I'm horrible with a pistol! advice needed

[Explodingvarmints]

I'll try to be brief and just list bullet points.
1st time pistol guy.
M&p 9mm
huning and shooting in general with shotguns, bolt rifles for 20 years...very proficient with both of the above including competitive sporting clays.
into ar's as of the last 2 years as well.
never been much of an iron sight shooter...mostly magnificent optics.
Right hand and eye dominant.
Better than 20/20 vision.
Have approx. 250 Rounds thru the pistol at approximately 20 to 25 yards At a do-all steel target that's a very small version or shape of an upper torso.
Can literally shoot safely out of my back door...just too cold lately here in MICHIGAN.
This is not a carry gun....just home defense.
Want to teach and help my fiance to use it and be more than competent with it.

I'm frustrated with only being able to hit the steel maybe 8 rounds out of 17. I feel like I'm just wasting ammo .

 

[Explodingvarmints]

Is a lesson at a local indoor range what is needed? Am I just going about this wrong with the thinking that the more I shoot the better I'll get? It's never taken me this many rounds to 'get it.'
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated greatly.

Thank you

 

[snubbyfan]

Yes, get a lesson. You can go out and shoot thousands of rounds but if you're not doing it correctly, you'll never improve. Learn the correct way to shoot your handgun, then the more you shoot the better you'll get.
Once ya start shootin' better then it'll be a whole lot more fun.

 

[Tsb3]

Explodingvarmints, I am like you, shot long guns for many years. Got my first pistol about 1 1/2- 2 yrs. ago. I started out practicing at 7 yds. and slowly moved out to longer distances. I still have not tried 25 yds. I am also from Michigan, man what a winter we have had! Just my 2 cents.

 

[OKFC05]

So you slowly line up the sights like you were shooting a rifle, and then pull the trigger quickly when it looks JUST RIGHT? That's a guaranteed miss. Sound familiar?

Strongly suggest you take a pistol course with an instructor qualified to teach you how to grip a semi-auto, and especially how to control the trigger. Your choice of targets sucks for learning how to shoot a pistol...later it will be useful. NRA lists courses by geographic area.
NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training

 

[Bkreutz]

I agree with all the suggestions, especially moving the target closer. Start with a closer target (5 yards) then as you get more confident and comfortable move the target out. Confidence is one of the, if not the most, important factors in accuracy. I see a lot of competitive shooters that miss before they even draw their pistol because they think that's what's going to happen. PMA is the secret (Positive Mental Attitude). Keep at it.

 

[Will2]

I expect the quickest and best way to learn to shoot an M&P 9 would be to start with an M&P 22... probably the least expensive way too.

The trigger control is the key. Much, much different than a shotgun. Once your fiancé learns trigger control with the 22 (without that bothersome noise and recoil), then the 9 will come much easier.

Just my $.02.... I grew up on a trap range, and just recently started with handguns, so I understand your situation.

Will

 

[weatherby]

I haven't seen this mentioned previously but if your gun is capable of being dry fired do so often and pay close attention to where your sights are at trigger break and afterwards

 

[Big Cholla]

IMHO, as a long time pistol instructor, get a 22 LR handgun as close in configuration to your large bore handgun as possible. THEN, find someone who knows how to instruct pistol shooting. Notice that I wrote, "Someone that knows how to Instruct!" Some know how to shoot, but can't teach you or anyone else how they do it. Then, take several one-on-one lessons from that person. Then, do 75% of your practice with the 22 and 25% with your large bore. Dry fire with both handguns extensively. Make sure they are unloaded and in the 22 LR use snap caps as a precaution against damage of the chamber by the firing pin. Accurate shooting of the handgun is an eye-hand coordination skill and it will start dropping into place for you with instruction and practice. ..... Big Cholla

 

[Explodingvarmints]

Sounds like a lesson is well worth the money before I develop any more bad habits. The trigger control is paramount from what I gather here. That's one of the 1st things I noticed from the start was the difference between a crisp rifle trigger. I thought"holy hell, so much creep and take up!"
It's a different animal and requires a different mindset I assume (except being surprised by the bang while focusing on the follow through. )

 

[magothy1]

practice

Lots of good advice I wish I'd had when I started. It's a ball when you start to get it right.

 

[chaparrito]

I improved greatly my scores and time in IDPA matches by using a .45acp laserlyte bore sight with my 1911. Dry firing about an hour or two a day. I recently ordered one to use with my 9mm Sig. Great way to practice indoors, you can sit around and fire at stuff on the living room walls.

 

[Vinney47]

A very important piece of info: "accuracy" is measured differently with pistols than bolt action rifles. If, shooting standing unsupported, you can put five rounds within 4 inches at 15 yards, that is pretty accurate shooting with a pistol.

Also, as mentioned, starting at 25 yards is probably the biggest error in your method so far. It's like starting at 500 yards with a rifle. While 5 yards sounds silly at shotgun and especially rifle ranges, it's not an uncommon distance for pistol shooting. 7 yards is "self defense" range, meaning a lot of studies and reports conclude that most self defense shooting takes place within 7 yards.

It's actually sort of impressive you are able to hit anything at 25 yards as a new pistol shooter.

Youtube used to be a pretty good place to go to find out how to do something, including tips on how to hold a semi-auto, trigger squeeze method, etc. Now days everybody fancies themselves worthy of listening to, regardless of their expertise. Even so, Youtube does have lots of good info to help you shoot better. A class or 1-on-1 time with a qualified trainer is definitely better, but Youtube can give you a head start and supplement your training.

It will be important to figure it out soon, though, before you develop any bad habits that then need breaking. Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[fyimo]

Fire the handgun first from a rest to learn the sight picture and if needed adjust the sights until you are hitting the target where you want to. Then move to freehand at 7 yards and practice, practice, and more practice until you are hitting where you aim and then move the target out.

 

[MP40cMN]

I would suggest even starting at 4 yards. Once you are consistent at that yardage, slowly start moving farther out.

 

[Rastoff]

The above advice is sound. I'm ready to start typing a bunch to help you get on the right path, but I need a little more info before I start to help focus what I say. Please answer these questions:

Which M&P 9mm to you have specifically?
-Thumb safety or not?
-Compact or full size?
--If compact, do you have the pinky extension on your mags?
-Have you made any modifications?

Have you never fired a pistol before or is this just the first one you own?

When shooting Sporting Clays, what do you focus on?

When shooting a rifle with a scope, what do you focus on?


I am certified by the NRA to teach Basic Pistol classes. I also teach self-defense both with a pistol and empty hand. I'm positive that we can get you on target with a little thought and the right practice.

 

[Joe A.]

A lot of goof advise above. Always use hearing protection. Not only that protects your hearing, it helps prevent picking up bad jerking habits. Dry fire a lot using snap caps. Snaps caps not only prevents possible firearm damage, it's a safety practice also. Practice a smooth, clean break with trigger using both hands and also one hand. With two hands, apply somewhat more pressure with support hand than firing hand. At range, shoot at 5-7 yards. Use both small, thumbnail sized targets and larger more generous sized targets. Don't get in a rut shooting the same way all the time. Today, I used the small patches for the shoot n see targets, a silhouette target, and sheets of colored construction paper with no bullseye, just aiming for center. This afternoon I shot from 7 to 27 yards using one hand and two hand. Today, I shot my Kimber 1911 rimfire target, Colt GM 45, Colt Sa 45, and a S&W 638. Main thing, have fun and be safe.

 

[Louchia]

Most self defense take place much closer than 25 yrds. Try 25 feet or closer for starters.
If you do not want to spend the money on a NRA class, go on youtube. Look up classes by NRA instructor Rob Pincus or other such training classes. lots of very good info for basic instruction, proper grip. sighting, trigger pull and so on. Worth a look for more advanced shooters also.

 

[Justin69]

Are you shooting too low or high?? To the left or right of target?? How are you missing? Need more info

 

[formernuke]

I agree with the lesson. The other thing is get a 22lr pistol. New shooters when they start with "larger calibers" (though 9mm is not that heavy recoil) tend to start learning bad habits because of anticipating the recoil.

Everyone can learn from the right teaching. I've been shooting pistol since I was about 4 yrs old and I plan on taking professional lessons as soon as learn to stop buying M&P's

So I would recommend a 22lr and professional lessons. Learn/ reinforce the basics and then when you and your wife have those mastered move up to the 9mm and beyond if you want to.

The other question I have is why a pistol for self defense strictly in the home? A shotgun is easier to shoot, provides much better stopping power, and you said you are used to them.