Shoot better with less time between shots?

[patsfan1281]

Was at the range the other day with my 9 FS.

I noticed i was better when shooting at a more rapid pace...always in the zone. Compared to when i want 6-8 seconds a shot. If i wait 4 or so it's better. Anyone else like this

I am still always low and left and i have seen the chart..but still very hard to fix

 

[icemn]

Yup. I practice for practical results, not perfection. I get my proper grip, stance, find the front sight and squeeze. Back on target as quickly as possible and squeeze again. I don't try to get it all perfect. It won't happen and I can't get all the pieces perfect at the same time anyway. If I tried, all I'd get is muscle fatigue.

 

[Robotech]

Once I 'get in the grove', I find I shoot better groups during timed-fire strings at about 1-2 second intervals, at least when shooting a Bullseye course with a one-hand grip.

It just seems to be a more natural rhythm, and trying to hold and 'improve' my aim over a longer period tends to result in a greater point of aim wobble.

In the 'slow-fire' segments, I'd better have taken the shot within 5-seconds, otherwise I find it best to lower the gun and start over for the shot.

But this is just me, though a couple other guys at the club have reported better results with more rapid fire as well.


Now that's all relatively slow fire at 50-ft. Shooting bowling pins at 21-ft. is a completely different situation. Five separated targets as fast as you can, starting from a 'low ready' position, and you need to hit them cleanly to get them off the table fast. I'm much better at this than Bullseye at the moment, though not quite as good as the club member who regularly manages it in under 3-seconds. (Or even 2! I'm happy so far when I'm under 4-sec. ) In this case it really comes down to muscle memory and rhythm. Your muscles don't get the time to fatigue and start readjusting for each target.

Pin-shooting was initially started as an analog for defensive shooting against a human-shaped target, fast and under stress, and I'm not the only club member who seems to hit the target(s) better and more consistently when shooting rapidly like this.

 

[TheGunman]

the chart is for bullseye shooting so dont put too much weight in it.

TRIGGERSTRIPE DRILL PART 1 - YouTube
TRIGGERSTRIPE DRILL PART 2 - YouTube

also dry fire, dry fire, dry fire.

 

[OKFC05]

I am still always low and left and i have seen the chart..but still very hard to fix

Sounds like you might be dwelling on your sights and trying to fire when they look JUST RIGHT. This inevitably results in snatching at the trigger and moving the gun down and toward the weak hand.

What size target are you trying to hit? For defensive pistol, I put a paper plate over the center chest of an IDPA target and declare the plate to be the "bullseye." Start at whatever distance you can get the gun up from ready position and hit the plate; if that is 5 feet, start there. When that gets boring, back up or speed up, or both. You are learning to bring the sights up aligned, and shoot when the front sight is on the plate. This is practice for defense, not for squirrel hunting.

We have plate racks with six 8 inch steel plates. At 10 yards (for safety from fragments), draw and knock down the steel plates. We have some shooters who can do it under 4 sec. With my Model 66 revolver, I can do it under 6 sec.
Nobody starts out good at this game. Practice, practice.

 

[had2]

Assuming you are right-handed, the solution that I found was to increase the overgrip tension of my left hand, and releasing some of the tension in the right so that when I flexed the right index finger it had less of an effect on the point of aim. Stated differently, with less tension in the muscles in my right hand, I was able to maintain my aim better from shot to shot. Takes a bit of practice, and I recommend dry firing a lot before actual range work.

 

[Louchia]

I've tried that and it works for me.

 

[perrazi]

muscle memory will help a bunch. also use the same gun until you are where you need to be. switching guns will be counterproductive, I have found. as long as you have one you like and can shoot in the first place.

 

[Rpg]

Perhaps we're talking different endeavors.

Bullseye shooting ( target shooting old NRA stuff ) doesn't require much speed.

The old 'el presidente' drill requires you begin with your back to the targets at 10 yards (3 targets) pistol holstered and hands in the surrender position.

On command, you turn, draw and place two in each of the three targets, reload and place two more in each target.

All in 10 seconds or less.

I guess we're talking about different things here.

 

[forrestinmathews]

It seems like the OP is attempting to hold the gun steady longer than his abilities allow prior to taking the shot. Two options here: shoot faster or have patience and really work for that perfect shot through the wobble without sacrificing good trigger squeeze. Eventually you'll become steady out at 8 to 10 seconds. If that is your goal you're a bullseye or Olympic pistol shooter not a defensive shooter and you've got the wrong gun.