Shooting advice

[iu2sw]

I went to the range and had a blast shot 150 rnds not 1 failure or problem..My grouping was all over the place the first clip..then i started to group better..

I tried to grasp the pistol different ways ....I tried a firm grip then super firm then laid back grip...My best shooting was relaxed to firm grip to catch recoil ...if that makes sense.

I griped the pistol and used my other hand to balance and steady..

Began breathing instead of holding my breath. lol
..
I started to realize that i was grabbing @ trigger and i began to slowly squeeze but was hard to find the pivot point to say.

So what i'm asking is what is the routine you go thru when you about to shoot.
Just the aiming/breathing/stance ...My father inlaw said it looked like i was pointing down b/c i'm so big...6'4" tall ..so maybe that is a factor..
He also said to level the gun more but it seemed hard to level it when target was lower then me..

[yocan]

best link I've ever read, now with that said, read it, dry fire 500 plus times before you go to the range and in three trips you ought to look decent. I dry fired over 1,000 before going to the range with my first of any style of gun. First striker 1,000 dry fires over a month or so, first da/sa but those are easy to dry fire, don't have to pull the slide every time 3k plus time http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xdtalk-...-part-2-a.html

what were you shooting and how big are your groups and how long have you been shooting handguns?

*edit* just noticed your signature, xd .40 service is an awesome gun thats even the website you belong at, I'm over there with the same name, but 3500 posts. If he's used to seeing glocks your grip might look funny to him. DRY FIRE DRY FIRE DRY FIRE. at 15 yards getting all the rounds in a 4'X4' square should be a breeze. Join us at xdtalk

[dhrith]

Not trying to sound mean, but look into some training.

It's not exactly a

1 Tbsp salt
2 cups milk
2 Lbs Bread
1 cup of sugar

type of thing.

[Rugergirl]

Originally Posted by iu2sw

I went to the range and had a blast shot 150 rnds not 1 failure or problem..My grouping was all over the place the first clip..then i started to group better..

I tried to grasp the pistol different ways ....I tried a firm grip then super firm then laid back grip...My best shooting was relaxed to firm grip to catch recoil ...if that makes sense.

I griped the pistol and used my other hand to balance and steady..

Began breathing instead of holding my breath. lol
..
I started to realize that i was grabbing @ trigger and i began to slowly squeeze but was hard to find the pivot point to say.

So what i'm asking is what is the routine you go thru when you about to shoot.
Just the aiming/breathing/stance ...My father inlaw said it looked like i was pointing down b/c i'm so big...6'4" tall ..so maybe that is a factor..
He also said to level the gun more but it seemed hard to level it when target was lower then me..

I don't have a "routine" so to speak, but I do try to relax. I will roll my shoulders, drop and roll the head and neck, if I feel any tension in the neck and shoulders before I shoot.
The stance seems to come natural to me, I don't really think about it, I pick up the gun and my body seems to automatically assume the modified Weaver Stance without any concious thought.
Breathing isn't something I put much thought into, again pretty much automatic for me, as long as it's steady and even, you should be fine.
As far as the target height, I am the exact reverse, being 5'4" tall it appears to others that I am pointing the gun slightly up. I really don't find this to me a concern as long as the barrel is relatively straight in relation to my hand. In the real world if you do have to use your weapon for self-defense your "target" could very well be higher or lower than the target you're shooting at in the range.
I have been shooting on and off since the age of 12, and for the most part I've been very accurate since day one. I also have been very competitive in nature all my life and always strive to do something better each and every time I do it, particularly shooting. I got back "into" shooting last December after about a 15 year hiatus, when I first "re-started" I was lucky to shoot a 4" group and was rather disappointed in myself and my ability. Fast forward a few months and I can shoot consistant 2" groups with 4 out of 5 guns, we own. Better, yes, but acceptable to my own personal standards, not really. I am challenging myself to 1" groups, and if and when I get to that point, I will feel better.

[Joel216]

I am in a simuliar situation. I bought my first handgun in late december, and only started shooting handguns regularly since them.
Yesterday I was shooting 6"x6" groupings at 7 yrds with a walther p22 (short barrel), using cheap remington ammo. What kind of groupings can I expect to get taking my time between each shot with the walther?

[Rugergirl]

Originally Posted by Joel216

I am in a simuliar situation. I bought my first handgun in late december, and only started shooting handguns regularly since them.
Yesterday I was shooting 6"x6" groupings at 7 yrds with a walther p22 (short barrel), using cheap remington ammo. What kind of groupings can I expect to get taking my time between each shot with the walther?

It depends. Are you shooting rapid-fire or fairly fast, or fairly slow?
Practice is my best answer, without seeing you shooting and seeing what you're doing right and wrong it's hard to give an answer.
Some people have a harder time shooting accuratly with a shorter barrel, others(like me don't). I've never had a problem with short barreled handguns I shoot my snubby .38 as accuaratly as my .357 with a 6 inch barrel.
I've never had any classes outside of a CPL class, you might want to look into taking a handgun class for the basics and focus on practicing and improving after a class.
I recently started having a problem shooting my .45 cal 1911, and it's really bothering me that I don't shoot it the way I know I'm capable of. I know what I am doing wrong, but not why I'm doing it. I have never had a problem with anticipating recoil, even years ago when I regularly shot a .44 Magnum and I'm not having a problem with other guns that actually recoil more than my Kimber. Last Tuesday I rented a .357 Magnum revolver with a 2.5 inch barrel and shot 48 of 50 shots in no more than 2.5" groups at 21 feet with Magnum rounds. I have pretty much figured out that my problem is more in my head than my technique, and I've decided to table that particular gun for a while and concentrate on better accuracy with the others. Maybe a break from the frustration I'm having with the 1911 will help exorcise the mental demon I seem to be battling with.

[TFin04]

Dry firing does not fix trigger control issues.

Spend $40 on Shooting Missology DVD from www.tacticalresponsegear.com or find a local trainer to help you out.

[Joel216]

Thanks for the advice. I am having accuracy issues with both long and short barreled guns. I think the bottom line for me is that I am a novice shooter and, I need to practice.

I mostly try to take my time with shots. Being able to shoot fast only makes alot of noice for me and I would like to be compinant enough to be able to hunt with a revlover this fall. I am planning to take a class when I am back in the area. In the mean time I think I will ask a local guy to give me some pointers.

[TFin04]

Just make sure the guy you listen to can do it himself. There are a lot of 'trainers' who cant shoot for beans.

[Joel216]

Originally Posted by TFin04

Just make sure the guy you listen to can do it himself. There are a lot of 'trainers' who cant shoot for beans.

I take all "advice with a grain of salt" He just got sent home from Iraq so he has some military training.