|
|
Post by redjamescash on Jan 4, 2014 17:10:00 GMT -5
One good exercise to help out with your marksmanship is dry firing your gun,be it pistol or rifle.You'll want dummy rounds or empty cases to do this with.Dont dry fire rimfire guns without them,it could damage the firing pin.I use to dry fire my pistols quite often,just while watching movies works well.It helps you to get a quicker sight picture,get a better feel for the trigger,you'll know and learn better when the trigger breaks.It helps you avoid trigger jerk.You might fire a few hundred rounds at a target practice session,you should be dry firing thousands of times.I guarantee you'll notice the difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by Limitool on Jan 4, 2014 17:32:39 GMT -5
Red... your advise above is SO RIGHT ON!!! What I did was just a cross-over but gets the same net results. I shot professional target archery for years. I shot at Las Vegas, K.C., Detroit, and Atlantic City and many more places. I used to sit at home, work wherever I had a few minutes and practice my release. I'd take my string release aid and a thin piece of wood (4" long)and practice 100's of shots per day. It may have appeared stupid but that trigger and me became one. And the scores s l o w l y went up to averaging perfect. But to your point above.... becoming one with the trigger and understanding there's more to it then just pulling it really does help.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmd52 on Jan 4, 2014 19:55:22 GMT -5
I used to dry fire my 1911's daily for about an hour when shooting competetively. Another good exercise is to load your revolver with 5 live rounds, and 1 dummy. Take aim at the target and squeeze the trigger....you will quickly find out how bad your flinch is when you snap on the dummy. Do this until the gun does not flinch, you will be surprised at the increase in accuracy that will be obtained. When the skill of watching the front sight, and squeezing the trigger becomes automatic, and second-nature you will be able to hit the target with a very high degree og accuracy.....Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by redjamescash on Jan 4, 2014 20:14:42 GMT -5
Yup I dry fired my .357 mag and .41 mag everyday.I use to aim at knots in the paneling when I was watching movies.Both revolvers so I just used empty casings.
|
|
|
|
Post by Limitool on Jan 5, 2014 9:36:58 GMT -5
One of the hardest things to "put together" is the act of aiming......... and then squeezing the trigger. They are totally 2 separate things. I used to stand at point blank range and just close my eye's and put pressure on the trigger and keep pulling without firing the bow being the main goal. And this trigger took fractions of ounces to go off. Then without breaking my stance I'd reach out, grab arrow and repeat over and over. This goes for firearms and target archers both.
When I was teaching UNLIMITED STYLE TARGET ARCHERY I'd always tell my students to just accept the smallest movement on the bull (5-10 seconds)and squeeze the trigger. But that connection to most seems hard to do. And that's one of the difference between amateurs and pros. People used to say... "How small are yours Brad?". Hard to explain at the time. Then one day I "discovered" a laser pointer. Now we could "see" everybody's best circles. I just taped the pointer to the stabilizer had people draw(empty bow)and aim. I'd just follow dot on the cardboard down range and we'd know. I could hold dot still for 3-5 seconds inside a space smaller than a dime at 60 ft. Now all I had to do was peak out my squeeze on trigger within that time frame or start over. And I started over a LOT. Some of the best shots I ever took were the ones I never fired.
Some students used to say... "I did squeeze the trigger Brad" and I'd say no you didn't. I'd say draw and anchor then aim and I'll pull the trigger for you. Most times their knees would buckle. I'D ask "Did you feel that!!!" And they'd say yea because I didn't know when it was going off.... EXACTLY, EXACTLY and EXACTLY.
There's aiming and then there're firing... two totally separate acts. Peaking them out together is the ultimate challenge when shooting. Hitting a bulls eye is easy but hitting it EVERY time is tough. And when you can the next step is taking your act on the road and showing everyone. Shooting a perfect 600 FITA round on a National stage is REAL TOUGH and takes a lot of experience. But somebody will always do it... if I ever missed the 10 ring at that level it was game over... instantly.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2014 11:18:16 GMT -5
I dry fired my 357 a few times after I got it but really should do it more because I admit,I flinch a little when I shoot it(but not the 380,the little 22 we have that looks like a ray gun or Ar-15,Its really hard to see the front sight on the gun at the range even though my husband painted a little red dot on it. I know I could put the hurt on someone if O had to with either or the guns but I want to get better.
|
|
|
|
Post by redjamescash on Jan 5, 2014 20:57:34 GMT -5
I dry fired my 357 a few times after I got it but really should do it more because I admit,I flinch a little when I shoot it(but not the 380,the little 22 we have that looks like a ray gun or Ar-15,Its really hard to see the front sight on the gun at the range even though my husband painted a little red dot on it. I know I could put the hurt on someone if O had to with either or the guns but I want to get better. Start dry firing it 250 times a day.Its easier with a revolver than a semi,unless the semi has an exposed hammer.Next time you go target shooting have your hubby only put 2 or 3 rounds in the cylinder without you knowing where they are.You can do that yourself too,just spin the cylinder as you close it,no cheating now lol. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2014 21:22:24 GMT -5
250 times a day? I'll get Aurthur-it is! We have these little rubber inserts we put in the gun so it won't hurts the gun when we dry fire it but I never pul the hammer back.I don't like bang bang surprises,LOL.I know I need to get over that fear though.
|
|
|
|
Post by redjamescash on Jan 5, 2014 21:39:06 GMT -5
250 times a day? I'll get Aurthur-it is! We have these little rubber inserts we put in the gun so it won't hurts the gun when we dry fire it but I never pul the hammer back.I don't like bang bang surprises,LOL.I know I need to get over that fear though. Do it both ways,cocking it first and double action for dry firing.I just used empty cartridges.Use what you have.Thats how you get over flinching,once you recognize it youre on your way to fixing it.Thats why the few rounds in the cylinder. |
|
|
|
Post by Limitool on Jan 6, 2014 9:11:01 GMT -5
250 times a day? I'll get Aurthur-it is! We have these little rubber inserts we put in the gun so it won't hurts the gun when we dry fire it but I never pul the hammer back.I don't like bang bang surprises,LOL.I know I need to get over that fear though. Do it both ways,cocking it first and double action for dry firing.I just used empty cartridges.Use what you have.Thats how you get over flinching,once you recognize it youre on your way to fixing it.Thats why the few rounds in the cylinder. Reds right (250 is just a start). Now, I realize Reds goal is recognizing a flaw and then addressing it but Red (help me out if you don't agree) aiming is what causes the flinch after so much pressure is applied to the trigger. In other words your now anticipating the guns reaction and "helping" it. There's nothing like a little movement on the aiming end to mess with the trigger finger. I suggest starting off separating the two different acts and then put them "together" later. The 250+ "shots" does more than meets the eye. It builds muscle memory and more important STRENGTH!!!! The stronger you are.... the better the aim... better the aim leads to more time to squeeze the trigger.
I used to "fire" 250-500 shots per day but I was trying to get to world class scores and did. But I believe separating the aim and the trigger squeeze starting off really helps before trying to do both together. In fact even after I got to world class I devoted some time keeping the two acts separate.
|
|
|
|
Post by redjamescash on Jan 6, 2014 9:40:15 GMT -5
Do it both ways,cocking it first and double action for dry firing.I just used empty cartridges.Use what you have.Thats how you get over flinching,once you recognize it youre on your way to fixing it.Thats why the few rounds in the cylinder. Reds right (250 is just a start). Now, I realize Reds goal is recognizing a flaw and then addressing it but Red (help me out if you don't agree) aiming is what causes the flinch after so much pressure is applied to the trigger. In other words your now anticipating the guns reaction and "helping" it. There's nothing like a little movement on the aiming end to mess with the trigger finger. I suggest starting off separating the two different acts and then put them "together" later. The 250+ "shots" does more than meets the eye. It builds muscle memory and more important STRENGTH!!!! The stronger you are.... the better the aim... better the aim leads to more time to squeeze the trigger.
I used to "fire" 250-500 shots per day but I was trying to get to world class scores and did. But I believe separating the aim and the trigger squeeze starting off really helps before trying to do both together. In fact even after I got to world class I devoted some time keeping the two acts separate.
Yup,but flinching is also part of expecting the recoil of the gun if its severe,to a petite or small stature person it might be.Thats why I suggested that coily have her hubby load only 2 or 3 rounds in her revolver.She'll see what she's doing when she expects it to go bang and the hammer falls on an empty chamber.She'll be able to correct herself better when she sees herself doing it.Its some what of easy fix coily,you just have to get use to the full .357 loads.Buy a few boxes and shoot them all off,repeat process.When I first fired a .44 mag,i didnt know what to expect so I used both hands to hold it,piece of cake,it was more mild than my handloaded .41 mags  |
|
|
|
Post by gmd52 on Jan 6, 2014 11:46:59 GMT -5
Limitool is right on with muscle memory, and the need to make that memory correct from the start. Shooting is only 10% skill, and 90% mental, especially when shooting competetively. The use of the dummy rounds ids a good one, and works. Also it has been my experience that a women is at an advantage shooting because they haven't been taught bad habits. My wife handled a .357, with target loads well from the start because she never experienced a flinch, and didn't know what one was...she also had the luxury of learning from a couple world-class shooter's. Practice never hurts, but over practice of a bad habit does....slow and easy, and you will be on your way.....Good luck......Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by Limitool on Jan 6, 2014 16:05:09 GMT -5
gmd52.... Your stating 10% skill and 90% mental is EXACTLY what I always preached also. Most people never develop the 10% skill set let alone enter very high into the 90%. And I ALWAYS would want to teach a person who had never shot before over someone who wanted me to help them after shooting 20 years. The "new" student (male or female)knew no more than what I told them while the "old shooter" had to forget bad habits. The bad habits are so hard to break and relearn. I usually had a new person outshooting their friends quickly. The friends used to say he or she is just a "natural"... not true. That was fun to do.
Red... Your right about the recoil causing a flinch also and probably the "noise" also. Good idea not knowing how many shells are loaded or not loaded.
A whole lot of my tournament target shooting carried over to rifle and hunting situations also. The most fun I had was teaching children and youths. They always got so excited as they progressed. There was always such a large gap between their starting skill set and a perfect 300 score. And I could always tell when someone was about to make a huge leap forward when instead of being "happy" when they hit the bull.... they were mad when they missed. That was always fun to watch.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmd52 on Jan 6, 2014 17:11:29 GMT -5
Limit.
The hard part was in 3 gun matches transferring the front sight and trigger squeeze to slapping the trigger of the shotgun when you only had seconds to aquire 5 steel targets and knock them over. The good competeters would do in 2-3 seconds! I sot an IPSC match eons age and was squaded right behind Rob leathem, Brian Enos, Jonn Shaw, in what was the Matches super squad, so I had chance to observe them shoot. I learned the mental game by watching....we had a number of shoot/no-shoot targets, obsitcles to move around, 2-3 reloads, and to end the timeyou had 4 steel plate and a stop plate to hit. I watched the super's hit the paper, ignore the steel and hit the stop plate and I wondered why. So I asked. They told me that they totally study the course of fire, and decided that the penalties aquired for not shooting the steel, eas less that the quicker time turned in, hence the won. This was just one of the many "mental" aspects to shooting I learned. Skills can be learned and perfected, but the mind needs to be trained to tell you what to do in any different situation.......Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by Limitool on Jan 9, 2014 12:41:30 GMT -5
Limit. The hard part was in 3 gun matches transferring the front sight and trigger squeeze to slapping the trigger of the shotgun when you only had seconds to aquire 5 steel targets and knock them over. The good competeters would do in 2-3 seconds! I sot an IPSC match eons age and was squaded right behind Rob leathem, Brian Enos, Jonn Shaw, in what was the Matches super squad, so I had chance to observe them shoot. I learned the mental game by watching....we had a number of shoot/no-shoot targets, obsitcles to move around, 2-3 reloads, and to end the timeyou had 4 steel plate and a stop plate to hit. I watched the super's hit the paper, ignore the steel and hit the stop plate and I wondered why. So I asked. They told me that they totally study the course of fire, and decided that the penalties aquired for not shooting the steel, eas less that the quicker time turned in, hence the won. This was just one of the many "mental" aspects to shooting I learned. Skills can be learned and perfected, but the mind needs to be trained to tell you what to do in any different situation.......Gary Hey Gary.... I appreciate your comment but can't totally relate to it because it's in a different "world" then I competed in. But that last sentence I can.... "the mind needs to be trained". Absolutely true. I'm sure whether your shooting professional unlimited archery, rifle or pistol tournaments many aspects are shared up to a point and then they branch off into their respective areas. You and I would probably have a great conversation sharing the same qualities that are common to both. I had some great conversations with Dee Wilde, Terry & Michelle Ragsdale, Rod Strickland and many, many others. But when we stood side by side it was game on. And their is nothing to replace experience... absolutely NOTHING. I remember making the final at the Las Vegas Open in 92' or 93'. After 2 days of shooting only the top 50 shooters in the world qualified to shoot day 3. Only 30 arrows to go... miss and you go home instantly. Dee Wilde was the only "clean" shooter (0 misses out of 60). I was 2nd with 1 miss. Very small bulls-eye on the Vegas Round. So Dee and I got to stand next to each other in the middle of the shooting venue at the Tropicana. We all got 6 practice shots before starting day 3. My first 3 were dead center in each bull. After the next 3 I still only had 1 hole in each bulls-eye. Dee asked me if I mined him pulling my arrows and I said sure. He handed them to me and hung onto them after I took hold of them. He said "Pretty easy in practice isn't it Brad"? I promptly went back and missed my 3rd shot. Fell all the way to 31st. I knew how to shoot with the best... but I did NOT know how to win.... ALL MENTAL!!!!!! That's on the upper high end of the 90% we referenced earlier. Thanks for your insight.... |
|
