How to shoot a pistol ?

[Country Boy]

I can"t hit a tin can at 25 yds. I'm no pistol shot (.22) I bought a browning buckmark and spent this afternoon shooting it but no luck it seems to be ok left and right but up and down is any ones;s guess. I managed to put 10 shot in a heart size target at 25 yds but the shots are scattered up and down as much as 4-6 in. I was using a rest.  The instructions doesn"t give the value of each click on the rear sight, so I don"t know how much it moves when you move it a  click.
   Could some one tell me what I'm doing wrong ?  Also found out Remington ammo misfires every other shot but Federal .22 goes bang every time didn"t know ammo would make such a difference in a .22
    Any help getting me started is apprecated, thanks.

[Bigeasy]

If you are that close to center, you are good for now.  Move closer, say 12 yards, and fire off hand.  Use 2 hands, and concentrate on the sights and trigger pull.  Shoot slowly, and let it surprise you when it goes off,  Make sure your front sight is sharp, with equal day light on each side in the rear sight, and that the top of the front sight is level with the top of the rear sight.  The more you shoot, the better you will get.  Just remember, what appears to be a slight movement of the sights in a short barrel handgun is a lot at 25 yards.  Like golf, practice, practice, practice.  Consistancy in handgun shooting is everything when it comes to accuracy.

Most 22's are very ammo sensitive.  Good chance your vertical stringing at 25 yards from the bench is a result of the way you are resting the pistol.  Recoil may be causing the stringing if you are resting it on a hard object.  The best way to figure the sight click value is to try it, but you wont get an accurate value until your groups are consistent - practice.  There is a lot of satisfaction when you master a handgun, and can use it to collect small game, or roll a tin can around at the range while everyone else just hits nearby...

Larry

[ShootnStr8]

Larry,

I've found the 2 attached pdf files below to be useful in helping me correct errors that I make with handguns.  I too have found that .22s can be very picky about their ammo.  

Blessings!

Shootnstr8

[rawhidekid]

All the above info is good.  The only thing I would add, is to take a deep breath then let a little out before you shoot, squeeze the trigger dont yank it.  If single action use the pad of your finger, if double action use the first knucle, this will allow strate pull of the trigger.

[Country Boy]

Thank you for the good information. I will do every thing you suggested. Blessings, Carl

[Gene R]

All the above information is real good......BUT if you are good left and right and only 4-6" at 25 yards AND this is your first time shooting a hand gun, It seems to be is what you need most is to shoot about 500-1000 rounds until you start to get the feel of shooting a hand gun.. You are off to a good start, one of the best guns there is and no doubt the best caliber to learn on......Even for experienced shooters those two are a great combination.......


Good luck and shoot as much as you can............

[Gene R]

OOOPS almost forgot... I wouldnt even adjust the sights until you groops are consistantly inide of 3" or so. Practice groops not bullseyes at first..........

[Glanceblamm]

I can remember being quite discusted with my first, an old H&R model 649 that was new in 75' as it would always shoot 3" to the right or 4" to the left or high, or low. It became much more fun to shoot it instinctively like a cowboy and I did so for better than a year. Reflecting back on that, it seemed that one can get better than you would believe possible.

By the second year targets that were posted at a local shop with a range along with reading much on the subject in the outdoor mags had me trying the iron sights again. I got my break through when I learned to keep my sights in sharp focus and to let the target blurr out. This does not sound right to the unknowing but even a smaller object like a Squirrels head will have a large center that is easy to put those sights on when this is done.

[Bob_VT]

There are many great tips above too!!!

Cheap teaching method I used to use to help new shooters.

You need 2 1x4" boards.......  The first time you place a single board in the vertical position and just concentrate on keeping your shots inside the 4" width and feel free to shot anywhere up and down the board...........

The next time you place a single board in the horizontal position and feel free to move your shots left and right...........

Those two exercises will get you used to a 4" wide / high target...........

Next step put up the boards together horizontal and vertical and concentrate on the 4" center

The vertical board helps with front sight alignment and the horizontal aids with the rear sight.

Shooting a pistol is exactly like playing a piano at Carnegie Hall......... Practice..... Practice........ Practice.

BTW since I used to run many ranges I am obligated to mention hearing and eye protection

[rawhidekid]

I used to get young men to shoot better by playing a simple game.  Set the target at 10 yards and take a shot, then try to place the rest of the shots in the first shots hole.  We called it chasing the bullet.  Once they got tight groups at 10 yards it was moved back to 15 yards and so on, I'm sure you get the idea. 

[rong]

you're doing fine for 25yds
keep up the good work.
Brand new pistol, first time shooting it
25 yds-excellent!

[Mikey]

rong is right.  New pistol, garden variety ammo - heck Country Boy, ya'll just need some more practice.  Hey - while you're at it go get a couple of additional magazines so you don't have to break concentration too badly when ya run out of ammo. 

The Buckmark is a darn fine 22 - little too much barrel flip for me but a fine quality handgun none the less.  I don't know which remington ammo you are/were shooting but they make so darn much of the stuff you are liable to get a bad run once in a while. 

And since when was 4-6" at 25m with a new pistol considered being a bad shot??  If you want to hit that can at 25 yds., just paint a picture of your mother in law on it and you'll be skippin' that can all over the place.  Just a thought......................

[rong]

Heck you want 1/2"
groups use my MIL's
pic

[OLDPUPPYMAX]

The only way to be consistently accurate with a pistol is through proper trigger control. All let out has to be removed from the trigger until the shot finally happens. Practice and more practice will achieve this. 

[williamlayton]

Flinches and concentration are hard to control.
I have a method that has worked for mr for years and it never is instinctive for long. I do it with the first mag everytime.
I concentratrate on the target. I never allow myonself too see anything but the target--and I make it a specific small point on the target.
I shoot and, with determination, want too see the bullet make a hole. I want to see that point until I put the gun back on it and want too see it again.
Ignore the flashs, the recoil and the sound---your concentration is on that point and then on the hole it make the next shot.
It helps overcome trying to be percise and relax and shoot. For me, it then becomes instinctive and the nerves seem to settle in and tension leaves the shoulders, forearms and hands.
Trying to hold the hands steady can cause a lot of tensinon that impairs shooting.
Blessings

[rawhidekid]

When I was a boy I saw a movie about Poncho Villa, one of his men showed him a new SA and he broke off the front sight.  The man asked him how he was supposed to hit anything without the sight.  He said to stare at the spot he wanted to hit until it looked big as a barn, anyone canhit the side of a barn.  Sounds alot like what William was doing, doesn't it?

[Autorim]

Country Boy,

You have received some good tips here. IME shooting from a rest is a good way to learn trigger control - and trigger control is what handgun shooting is all about.
Shooting from a rest eliminates the tendency to "pick off the shot" when the sights are aligned for just a moment and this can lead to jerking the trigger.

Shooting from a rest will also help you learn which ammo shoots well in your firearm. IMHO you should always use the pad of your finger on the trigger whether shooting single or double action.

Good shooting.

Ken

[williamlayton]

This is a hard concept too grasp, but, if you try it you could like it.
In golf, as in shooting, tension in the hands, forearms and shoulders is a reciept for disaster.
A club/pistol should be held lightly, as though you had a small bird in your hand that you do not want too injure.
Locking the hands/forearms/shoulders are tension producers and hamper/prevent steadiness.
The gun is NOT going to jump out of your hands on recoil---it just will not.
I putt best when it feels like the putter is going to fall from my hands---but it won't.
I know that after shooting a longer string, I feel the grip tension begin to build. I concentrate on relaxing my grip and letting the forearms and shoulders relax.
Strange but true.
I am no longer a GOOD shot but I get by.
Blessings

[MePlat]

williamlayton:
I like your example of holding a small bird in ones hand.  BUT that can get someone into trouble with some handguns.
An example:  I have an Encore 45/70 handgun that I have fired 550 gr bullets in at 1450 and more.  This is with a tapered factory barrel and no brake.
Holding that sparrow can produce an eagle that can eat your lunch, breakfast and dinner.
As with anything strength can be built.  I use to hold all my handguns with the same grip so I wouldn't have to adjust my grip when going to the monster mashers. That way I built up strength and had no problem shooting as I shot for quite sometime 4 to 5 days a week.
I have more powerful handguns but that is another story.

Here is a sparrow that turned into and Eagle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh0LbVEdkIo&NR=1

Another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgr0DU5Rr24