Posted: 9/3/2014 7:49:53 PM EDT
So I finally managed get to the range for third time this year. 
It's been a few years since I've been able to get regular range time in. After warming up and getting the cobweb flinchies out I was still opening 10 shot groups up to four or five inches at 7 yards. I was really just trying to focus on the fundamentals, but was shooting mostly low/left and some straight left flyers. Shot a couple hundred rounds over the course of an hour (too much I know, but it's my vacation). At 15 yards I was just able to keep 20 rounds inside a B27 head. On my last ten rounds I decided to say fuck it and let it rip. Kept pulling the trigger as soon as I got a blurry glimpse of the front sight over the target. Imagine my surprise when I pulled in the target and that group was about 1.5" tall by 3" wide. 
I had an instructor at Appleseed try to figure this out with my rifle shooting a few years back. I was wailing the offhand rapid fire, hitting the trigger as soon as my front sight came down out of recoil, solid hit every time. Instructor told me to slow down. I started getting misses. Things just got worse when we went to prone slow fire. This all seems backwards to how things should work. I wonder if I'm just overthinking shit. Anyone else ever face this challenge? |
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I've shot some good groups off hand with a rifle shooting faster. Ever notice, at 25 yds. (the SQT at Appleseeds) that your group starts tightening up when you think you're running out of time and you start shooting faster?
I've been told that means I'm also jerking the trigger (quickly shooting when the sights line up with the target) but the last few shots are still closer to the spot you want them. With a handgun, for me, its different. When I take my time a fuss (waiting as long as it takes to get the sights lined up with each other and the target) I do get smaller groups. That front sight should be sharply in focus (just like with a rifle) not blurred. I have to wear glasses to do that these days but even though the glasses make the target blurry as long as the front sight is in focus, the groups are smaller. Of course, a good trigger and a good shooting pistol make it easier, too. My new CZ P07 shoots better than anything else I've got (Glock, XDM, M&P) other than one or two of my 1911's. Good sights, a good trigger and evidently nice and tight barrel to slide and slide stop fit. |
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Sometimes you overthink things. Some of the best advice I ever got was from Pat McNamara. Something along the lines of "the less you focus on the outcome, the greater success you will have in reaching it." In other words, when you're slow firing and you are probably worrying about keeping a tight group, or worse thinking about missing, you are overthinking things. When you start shooting faster, you don't have time for all that. You just see the sight picture and make the trigger press happen. That said, it probably won't be the norm. I wouldn't just throw caution to the wind and start blasting away if you ever have to make a tight shot. Think about your performance (trigger, sites) opposed to the outcome (shooting little groups).
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It all comes down to mental control. Even shooting bullseye where even the slightest technique lapse destroys a score, I see plenty of guys shoot tighter groups in rapid fire ( five rounds ten seconds) than slow fire. With pistols focusing on the sights you can see your wobble zone- on a round bullseye you see your sights drift left to right. You squeeze as the drift is occurring and the shot is centered.
Jump on the trigger when the sights look just perfect and you are off |