How to stop flinching

[Wfevans4]

How do you stop flinching? Other than man up!!! 357 (rarely 38) and 44 mag is what I'm shooting.

I've shot mostly Glocks and other semi-autos most of my life and now that I'm getting into revolvers, I flinch more than I want to. Especially double action.

 

[kbm6893]

I sti

How do you stop flinching? Other than man up!!! 357 (rarely 38) and 44 mag is what I'm shooting.

I've shot mostly Glocks and other semi-autos most of my life and now that I'm getting into revolvers, I flinch more than I want to. Especially double action.

l still do it to a degree, but the answer is practice a lot. I know a few guys who recommend loading only 1 live round and the rest of the cylinder are empties, so the shot is a surprise instead of the other way around. Never tried it.

 

[Peak53]

If I notice a flinch with a larger caliber I will switch off to a .22 for a few rounds. That will often solve the problem - until next time

 

[Thiokol]

Don't anticipate the shot. Let it be a surprise.

 

[67whaler]

Don't anticipate the shot. Let it be a surprise.

This. I became a much better shot very quickly when my shooting buddy-who is a fine shooter said these exact words to me. Practice and more experience mostly took care of the rest.

 

[pokey074]

It's hard to explain, but for me flinching feels like a reflex, almost like a sneeze. Recognize when it's coming on, slow down, take a breath, etc. and restart your trigger squeeze.

 

[wproct]

I am quite familiar with flinching. Mine started about 5 years after I started trapshooting. One thing that I have found, a lot of mine is driven by sound. The more ear protection I have the better it is. I will use ear plugs plus earmuffs. Then, I try to put total focus on trigger control for handgun and rifle. If your mind is totally focused on one thing it will help you ignore the other, or in other words ignore the report you are gonna hear. Anyway, we are all different, and that's what works for me. But, you will never get over it, just try to deal with it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Never actually flinched with a handgun. Largest I've shot being 44 Mag.
But I have flinched with rifles.
Like a 338 Rem Mag, Savage 110 LH.
Could only shoot it standing up over the hood of my truck.
Have shot a fair amount of REM 7 Mag, recoil not too bad, hated the noise!

 

[zodraz]

I sti

l still do it to a degree, but the answer is practice a lot. I know a few guys who recommend loading only 1 live round and the rest of the cylinder are empties, so the shot is a surprise instead of the other way around. Never tried it.

That method ,or leave one hole empty,will reveal anticipatory movement of the gun.
It works.

 

[Eddietruett]

I started shooting in high school. Like 99% of the shooters back then it was with revolvers. My "teacher" used to load my revolver for me. He might load 6 live rounds or 5 with a spent round or 4 with 2 spent rounds. Trigger control becomes very apparent when a dud is shot. If I flinched he would pop me on the side of the head. I got a lot better and paid much more attention to squeezing and not flinching. Mainly not to give him the satisfaction.

 

[Frailer]

The most-recommended remedy is often the ball-and-dummy drill. Another option—shooting a rimfire for a while—has already been mentioned.

My own solution is a bit different. While we often call it a "flinch," I think "recoil anticipation" is a more accurate term. Recognize that what you're going to want to force the muzzle downward to mitigate recoil…then don't do that.

Whenever the "flinch" rears its ugly head I'll focus very hard on the front sight, concentrating on keeping it dead still through the whole trigger stroke.

 

[gdogs]

When I'm teaching a new handgun shooter I will always start with my Mod 18. I will take the little 22lr and load 3 or 4 rounds in the cylinder where the student can't see it. Then I'll hand them the gun and have them start firing. You will very quickly see if they are flinching. If they are, then I reassure them that there is nothing to be afraid of and have them dry fire the empty gun. Once they are capable of keeping the muzzle from moving during dry fire, we'll go back to me partially loading the cylinder out of sight. When they can go through every chamber without flinching, they can start loading the gun fully. Has worked every time.

 

[cp1969]

Shoot Creedmore style. That is, lay down on the ground and prop yourself up with your left arm. Draw your right leg up far enough that you can, with your right hand. Now, holding the gun in your right hand, rest it against the calf of your right leg, making sure it's far enough forward that the flash from the cylinder/barrel gap goes in front of your let, not against it. Let the gun recoil as high as it wants; don't try to hold it down.

https://files.osgnetworks.tv/2/files/2013/07/Elmer-Keith_002.jpg

Don't blink. Learn to keep both eyes open.

 

[TheTinMan]

I never had a flinch until I started shooting 357 SIG in an HK USP Compact. Talk about muzzle blast! A combination of dry firing, shooting a .22 pistol, and mixing spent cases with live rounds in a heavy .38 Special revolver finally got me past it. I did eventually abandon that cartridge though.

The worst recoil I've ever experienced in a long gun was sighting in a Ruger M-77 with that black plastic "boat paddle" stock in 338 Win Mag. Yowzaa! Right now I'm learning how to shoot 375 H&H Magnum effectively in preparation for a hunt. I'm mostly shooting a "reduced recoil" load - "only" 235 grains going 2,500 fps as opposed to 300 grains going 2,550 for the full load. At least the rifle weighs 12 pounds with the scope and it's not as bad as that Ruger… At least that's what I keep telling myself. 8-10 rounds per practice session.

 

[Fvernic]

Dry fire, ball-and-dummy

 

[Engine49guy]

I do the same thing but use a centerfire .38 special , after they are comfortable I may sneak in a light .357 or two and then tell them afterwards they fired .357, some say I noticed a couple seemed hotter but they no longer fear it.
Btw, I would not try that in a small or light gun, I use a 6" Model 27 which is a pussycat at taming recoil.
On a side note,
I would recommend inserting a few fired 22lr casings instead of empty chambers in your K22 as the firing pin on a rimfire will strike the cylinder edge eventually peening it.

 

[chief38]

How do you stop flinching? Other than man up!!! 357 (rarely 38) and 44 mag is what I'm shooting.

I've shot mostly Glocks and other semi-autos most of my life and now that I'm getting into revolvers, I flinch more than I want to. Especially double action.

Practice trigger control with an empty gun (use dummy rounds or snap caps) and do not rush or anticipate the shot. Trigger control is slowly squeezing the trigger with slowly increasing pressure on it until it fires - never pull or jerk a trigger When the gun fires it should be somewhat of a "surprise" as to the precise moment it goes off. You can start off live shooting with a .22 and work up from there. Do not move up until you are flinch-free with the lighter and smaller calibers. When you pull the trigger your gun's barrel should not move downward. Focus on your sight picture - it is perfectly ok to have the target be somewhat blurry. The human eye is incapable of keeping the rear sight, front sight and the target all in focus at the same time. Squeeze, do not pull. Gently increase pressure until you hear the bang. Master that and you have mastered trigger control and eliminated the flinch.

If you don't have a 22 revolver you might consider buying or renting one (or shooting with a friend that has one. Just buy some ammo for it. Stay with it until you master - no more flinching.

 

[GnarlsR2]

Don't anticipate the shot. Let it be a surprise.

I'm not a fan of surprises when it comes to a round being fired. I want to know what's coming and ready for some recoil.

 

[mtgianni]

Practice trigger control with an empty gun (use dummy rounds or snap caps) and do not rush or anticipate the shot. Trigger control is slowly squeezing the trigger with slowly increasing pressure on it until it fires - never pull or jerk a trigger When the gun fires it should be somewhat of a "surprise" as to the precise moment it goes off. You can start off live shooting with a .22 and work up from there. Do not move up until you are flinch-free with the lighter and smaller calibers. When you pull the trigger your gun's barrel should not move downward. Focus on your sight picture - it is perfectly ok to have the target be somewhat blurry. The human eye is incapable of keeping the rear sight, front sight and the target all in focus at the same time. Squeeze, do not pull. Gently increase pressure until you hear the bang. Master that and you have mastered trigger control and eliminated the flinch.

If you don't have a 22 revolver you might consider buying or renting one (or shooting with a friend that has one. Just buy some ammo for it. Stay with it until you master - no more flinching.

Along with this advice control your wobble with the trigger. Every one has a sight wobble, slight or major. Put yours in as small a circle as possible. While focusing on trigger pressure only add pressure to it when you are in the last quarter of the circle approaching the target, never when you are moving away from it.
The concentration of these two things should keep your mind off of "This is going to be load, unexpected and painful".

 

[Jimbo41]

Anyone ever balance a coin on the barrel while dry firing?