What am I doing wrong?

3306 Views 29 Replies 21 Participants Last post by BeyondTheBox, Dec 13, 2012

Squawk

Discussion Starter · Dec 5, 2012

I took my new M&P9 VTAC to the range today and had a blast. 350 rounds in 30 minutes. No Failures.

My question is what am I doing to cause my shots to go low left? Around 7:30 of my POA.

I am the only gun owner in my family and I have never had proper instruction.

Thanks for any advice.

(This is assuming my gun is fine. I was always told its not the arrow. It's the Indian.)

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magnumman

· #2 · Dec 5, 2012

If it is your first time with a safe action trigger? I would blame it on that. focus on a smooth, straight back pull. It took me some time to get used to my m&p trigger but now my shots are dead on. If that is not it. Maybe try a smaller palm swell, you might be torquing a bit.

Edit: my shots started low left as well.

Squawk

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 5, 2012

magnumman said:
If it is your first time with a safe action trigger? I would blame it on that. focus on a smooth, straight back pull. It took me some time to get used to my m&p trigger but now my shots are dead on. If that is not it. Maybe try a smaller palm swell, you might be torquing a bit.

Edit: my shots started low left as well.

I don't think so. I have shot a Glock and a few XD/XDm. This seems to be the same with all of them. I know it is me but I'm a newbie in the gun world.

I have the small grip installed so I don't think it is that. I was told by one person to dry fire practice a lot at home to develop better habits.

I had someone else tell me not to dry fire. Said it was bad for the gun but wouldn't elaborate. Someone set me straight.

GaryGlock

· #4 · Dec 5, 2012

As someone said try dry firing and practicing. You can buy snap caps for around 10$ which is what I practice with. Also while your shooting randomly put a few in the magazine and you can see if your jerking when your shooting.

Watch your grip with your pinky as well. If your anticipating the shot and squeezing harder with your bottom finger you will jerk the pistol down causing your 7:30 shots. When I shoot my pistol I'm basically holding on with my middle and ring finger, and my pinky is kinda just there. Hope this helps.

Squawk

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 5, 2012

GaryGlock said:
As someone said try dry firing and practicing. You can buy snap caps for around 10$ which is what I practice with.

Watch your grip with your pinky as well. If your anticipating the shot and squeezing harder with your bottom finger you will jerk the pistol down causing your 7:30 shots. When I shoot my pistol I'm basically holding on with my middle and ring finger, and my pinky is kinda just there. Hope this helps.

Anything helps. Thanks.

canebrake

· #6 · Dec 5, 2012

Do what I do with each "New-to-shooting" student;

I tell them to ignore ALL the other shooters around them.
I start them off with a target set at a ridiculously close range.
Once they start to get rounds on paper they start to under stand how to walk them in on the 10 ring.
They also begin to understand the difference between POA and POI and how to adjust to make them the same.
Success breeds success, each student will grow bored with all bull's-eyes and request to move the target out to a more challenging distance. This needs to be done in baby steps.
With each target move, the process starts over. Take your time, enjoy the moment. (This is sage advice for both student and instructor.)

Enjoy the exercise and understand that ALL new shooters need to have a positive experience if we wish them to turn into experienced shooters.

In our sport, if a participant doesn't have fun, they go bowling.

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magnumman

· #7 · Dec 5, 2012

The only guns you don't want to dry fire are rim fires because you can break the firing pin. If it makes you nervous and you want to play it safe, pick up some snap caps. Dry fire practice will help you see if the sights move when you pull the trigger. Try putting up a target in your basement or garage or whatever, and try to dry fire and keep the sights in the bull. You should be able to tell if you are doing something wrong and fix it from there.

Human body Line Font Circle Parallel

And maybe try shooting at one of these

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RobertsDefense

· #8 · Dec 5, 2012

You are defiantly anticipating the shot/recoil. No big deal, common issue. Get some snap caps as suggested above, put an empty case on the end of the slide and try to ballance it while practicing with the caps. It is a pretty easy habbit to break with some practice. Good luck!

Squawk

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks all. Greatly appreciate the help.

danf_fl

· #10 · Dec 5, 2012

Every pull on the trigger involves other steps, too.

The basics are:
Sight alignment,
Breath control,
Squeeze the trigger,
Follow through

Most people get the first three, but fail on follow through.
Follow through can be described as "Do not release the trigger until the firearm has settled down after the shot."
Watch how many people "snap" their trigger finger off the trigger after the shot breaks. That "snap" will also affect POI.

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John_Deer

· #11 · Dec 5, 2012

I have a Heritage 9" 22 LR SA pistol I practice with more than any other pistol. The 9" barrel is a great confidence booster. Shooting the SA forces the shooter to get used to cocking a pistol. When I shoot a DA/SA pistol I seldom have a need to shoot the pistol in DA. I usually have any pistol cocked before I have the pistol leveled without any thought or effort.

PSYCHOFREAK3

· #12 · Dec 5, 2012

I haven't heard anything bad about dry firing an M&P but I also don't own one. I will only second what was said by someone else, buy some snap caps and randomly place one in the magazine. When you are shooting pay attention to what is happening with the front sight. When you get to the snap cap in your magazine I will almost guarantee that you will see the front sight drop low and slightly left. This is you anticipating the shot, the conecpt of a dummy round in the mag has helped me greatly. Once I was able to see what was happening it also helped me understand what the dry fire practice was for.

SigArmored

· #13 · Dec 5, 2012

magnumman said:
The only guns you don't want to dry fire are rim fires because you can break the firing pin. If it makes you nervous and you want to play it safe, pick up some snap caps. Dry fire practice will help you see if the sights move when you pull the trigger. Try putting up a target in your basement or garage or whatever, and try to dry fire and keep the sights in the bull. You should be able to tell if you are doing something wrong and fix it from there.

And maybe try shooting at one of these

I had the same problem.A combination of using this target and dry fire practice helped to resolve my issues.If you do some dryfire practice you can see exactly what you're doing when pulling the trigger because you're not paying attention to anything but the movement of you're pistol .I've done alot of dry fire practice and I've had no issues with my pistols.They are as accurate and trustworthy as the day I first broke them down and cleaned them for the first time.

Dragonheart

· #14 · Dec 6, 2012

I hate to say it, but it's not the gun it's you. This is a very common problem in handgun shooting and not just with new shooters. You probably need some help on your grip. You are not getting enough support from the left hand. You are anticipating the recoil, so you are yanking the trigger. My suggestions are: Try some practice with a 22. Get a friend to load one round or not, without you knowing whether the gun is loaded, then let you shoot. When you get an empty chamber you will see your problem as you pull the gun down and to the left. Try putting as little finger on the trigger as possible to help with the problem. You can try a LaserLyte Training Cartridge to practice at home; tape an old CD to a wall for a target it makes the laser hit very apparent. Concentrate on your trigger pull until it becomes habit.

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Colby

· #15 · Dec 6, 2012

Lasers are great training aids. They show how badly a person shakes the gun - and in what direction when the trigger is pulled.
I happened to buy an LC9 with a laser - didn't really want the laser - still don't - for purpose of shooting. But it is very useful in showing gun shake and trigger jerks in dry fire. For that reason, I have yet to remove the laser from the gun.

Without a laser assist for training, I would follow Cane's advice on moving the target close - then farther - and learning to "walk" the shots up to the center. Old - always works - technique. You will "learn" the gun - and if you pay attention to what you are doing - you will be able to figure out what you are doing wrong.

BillDeShivs

· #16 · Dec 6, 2012

At 350 rounds/30 minutes I feel safe in saying you were more interested in shooting the gun, than accuracy. Take your time!

robocop10mm

· #17 · Dec 6, 2012

Try less trigger finger. On many guns, especially striker fired gus it seems, people tend to use the first joint of the trigger finger to apply pressure on the trigger. Back your finger out and use the pad of the finger. Slow down and start form scratch.

Longrange

· #18 · Dec 7, 2012

Dry fire looking in mirror. Slow down the trigger pull so you can feel it "break", follow through slowly so you feel the trigger reset. Shooting fast is fun, but worthless if you have poor mechanics. Knowing where that trigger breaks and resets will greatly increase accuracy. In time your finger will feel it and everything will get smooth.

Doc3402

· #19 · Dec 7, 2012

Squawk said:
I took my new M&P9 VTAC to the range today and had a blast. 350 rounds in 30 minutes. No Failures.

My question is what am I doing to cause my shots to go low left? Around 7:30 of my POA.

I am the only gun owner in my family and I have never had proper instruction.

Thanks for any advice.

(This is assuming my gun is fine. I was always told its not the arrow. It's the Indian.)

In my experience, and assuming you are a right handed shooter, you are either flinching or you have too much of your index finger wrapped around the trigger. Get some snap caps and have a friend load up some random magazines for you. That will showcase a flinch. If it isn't that it's probably a fit problem and you need a deeper grip.

Rick1967

· #20 · Dec 7, 2012

I would think that 350 rounds of anything other than a 22 in 30 minutes would make your hands shake and flench. Did your fingers hurt from reloading mags?

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