Range Report! Need Help

[Smith]

Well, I'm done breaking in the new Hi-Power and let me say it is nice. Shoots very well, when I do my part. That's the problem.

I consistently shoot about half (first few) my shots low/left. Then I get dead on target with a few drifting laterally left (not very much though). I never have any go to the right side of the target - ever.

According to the training target, I'm tightening my fingers or jerking/slapping the trigger. I've tried to be as methodical and technical as I can, but I'm just not correcting the problem very well. Any training suggestions?

I know part of it is going between my sweet XD with Springer trigger, to the unrefined longer and harder HP trigger. However, I do have this same problem with my XD, although it is not nearly as noticeable.

[molonlabetn]

I tend to do this when I use just my fingertip to pull the trigger... when I move the first knuckle closer to the trigger it is more natural for me to pull straight back instead of pushing the gun left.

Shooting a DA revolver is good practice for trigger control.

[Guest DrBoomBoom]

I've got good days and bad days. One thing that really helped my trigger control was this visualization technique I read somewhere:

While looking at your sight picture, focusing on the front sight, keeping it in the middle of the rear sight notch, pretend that your trigger pulls the front sight back, and that by pressing the trigger back, you must pull the front sight back through the rear sight notch without touching the sides.

Lots of other possibilities and cures, I'll bet you get a few more here

Have a good time with that HP, my wife's got one and it's a lot of fun.

[Guest Len]

It sounds like MUCH of your problem is from moving between two very different feeling trigger systems. Finger position on the trigger may be the issue here, but can't tell without more info. Are you using the same part of the finger to pull the trigger? With different trigger pulls, you will get different results.

Using a DA revolver as practice will get you used to a heavier pull and the finger placement required to deal with it. (Closer to the knuckle, or even in the knuckle as some folks teach.)

I'd love to hear other thoughts on this -I've seen it before and will likely again.

[Guest Mugster]

Just keep shooting. Practice is no substitute for talent out on a range though. Some people can just flat shoot a handgun. It is not fair

I try to dry fire alot, that seems to help more than anything for me.

I think building your forearms by squeezing a clay ball or a tennis ball helps. I do a few things in the gym as well.

I also load 2-3 rounds in a revolver and close the cylinder without looking to check for flinch. I catch myself more often than not. If you load 2 together and a singleton that seems to be about the best.

Concentrate on that front sight. In the old Army marksmanship manual, they note on page 1 that if the sights are aligned when the trigger is pullled, you'll hit where you are aiming. Oh so simple, yet oh so hard sometimes.

In terms of the finger, I think you've got to keep it consistent across all the guns you shoot. For me, that means using the tip or the pad. I try to stay away from the first joint, which is tough on some of the clunky triggers i shoot...most notably a .38 S&W j-frame revolver. Man that little bugger is a beast. My older M19 is smooth as silk though.

Edited January 31, 2008 by Mugster
finger

[Guest 2HOW]

low left is a term called "healing" too much pressure on the right hand, relax the strong hand and pull straight back on trigger.

[Guest db99wj]

I shoot a little low and left, nice group, but low and left. My problem is a little bit of pushing with my trigger finger but also anticipation of recoil. What has helped me is snap caps, get someone else to load them in with your live rounds, don't look! When you pull the trigger, and it doesn't go boom, you will see what you are doing. Good way to practice misfire drills too.