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Beginner Improvement Questions

Mike4325

⚠️ New Member | No Deposits ☢️
Messages
11
I have a lot of questions for improvement, and I figured I’d make a single thread to keep it all together (I made a previous post specific to doubles). Maybe this will be helpful for other beginners too.

Based on the feedback on my last post, I decided to go back to basics, like just bare minimum accuracy at 15 yards. For context, I’m shooting irons with a stock M&P 2.0. In my last USPSA match, I’m having a lot of trouble hitting steel even if I slow way down. Since I’m shooting production with 10-round mags (actually 9 because S&W 10-round mags suck), I really want to be able to go 1-for-1 on steel at a minimum.

I’ve attached the targets from my last range day. In all cases, I’m not prepping the trigger, but instead I’m shooting from my finger lightly touching the trigger and pulling the trigger as fast as possible (to simulate how I’d shoot steel in matches).

Infinite time means that—no time pressure.

10-10-10 means the drill where I shoot 10 rounds in under 10 seconds at 10 yards. I specify the distance of the target at the top, except if a certain cluster is a different distance, I note that.

Total lifetime rounds is around 1800 or so atm.

A few observations:

My groups are super loose, and I’m assuming that’s inconsistent grip. I’m actively working on that in dry fire.

At 15 yards with infinite time, my shots trend high left. I’m a right handed shooter. Not sure why this is happening.

For 10-10-10, where there’s some time pressure, I’m really pulling shots down. I assume this is because of tension/recoil anticipation? Would this go away with more live fire and comfort with that?

In my 1-shot return attempts, my sights return low and I have to raise them up again. Not sure why this is happening since I’m not shooting again, so it shouldn’t be recoil anticipation?

I think even though my groups are loose, if I shoot steel the way I shoot these targets, I should be hitting them, but in matches I miss A LOT.

Would highly appreciate dry fire tips or other things I can work on, either at home or at the range. I assume just shooting more bullets help but I’m trying to be as efficient as possible with time and ammo.
 

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Missing steel is usually a grip and trigger control issue. Watch this video, and then watch it again and really listen to what he’s saying. It will change your life.

 
If you’re able to post a video that would be most helpful.

Trouble hitting steel
1. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to prep the trigger. If you’re touching the trigger at all you may as well prep it. Unless you have under .15 spilts or no sympathetic pull you can still prep. This applies also to steel challenge. As you improve, you’ll naturally prep less only for difficult or distance targets.

2. Look at the center (or just below) most point of the steel and bring your sights to it. Don’t keep your eyes on your sights.

Sympathetic trigger pull - it’s going to take some time to train away but stronger support hand grip and trigger prep help mitigate pulling shots left, low left.

Sights low on 1-shot return - relax the core muscles. Its common to contract stomach muscles and pulling you further downward

Overall, grip harder with the support hand. Get something walnut sized and simulate crushing it. Then take that to your grip.

 
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