Shot placement with Governor

[1Plowboy]

OK, I'm putting myself out for some constructive criticism, help if you can. I video taped myself at the range today with the Governor shooting Federal 410 Buckshot rounds. I feel like I'm ok left to right but consistently low. The sights are fixed so not a easy change on that. I put five rounds and a spent round in the cylinder, giving it a spin before closing it so the dead round would be unknown. I loaded the video so you can watch and maybe help me. It's the third round and I pulled the muzzle down. Am I pulling too hard on the trigger? What do you think?[/URL] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1vjZX64uc0[/URL]
Target is at 7 yards.

 

[Angus46]

Your anticipating the shot and pushing the gun down and to the left. This isn’t pretty common and proabbly everyone does it one time or another.

Your going to have to retrain your brain to not anticipate the shot. So... may sugestion is several steps.

Dry fire, do this as much as you can.
Second air gun or 22. Practice on shooting groups and focus on your trigger squeeze.
Third, exactly what you did. Load up one or two live and the rest dummy. Give it a spin and shoot the all the way around checking to see if your anticipating the shot.

Another suggestion that I’ve seen help at times, is tighten up your grip. Sometimes I see the same response when the gun is not being held hard enough. So squeeze the heck out of it to start.

 

[scooter123]

Angus has it correct, you have an Anticipation Flinch. BTW, this is something that happens to every HONEST center fire shooter so it's quite common. As for the dishonest center fire shooters, they will also have to deal with an Anticipation Flinch at some point but will blame some mythical flaw in their firearm. As for the true cause, it's in the Human Genome to flinch or jump at a loud sound or blow, When you are shooting you get a simultaneous double trigger for an instinctive flinch, a loud bang and a blow to the hand(s).

For me the solution is a bit of a Zen like approach in that I take a moment or two and then concentrate on achieving complete relaxation at the moment the gun fires.

 

[jimmyj]

consider using your left thumb to cock the hammer when firing S/A

 

[chiefbob81]

Check out different grips. Could help.

 

[atx357]

Yup, yer flinching and pushing the shot down. We all do it to some degree or other. Dry fire is mostly the key. Fire 4 empty cylinders and one loaded one, is a better ratio, until you mostly beat the flinch.

 

[1Plowboy]

Thanks for all the responses. I thought I was at fault (pushing the muzzle down). I recently changed the grip on it and feel that helped some. Will work on the dry fire as well as thinking I will take my pistol rest the next few times at the range to help get the feel of firing when I can't push it down. Don't know if any of you noticed, (I didn't until watching the video several times), I usually count rounds as I'm firing but not sure why I cocked it for round #7. Noticed I held it solid when I realized there wasn't a live round there. Got some work to do. Thanks again for all the suggestions. Ray

 

[crankyoldlady]

Ray, a couple things...

This is not a target revolver. It's for defense. As such, your shot placement is center mass and just fine.

Crossing thumbs behind the backstrap is not best practice. Try to break this habit.

For self defense, it is best to shoot a double action in ONLY double action.

 

[Usmc5811]

You may also want to try taking some #7 bb’s instead of shooting the buckshot a lot for practice. That could help to get over the flinch some. Kinda like firing 38’s out of a 357.

 

[1Plowboy]

Again thanks to all for the helpful responses, I do appreciate them.
I am doing some dry fire and find that I am pretty steady when I do. I will continue to do that.
This is my first revolver, maybe not the greatest choice to start with but here I am. I do have a couple different caliber M&P's ( 9MM and 22LR Compact) that I'm comfortable with and get good groupings with them.
Yes I understand the Governor is not a target pistol but do want to stop the anticipation reaction. I've had the Governor for several years but have put more rounds through it in the last few months than the last 4 years.
Thanks , Ray

 

[crankyoldlady]

Possibly, your anticipation is heightened because you are shooting single action. You know exactly when the trigger will break because you make it happen the instant you think you have the perfect sight picture.

The long double action trigger usually results in the "surprise" break. Focus on your trigger management and don't look at the target until you have finished your string. "Peeking" to see each hit can have a negative affect on accuracy.

Shooting a double action revolver, and shooting it well, is much more challenging than shooting a pistol.

 

[Univibe]

Park that Governor, use it as the range toy that it is.

Get a real gun for self-defense: M&P in 9mm.

 

[comiskeybum]

First of all the Governor is a legit nightstand gun, to call it anything else is naive. Second of all, that round you are shooting is junk. Try the Hornady Triple defense. VERY VERY accurate out of my governor. I alternate those with 45LC. Perfect setup IMO.

 

[1Plowboy]

Park that Governor, use it as the range toy that it is.

Get a real gun for self-defense: M&P in 9mm.

See post #10

 

[Oldfrt]

I only take my gov to the range once a month to stay familiar with it, a box of 45ACP's, some 45LC and a couple of 410's. Because of range rules I can only shoot slugs, but I did get a lot of practice with the 000 buckshot loads. They were consistent at 10 yards and put a nice pattern of 4 holes inside a 4 inch diameter. It's pretty good at 25 yds with 45LC as well.

The rest of the time I just slug it out with a couple 460's. I forgot to mention that I shoot the Gov one handed both single and double action, and take turns with each hand, since I don't know which hand will be used to remove it from the holster on my trike.

Now where did I put that popcorn?

 

[mag318]

All it takes is practice and your flinch will diminish or go away completely. IMO the Governor is a very underrated revolver and most people who knock them never shot or owned one.

 

[Barrie]

I picked up the mistake as well. Your right hand is moving so slightly with your pull finger when you fire. Its pulling you down and slightly to the left. You must learn to solidly freeze both hands when squeezing the trigger. WE want only the trigger finger to move and nothing else. You can do it with some practise.

 

[snubbyfan]

I find I have more control over revolvers if I grip 'em like this:


Also, lotsa dry fire practice in both double and single action.