So I found out today...

[MikeTastic]

That I'm not a very good shot with a handgun. Ha I recently purchased the m&p 40 and I can't get good grouping. How many rounds did it take to get better grouping? What techniques help?
This is my first hand gun btw. I've shot a few different 9mm before though. Kind of discouraging when I paid 500 and can't even shoot that good. Lol

 

[Trooperdan]

I recall many years ago when some pundit said it took 50,000 to be an expert! Needless to say, you will begin to show improvement much sooner than that!

 

[Doublea17]

It will take some time, I got my first handgun last year around this time and I try to shoot about 200 rounds per month, range is hour and half away from my house so hard to get to at times and I still can't get consistent groupings but I keep going and get a little better each time.

 

[Bkreutz]

That I'm not a very good shot with a handgun. Ha I recently purchased the m&p 40 and I can't get good grouping. How many rounds did it take to get better grouping? What techniques help?
This is my first hand gun btw. I've shot a few different 9mm before though. Kind of discouraging when I paid 500 and can't even shoot that good. Lol

Practice, practice, practice. But how to practice?, Dry firing will help in respect to trigger control and jerking, get some instruction if possible, if not then use the internet. There are a number of instructional websites, here's an example of one. How to shoot a handgun accurately by Massad Ayoob

 

[Jinglebob]

Whenever I shoot a new handgun for the first time I set my target at 5 yards. I think that Massad Ayoob was correct when he stated the following on how to shoot a handgun accurately.

"Start with paper or cardboard targets in close, at three to seven yards. If your shot is off the mark by three inches at 25 yards, it might have been just the natural limits of the gun's accuracy. It might have been the ammo. It might even have been the wind. But if you're off by three inches at four yards, you'll know exactly what it is. The closer you are, the easier it is to correct whatever caused the bad hit on the target. Once you're hitting in tight groups at close range, move back incrementally. As the distance increases, so does the challenge."

 

[mpulford311]

Listen. Take your time and practice, practice, practice. I have the same pistol and I love it. M&P pistols are very reliable and accurate. Do a lot of reading and practicing. Yes start with the target up close don't try to shoot no more than say 25ft.

Also get to know the trigger as well. That takes some practice. You've made a good purchase trust me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[Culina]

its a lot more difficult to be real good with a handgun than it is with a rifle. I think the best way to gain confidence is to start off with a very accurate .22LR revolver or automatic. If you get good with that, then you know what you should be able to do with a more powerful chambering at the same distances.

 

[Mcwsky09]

Also keep in mind that your sights might need adjustment.
If you aim at the bullseye and are off to low left an easy mistake to make would be to aim at the hole you made thinking that you must have drifted off target but the you get even farther off. Instead choose a point of aim and send two or three rounds and see if they groups nicely. That could indicate an alignment issue or a sight alignment or sight picture issue.
A bore laser or shooting from a bench rest or having someone else fire might be helpful.
Also keep I mind that I a new gun you may be pushing or pulling etc differently than what you have used before as a result of difference in trigger pull as well as weight and balance etc. in other words learning to shoot one gun perfectly does not automatically mean you can shoot any gun accurately.

 

[agksimon]

Practice alone will not achieve good groups. Proper technique, along with practice will achieve it. I used to average 3 inch groups at 7 yards, until I took lessons from a top IDPA shooter. It includes proper grip, light lockup of wrists, elbows and shoulders and trigger control. I can now group slow fire into nickel to quarter sized groups at 7 yards and rapid fire into less than 3 inches at that distance.

 

[ginzo]

All great advice. My $.02, trigger control, sight picture, sight alignment is what to look for AFTER you have verified it is not gun/sight issue.

Here is what practicing those 3 things get you. And that doesn't mean I hit the red dot every time. It means I'm more than happy to hit/group an 8" target out to 15 yards. That is the farthest distance at the indoor range I use that is close to my house. I think If the gun is capable of 25 yards, I also could hit that same 8" target. Keep in mind an average torso is about 11"x18". If you don't believe me, hold up that size target to your shoulder blades just under your neck and look down. I'm thinking 8" is plenty good!

Trigger practice Dry Fire .22 casing - YouTube

 

[hdfinder47]

A combination of the above. I think it best, as a novice hand gunner, to get professional instruction now before you develop bad habits. Then practice what you learned regularly. If you get in a rut, have someone knowledgable critique your style - even experienced hand gunners regress from time to time. Kinda' like getting the golf pro at the club to "tweak your game" occasionally.
FWIW, I've been shooting handguns for quite a few years and find that I shoot 40 caliber guns less accurately than 9mm or 45ACP. Don't know why but I know of several other shooters with similar experience with the 40. Maybe us old dogs don't learn new tricks (calibers) very easily?

 

[ginzo]

Funny, I feel I'm more accurate with my .40c than my FS. Go figure!!!

I've been shooting handguns for quite a few years and find that I shoot 40 caliber guns less accurately than 9mm or 45ACP. Don't know why but I know of several other shooters with similar experience with the 40. Maybe us old dogs don't learn new tricks (calibers) very easily?

 

[RobzGuns]

It's very hard for you to tell what's wrong by yourself. You need someone ELSE to watch what you're doing and critique your technique... Like an Instructor.
Videoing yourself (focusing on your hands and forearms) might help, but not as much as taking a course and having an Instructor watching.

 

[Rastoff]

I think it best, as a novice hand gunner, to get professional instruction now before you develop bad habits.

It's very hard for you to tell what's wrong by yourself. You need someone ELSE to watch what you're doing and critique your technique... Like an Instructor.

These two know what they're talking about.

Look for an NRA Basic Pistol class here: NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training Find a local class and pay attention. The NRA course is very good. But, not all instructors are created equal. Try to find one that is really good. The NRA Basic Pistol class is designed for 8 hours of instruction. I can teach it to 4 students in about 6 hours. If you find an instructor that is telling you he can do it in 2 hours, find another instructor.

The advice to practice is good, but what are you going to practice? Practicing the wrong thing will only reinforce bad habits. Things you need to learn:

• Stance
• Grip
• Sight Alignment
• Sight Picture
• Trigger Control
• Hold Control
• Breath Control

Not necessarily in that order.

Other things you need to learn:

• Different types of handguns.
• The parts of the guns.
• How to load and unload safely.
• How to safely handle ammunition.
• How to store ammunition.
• How to store your gun.

I could go on and on. Did I mention that the class is scheduled for 8 hours?

Now, don't panic. Where do you live? If you're anywhere near me, I'll get you hooked up. If not, find a local instructor. It's money well spent.

 

[bobelk99]

I recall many years ago when some pundit said it took 50,000 to be an expert! Needless to say, you will begin to show improvement much sooner than that!

I have shot 500k, and am not really an expert.

My suggestion is to make no judgment till one has fired several hundred rounds.

It might be well to invest the cost of a couple hundred rounds to pay for an hour or two of instruction by a pro.

Did you feel you were a good driver after your first effort to drive an automobile? Did you just get in the auto and drive away, or did you have someone show you the routine steps of using an auto?

 

[ric_in_or]

@OP Mike - what do you mean not that good?

My wife complains to a bad day out when all the bullets are not in the same hole @ 7m.


When I try to learn a new skill, I start off where I expect success.
Try to learn putting - do you go on a hilly, unkempt green, from 50ft?
I got a book in college - Juggling for Dummies or some such. Chapter 1 is the drop. Drop the bag on the ground, pick it up. You do that a lot, so it makes sense to get good at it.


Start close - 10 ft. Can you hit an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper?
How about a 3" x 3" post it note?

I also recommend practicing dry fire - no movement of the sights. Put something on the gun that can easily fall off -an empty cartridge for example.

And to echo a few other posts - You may also find that it is worth the money to take an intro class at a local range. Having someone who can watch and correct you, can make a big difference.

 

[BobsSmith]

Hang in there! I have been pistol shooting since I got my Ruger Single Six when I was in High School...long time.. I am 56 now!

I am by no means a expert, but a decent shot.

I see lot of people at the range when they shoot, thinking they have a round in the chamber, I see them "jerk" the gun anticipating recoil, and their target reflects this.

I dry fire a gun and concentrate on the trigger. I use snap caps, this helps me a lot! If you do dry fire, keep all live ammo away and double check your gun, keep pointed in safe direction.

Rastoff and others also have very good suggestions!

Best

Bob