how do i make my shots tighter??

[vikz]

I went to the range today just did 40rds and i was getting good hits but they are not right in the center..how do i make my shots tighter??? here is the target pics..
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o175/vikz07/riatarget015.jpg

[vikz]

i would love it to be just in the #2 rings atleast, i was trying to follow all the tips i saw in the videos that are posted here i mean i still consider it a good day for me atleast..

[John]

Practice, practice, practice. Oh did I mention Practice too?

Unless you want to get some Group-Tite from Brownells. :)

[Tedfs]

I posted this here in another thread about a different topic but I think it might help to tighten your groups. It's helping me a great deal even though it's only 4 minutes long.

Todd Jarrett Grip Lesson (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4584332856867071363)

[galatins220]

Thanks for sharing that video!

[ambidextrous1]

How fast are you shooting, and how far is the target?

I assume the target is about the size of a dinner plate; if you're shooting for self-defense, you're doing okay. As a bullseye shooter, you're not so hot, LOL!

Next time you're at the range, place your target at 5 yards & fire 5 shots; take your time. Did you get a one hole group?

[Frank]

The first principle of accurate shooting is trigger control: a smooth, press straight back on the trigger with only the trigger finger moving to a surprise break. Maintain your focus on the front sight as you press the trigger, increasing pressure on the trigger until the shot breaks. Don't try to predict exactly when the gun will go off nor try to cause the shot to break at a particular moment. This is what Jeff Cooper called the "surprise break."

BY keeping focus on the front sight and increasing pressure on the trigger until the gun essentially shoots itself, you don’t anticipate the shot breaking. But if you try to make the shot break at that one instant in time when everything seem steady and aligned, you usually wind up jerking the trigger. Of course the gun will wobble some on the target. Try not to worry about the wobble and don’t worry about trying to keep the sight aligned on a single point. Just let the front sight be somewhere in a small, imaginary box in the center of the target.

Also, work on follow through. Be aware of where on the target the front sight is as the shot breaks and watch the front sight lift off that point as the gun recoils – all the time maintaining focus on the front sight.

Also, while practice in very important, remember that practice doesn’t make perfect. It’s “PERFECT practice makes perfect.” More frequent practice shooting fewer rounds, but concentrating hard on what you’re doing, will be more productive than less frequent, higher round count practice.

Think: front sight, press, surprise.

DVC

[India0311]

I'm not saying to use this as a crutch, but keep in mind you are shooting with tiny GI sights on a $350 gun. That is not a slam on a Rock, heck I have one and love that lead chunker, but it's a combat/field gun, not a surgical match gun. That target you posted reads to me: "thoroughly dead bad guy".

I see worse targets every week by people with far "nicer" pistols.

Just practice and get mental and robotic on it. Try to block out the bills you need to pay, or the pretty waitress you saw 30 minutes ago, or the guy who cut you off in traffic... just think about sending that little bullet home. visualize it.

Think BRASS for each and every shot. breathe (inhale--exhale--then rest/pause), relax, aim (clear front sight tip, perfect sight picture), squeeze, shoot (the "shoot" should be a suprise). BRASS should takeabout 2 seconds. If you take too long to get a good picture, don't take the shot. Just re-BRASS.

Practice seriously each time. if you're rushed for time, just don't go, because otherwise it's not really doing any good in regards to developing your skillset. good luck.

my two PMI cents

[vikz]

ambidextrous1 the target was at 15yds and i would say i was shooting every 2 or 3 secs bet. shots, india0311 i know should not go when i am pressed for time but i had that feeling that i need to go and shot you know what i mean..and yes john i will order those locktite soon :lm: :D thanks for all the comments and just keep it coming..

[vikz]

frank i was also trying to do what you are saying to look for the sight, some of the closer shots in that target i was able to find it quiker..frank i usually shoot with my dominant eye,and i've been trying to shoot with both eyes looking at the sights but not working at the moment..

[garrettwc]

Couple of things to try and see if it improves.

#1 As Frank mentioned is trigger control. It must be a smooth press (like pushing a button on a keyboard), not really a "pull". Dry practice will help here. You can work the trigger without the distraction of recoil, and see if your sights are moving. How you manipulate the trigger matters too. Are you letting the finger come completely off and then "slapping" the next shot, or are you riding the trigger forward to the reset point and then breaking the next shot.

#2 Keep your head down. What I mean here is don't look for your shots, look for your front sight. A lot of folks have a tendency to look downrange after the shot breaks to see where they hit. This will cause your front sight to move about and your groups will spread out. Always get a "second sight picture". The sequence should be front sight, bang, front sight. Regardless of the number of shots in the string, you should always follow that sequence. Lurper touched on this in the double tap video.

#3 Move closer. I'm not being silly here. Start on small targets 1-3" dots at close range. Even as close as 1 yd. Keep practicing at that distance until all of your shots are on the dot. Then move out to 3 yds, 5yds, etc in increments until you reach your personal maximum. You'll be surprised at how you zero in on that small target and are able to track it as you move farther out. "Aim small, miss small". Anytime your groups start spreading out, it's time to "Agitate the dots".

Lastly, I will leave you with this link:
http://glockfaq.com/trigger.htm

Yes it's on a Glock page, but the information is universal. It is the edited version of a 20-page thread that originated on Glocktalk. It covers just about everything related to breaking the shot and making the bullet go where you are aiming. Recommended reading.

[RomeoTango]

"grasshopper must bend, like a reed in the wind"

relax, front sight, front sight, front sight, squeeeeeeeeze.

Don't concentrate so hard on the target, let your minds eye find the target, focus on the front sight.

Practice does not make perfect: Perfect practice makes perfect.

Feedback targets are cool too.

click here (http://www.homegunsafety.com/correction_chart.gif)

http://www.letargets.com/html/general_targets/lsr.jpg

[vikz]

garretwc you are so right i do tend to look at my target after a couple of shot i mean i usually check where i am hitting or if i was hitting my target..bad habit that i have to correct..and i do practiced dry firing(safely of course no mags)..and i have to say it does help on my trigger control comparing before i started shooting again(6 months ago)

[India0311]

Feedback targets are a nice starting point, but be wary about making them the definitive authority. I've had issues with that target since 1993.

I know for a fact anticipating the shot will drop you low. Yet to read it, a 6 o'clock round is dropping your head or whatnot, and anticipation is at 2.

[clintsfolly]

when i was shooting ihmsa was told to tighten the nut on the grip aways works for me clint

[garrettwc]

garretwc you are so right i do tend to look at my target after a couple of shot i mean i usually check where i am hitting or if i was hitting my target..bad habit that i have to correct
Yup, remember what Lurper said to me in the other thread about "calling your shots"? If the front sight is where it's supposed to be when you break the shot, then you know where it went, without looking.

Now that being said, take a look at your target you posted and "read" it. Look at the two separate groupings near the "1"s. I'll bet that you lifted your head to look between firing the upper three group, and the lower 2 group. Am I close?

[John]

when i was shooting ihmsa was told to tighten the nut on the grip aways works for me clint
What nut?

[vikz]

yap i remember, and i know i have fliers there too, that i know for a fact i messedup and anticipated the recoil.specially than one at the bottom of #4 ring..man

[horse 91-A1]

Other than John looking for his nut there's been some terrific advice. :) One of the ways I've used to build concentration is take a smooth double action revolver, like S&W 686, and dry fire on target with a dime on the top rib. With a few minutes practice you should be able to keep your sights on target with a pretty fast trigger movement.

Some recommend using finger joint on revolver trigger and finger pad on pistols; you may want to try both and learn what works for you.

I was off on my Colt M1991 yesterday, changed over to Weaver stance keeping lead foot ponted at target, then aggressive Weaver stance, with more body weight on the forward leg, put my head straight up and down instead of tilted slighty to the right and destroyed a detergent bottle cap, 3 for 5, at 30 meters. :D

If you reload, 200gr SWC make for an inexpensive way to put a lot of rounds down range off-setting the cost of factory ammo.

Bob

[John]

I tend to always loose nuts! It must be something wrong with me, I guess! :D :)

And what? You didn't like my advise?

Practice, practice, practice. Oh did I mention Practice too?

?????

[Lurper]

Check to make sure that you are only moving your trigger finger when you press the trigger. It looks like you might be palming the gun - exerting force on the gun with your hand as you are pressing the trigger. Try this:
Dry fire while concentrating on just feeling the trigger move every mm. For about the first 10 times, don't even focus on the sight (you can even close your eyes). Just feel the trigger move. Be aware of what your hand is doing as you press the trigger. The only thing that moves should be your trigger finger. After about 10 times, now shift your focus to the front sight. Watch what the sight does when you press the trigger. It should not move.
At the range, for the first 10 or 20 shots, just focus on the front sight as you slowly press the trigger. You should be surprised when the shot breaks.

Also, get in the habit of lowering or holstering your gun before checking for hits. Don't get in the habit of looking over the gun to see your hits, because you will do that as you shoot if you are not careful.

[ambidextrous1]

Great suggestions, Lurper! Why am I not surprised? ;)

[Lurper]

One other suggestion:
Get rid of those Hi-visibilty targets. They are training your mind to look at the target for the hits. That is not where you want to look. Look at your sights to know where you hits are. Somewhere, I posted about how to "call" your shots. Find that and learn to do that. It will help immensely. The bullet will hit where the sight is - can't happen any other way. Learn to see the sight.

I would recommend that if your preference is bullseye targets, you use traditional ones at a distance where you cannot see your hits. Focus on the sight, learn to trust the sight and call your shots.

[Clint]

Feedback targets are a nice starting point, but be wary about making them the definitive authority. I've had issues with that target since 1993.

I know for a fact anticipating the shot will drop you low. Yet to read it, a 6 o'clock round is dropping your head or whatnot, and anticipation is at 2. I see the link goes to a different target than the one in the post.
To add to the use of diagnostic targets,
The 6 o'clock position says “breaking wrist down, pushing forward or drooping head,” Two of the three are a form of “anticipating recoil". As is “breaking wrist up” at the 12 o'clock position. And remember diagnostic targets are for finding trouble with groups and a common flier. One stray shot may be a lacking of sight alignment or sight picture, but if a stray round is common it may be a bad habit (i.e. “thumbing”) that sneaks in once in a while.

[vikz]

lurper just want to thank you for your advice, i can already see the difference in my shots when i focus on the front sights, my shots a getting tighter even though they are not in the middle yet..