Post by merc on Dec 23, 2019 2:20:04 GMT
It is difficult to shoot accurately using a pistol
By Josh Karrde,
I had to discuss this with the range master a while back. I've always been incredibly accurate with a rifle, but found pistol shooting to be incredibly difficult. My very first pistol was a standard Ruger 22/45, and I was an ok shot with it, not great. I then traded it in on a gorgeous Beretta 96FS. I hated that gun, absolutely couldn't shoot it for anything. So, when the on staff range master asked me to let him know if I needed any help when I signed in, I promptly told him my issue.
It only took him about 30 minutes to set me straight. First, most untrained people pull the pistol to the left or right (usually left) when they pull the trigger. On a rifle you have your shoulder and other arm to help keep the gun on target, but with a pistol this messes up your aim pretty bad. When I started concentrating on my trigger pull, I got better.
Then the range master told me I was flinching when I pulled the trigger. What? That's absurd, I've been shooting guns since I was 10. I didn't say this, but I think he had a pretty good idea of what I was thinking. In the course of our talking, I had lost count of rounds (he was shooting, as well as myself), and when I went to take my last shot for him to observe, the gun dry fired, as I jerked it violently as I pulled the trigger. (Come to think of it, I bet the range master knew the gun was empty and took the opportunity to teach me a lesson). Lesson learned.
These two things are the source of most people's inaccuracy with pistols. The solution? Snap caps. These little beauties will (usually) protect your firing pin during repeated dry fires to practice pulling the trigger properly.
Once you have learned how to pull the trigger properly, load multiple snap caps into multiple magazines at various places. Throw the magazines indiscriminately in your bag (so you don't know which is which) and proceed to shoot down range. This will cause the gun to randomly dry fire when you don't expect it, and you will see for yourself how badly you anticipate the recoil, and help you to train yourself not to do it.
CAUTION: Remember to always practice gun safety rules any time a firearm fails to fire. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, wait for a delayed fire, and be safe as you clear the chamber. Real bullets sometimes do not fire when struck, so do not automatically assume the failure to fire is definitely because of the snap cap.
It only took him about 30 minutes to set me straight. First, most untrained people pull the pistol to the left or right (usually left) when they pull the trigger. On a rifle you have your shoulder and other arm to help keep the gun on target, but with a pistol this messes up your aim pretty bad. When I started concentrating on my trigger pull, I got better.
Then the range master told me I was flinching when I pulled the trigger. What? That's absurd, I've been shooting guns since I was 10. I didn't say this, but I think he had a pretty good idea of what I was thinking. In the course of our talking, I had lost count of rounds (he was shooting, as well as myself), and when I went to take my last shot for him to observe, the gun dry fired, as I jerked it violently as I pulled the trigger. (Come to think of it, I bet the range master knew the gun was empty and took the opportunity to teach me a lesson). Lesson learned.
These two things are the source of most people's inaccuracy with pistols. The solution? Snap caps. These little beauties will (usually) protect your firing pin during repeated dry fires to practice pulling the trigger properly.
Once you have learned how to pull the trigger properly, load multiple snap caps into multiple magazines at various places. Throw the magazines indiscriminately in your bag (so you don't know which is which) and proceed to shoot down range. This will cause the gun to randomly dry fire when you don't expect it, and you will see for yourself how badly you anticipate the recoil, and help you to train yourself not to do it.
CAUTION: Remember to always practice gun safety rules any time a firearm fails to fire. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, wait for a delayed fire, and be safe as you clear the chamber. Real bullets sometimes do not fire when struck, so do not automatically assume the failure to fire is definitely because of the snap cap.