shootin problem

Chevyman Tx · 12-06-2004, 08:57 PM

Anyone know how to cure flinching? I have had a problem with it all my life and i dont know what to do about. I need help!

coonass · 12-06-2004, 09:53 PM

Well it's cause your an aggie............

Have someone go to the range with you ......... you sit or stand where you will shoot from ......... Have a friend stand behind you and "Load" your gun..
but sometimes you will get a unloaded gun or a gun with a spent shell in the chamber..... So sometimes it shoots and sometimes it just goes "CLICK"
After a hour or so your flinch will be gone.......... be sure to shoot a target (bullseye) like your live depended on it.............

Give it a try and let me know ........... It will work ...........

noslolo · 12-06-2004, 11:36 PM

My Father-in-law used to give me his 686 with only 3-4 rounds in it. I would jerk the gun down and would instantly know how bad I was flinching. A slightly different approach to what coonass is saying but it's on the same page. Worked wonders for me.

Pabooger · 12-07-2004, 05:11 AM

Are you refering to flinching with a rifle or a handgun?

The suggestions previously made are right on! Also you might try dry firing the firearm numerous times, with a snap cap or some other device to avoid damaging the gun.

Also be sure and just insert the very tip of your finger into the trigger, do not wrap your finger around the trigger.

Pull the trigger back very slowly, never anticipate when the gun is going to fire, slowly and smoothly till it is almost like the gun is going off by it self!
Once the gun fires hold it in position and visually try to watch the bullet travel to it's target! This is follow thru and is very important.

If you are flinching with a handgun, there are some targets out there that will tell you what you are doing wrong by the location of where your bullet hits.

Crpdeth · 12-07-2004, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pabooger

Pull the trigger back very slowly, never anticipate when the gun is going to fire, slowly and smoothly till it is almost like the gun is going off by it self!
Once the gun fires hold it in position and visually try to watch the bullet travel to it's target! This is follow thru and is very important.

Best advise I was ever given, it improved my shooting more than I would have ever believed.

~Crp

IShootBack · 12-07-2004, 04:43 PM

You guys sure have good advice. I was thinking that a friend (or not) could stand behind him with an electric cattle prod and give him a zap everytime he flinches...

shooter4 · 12-07-2004, 06:15 PM

Great advice you have been given.

You are aniticipating the recoil, so your subconcience mind is changing your grip, or you are jerking the trigger.

If a lot of you shots (The following tips are for a right hander, if you are left handed, just reverse everthing) are going a little low/left, you are jerking the trigger. The most common cause of bad shots.

You need to slowly squeeze the trigger, not pull/jerk it, and make sure that you do it straight to the rear so as not so move the sights.

Place your trigger finger's on the trigger in the middle of the first pad.

When you are holding your sights on the target, you WILL have movement of the sights/target alignment. That is perfectly normal, everybody, and I mean even the best shooter in the world have it. Once you are holding on the target, keep it the best you can (your brain will try to center it) while you are concentrating on your trigger squeeze.

Dry fire very slowly and watch the sights closely to see if your trigger movement is moving the sights either up/down/left or right. Adjust your finger pad accordingly. Too little trigger finger will cause the barrel to move to the left, too much will move it to the right. If you have curved trigger, make sure your finger is in the middle so as not to cause up/down movement of the barrel when squeezing.

The most important part is that when you take your aim, your sights are aligned with the target, you start to put pressure on the trigger......

You momentarily see the perfect sight alignment in the middle of the target, you gently squeeze a 'little' more to get the shot off when the sights are in the middle.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This will cause your shots to go low/left and be a lot more off center than if you just trusted yourself and kept on slowly squeezing. By jerking, you made a 9 a 6 or worse.

An excerpt from www.bullseyepistol.com (fundamentals section) goes for pistols or rifles.

QUOTE"

Shot Sequence:

1.Settle Into Your Aiming Area. The normal area of movement is readily apparent. If it happens to be larger or have abnormal characteristics and you are unable to reduce it to normal, accept it and proceed to fire. However, make every effort to hold the weapon motionless.
2.Find Sight Alignment. Your sight alignment must be exact and in such distinct focus that the bullseye becomes a blurred gray mass somewhere beyond the front sight.
3.Start Positive Squeeze. Be determined that once started, a positive, constant rate of squeeze is to be completed without interruption. Any hesitation, change of rate, doubt about results or loss of concentration must be avoided.
4.Concentrate on Sight Alignment. Any distraction warrants benching the weapon and starting over. Do not try to fire the shot if any controllable irregularity disturbs the existence of ideal conditions. Do not think of impending results at the target Any surprise shot within the aiming area with good sight alignment will be a good shot.
5.Try for a Surprise Break of the Shot. Your reflexes cannot act quickly enough to disturb sight alignment or a smooth, positive squeeze if the shot breaks as a surprise. Shots breaking in the aiming area with good sight alignment will form a group that represents the equivalent of your holding ability.
6.Additional Suggestions. It may be advantageous to rest or relax after three or four shots. Remember that you do not have to shoot before bringing your gun down to rest. When a shooter fatigues, runs short of breath or experiences difficulty in concentration, by all means he should lower his arm, relax, breathe deeply and try again. Some excellent slow fire shooters try two or three times before getting a shot fired. Do not expect ever to have a perfect sight picture. You can shoot groups only within your ability to hold. If you can hold within the ten ring, they should go there. With experience and practice your ability to hold will increase and your groups will consequently grow smaller. Sometime during the 6- 15 seconds required to fire a shot in slow fire, your arc of movement will be sustained at a minimum. The shot sequence should progress at such a rate as to attain a surprise break during this period. Example: If a shooter's minimum arc of movement is reached at about nine seconds he should train himself to break his shots in 8-10 seconds.

B. Timed and Rapid Fire Techniques:

Prior to firing any string of timed or rapid fire it is imperative that you mentally run through the sequence of the string itself. You must be psychologically as well as physically ready to fire at 25 yards. You will find that this prior determination will assist in your rhythm, squeeze, and recovery and ease any match pressure that you are subjected to at the time.

1.Timed Fire. Prepare your lungs by breathing deeply prior to firing and holding the breath with lungs approximately half full just as you align your sights. Make rhythm the prime object. Never vary your rhythm. Adjust your recovery so that you'll have your sights aligned in time for the shot to go, but do not wait for the perfect sight picture. If you maintain your rhythm and fail to get the sight alignment just right, you may get nines, but if you make the weapon fire just as the sight picture is perfect, you will get the axe.
2.Rapid Fire. Rapid fire is essentially the same as timed fire. You can improve your rapid fire by learning to fire the first shot within the first second after the target faces you. Immediate recovery of sight alignment and hold after each shot depends on perfection of uniform position and grip. Special attention to an uninterrupted, unchanging rate of squeeze will help develop for you, the coordinated start your squeeze before the sights become perfectly aligned. Make every effort to prevent extraneous thoughts, which may disturb rhythm and concentration.
3.Shot Sequence for Timed and Rapid Fire.
a.Find aiming area on edge of the target frame in line with your aiming area.
b.Settle into aiming area.
c.Find sight alignment. The front sight should settle naturally into alignment with the rear sight, vertically and horizontally. Concentrate on looking at the front sight.
d.Start positive squeeze on turn of target. If your position and grip are correct and you are concentrating on alignment of the sights a squeeze started at the turn of the target will give you a 10 every time.
e.Squeeze continuously. In rapid fire you must start your squeeze before you have perfect sight alignment. This does not mean that you subordinate sight alignment to squeeze. Start your squeeze as quickly as possible while continuously concentrating on and perfecting sight alignment. Sight alignment not a sight picture. Your natural aversion to not firing without correct sight alignment will delay your squeeze until the sights are aligned.
f.Recovery. Correct recovery with the sights approximately aligned in the aiming area is obtained only if your position and grip are correct.
g.Concentrate on sight alignment. Any time the shot breaks with good sight alignment, it will strike the target within your ability to hold.

22WRF · 12-07-2004, 06:26 PM

"correction" target which can help you look for ways to correct your grip and trigger press.

Dl here:

http://www.sportshooter.com/improving/targetgallery.htm

Chevyman Tx · 12-07-2004, 07:46 PM

thanks guys. lots of good advice there! IShootback VERY FUNNY!!! HAHAHA ! Actually that would probably do the trick. I notice every year when i go out and check my guns for accuracy before season i usually miss the target the 1st few shots and then i settle down and start hitting. But this flinching problem is embedded into me mentally . The last 3 deer i have killed i have broke their backs. Dont have to worry about losing game but i do lose the best part of the deer . I may try the "friend" thing and i think i will also try shootin a different gun and see what that does for me. I think this flinchin problem goes back to when i was a kid, My dad handed me a 12 guage and let me shoot it. It brought tears to my eyes and ever since then I have had this Problem! Maybe i need to become a more avid shooter, I usually dont shoot any guns until huntin season arrives.
Thanks alot for your help, I will try these ideas.

LIKTOSHOOT · 12-07-2004, 08:47 PM

I have a old Shick Machine, that was once thought to cure smoking. A few well placed shocks will solve this light weight problem......wear wet socks, you`ll love it!!

LTS

gamachinist · 12-07-2004, 09:03 PM

1) Take whatever gun makes you flinch.
2) As others have suggested,let your pals load it
2a) This requires as many of your shooting "pals" as you can find

3) Let the gun snap
3a) Have all your "pals" call "flinch" as loud as possible
Worked for me!

Or simply shoot guns that don't make you flinch,it's more fun anyway than expecting punishment,unless you're just funny that way.........

Regards,Robert.

12-06-2004, 08:57 PM	#1
Chevyman Tx V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: texas Posts: 126	shootin problem Anyone know how to cure flinching? I have had a problem with it all my life and i dont know what to do about. I need help! __________________ "KEEP TURNIN TO THE RIGHT" -->

12-06-2004, 09:53 PM	#2
coonass V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 470	Re: shootin problem Well it's cause your an aggie............ Have someone go to the range with you ......... you sit or stand where you will shoot from ......... Have a friend stand behind you and "Load" your gun.. but sometimes you will get a unloaded gun or a gun with a spent shell in the chamber..... So sometimes it shoots and sometimes it just goes "CLICK" After a hour or so your flinch will be gone.......... be sure to shoot a target (bullseye) like your live depended on it............. Give it a try and let me know ........... It will work ...........

12-06-2004, 11:36 PM	#3
noslolo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Johnstown PA Posts: 1,558	Re: shootin problem My Father-in-law used to give me his 686 with only 3-4 rounds in it. I would jerk the gun down and would instantly know how bad I was flinching. A slightly different approach to what coonass is saying but it's on the same page. Worked wonders for me.

12-07-2004, 05:11 AM	#4
Pabooger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northwestern, Penna. Posts: 1,940	Re: shootin problem Are you refering to flinching with a rifle or a handgun? The suggestions previously made are right on! Also you might try dry firing the firearm numerous times, with a snap cap or some other device to avoid damaging the gun. Also be sure and just insert the very tip of your finger into the trigger, do not wrap your finger around the trigger. Pull the trigger back very slowly, never anticipate when the gun is going to fire, slowly and smoothly till it is almost like the gun is going off by it self! Once the gun fires hold it in position and visually try to watch the bullet travel to it's target! This is follow thru and is very important. If you are flinching with a handgun, there are some targets out there that will tell you what you are doing wrong by the location of where your bullet hits. __________________ Springer Spaniels leave footprints in your heart! Forum Admin at www.homeattherange.com

12-07-2004, 04:43 PM	#6
IShootBack Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,306	Re: shootin problem You guys sure have good advice. I was thinking that a friend (or not) could stand behind him with an electric cattle prod and give him a zap everytime he flinches... __________________ "The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is his name." Exodus15:3

12-07-2004, 06:15 PM	#7
shooter4 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: PRNJ Posts: 272	Re: shootin problem Great advice you have been given. You are aniticipating the recoil, so your subconcience mind is changing your grip, or you are jerking the trigger. If a lot of you shots (The following tips are for a right hander, if you are left handed, just reverse everthing) are going a little low/left, you are jerking the trigger. The most common cause of bad shots. You need to slowly squeeze the trigger, not pull/jerk it, and make sure that you do it straight to the rear so as not so move the sights. Place your trigger finger's on the trigger in the middle of the first pad. When you are holding your sights on the target, you WILL have movement of the sights/target alignment. That is perfectly normal, everybody, and I mean even the best shooter in the world have it. Once you are holding on the target, keep it the best you can (your brain will try to center it) while you are concentrating on your trigger squeeze. Dry fire very slowly and watch the sights closely to see if your trigger movement is moving the sights either up/down/left or right. Adjust your finger pad accordingly. Too little trigger finger will cause the barrel to move to the left, too much will move it to the right. If you have curved trigger, make sure your finger is in the middle so as not to cause up/down movement of the barrel when squeezing. The most important part is that when you take your aim, your sights are aligned with the target, you start to put pressure on the trigger...... You momentarily see the perfect sight alignment in the middle of the target, you gently squeeze a 'little' more to get the shot off when the sights are in the middle. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will cause your shots to go low/left and be a lot more off center than if you just trusted yourself and kept on slowly squeezing. By jerking, you made a 9 a 6 or worse. An excerpt from www.bullseyepistol.com (fundamentals section) goes for pistols or rifles. QUOTE" Shot Sequence: 1.Settle Into Your Aiming Area. The normal area of movement is readily apparent. If it happens to be larger or have abnormal characteristics and you are unable to reduce it to normal, accept it and proceed to fire. However, make every effort to hold the weapon motionless. 2.Find Sight Alignment. Your sight alignment must be exact and in such distinct focus that the bullseye becomes a blurred gray mass somewhere beyond the front sight. 3.Start Positive Squeeze. Be determined that once started, a positive, constant rate of squeeze is to be completed without interruption. Any hesitation, change of rate, doubt about results or loss of concentration must be avoided. 4.Concentrate on Sight Alignment. Any distraction warrants benching the weapon and starting over. Do not try to fire the shot if any controllable irregularity disturbs the existence of ideal conditions. Do not think of impending results at the target Any surprise shot within the aiming area with good sight alignment will be a good shot. 5.Try for a Surprise Break of the Shot. Your reflexes cannot act quickly enough to disturb sight alignment or a smooth, positive squeeze if the shot breaks as a surprise. Shots breaking in the aiming area with good sight alignment will form a group that represents the equivalent of your holding ability. 6.Additional Suggestions. It may be advantageous to rest or relax after three or four shots. Remember that you do not have to shoot before bringing your gun down to rest. When a shooter fatigues, runs short of breath or experiences difficulty in concentration, by all means he should lower his arm, relax, breathe deeply and try again. Some excellent slow fire shooters try two or three times before getting a shot fired. Do not expect ever to have a perfect sight picture. You can shoot groups only within your ability to hold. If you can hold within the ten ring, they should go there. With experience and practice your ability to hold will increase and your groups will consequently grow smaller. Sometime during the 6- 15 seconds required to fire a shot in slow fire, your arc of movement will be sustained at a minimum. The shot sequence should progress at such a rate as to attain a surprise break during this period. Example: If a shooter's minimum arc of movement is reached at about nine seconds he should train himself to break his shots in 8-10 seconds. B. Timed and Rapid Fire Techniques: Prior to firing any string of timed or rapid fire it is imperative that you mentally run through the sequence of the string itself. You must be psychologically as well as physically ready to fire at 25 yards. You will find that this prior determination will assist in your rhythm, squeeze, and recovery and ease any match pressure that you are subjected to at the time. 1.Timed Fire. Prepare your lungs by breathing deeply prior to firing and holding the breath with lungs approximately half full just as you align your sights. Make rhythm the prime object. Never vary your rhythm. Adjust your recovery so that you'll have your sights aligned in time for the shot to go, but do not wait for the perfect sight picture. If you maintain your rhythm and fail to get the sight alignment just right, you may get nines, but if you make the weapon fire just as the sight picture is perfect, you will get the axe. 2.Rapid Fire. Rapid fire is essentially the same as timed fire. You can improve your rapid fire by learning to fire the first shot within the first second after the target faces you. Immediate recovery of sight alignment and hold after each shot depends on perfection of uniform position and grip. Special attention to an uninterrupted, unchanging rate of squeeze will help develop for you, the coordinated start your squeeze before the sights become perfectly aligned. Make every effort to prevent extraneous thoughts, which may disturb rhythm and concentration. 3.Shot Sequence for Timed and Rapid Fire. a.Find aiming area on edge of the target frame in line with your aiming area. b.Settle into aiming area. c.Find sight alignment. The front sight should settle naturally into alignment with the rear sight, vertically and horizontally. Concentrate on looking at the front sight. d.Start positive squeeze on turn of target. If your position and grip are correct and you are concentrating on alignment of the sights a squeeze started at the turn of the target will give you a 10 every time. e.Squeeze continuously. In rapid fire you must start your squeeze before you have perfect sight alignment. This does not mean that you subordinate sight alignment to squeeze. Start your squeeze as quickly as possible while continuously concentrating on and perfecting sight alignment. Sight alignment not a sight picture. Your natural aversion to not firing without correct sight alignment will delay your squeeze until the sights are aligned. f.Recovery. Correct recovery with the sights approximately aligned in the aiming area is obtained only if your position and grip are correct. g.Concentrate on sight alignment. Any time the shot breaks with good sight alignment, it will strike the target within your ability to hold.

12-07-2004, 06:26 PM	#8
22WRF Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pea Ridge, FL Contributor Posts: 4,250	Re: shootin problem "correction" target which can help you look for ways to correct your grip and trigger press. Dl here: http://www.sportshooter.com/improving/targetgallery.htm Attached Images __________________ NRA GOA CCRKBA Happiness is a warm barrel

12-07-2004, 07:46 PM	#9
Chevyman Tx V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: texas Posts: 126	Re: shootin problem thanks guys. lots of good advice there! IShootback VERY FUNNY!!! HAHAHA ! Actually that would probably do the trick. I notice every year when i go out and check my guns for accuracy before season i usually miss the target the 1st few shots and then i settle down and start hitting. But this flinching problem is embedded into me mentally . The last 3 deer i have killed i have broke their backs. Dont have to worry about losing game but i do lose the best part of the deer . I may try the "friend" thing and i think i will also try shootin a different gun and see what that does for me. I think this flinchin problem goes back to when i was a kid, My dad handed me a 12 guage and let me shoot it. It brought tears to my eyes and ever since then I have had this Problem! Maybe i need to become a more avid shooter, I usually dont shoot any guns until huntin season arrives. Thanks alot for your help, I will try these ideas. __________________ "KEEP TURNIN TO THE RIGHT"

12-07-2004, 08:47 PM	#10
LIKTOSHOOT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 9,367	Re: shootin problem I have a old Shick Machine, that was once thought to cure smoking. A few well placed shocks will solve this light weight problem......wear wet socks, you`ll love it!! LTS

12-07-2004, 09:03 PM	#11
gamachinist V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Locust Grove GA Posts: 213	Re: shootin problem 1) Take whatever gun makes you flinch. 2) As others have suggested,let your pals load it 2a) This requires as many of your shooting "pals" as you can find 3) Let the gun snap 3a) Have all your "pals" call "flinch" as loud as possible Worked for me! Or simply shoot guns that don't make you flinch,it's more fun anyway than expecting punishment,unless you're just funny that way......... Regards,Robert.