kbm6893
Member
I never flinch with a .22. No recoil to anticipate so no flinch. I'd start with light .38
How to stop flinching
- Thread starter Wfevans4
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My personal suggestion might be to revisit trigger control. If the trigger is squeezed correctly you won't know exactly when the gun will fire hence there shouldn't be any flinching. That should apply to any caliber no matter the actual recoil. Just suggestion of course.
Kimberpross
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Trigger control. Press straight back and stay focused on the sights to hold them where you aim. Dry firing may help as well. Muscle memory on the trigger will help. For giggles leave two chambers empty, spin the cylinder and then shoot. You'll see what you are doing with the flinch when you hit an empty chmber.
SWFan27
Member
Buy a Smith & Wesson Model 617 revolver. It is a ten shot 22LR. You can practice a lot, and for not a lot of money spent on ammo. Mine always goes to the range with me and I shoot it more than anything else. It has taught me how to shoot double action and greatly increased my accuracy. The shooting skills I have developed have carried over to my 357 Magnums.
When I was shooting a lot of 3D archery, I had an archery coach tell me something similar as a way to combat "target panic," which is similar to flinching with a firearm, both being mental/ anxiety related issues. It is common to do what's called "blind bale shooting" in archery where you shoot at a target at very close range to ensure that your arrow won't go astray, and concentrate ONLY on shooting form, the mechanics of the shot and the release, without aiming, maybe even with eyes closed. This method definitely helps, so Jerry is right (of course) in that the same principle works with shooting firearms.
And definitely supplement your CF handgun shooting with a good .22 revolver or semiauto, not only for helping calm your nerves, but it is inexpensive practice!
when I was starting out I found I was flinching with the .44 magnum. I almost always shot with a friend. I'd have him load the gun for me (revolver). I'd have him occasionally slip in an empty round, sometimes more. It cured me pretty quick. One time when my buddy was not shooting well, I put am empty round in for him! His flinch must have been a foot into the air. We both got cured and it improved our follow-through on the shot.
Flinching is a difficult problem to fix on one's own.
It is a technical flaw ingrained on a subconscious level.
Some of the suggestions offered here, such as dry fire and "ball & dummy" practice, are on the right track. Other suggestions, such as"just buy a .22 revolver", are ridiculous.
Yes, flinching can and will continue once learned even with a .22.
The old saying "practice makes perfect" is not entirely true. More apt is "practice makes permanent".
Bad habits once learned must be systematically worked at to correct.
You can't buy your way out of it with new toys or do a quick fix on your next range visit.
That means professional help.
To fix the problem right, you need a coach.
My suggestion is to find a good established gun club with a competitive smallbore or airgun program and seek out a good coach.
Unfortunately, we are losing gun clubs in the United States. More people go to "gun store/ranges" than are willing to join an NRA or CMP affiliated club.
This is a huge problem!
What do most people here think of when they hear "CMP"?
Chances are, "Oh, that's the place that sells cheap M1 Garands".
But, it is in fact called the "Civilian Marksmanship Program" for a reason!
Please, please, visit the CMP website at:
thecmp.org
Then, use the toolbar to get to the "find a club" page. Hopefully, you can find a nearby club. At least, explore the website resources and check out their forum and huge library of online videos.
Get involved, find a coach, and do the work.
Or not, and flinching will keep holding you back.
(I'm hoping there are at least a few folks here that got started on the right path with a good smallbore program or something similar who'll chime in!)
It is a technical flaw ingrained on a subconscious level.
Some of the suggestions offered here, such as dry fire and "ball & dummy" practice, are on the right track. Other suggestions, such as"just buy a .22 revolver", are ridiculous.
Yes, flinching can and will continue once learned even with a .22.
The old saying "practice makes perfect" is not entirely true. More apt is "practice makes permanent".
Bad habits once learned must be systematically worked at to correct.
You can't buy your way out of it with new toys or do a quick fix on your next range visit.
That means professional help.
To fix the problem right, you need a coach.
My suggestion is to find a good established gun club with a competitive smallbore or airgun program and seek out a good coach.
Unfortunately, we are losing gun clubs in the United States. More people go to "gun store/ranges" than are willing to join an NRA or CMP affiliated club.
This is a huge problem!
What do most people here think of when they hear "CMP"?
Chances are, "Oh, that's the place that sells cheap M1 Garands".
But, it is in fact called the "Civilian Marksmanship Program" for a reason!
Please, please, visit the CMP website at:
Home - Civilian Marksmanship Program
thecmp.org
Then, use the toolbar to get to the "find a club" page. Hopefully, you can find a nearby club. At least, explore the website resources and check out their forum and huge library of online videos.
Get involved, find a coach, and do the work.
Or not, and flinching will keep holding you back.
(I'm hoping there are at least a few folks here that got started on the right path with a good smallbore program or something similar who'll chime in!)
Lou_the_welder
Member
Send alot of lead downrange.................shoot with both eyes open................... Reload.
Agree that bad habits don't go away just by reducing recoil, but it certainly helps to focus on shooting fundamentals and ingrain good habits into muscle memory when your hand isn't being hammered on every shot. It's also much cheaper to get in the necessary reps with a .22 to help you undo those learned bad habits. If you can't afford the cost of enough ammo to fix it, it's harder to fix it. Anticipating recoil is one factor in inducing flinch, so reducing recoil is helpful in being able to focus on shooting fundamentals.
681ismyfavorite
Member
Start with a light caliber and work your way up until you notice you flinch. That's your level of competence.
fatcat3
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Used to do a lot of long-range shooting with a 44. When the 454 came out as production a buddy's girlfriend bought him top of the line FA. (yes, he married her). One cylinder of that and I learned that if I can't do it with my 44 then I need a big rifle 
and developed a flinch. Back to the 22lr and a whole piss pot full of slow careful deliberate shooting.
and developed a flinch. Back to the 22lr and a whole piss pot full of slow careful deliberate shooting.
gwpercle
Member
It's hard ... but the best way is go back to light recoiling loads... light 38 Special and light 44 Special koads ...
Resume shooting these and when you can beat the flinch with them ... move up to a little heavier load . Reloading your own ammo is a big help .
Srart9ng a new shooter with magnum loads usually leads to flinching ... Startor step back to low recoiling ammo and work up slpwly .
And ... Use good hearing protection when
shooting ... it helps big time with the flinch !
Good Luck ,
Gary
As long as you are concentrating on sights, practice moving your trigger finger so it is the only finger that moves on your hand. This can be done at a desk but it is an easy skill to lose. Obviously, you don't have a gun in your hand just concentrate on moving your trigger finger only.
ocjimmy
Member
5 Cent Solution!
I know I'm late to this party, but except for one other response, nobody else touched on this effective technique.
Take your gun. Clear it and the room of all ammo. Double-check that it's clear of all ammo.
OK, now find a TV Show (Like Great British Bake-Off on Netflix) or a fun Colion Noir YouTube Video and sit down.
Place a nickel on the flat space just behind your front sight.
Press play on your show, sit back, and extend your gun in an isosceles grip toward the TV.
Begin slowly dry-firing your gun, double-action, only. Don't let the nickel fall off. If it does, pick it up, replace it, and do it again.
This will be harder than you think unless you have a PC action job or the gun is well-worn.
Do this for the duration of the show or at least 25 minutes. Don't worry so much about aiming, for now. Just keep that nickel on the barrel.
What this does...
It is an incredibly effective way of teaching perfect trigger control. This learned trigger control will jump your accuracy across the board from .22 plinkers to long-range rifles.
By focusing on a smooth and consistent trigger press, you will become more fluid and eventually faster without dropping the nickel.
Before you next go to the range, repeat this for about 15 minutes.
At the range, use your sights and your newfound trigger mastery. After your first perfect shot, you may begin anticipating the recoil. I do recommend target .38 rounds (at least a box or two) to do your initial practice. Verbally (Yes, out loud) say, "I know you will recoil. That's OK" (I know this sounds stupid, but everyone is wearing earmuffs and can't hear you.) Doing this audibly tells your brain, in your own voice, that it's OK and not to worry about it. As many others have suggested, you can intersperse an empty cylinder or spent shell so you don't see when it's up next.
BTW, this also works flawlessly on double-action pistols. For Glocks, you have to reset the trigger while holding the nickel each time, so it's a little more cumbersome, but it also works.
I'd love to hear your feedback on this simple but highly effective technique.
I know I'm late to this party, but except for one other response, nobody else touched on this effective technique.
Take your gun. Clear it and the room of all ammo. Double-check that it's clear of all ammo.
OK, now find a TV Show (Like Great British Bake-Off on Netflix) or a fun Colion Noir YouTube Video and sit down.
Place a nickel on the flat space just behind your front sight.
Press play on your show, sit back, and extend your gun in an isosceles grip toward the TV.
Begin slowly dry-firing your gun, double-action, only. Don't let the nickel fall off. If it does, pick it up, replace it, and do it again.
This will be harder than you think unless you have a PC action job or the gun is well-worn.
Do this for the duration of the show or at least 25 minutes. Don't worry so much about aiming, for now. Just keep that nickel on the barrel.
What this does...
It is an incredibly effective way of teaching perfect trigger control. This learned trigger control will jump your accuracy across the board from .22 plinkers to long-range rifles.
By focusing on a smooth and consistent trigger press, you will become more fluid and eventually faster without dropping the nickel.
Before you next go to the range, repeat this for about 15 minutes.
At the range, use your sights and your newfound trigger mastery. After your first perfect shot, you may begin anticipating the recoil. I do recommend target .38 rounds (at least a box or two) to do your initial practice. Verbally (Yes, out loud) say, "I know you will recoil. That's OK" (I know this sounds stupid, but everyone is wearing earmuffs and can't hear you.) Doing this audibly tells your brain, in your own voice, that it's OK and not to worry about it. As many others have suggested, you can intersperse an empty cylinder or spent shell so you don't see when it's up next.
BTW, this also works flawlessly on double-action pistols. For Glocks, you have to reset the trigger while holding the nickel each time, so it's a little more cumbersome, but it also works.
I'd love to hear your feedback on this simple but highly effective technique.
Trap shooting affected me also - I think the time pressure of 'letting it get away' made me start jerking the trigger, and throwing aim off. With any firearm, in any situation, wproct is right: focus on one thing, and that's trigger control!
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I have worn out 2 smith 44 mags shooting long range silhouette. All of the previous advise is very good. I found that the conscious mind is stupid and can only do one thing at a time. It needs a job to keep it busy and that is intense concentration on the front site. Don't let it get involve with any thing else.
Try walking a straight line while looking at your feet and see what happens.
It seems as if there are as many reasons for flinching and methods of overcoming a flinch as there are individuals. Fortunately, the "man up" attitude seems to be dying a slow death. Concentration is good, but one day, I was concentrating so hard to make those tiny groups with my .22, I developed double vision! It was not permanent, but made for an interesting drive home. I don't do that any more. after all, it's supposed to be FUN, Right?
I'm not sure I can ever overcome my tendency to flinch, except for only shooting my .22 LR guns. I have an inherited condition that makes me extremely sensitive to loud noises...sudden or sustained...panic attack sensitive. Earmuffs help, and I'm going to try foam ear plugs in addition.
One day, I was shooting my revolver, and decided to shoot my .22 rifle. I flinched, and I know The .22 doesn't bark or bite!
It seems as if recoil sensitivity/flinching can be cumulative. Jim Carmichael, who was an editor for one of the sporting magazines years ago, was also a big bore competitor. One day, he wrote, he had to quit in the middle of a match due to a massive flinch, which had built up over the years. He quit competitive shooting for a while, and developed a couple of wildcat cartridges that recoiled less...a .22 round and a 6.5 mm, which he used in competition.
I'm not sure I can ever overcome my tendency to flinch, except for only shooting my .22 LR guns. I have an inherited condition that makes me extremely sensitive to loud noises...sudden or sustained...panic attack sensitive. Earmuffs help, and I'm going to try foam ear plugs in addition.
One day, I was shooting my revolver, and decided to shoot my .22 rifle. I flinched, and I know The .22 doesn't bark or bite!
It seems as if recoil sensitivity/flinching can be cumulative. Jim Carmichael, who was an editor for one of the sporting magazines years ago, was also a big bore competitor. One day, he wrote, he had to quit in the middle of a match due to a massive flinch, which had built up over the years. He quit competitive shooting for a while, and developed a couple of wildcat cartridges that recoiled less...a .22 round and a 6.5 mm, which he used in competition.
kbm6893
Member
Yep. We were taught to do that. But that only practices trigger control. If I'm not expecting a shot, there will be no flinch.
kbm6893
Member
I don't flinch with .22 at all. For me, the flinch is anticipating the recoil. It's not a trigger issue for me. I shoot my Model 18 WAY more accurately than I do my Model 67, and it's basically the same gun.
I will flinch with a .22 pistol, and that's why I say a lot of it is the noise, because there is no recoil or kicking going on.
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