Cure for Shield shooting left

[scattershot]

BTW, pinning the grip safety was a common feature on custom 1911s back in the day. Not really sure why, I've never had a problem hitting it, but there it is.


The OP is setting up HIS guns the way HE likes them. SHEESH!

 

[DJDave]

Would you be so kind as to elaborate on what a "Thumbs Forward' Grip" for those of us les educated?

Photo/s Credit to Dillo Dynamics.

Short Utube Video For explanation.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0HkjXpQBxc[/ame]

Hope this helps.

 

[Magload]

Crabo you have brought up something that is seldom mentioned and that is the gun and sights coming up into alignment and not having to force the gun to point right. The Army Marksmanship Manual for pistol shooting has a good section on this. BTW you can get the manual online in PDF form and it is a very good read. They teach one hand bullseye shooting but it works just as well for SD shooters.

I fought with my 40 Shield for a long time and got my grip and trigger finger placement right. Trigger finger placement will move the shots right or left even with a good grip. I dot it down to around 1 1/2 inches left with tight groups of around 1" out to 10yds. I then moved the front sight and can shoot the 1" center out of a target. Didn't like the 40 and bought a 9 and love shooting it. Don

 

[kilo5117]

Mag load. Can you please elaborate on trigger finger placement? Thinking of experimenting a bit with the shield, given its narrow grip

 

[Rockdoc16]

Geez it's ok to change grip shape to help you shoot. That's why lots of new guns come with several size back straps.

 

[Rastoff]

Can you please elaborate on trigger finger placement?

It's how far you stick your finger into the trigger guard.

Most people do well by placing the middle of the fingerprint pad on the trigger. However, if your rounds are impacting to the left (for a right hand shooter) move the finger closer to the first joint on the trigger. If they are impacting to the right, move the contact closer to the tip of the finger.

It's not a magic cure, but it can help you with left/right POI issues.

 

[cyfman1]

For myself I needed to use the first joint of my trigger finger for "MY" best results. YMMV

 

[Magload]

It's how far you stick your finger into the trigger guard.

Most people do well by placing the middle of the fingerprint pad on the trigger. However, if your rounds are impacting to the left (for a right hand shooter) move the finger closer to the first joint on the trigger. If they are impacting to the right, move the contact closer to the tip of the finger.

It's not a magic cure, but it can help you with left/right POI issues.

Just as Rastoff says and I couldn't have said it better. All my guns except the Shield I use the finger print. On the shield I move closer to the joint. Shooting my GP100 DA I also move closer to the joint. What is right for me may only be covering up a hidden flaw in my shooting. Don

 

[rwsmith]

Nothing wrong with custom but...

...my answer would be 'practice'. I have a Shield and I find it thin, too. So I've decided to learn to hold and shoot it for the best I can get out of it.

 

[Bob O]

I have no problem with modding the grip to fit the hand. This is why nearly all my pistols have some aftermarket grip sleeve or tape.

For me it was not to cure natural pointing, but to make the pistol grip fit me more like a glove.

 

[Old TexMex]

There's a great thread right now called " custom grips. Let's see your favorites "
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-lets-see-your-favorites-2.html#post138978333

 

[Bob O]

LOL!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bkreutz]

Aim more to the right?

 

[notaliberal]

It's how far you stick your finger into the trigger guard.

Most people do well by placing the middle of the fingerprint pad on the trigger. However, if your rounds are impacting to the left (for a right hand shooter) move the finger closer to the first joint on the trigger. If they are impacting to the right, move the contact closer to the tip of the finger.

It's not a magic cure, but it can help you with left/right POI issues.

I have been shooting left for a couple weeks now. I just could not figure it out. You suggestion by moving my trigger finger closer to the joint was perfect. Today I shoot my tightest groups ever. Thank you!

 

[Rastoff]

You suggestion by moving my trigger finger closer to the joint was perfect. Today I shoot my tightest groups ever. Thank you!

Music to my ears. It's always a good day when I hear that some small tid bit has helped someone become a better shooter.

Thank you for the report.

 

[cp2146]

It's how far you stick your finger into the trigger guard.

Most people do well by placing the middle of the fingerprint pad on the trigger. However, if your rounds are impacting to the left (for a right hand shooter) move the finger closer to the first joint on the trigger. If they are impacting to the right, move the contact closer to the tip of the finger.

It's not a magic cure, but it can help you with left/right POI issues.

Hmmm, maybe that's what helped me too. I thought it was thumb placement (thumb forward), but maybe I was subconsciously moving my trigger finger more toward the joint, or maybe a combination of both. Dang it, now I'm gonna have to go to the range and experiment.

 

[Magload]

Music to my ears. It's always a good day when I hear that some small tid bit has helped someone become a better shooter.

Thank you for the report.

Check my post #23 I brought up the trigger finger placement Rastoff you just did a good job of explaining it. Don

 

[jbtrucker]

I don't know much about much and have no where near the experience as the majority of the fine folks on here.I can relate to the low left hits from my Shiled. Here's my first time out with it



Look familiar ? I knew it was partly(mostly)me since I haven't shot a handgun in many years and knew I needed to work on grip and trigger squeeze.Got some good advice from folks and worked on it and still on other outings not much improvement

I wasn't thrilled with the sights that came on the gun and had some AmeriGlo I Dot sights put on and I noticed before having them installed it appeared the front sight was off center to the right. The Gunsmith confirmed it when installing the sights and he asked me are you hitting Left ? and I said Yep.

I also got the Hogue Handall Jr. grip because of the slight palm swells. Even though I have small hands the thicker grip helped with my grip and also gave me a much more solid and secure feel in my hand.

Here's the last time out(the first hits were the hits to the left and after a very small tweak with my grip and trigger finger placement --- well the results speak for themselves This is at 7 yards 50 shots fired.



Sorry for the long winded post,but sometimes the gun needs some tweaking and not just the shooter.I know I am still a work in progress but it's getting there

That's the way mine are with different pistols. My problem was grip and dominant eye, Army Vet advised me to grip higher on pistol ,thumbs forward and switched to left eye , still practicing and have improved a lot. Good Luck

 

[buzzwindrip]

I've been to the range three times with my 9mm Shield, and I still find myself shooting left no matter what my trigger finger placement is. I've tried to modify how I grip the Shield, and I still shoot to the left. I was going to try to do what the OP did: pad with grip tape. Here is a target from from first outing in early December:

 

[agksimon]

Before I bought my shield, I tried my nephew's shield out at 7 yards. I used an IPSC target and loaded my 4.25 FS and the shield, and ripped off sbout three fast shots from one, than the other, then back and forth until empty. It convinced me that I wanted a shield. I did notice that the gun shot left for me.

After I bought my shield and I was spending my obligatory time in front of the tv, dry firing and shooting bad guys, I noticed that when I gripped the gun in a shooting grip, that the front of the barrel pointed a little to the left.

If the gun is pointing off in one direction, instead of straight ahead, check to make sure your bore axis is in line with your elbow. If not, practice holding it that way, until it's automatic.