Dilettante
Member
I've been shooting for a couple of months now, both rifle and pistol, but pistol is what I need to concentrate on.
A couple of weeks ago I did .22 rifle practice again, and I thought I was doing okay based on my shots from a prone position, with sandbags.
So I got to go pistol shooting yesterday, and I couldn't hit anything. We shot a Walther P22, a Baretta 9mm, and a .357 revolver. The guns and ammo can't be faulted.
Even with the .22 I was anticipating the recoil. I could also see the sights shaking side to side as I aimed.
After shooting all 3 guns for an hour or so, I was finally starting to get some accuracy at 7 yards, so we moved over to the 25 yard line. We had about an 8" diameter shoot-N-C sticker over the target. Eventually I started hitting the middle circle (NOT the X) with the .22, but with the 9mm I couldn't even hit the sticker. :banghead:
One thing I realized in the last couple of weeks is that I tend to spring my finger forward right after pulling the trigger, as though the trigger suddenly got hot after firing. I don't know why I do this, but I do. I only noticed it when I finally made a few shots without doing that.
Yesterday I was doing it again, and had to make myself follow through on each pull.
It feels stupid but I'm guessing that this is a common problem with beginners.
What are some other mistakes that beginning shooters tend to make?
I'm trying to think of other things that I've been taught. I think I'm using the natural point of aim. I think I pause in breathing at each shot (I don't always remember, but I try). Obviously I aim with the sights level, and equal space on each side. The hand holding the gun is as high as possible. The other hand is cupped around the first.
I still don't know if I should grip it tight or relax.
Any suggestions? Any other classic beginner mistakes?
A couple of weeks ago I did .22 rifle practice again, and I thought I was doing okay based on my shots from a prone position, with sandbags.
So I got to go pistol shooting yesterday, and I couldn't hit anything. We shot a Walther P22, a Baretta 9mm, and a .357 revolver. The guns and ammo can't be faulted.
Even with the .22 I was anticipating the recoil. I could also see the sights shaking side to side as I aimed.
After shooting all 3 guns for an hour or so, I was finally starting to get some accuracy at 7 yards, so we moved over to the 25 yard line. We had about an 8" diameter shoot-N-C sticker over the target. Eventually I started hitting the middle circle (NOT the X) with the .22, but with the 9mm I couldn't even hit the sticker. :banghead:
One thing I realized in the last couple of weeks is that I tend to spring my finger forward right after pulling the trigger, as though the trigger suddenly got hot after firing. I don't know why I do this, but I do. I only noticed it when I finally made a few shots without doing that.
Yesterday I was doing it again, and had to make myself follow through on each pull.
It feels stupid but I'm guessing that this is a common problem with beginners.
What are some other mistakes that beginning shooters tend to make?
I'm trying to think of other things that I've been taught. I think I'm using the natural point of aim. I think I pause in breathing at each shot (I don't always remember, but I try). Obviously I aim with the sights level, and equal space on each side. The hand holding the gun is as high as possible. The other hand is cupped around the first.
I still don't know if I should grip it tight or relax.
Any suggestions? Any other classic beginner mistakes?