Author Topic: Grip consistancy and accuracy (Read 748 times)

MnMike · « **on:** July 29, 2003, 02:53:35 PM »

I have, for some reason, gotten into trying to get small groups on paper. On some days I shoot 3/8" groups from a factory .223 at 100 yards and on others they spread to almost an inch. I have built a custom foreend for the sandbags and that helped, but still am not happy. I am now suspecting that my problem may be related to how tight I grip the thing on each shot. Does this make sense? :?:

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2003, 03:36:40 PM »

You bet! Consistency is the key especially with TC's. Too hard a grip and my groups fall apart. Lock my elboes and they fall apart. KN

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2003, 02:01:20 AM »

Grip consistency is a huge factor with the Contender. I can vary the point of impact by a foot at 200 yards by making my grip looser or tighter.

PJ · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2003, 10:21:53 AM »

You know it you have to grip them firm like a fine woman

Not to firm and not toooo loose.

If you do it right it will shoot just fine.

Dave1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2003, 12:48:47 AM »

Mike

Not alot is said about shooting position and body support but for shooting handguns it is very critical. I have done a fair amount of shooting with handguns and long guns and have found that sitting at a shooting bench is not the most stable position for me. I susspect the reason is your upper body is not supported and can/does move around. Try this test, sit at a bench, put your gun in shooting position, holding just like you normally would, and have someone come over and push your shoulder sideways. You will see that you do not have alot of rigidness or control of your upper body. Does this contribute to our lack of ability to shoot good groups?? Maybe.

When possible I shoot off the hood of my truck with sand bags. I have found that by standing up with feet slightly spread and leaning into the truck with arms outstrecthed and resting on the hood my entire body is much more solid and I can shoot much better groups. Give it a try sometime, you may be surprised.

I like a loose grip on my Contender. The recoil does not seem as hard, the gun does not jump much or any more than with a tight grip, and it seems I am more consistent. With a tight grip I think there is more of a likelihood that we can/do move the gun slightly as the trigger is being pulled. If you shoot a bow, you know that a tight grip on a bow causes hand torque which is a death sentence to your accuracy. Not sure but the same may apply to handguns. Hope this helps.

Dave1

Tony D · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2003, 03:27:18 AM »

Dave, I agree you can somtimes shoot better when your body is supported. I found a posistion that works very well for me. Seated, with back supported and knees up. I hold the Contender on shooting sticks and support my forearms on my thighs. I was able to hit clay pigeons at 100 yards regularly with my 10" 44 mag barrel using this postion. Give it a try!

Dave1 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2003, 04:05:27 AM »

Tony

That's good shooting at 100 yards! I'll give it a try next time out.

Dave1

Possum · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2003, 11:28:46 AM »

I concentrated on holding the same way with both right and left hands in the same position today and got my first honest 1" group at 200yds today with my .35 Rem Contender. Talk about jumping up and down! I floated the forearm on washers and specifically shot with great attention to my grip. I believe the grip and left hand support are critical for long range grouping.

KYODE · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2003, 11:39:17 AM »

thats awesome shooting possum. i'm trying to contend with rear grip resting, and gripping myself. definately critical for grouping.

xphunter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2003, 12:18:10 PM »

I shoot most of my handguns one-handed off the bench. With TC's, grip the grip about the same as you would a hammer (sorry, I know that is subjective-not to hard not to loose). Also, think about if you are putting more pressure at the base of the grip or at the top of the grip, both will get you into consistency problems. Then practice dry-firing with with focusing on not moving the rest of your hand while pulling the trigger, with the trigger in between the end of your finger and you first joint.
My 2 cents.

Ernie

Possum · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2003, 06:11:23 PM »

XPHunter, that's good advice. Before I shot that group (by the way, that's the best group-most I didn't hold as good) I dry-fired five or six times concentrating on holding the crosshairs as the trigger broke. I tend to shoot too quickly a lot of times. I think if I would get in a rythm of what I do prior to each shot, the groups would come together better. I am sure that there are procedures listed in some books that would help if I would just get the book and read it. I primarily hunt with my pistol and sometimes when you are hunting you don't have all day to get a shot off. I'm sure a lot of the bad habits I have stem from shots taken in the field where I have had to hurry. Got to realize that orange dot down the range is not going to move!

MnMike · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2003, 01:59:51 PM »

:-)
I want to thank all of you for your suggestions. I hope to get up to my land this weekend and try a few things. Better go load a few rounds.

mike