Need some pointers for basic shooting technique

[ct1222]

Hey guys, got a pretty stupid/noobish question here:

Apparently my right hand jerks whenever I pulled the trigger and thus messing up my shots.
I've been told about this since I first got my 1911 about a year ago.
I had no idea what it means so I just kept shooting 50 rounds every now and then and
somehow my group got better. (finally able to put most of my shots in 9 point ring @ 15 yard versus barely inside 7)

However, now that I'm starting to shoot ar15, I've noticed that my group has
gone down to crap again. (Can't even do a 50 yard zero at 25 yard)
This made me wonder if its the hand thing again.

So I guess what I'm trying to ask is
1) what do people mean by my hand jerking when pulling the trigger?
2) how do I fix it?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you

[Teeko]

Practice

[SonofWWIIDI]

Lots of dry fire and live fire drills. And, take a class or some private instruction to help improve.

In order to determine if you are flinching, have some else load a few magazines and in them, load 1-2 snap caps in random order. A flinch will be immediately appearent, if you have one.

Good luck!

[jarhead714]

Put a dime on the end of the barrel. That'll tell you if you're a Jerkules when you work the trigger. Breathe correctly and follow through. You have to get to know a trigger just like a chick. Feel it out and get to know it.

[voiceofreason]

Lots of dry fire and live fire drills. And, take a class or some private instruction to help improve.

In order to determine if you are flinching, have some else load a few magazines and in them, load 1-2 snap caps in random order. A flinch will be immediately appearent, if you have one.

Good luck!

Ball & dummy drill, yes.

maybe spend more time shooting .22s

it's not a "manly" thing, it's somewhat getting used to the BLAST of a gun

If I could go back in time, I would have spent a LOT more time and effort training on a .22

cheaper which would allow me more practice, and wouldn't have developed as many bad habits starting with a larger caliber

[bigkyle72]

Where are you located ?

[fiddletown]

[003]

Get yourself a good quality .22 pistol, and then practice the basics. One of the issues I have seen with new shooters is that they develop a flinch do to recoil and noise. Be sure you are using quality hearing protection, (as well as shooting glasses) as the noise and the anticipation of the recoil can cause one to flinch.

I try to get to the range on a weekly basis. My usual afternoon is 200 rounds of .22 and then 50-100 of either 9mm or .45. Give a .22 a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, as noted above think about taking a class from someone that knows the business.

[9mmepiphany]

So I guess what I'm trying to ask is
1) what do people mean by my hand jerking when pulling the trigger?

You misunderstood. You hand doesn't jerk, what is happening is that you are jerking the trigger, with your finger, to the rear at the instant that you want it to fire. Jerking the trigger is just another name for flinching/slapping/snatching at the trigger.

There is more than one cause, but the most common one is anticipation of the sight moving off target...trying to catch it while the sights are aligned

2) how do I fix it?

Professional instruction would be the easiest and least expensive (in both time and wasted ammo).

Practice, live or dry, won't do a lot of good if you aren't practicing the correct techniques. It is pretty hard to give relevant advice without having seen you actually shoot.

The theory of shooting is really quite simple. Hold the sights on target and press the trigger straight to the rear without disturbing the sights...performing this correctly is much harder

[sofbak]

get some professional instruction on technique

Practice dry fire drills to enhance technique and build muscle memory with a system that gives you instant audible feed back that can be used in your own home.

A shameless plug, but it worked for me:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=899577

[bigdawg86]

When you do dry fire drills. Make sure there is no live ammunition or loaded magazines anywhere but the locked safe... seems silly and obvious, but when you load, rack, and pull the trigger countless times during these drills muscle memory can be a potential negligent discharge when reloading the gun for nightstand use immediately after the drills.

[SactoDoug]

Jerking the trigger tends to make your shots go off left-right. Breathing will make your shots go up and down.

When you place your finger on the trigger, the trigger should be centered on the Distal Phylanx (finger tip). If the trigger is close to the joint, you will pull your shots. If it is too close to the tip, your finger can slip off the trigger. You want the trigger to be center on your finger tip on the meaty part.

When you pull the trigger, you want to slowly pull it straight back. You should not know when the hammer will release. Just apply steady constant pressure until the hammer releases.

Your breathing is also important. You want to pull the trigger during the slight pause between exhaling and inhaling. That is when your body is most at rest. Do not hold your breath. There is a rhythm to shooting accurately. Your groups will get better the more you learn your body rhythm.

That is just a brief summary. There is a lot more to it, but those are some of the basics.

[hks95134]

Hey guys, got a pretty stupid/noobish question here:

Apparently my right hand jerks whenever I pulled the trigger and thus messing up my shots.
I've been told about this since I first got my 1911 about a year ago.
I had no idea what it means so I just kept shooting 50 rounds every now and then and
somehow my group got better. (finally able to put most of my shots in 9 point ring @ 15 yard versus barely inside 7)

However, now that I'm starting to shoot ar15, I've noticed that my group has
gone down to crap again. (Can't even do a 50 yard zero at 25 yard)
This made me wonder if its the hand thing again.

So I guess what I'm trying to ask is
1) what do people mean by my hand jerking when pulling the trigger?
2) how do I fix it?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you

The very best thing you could do would be to take a class.

Classes usually run about $100 for half a day, or $200 for a full day.

In addition, stand in front of a mirror (for a handgun [pistol or revolver]), or lie down in front of a mirror (for a rifle), and using snap caps (dummy rounds), watch what happens to your muzzle in the mirror when you pull/squeeze the trigger.

Triggers should be squeezed, not pulled, for aimed firing.

For instinctive shooting, they should be pulled, but then you will also pay with sacrificing accuracy. But when you gotta shoot fast, you gotta pull it.

[hks95134]

When you do dry fire drills. Make sure there is no live ammunition or loaded magazines anywhere but the locked safe... seems silly and obvious, but when you load, rack, and pull the trigger countless times during these drills muscle memory can be a potential negligent discharge when reloading the gun for nightstand use immediately after the drills.

Excellent point.

Always account for your live rounds, and then lock them up.

Then with no live rounds in sight or reach, load up with your snap caps (dummy rounds).

[hks95134]

Get yourself a good quality .22 pistol, and then practice the basics. One of the issues I have seen with new shooters is that they develop a flinch do to recoil and noise. Be sure you are using quality hearing protection, (as well as shooting glasses) as the noise and the anticipation of the recoil can cause one to flinch.

I try to get to the range on a weekly basis. My usual afternoon is 200 rounds of .22 and then 50-100 of either 9mm or .45. Give a .22 a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, as noted above think about taking a class from someone that knows the business.

All the really good shooters have gone through a 22LR phase in their lives, usually early on.

These days, everyone just jumps on a 9mm parabellum and/or a 5.56mm carbine way too fast unfortunately.