I was excited to take my brand new XD45 to our shooting pit. Took aim at an empty jug using 6 o'clock sight picture (as per manual) at about 25 or 30 feet and put one into the dirt about 6 feet short. I had to cover the target, if not a bit high, to even get close and I struggled the whole time we were out consistently shooting low. I have no doubt I am the weak link but could a new gun of this brand name be off by that much? I pulled out my Buckmark and bounced the jug all over the pit, shot after shot. Needless to say I'm a bit bummed at the moment.
I did some horrible shooting today while at the range
- Thread starter mwd
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Sock Puppet
Member
Do you have much experience shooting larger caliber pistols? My wife consistently shoots low/left with my XD45 because she anticipates the recoil and jerks the trigger. She shoots quite well with my XD9 and our smaller caliber pistols.
jad0110
Member
Good god man, by the title of you thread, I thought we had another VT happen or something ... whew. 
Sorry about your day though.
To be sure, you could always let someone else shoot your XD. Chances are you were just having a bad day with anticipating recoil and flinching; happens to everyone. Frustrating has heck, I certainly understand how you feel.
Sorry about your day though.
To be sure, you could always let someone else shoot your XD. Chances are you were just having a bad day with anticipating recoil and flinching; happens to everyone. Frustrating has heck, I certainly understand how you feel.
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Trigger control, trigger control, trigger control. My primary suggestion is to find a competent instructor and spend a couple of hours working on fundamentals. Low and left (or just low) almost always means anticipating recoil. There are some tricks to break that habit, but dry practice is best. Dry practice pressing the trigger while keeping your sights on target 50 times per day for a month (cycling the action between presses, while keeping the trigger fully to the rear- so you can learn to feel the reset), your trigger control will improve, your groups will improve and your trigger will get smoother and lighter.
You need dry fire practice, can't do too much. Snap caps are not required, use them if you want them.
Double up your hearing protection (plugs and muffs) to reduce your sensitivity to the noise when you shoot.
Having a helper load your magazines, and sneak in a snap cap when you aren't expecting it will really put the spotlight on how bad you are flinching.
Double up your hearing protection (plugs and muffs) to reduce your sensitivity to the noise when you shoot.
Having a helper load your magazines, and sneak in a snap cap when you aren't expecting it will really put the spotlight on how bad you are flinching.
Deanimator
Member
Have you bench fired your gun from a known distance?
Fixed sights are regulated for a particular load. You don't say what load you used.
Fire the gun from a bench at 7 and 25 yards. If it's on target a 7 yards from the bench, it's doing what it was designed to do. XDs aren't bullseye target pistols and aren't equipped with sights for that purpose.
Fixed sights are regulated for a particular load. You don't say what load you used.
Fire the gun from a bench at 7 and 25 yards. If it's on target a 7 yards from the bench, it's doing what it was designed to do. XDs aren't bullseye target pistols and aren't equipped with sights for that purpose.
Don't have a bench but I did mark off 7 and 25 and did a bit better on 2nd outing. Got a few snap caps and looking forward to more practice. I'm wondering about your last statement Deanimator. I thought these XD's were used in competition shooting by some. Is their main purpose a close range self defense weapon?
David E
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mwd, I made Grandmaster shooting my XD, so it's plenty accurate enough. It's not a bullseye gun, but it does alright.
Try this: hold the gun as usual, but have someone else slowly press the trigger for you. If the shot goes where your sights were, it proves you are jerking the trigger/gun pretty badly.
Try this: hold the gun as usual, but have someone else slowly press the trigger for you. If the shot goes where your sights were, it proves you are jerking the trigger/gun pretty badly.
MWD, XD's are plenty accurate, but the sights are not target sights. They're what you'd call a "combat sight". Bold, blocky, easy to see and align, but they're not made for fine resolution. That's not to say you can't line them up darned near perfectly if you have the skill and time, but they're made for "close enough", not "perfect".
Ohio Gun Guy
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Fat, drunk, stupid and being a poor shot are no way to go through life son.
Modified Quote 
Modified Quote
twitch1706
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XDs are notorious for the Low-Left problem due to the long trigger pull. I've run about 800 rounds through my XDm and I still pull a wee bit left and low sometimes. Like others have said, trigger time will help you out. In the same breath, if you'd like to throw down some coin to help the problem, there are a couple aftermarket trigger kits that help out with the trigger creep that have worked wonders for folks over at XDTalk. (mainly Springer Precision and Powder River Precision)
WNC Seabee
Member
My XD 45 compact is just as accurate as my Springfield Loaded target model 1911 out to 15 yards or so. I should say, I AM just as accurate with the XD as the 1911 at those ranges.
Deanimator
Member
Mostly IDPA competition. I have NEVER seen an XD (and only one Glock) used in NRA Conventional Pistol. They're not designed for that purpose. They're self-defense guns, intended for use at typical self-defense distances (7 yards). At 7 yards, an XD with fixed sights is going to do what it needs to do. It's not a "target" pistol as the term is generally understood. XDs and Glocks are designed to be accurate and reliable in typical defensive applications, with appropriate ammunition.
Absolutely, and in competitions which simulate close range self-defense.
Similarly, I wouldn't even CONSIDER my Giles .38 Special M1911 as a self-defense gun, unless there was NOTHING else available.
Different guns have different purposes. I wouldn't use my Savage 112BVSS for short range self-defense. It isn't configured for that purpose. Nor would I shoot 1,000 yard slow fire with my AR carbine.
gatorjames85
Member
Is he looking at double-secret probation?
My bet is on "Flinchitis": anticipation of recoil that makes you jerk the pistol downward when firing.
Treatment for said condition includes copious dry firing (dime on front sight exercise is good), use of snap caps mixed in with live ammunition to see if the problem persists, and, well, a good spotter friend to help you identify when you are doing it.
Treatment for said condition includes copious dry firing (dime on front sight exercise is good), use of snap caps mixed in with live ammunition to see if the problem persists, and, well, a good spotter friend to help you identify when you are doing it.
KBintheSLC
Member
As others have said, the anticipation is the likely culprit. Get some snap caps and do a lot of dry practice. Focus on keeping the sights perfectly still while the trigger breaks... this entails taking up all of the slack first and merely squeezing the last little bit out without moving the gun.
Just make sure the gun is empty, you remove all live ammo from the room, and you aim in a safe direction... like a brick external wall or something.
Good luck and hang in there... it will come.
Just make sure the gun is empty, you remove all live ammo from the room, and you aim in a safe direction... like a brick external wall or something.
Good luck and hang in there... it will come.
it's not the sights.
it's your trigger pull.
Another thing is how you handle recoil. Don't make massive efforts to wrestle it. Don't limp wrist, but don't fight the recoil either.
The first time I shot at an outdoor range at longer distances, I was all over the place. It was embarassing. But I did some research and worked on my trigger pull and now I can pretty well hit where I want to. Fire slow and take your time, both eyes open, and don't blink. Try to see if you can watch the shell casing fly out with your peripheral vision. Learning to expect and accept the "bang" and not blinking will help you stop flinching.
Last bit of advice-Don't use the joint of your trigger finger. Use the pad of your finger.
it's your trigger pull.
Another thing is how you handle recoil. Don't make massive efforts to wrestle it. Don't limp wrist, but don't fight the recoil either.
The first time I shot at an outdoor range at longer distances, I was all over the place. It was embarassing. But I did some research and worked on my trigger pull and now I can pretty well hit where I want to. Fire slow and take your time, both eyes open, and don't blink. Try to see if you can watch the shell casing fly out with your peripheral vision. Learning to expect and accept the "bang" and not blinking will help you stop flinching.
Last bit of advice-Don't use the joint of your trigger finger. Use the pad of your finger.
1KPerDay
Member
Try using a combat sight picture (front sight where you want it) rather than a 6-o'clock hold. *shrugs*
Dr.Mall Ninja
Member
I have been through that! My first gun I chose to get was a 1911 45acp (everybody said get a 22, what do they know ) When you squeeze the trigger, expect it not go off.
) When you squeeze the trigger, expect it not go off.
JJE
Member
If you find that the gun is tight in your hands during recoil, then your grip is OK. But if the gun is shifting or if your off hand is changing position relative to the gun or to your gun hand during recoil, then your grip is not right. In a moderate-recoil handgun like a 9mm, flinching isn't caused by the recoil (which isn't that bad), but by a grip that isn't secure enough to control the gun.
Grip the gun tightly with your gun hand, make sure the bottom of your palms are pressed together securely behind the grip and make sure your offhand fingers are squeezing the other hand's fingers back onto the front of the grip. Form a tight, 360-degree grip and keep it tight.
Grip the gun tightly with your gun hand, make sure the bottom of your palms are pressed together securely behind the grip and make sure your offhand fingers are squeezing the other hand's fingers back onto the front of the grip. Form a tight, 360-degree grip and keep it tight.
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