Trouble keeping on paper-

[rockphikapps]

Hey guys-- I'm a new shooter and ashamed to admit this....but I had a hell of a time keeping on paper. 15 rounds at 25 yards before I hit the damn target. that was the top left shot.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hes021e1ksj004g/2015-10-08 21.58.16.jpg?dl=0

The three bigger holes on the bottom right are with a 1911.

So...what am I doing wrong? It is a very short barrel but my Dad thought I must have a bad barrel. "You should be able to do better than that." So....shooting tips for this gun?

Pics just because:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/omptl32itbnx8l9/2015-10-04 16.52.40.jpg?dl=0

 

[bruner1981]

This issue will happen with snub nosed revolvers, or any short barrelled gun for that matter. These guns are very capable of shooting accurately. Check your follow through on the trigger. The issue I had when I started shooting a snubby was as soon as the trigger broke, I was releasing it. The motion of the trigger resetting is enough to make you pull off target. Do some dry fire practice, it won't damage the gun. Practice in single action or double action, whichever you use most. When the hammer falls, don't release the trigger immediately, hold it all the way back for a second, then release. Make this a habit and you should see some improvement over time. If you are concerned about the barrel, shine a light at an angle through the forcing come end and take a picture of the rifling through the crown end and post here and we'll take a look. Hope this helps!

 

[19leben]

Also, that 2" barrel small frame pistol was never intended to be a target gun. 25 yds is way too far for the gun.
What is your intent? Practice for personal protection?
Current fbi stats show the average shootout is 7 yds.
If you are more interested in target shooting at longer range, you should acquire a bigger gun with a longer barrel.

 

[Geo. T.]

Try this!

Until I get used to the trigger and sights I shoot at 3 yards.

With the 422 that I carry at 3 yards I can shoot fast and hold a two inch group. At 7 yards I can shoot fast and hold 8 to 10 inch group. At 25 yards at slow fire I can keep them in the scoring rings but not much of a group!

So my point is if you want good 25 yard groups get a 4 or even better a 6 inch barrel!Good Luck! Geo. T.

 

[snubbyfan]

I agree with the dry fire practice.
At the range, move the target a bit closer to start, say about 10 feet or so. Once ya get to be a decent shot at that distance, move it another 5 or 10 feet. Keep this up until you find your optimal range. Then push it a little further.
Stay consistent with your ammo choices. Different weight bullets impact at different points. Try starting with some 158 grain .38 special.
When you're not at the range, it's dry fire practice time. Practice that trigger control. Work on keeping that front sight steady all the way through the trigger pull.
I have a laser on my carry snubby. I'll put a red dot on my wife's favorite stuffed Pooh Bear and work on keeping it there all the way through the trigger pull and reset.

Makes a big difference at the range.

 

[reddog81]

I've never even tried to shoot my model 60 at 25 yards... For me the sight radius isn't long enough and it's too small to get a good solid grip. Get something with target grips and a 6" or longer barrel for 25 yards.

Start at 7 or 10 yards and work your way to 25. If you can get to the point where all 5 rounds are on paper at 25 yards with that gun you will be ahead of 95%+ of pistol shooters.

 

[bruner1981]

Another option to help with dry fire practice, if you have an extra $100 laying around, those LaserLyte trainers work really well. I got one for Christmas a couple years ago and it's great. The barrel insert is adjustable for different calibers too. And they're just plain fun when you can't make it to the range

 

[Engine49guy]

IMO the J frame .38 snub is best suited as a self defense weapon employed at much closer ranges than 75" feet, Try putting your target out at 15' feet next range session then slowly move it out in 5' foot increments to see where you begin to drift off target.

My guess is a 6" barrel K or N frame revolver with target sites will greatly improve your grouping at 75' Feet.

 

[bruner1981]

IMO the J frame .38 snub is best suited as a self defense weapon employed at much closer ranges than 75" feet, Try putting your target out at 15' feet next range session then slowly move it out in 5' foot increments to see where you begin to drift off target.

My guess is a 6" barrel K or N frame revolver with target sites will greatly improve your grouping at 75' Feet.

Agreed. But to the OP, don't be discouraged about having difficulty hitting the target at 25 yards, it takes lots of practice and patience to be able to do that. My first handgun was a Taurus 605 with a 2 inch barrel, and my only handgun for a while. I had the same issues you are having now, but with some practice and good trigger discipline, you can be picking off cans and bottles at 25+ yards all day long.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Good morning rockphikapps:

Welcome to the Forum.

Lots of good inputs, observations and advice thus far. The Model 60 is an excellent little revolver, and while capable of fine accuracy, it is not a target grade firearm. The late Bob Munden used a Model 60 and factory ammo to successfully hit a ballon at 200 yards. Munden made the shot off-hand, and he successfully made that shot three times in a row.

There are a lot of variables involved in accurately firing and hitting your target with a revolver. Have you tried firing your revolver from a a rested and supported position at close rage (3 - 5 yards)? Have you asked an experienced shooter to fire your revolver? If so, what were the results? If not, you may want to find an instructor and get some lessons.

I hope this helps. Please follow-up and let us know what you find.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[ralph7]

Agree with the comments on the difficulty of shooting a short barreled handgun.
If there actually was anything wrong with the barrel, it would most likely be a ding to the end of the barrel at the crown where you would actually see it. I would bet, however that if you were to clamp your gun in a machine rest, it would shoot a nice tight group at double the range you are shooting.

Keep practicing!

 

[Goblin]

You may also need to work on your sight picture, keeping the front sight in focus and letting the target be a little blurry. That's less critical when you're trying to shoot a three inch group at 5 yards than a 3 inch group at 25 yards. Once you get the basics down and start to improve, I do recommend shooting at the longer distances because that will help you hone your skills of trigger pull, sight alignment and follow-through.

 

[steelslaver]

SIGHT PICTURE. every bit as important as trigger control.

With a 2" barrel you have about 4" of sighting radius. If you sight picture is 1/32" off you will be off 3/32" off in 1 ft and 9/32" off in 1 yard. That is about 7" in 25 yards. On a 6" barrel it would be an 8" radius and that 1/32" misalignment would be 3 1/2" off.

You are shooting the gun, NOT the target. Focus on the sights and not the target, let it the target blur. Better to be 3" off target than 1/32" off your sights. This is difficult to do and requires lots off practice. When you dry fire don't even worry about a point of aim at first, just keeping that perfect sight alignment.

You say you are a new shooter. You have picked one of the hardest guns to shoot accurately to learn with. It will take lots of concentration and practice to to get good with.

Sight picture
Trigger control
Consistent grip

If you practice these improvements will come quickly.

Good luck and enjoy yourself with your new gun

 

[K-framer]

The first thing that you are doing wrong is shooting at 25 yards. Way too challenging for a novice hand gun shooter.

You may be doing other things wrong, such as grip and stance, as well as trigger control, but you need to learn those fundamentals before pushing the distance.

Bring the target in to 5 yards, 7 yards....something like that. Then, learn to shoot properly at that distance. When you can shoot "bullseyes" at will, then you can start to push the distance. Change the distance in increments. Learn to shoot at 5-7 yards, then learn to shoot at 10.....then 15, then 20, etc. It will take a while, but you'll get there.....and you won't embarrass and discourage yourself in the process.

 

[stu1ritter]

rockphikapps, go over to Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
and study the manual. That is the Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit bible. 1911's and snub nose revolvers are NOT the way to learn how to shoot a handgun. Find yourself a .22LR and learn the fundamentals well since pistol shooting "ain't easy".

 

[jonh1373]

Inexpensive things that may help. 1. Get some bright orange paint and put a drop on top half of your front sight for easier sight picture. 2. Better grips like Hogue rubber J frame will help you maintain a consistent grip and gun control. As others have said, start slow and decrease you target distance to begin. I think 7 yards is adequate for the J frame.

 

[stu1ritter]

Harumph! A snub at 25 yards, indeed. I have been shooting bullseye competition for 55 years. I am high expert with one leg toward distinguished. Here is a target I shot with a 2" snub nose at 25 yards for an online competition. That's a 7.5" group. I'm just saying, start at the beginning.

 

[SilentKnight]

A new shooter taking a Model 60 to a 25 yard range is very depressing. As others have said, start close (about 3 yards), learn to steady hold until you can create one big hole from 5 shots... then move a few yards (maybe 5 yards) further. Keep moving the distance further until you know your capability and or limitations. Knowing where your gun prints with the ammo you are using helps. The advice about painting the front sight orange is excellent... I do that with mine. I CAN print 5 in the black at 25 with great effort and a sandbag but under stress that would be quite a shot. I have been shooting for... too long. You should be confident out to 15 yards with sights. At seven yards on a human silhouette target with practice you can go from sights to point shooting very accurately and fast. That is your average gun fight distance according to the FBI. Good luck!!

 

[gwpercle]

Well after 55 years of practice shooting a snub at 25 yards is no big deal, But if it's your first time shooting a snub then start out at 15 feet , work with it and increase the distance as you you improve.
Accurate shooters are made not necessarily born.

 

[jimbo728]

Start in close. Gain confidence.
Front sight.
Trigger.
Think.
Jim