Trying to Improve my Aim

[Gawernator]

Stop switching between guns and calibers, pick one like 9mm and practice with just that for now. You need consistency, then slowly add difficulty as you level up. So pull that target close, 3 yards, 5 yards etc until you can consistently shoot a small group. Then once you consistently can hit where you are aiming move the target back farther. Focus on the front sight as you are squeezing the trigger

 

[Gawernator]

Yeah I’ve seen people use those targets before and they seem pretty good from what I’ve seen. Always shared how targets cost tho for just paper

You can get cheap no name shoot and see pasties online like Amazon etc that cover spots of your target up so after a few magazines you can re-use the same target and you'll know which shots were which.

 

[RustyIron]

The photo on the Left is from May 24th and the right is from yesterday June 11th.

Before you do ANYTHING ELSE, the FIRST thing to do is go out and buy a stack of targets. If you're frugal, print up a few dozen with your computer for a penny apiece. There's no way you can keep track of all those holes on one target. If you CAN be certain where a new hole is shot in that tattered old piece of paper, then you're better than me and I should be asking you for advice. For me, when a target has 15-20 holes, that's enough and it's time to move to the next. If I'm REALLY trying to figure something out, then half that. With every shot, you need to know exactly where it hit, so you have immediate feedback from whatever you were feeling when the hammer dropped. If you don't have that, then you're just making noise and blowing through ammo.

 

[ejhyun]

Everyone knows that group size is inversely portional to the price of the gun.

 

[rodralig]

Contrary to your forum title, this does not sound like an aiming problem.

You’re live-firing 2–3 times a week, but how much dry practice are you actually doing? Because from the outside, it looks like you may be throwing money downrange without enough structure or accountability.

Are you truly conscious of every shot? Are you holding yourself accountable for each round, or just burning ammo and hoping repetition fixes it?

You keep going back to 10 yards, but how do your groups look at 3 yards? Slow fire? Moderate cadence? Faster cadence? If the fundamentals aren’t clean up close, stretching the distance doesn't mean anything.

Also, why start with .22LR? Personally, I’d rather warm up with the larger recoiling calibers to wake up the grip and recoil management, then finish the session with accuracy work where .22LR is better suited.

Have you taken any real classes/training with a competent instructor? Not just someone handing out old-school bullseye diagnostic charts, but someone who can actually watch you shoot, diagnose what you’re doing, and give you a structured path forward (as well can competently shoot - lots with instructor title out that simply suck at shooting).

 

[Gawernator]

Also take my advice with a grain of salt because I'm not a shooting instructor. I did qualify expert with the M16 I guess lol. I am a pro racer though and have trained hundreds or thousands of people and every sport is like that, build consistent fundamentals at a low level and then build on that. You should get a legendary gun that is easy to shoot well like a P226 or 92FS, small guns are harder to shoot well with too

 

[HatTopGaming]

Contrary to your forum title, this does not sound like an aiming problem.

You’re live-firing 2–3 times a week, but how much dry practice are you actually doing? Because from the outside, it looks like you may be throwing money downrange without enough structure or accountability.

Are you truly conscious of every shot? Are you holding yourself accountable for each round, or just burning ammo and hoping repetition fixes it?

You keep going back to 10 yards, but how do your groups look at 3 yards? Slow fire? Moderate cadence? Faster cadence? If the fundamentals aren’t clean up close, stretching the distance doesn't mean anything.

Also, why start with .22LR? Personally, I’d rather warm up with the larger recoiling calibers to wake up the grip and recoil management, then finish the session with accuracy work where .22LR is better suited.

Have you taken any real classes/training with a competent instructor? Not just someone handing out old-school bullseye diagnostic charts, but someone who can actually watch you shoot, diagnose what you’re doing, and give you a structured path forward (as well can competently shoot - lots with instructor title out that simply suck at shooting).

I’m definitely of the mindset that with more reps I’ll get better. I don’t shoot fast I think u go at a speed at which I feel comfortable.

I start at 22 cause I view shooting sorta the gym you start small and build up from there.

And no I have not taken any classes

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

The photo on the Left is from May 24th and the right is from yesterday June 11th.

Been trying to go to the range every 2-3 weeks to improve my shooting. I always start by shooting my 22lr revolver as a warm up before I got up in caliber to 380 ACP and then finishing with 9mm (Going to incorporate 38 special next)

I’m right handed but for whatever reason I miss left? Been getting better at stopping that as of late.


I always hear people say “you never realize how average you really are at shooting” so I wanted to ask what you guys think. For context I use to shoot maybe once a year with rentals and now this year I bought 5 guns and have been going as often as time allows.

background behind the target along with target looks familiar in the bay.

have you tried putting those same pistols on a rest or sandbags to see the group sizing difference vs free hand? using those same exact make and model of handguns; along with brand and load of ammo? at the same exact distances?

 

[HatTopGaming]

background behind the target along with target looks familiar in the bay.

have you tried putting those same pistols on a rest or sandbags to see the group sizing difference vs free hand? using those same exact make and model of handguns; along with brand and load of ammo? at the same exact distances?

No I have not done any of that

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

No I have not done any of that

might help to try it. that way you know how the 5-10 round group should be at that distance if fully supported on a rest or on bags. then compare the results with the handgun wheel of error after shooting without a rest/bags; might help with understanding a little more. just a suggestion…..

 

[ejhyun]

Sorry, I couldn't resist my earlier post...
With all seriousness...my groupings improved greatly after I learned trigger control. Dry fire is a great way to learn. You can find a million videos on YouTube about dry fire exercises. When I first started shooting IPSC, I would spend 30 minutes every night practicing dry fire in addition to my range time.

If you have a red dot sight, I discover that is an incredible tool for dry fire. You get instant feedback from the dot as to the accuracy of your trigger pull. Aim your dot on a speck on the wall and dry fire...if the dot moves, you know you need to improve your trigger pull.

 

[Ernie]

Not sure if you're shooting with an optic, but i do suggest using them or change to easier to use irons.
Shoot from very close and make sure you are as comfortable as you can be.
Slowly move away once you see your groups get solid.
Fundamentals are the best so dont do any crazy time challenge or drills.
Guy who said use only 9mm is on the money also.
Best thing you can do about your pistol is to improve the trigger. Most stock triggers make first time shooters have a hard time at first.
Unless you are shooting a 1911.
So happy for you getting 5 guns this year.
Good luck brother!

 

[G421W]

I suggest you start at 3 yards. Put a black paster on the back of the target. Fire 5 shots, evaluate what went right/wrong. Then tape it up and go again. If the pasters seem to small get 2 inch stick on targets:

Action Target 7/8" Square Bullet Hole Repair Target Pasters - Roll of 1,000

Find holsters, belts, accessories, and police supplies at CopsPlus. Your source for quality duty gear at competitive prices since 2002!

copsplus.com

2 Inch Round Adhesive Target Pasters Fluorescent Stickers Target , Total 250 Pcs (Fluorescent Orange) - Walmart.com

Buy 2 Inch Round Adhesive Target Pasters Fluorescent Stickers Target , Total 250 Pcs (Fluorescent Orange) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

When you are keeping 5 shots in a tight group consistently, move it out a yard and start the process over.

Just shoot one or two guns per visit. Say .22 and 9mm.

Get some training.

 

[CAshooter]

I am a right-handed shooter who was consistently shooting left of center mass. In a performance pistol class, an instructor made a suggestion. When shooting two handed, he told me to relax my grip on the gun with my right hand and increase my grip with my left hand. It took some practice, had to whisper in my head, “relax the right hand/stronger with the left hand” for a while, but it seems to be working out.

 

[john_marsten_1873]

New(ish) shooter here; I bought my first pistol last February but have trained a lot (cross-platform) since then.

First thing, is to determine why/if you want to shoot better: defense, hobby, sportsman, is how I like to frame the spectrum. If you're a "hobby" shooter - just like to put rounds down range every now and then - then I'd say just go and have fun (while being safe, of course). If you use your firearms for defense - or are interested in competitive shooting - I'd say this comment from @rodralig is the best advice along with sticking with 9mm (for now).

Have you taken any real classes/training with a competent instructor? Not just someone handing out old-school bullseye diagnostic charts, but someone who can actually watch you shoot, diagnose what you’re doing, and give you a structured path forward (as well can competently shoot - lots with instructor title out that simply suck at shooting).

So again, if you just want to shoot (and you're being safe) perfectly fine to just shoot all your guns and put ammo down range however you enjoy (and is allowed). If you actually want to be a better shooter, taking classes from a reputable instructor is both the fastest and actually cheapest overall way to improve as you'll get WAY more out of each round during AND after the class.

I’m definitely of the mindset that with more reps I’ll get better. I don’t shoot fast I think u go at a speed at which I feel comfortable.

While this is not completely untrue, it's not efficient. So any improvement will be far less and slower than having a (meaningful) plan, training intentionally and consistently. Otherwise, you just hit a wall very quickly and progression stops.

After my first 2000rds I wasn't getting much better and I didn't really know how to. The range officers (and YouTube) gave me a few tips but that only went so far.

My stance, grip sights and trigger (that I learned from YouTube) was mostly wrong. I had to have someone diagnose those issues and help me improve them. Every range trip and round fired afterward was now training with a specific regime and/or goal.

A couple of things you can try on you next range trip ():

• don't just throw rounds down range
• start with one shot-
  • no time limit (wait 5 secs min if you need a limit).
  • Can you get that shot to stack or close to your point of aim for every round, quarter-sized group?
  • If not, was it your stance, grip, sights, trigger (manipulation) that prevented you from hitting the point of aim
  • If you’re able to diagnose, make the adjective and repeat

• then move on to 3 round strings, 1 every 2 seconds (or as fast as the range allows) and get them as close together as possible
  • Try to do the exact same thing for every shot not changing your, stance, grip, sights...
  • After 3 rounds, same thing: an you get that shot to stack or close to your point of aim for every round
  • at 7-10yds your group should be no bigger than a fist
  • if you're not able to group, diagnose, make adjustments and try again until you are.

 

[Gawernator]

$9 for these, 200 of them and they splatter bright yellow/green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHHH4F4B?smid=A341UFDO263XMF&th=1[url/]

 

[miles888]

I dry fire everyday for 5-10 min. I have a push pin on my wall in my bedroom. I aim at that and cover it with my front sight post. Dry fire, hold the trigger, half rack, aim again, reset and fire again. My intention is to not move the gun at all besides the racking. It’s very easy to spot a pull or twitch for me practicing like this.

Usually I’m shooting 3 targets, 1 each at 3/5/7 yards.

I bring 50 rounds per trip.

I’ve played drums my whole life and have practiced a whole lot to facilitate it. I use the same philosophy there with everything I do skill wise.

For me, a higher volume of shorter and very deliberate practice beats a lower volume of long sessions with varying levels of intensity.

My range trips take well under 1 hour. Probably 25 minutes at most. But I go every week and have been doing that for the last 8 or 9 years.

If I am zeroing an optic or scope it usually takes about an hour including my pistol practice.

Shotguns tho… I can hang out all day busting clays

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

 

[FTSheartlesssYo]

Use small targets brodie, 1 inch circles or w/e. I’d start at 3 yards slow than getting faster than pushing the targets farther out.

 

[phred]

I am a right-handed shooter who was consistently shooting left of center mass. In a performance pistol class, an instructor made a suggestion. When shooting two handed, he told me to relax my grip on the gun with my right hand and increase my grip with my left hand. It took some practice, had to whisper in my head, “relax the right hand/stronger with the left hand” for a while, but it seems to be working out.

CAshooter has good point. This really helped me. If you are gripping too much with you strong hand your grip fingers have a tendency to involuntarily move also, pushing your gun off target. Concentrate on straight back trigger pull, loosen strong hand fingers and not moving them with the trigger finger and not anticipating trigger break.