[b]Shot Release & Follow Through or Trigger Control.[/b]
Trigger control and grip are probably the most important part of shooting a handgun. You can have the best position, sight picture and match grade weapon but if your grip and trigger control are bad..your shot will be too.
When you squeeze the trigger it should be a steady, not to fast, not to slow pressure. Once you commit to squeezing the trigger don’t stop. [I]This applies only if you are still engaging your target.[/I] Some shooters have a tendency to watch the hammer as it moves and try and predict when the round will go off. These people will start and stop their trigger pull. Don’t do it. The same applies when your front sight is moving like it is in a hurricane. Ignore it and concentrate on front sight and smooth continuous trigger control.
When the round is fired continue holding the trigger to the rear. This is proper follow through. It is possible to release the trigger before the round has exited the barrel and cause your point of impact to move.
The AR family of weapons will tell you if you have proper trigger control. If you hear a click when you release the trigger your follow through was good. What you are hearing is the disconnector releasing the hammer and the sear engaging the hammer.
If you don’t hear it that means you released the trigger to soon and the noise of the round covered the sound of the trigger group.
With a revolver you won’t hear any sound. With a pistol you might. Train yourself to hold the trigger to the rear.
[b]Breathing[/b]
We all do it..so why stop when you’re shooting. Different methods work for different people. Here is a base from which to experiment. Take a deep breath and let it all out. Take a second breath and let half out and pause. This will give you a 5 or 6 second period where there should be minimal movement. Don’t hold your breath and try and squeeze off a shot. If you shoot IPSC or as in my case service rifle where some matches you are running before shooting.. you will develop a method real quick that works for you.
[blue]Like I mentioned at the top. This is not the "be all end all" of shooting. This is the basics that you need to master in order to improve your shooting ability. Some might work for you, some might not. Old habits are hard to break and if it works..why fix it?
But if you are having problems consistently..one of the principles above might solve it for you. I hope anyone who can share a different method or elaborate will jump in. If I can further explain anything let me know.[/blue]