have other suggestions I can't think of at this moment.

[The SoCal Gunner]

Sounds like it is you but have you checked your sight alignment? Probably not the sights since you are shooting low but do that first and then do what was suggested above. I have an XD40 that shoots straight but my XD9SC came with the rear sight slightly off.

It sounds like you are anticipating the shot and also pulling the pistol out of aim when pulling the trigger.

Do you take up all the slack before you aim and pull the triger?

[M. Sage]

Squeeze the trigger SLOWLY, and block the idea of the gun going off out of your mind. Don't anticipate. When the gun goes off, it should come as a mild surprise, and there should be a hole in your target exactly where you were aiming.

I always think about breathing, sight picture and holding still to keep my mind away from flinch-inducing thoughts. Thinking "don't flinch!" doesn't work, cause then you're thinking about flinching.

[Aluisious]

The quick and dirty accuracy check is to go to a range and see who there is getting tight little groups in the middle of the target. Offer that they "try" your pistol. Either they will do the same with your pistol, or they will quickly tell you the sights are off.

I did this with my first pistol, a Glock 19. After the guy fired 10 shots I knew it was me, not the pistol.

[blkA4alb]

I agree with you there Aluisious. A guy came to me with his USP45 that he said wasn't very accurate, well when I put 30 rounds in one ragged hole he thought otherwise.

Original poster, work on your dry fire practice. As the others have said you are probably pushing the gun in aticipation. Practice, practice, practice, it will take you thousands of rounds to get rid of your flinch. It won't happen in an afternoon.

[Aluisious]

PS a great way to practice your marksmanship is to buy a .22 or .22 conversion kit for your pistol. I have one for mine and can really tell the difference in my marksmanship after firing a couple thousand cheap rounds.

.22s take out all the motivation to flinch and leave you with pure trigger pulling goodness.

[anotherted]

Yep. My first time shooting a handgun -- "This thing is all screwed up!!".

Later after doing alot of reading and practicing, the handgun was awesome.

99.9% sure its you and not the handgun.

Dryfire and you will be amazed at how much you flinch.

Better yet, go with a buddy to the range and have him load (or not load) one in the chamber, then have him hand you the handgun. If you get an empty chamber without expecting it, when you pull the trigger, you will get a real glimpse of what you are doing wrong.

[xenophobe]

Take the gun, to a real range and fire at a 25 yard rapid fire pistol target starting at 7y.

Aim at the center

Take slow, precise shots

Make sure your grip the pistol firmly, with a tight wrist.

Aim steady

Breathe normally

Pull the trigger smoothly all the way back when you reach 'fully exhaled pause'.
Pull the trigger all the way through until it doesn't move...
Do not jerk the trigger, do not hold your breath, do not focus on your sights...

Your rear sight should be blurry, your front sight should be almost in focus, you should be focused and be concentrating on the target. Your sights are to be viewed out of focus, but lined up with the target which you are paying attention to.

[FatKatMatt]

The first handgun I shot was a 1911 .45 and I got perfect kill groups at the maximum yardage of the range. I also tried an XD45 and I also got perfect kill groups. Like others have said you're probably anticipating the recoil and flinching.

[eckerph]

DoitDave- Are you a first time handgunner? If so it sounds like you are anticipating recoil and "dipping" the handgun which is why it is shooting low and left.

My buddy had the same problem with his XD, first try bringing the target in to the 10yd range and buy yourself some Snap caps and have a friend load them with some real rounds behind you're back then shoot as you normally do and you will tell if you have a flinch the first time you drop the hammer on a snap cap. Keep doing this until you get rid of you're flinch, and have an experienced shooter test fire you're pistol if you're concerned about the sights being off which i doubt.

[doitdave]

762cavalier, yes i am new to handguns, i have shot before but that was like 12 years ago so it doesn"t count. Thinking back I was sure I was the problem, but I just wanted to see if there was something else I should look at.

I have been messing around with snap caps and I can fire fine without ammo , that dreaded kickback which seems to be messing me up.

Now that some of you brought it up, I am sure I am pushing foward in preparation for the kickback. I will have to mentally prepare for the next time.

Xeno,
When we were driving back i was thinking that i should go to a 25 yard range and take a bunch of shots close to see how I fair there. I will take your advice..

I appreciate everyone for your input, I am sure it will help "me" aim better and if it doesn't, ITS THE GUNS FAULT...

Thanks..

[xenophobe]

25 yards is NOT close range with a pistol. That is about as far as you would normally shoot for distance with a pistol.

Try shooting slow-fire, aimed groups at 7 yards (7 yards is pretty much standard for outdoor pistol range closest distance). Any issues with technique, breathing, flinching, trigger jerking, etc are more visible on paper when you can see a decent group and where your fliers are going.

15 or 25 yards or farther is for shooting when you can already get tight groups at 7 yards.

[VeryCoolCat]

Pffft... get a 357 mag or a 44 mag.... fire that til you hurt...

Then come back and fire your 45. You'll stop flinching for the springfield

[M. Sage]

25 yards is NOT close range with a pistol. That is about as far as you would normally shoot for distance with a pistol.

Big +1 to that. I started my wife out on 15 yards with a pistol today. She was doing quite well, having only shot three other pistols, and not a whole lot of shooting, at that.

I'm always impressed when her uncle comes shooting. The guy can make *a* hole in the target with his 1911 at 15 yards, and make it look easy.

'course, he's had that pistol for 30 years or so...

Snap caps, dry-fire, .22 practice, etc. You'll lose it in no time.