Any Good Tips for Handgun Shooting?

[rov]

Ok - you can read about guns til you are blue in the face at almost every magazine stand, but what about good basic shooting tips.

Here's one to get this thing started. Hopefully we can all throw out a tip that has helped us and build a pretty good list. It's worth a shot anyway.

I was able to cut my groups in half by mixing snap caps in with live rounds at the gun range. I would then really see what happened to my sight alignment when pulling the trigger... By mixing the snap caps in there so I wouldn't expect when they would come up, I was able to get a real surprise break... this has improved my shooting very measurably. This seems to be a great way to cure yourself from jerking the trigger.

Hope this helps. Who's next?

[Mannlicher]

breathing control. May sound silly, but it is important. Learning proper sight picture is necessary too. Grip: not too hard, not too limp, but JUST right. Trigger squeezed, not jerked.

There must be 100 more important things.

[blades67]

Focus on the front sight and PRESS the trigger.

[gryphon]

BRASS

Breathe
Relax
Aim
Slack
Squeeze


Also, practice doesn't hurt either.

Good shootin'

[RANash]

Get some training. It'll enhance your enjoyment, increase your confidence, and maybe save your skin someday.

Highly recommended.

[coonan357]

I jokingly call it gun zen , but to think and picture where you want to place the bullet helps also , and practicing going from low ready to aim position helps with control

[GunGeek]

Sight Picture and trigger!

You can hit a bullseye standing on your head after a 6 mile run as long as you get a good sight picture and can squeze the trigger without disturbing that picture.

[C.R.Sam]

Agree with Gun Geek.

Only two things count.
Often they are not easy.

Sam

[kpw]

The best advice I think I give to new shooters is to not fight the recoil and relax. Most new shooters I see think they have to fight the pistol and keep it down. The guys seem to be worse than women with this for some reason. Many seem to just be afraid. Once they realize that it won't blow up or tear their arms off, they seem to be able to concentrate on the fundamentals better. Another thing I would mention is keeping the target close until they are comfortable. Missing is one of the most discouraging things to a new shooter (and more experienced ones too :D ). How many of us have seen the guy that takes his girl out and hands her a .44 and tells her to shoot the target down at 25 yards and then laughs when she shoots and reacts badly? There is one person that had no fun and won't be back. Make it fun and they almost always want to come back.

[LetsFetz]

gotta love the 'snap caps' idea ... got caught out myself couple of times by dead ones ... :)

[dj1726]

Trigger squeze and sight alignment control are the two most important! All of the fundamentals are: proper stance, proper grip, breath control, sight alignment control, trigger squeze control (squeze the trigger like it is an eye dropper and you are trying to get just one drop out of it), follow through and did I mention FOLLOW THROUGH!
BY THE WAY, one does not learn these foundamentals by firing live rounds, one learns them by dry firing. My favorite phrase with my students is "if you can not shoot an unloaded firearm correctly, how can you shoot a loaded firearm correctly?"
Practice dry firing and then go apply what you have practiced on the range.
Good Shooting

[AK103K]

Shoot a lot, then shoot some more. Only way to learn. :)

[BigG]

Watch some John Woo movies starring Chow Yun Fat. :p

[22lovr]

Here is a tip that is primal with me and will improve ANY shooter's accuracy:

RITUAL: In any skill, the better shooters, hitters, runners, throwers, lifters, etc, have a RITUAL they perform prior to the activity. Shooting is no different. Whether you are practicing with target shooting or quick-draw, make sure you have a set system for getting something done. Whether you are doing this quickly or deliberately, make sure your "ritual" remains the same.
Watch any good golfer, batter, pool shooter, archer, bowler, or anyone else whose activity requires the hitting of a target or a repetitive action and you'll see a set pattern of preparation prior to the commencment of the activity. You[ve often heard the catch-phrases of "zen-like" or "in-the-groove" mentioned on these pages. It is true.....it works!

[Rickmeister]

Just raise your hand to eye level, like pointing a finger, and fire.

Some guy in Deadwood , SD, gave this advice. ;)

[ratatat]

I was told some advice years ago that had stuck with me.Get a good pellet pistol as close to the size and weight as your target, carry gun and practice as much as you can.I love the snap cap idea for trigger control.

[Mr.Wingshooter]

To get accurate just treat your pistol like a rifle when you shoot it. Or if you don't shoot rifles go get a .22, and see how tight you can get groups at 50 yards. Then take the same precision with your pistol, just don't start busting caps like the average range guy.

[shy_man]

Have read a lot of comments, tips and other suggestions from books and from internet. My conclusion is, go out on to the range and practice and take note all your movements which one is better or which one will do good to your shooting style and what habit of your shooting needs to be corrected. Anyway, the objective is to hit the target, so no matter what style or stances we use as long as we can land our bullets to the intended target, for me that is the most important. So, make a habit to go to the range once or twice a week.

This is only my personal opinion.

[Waitone]

Accumulate a list of all the factors in proper pistol shooting; a list begun on this thread.

Then when you go to the range pick one, maybe two factors and spend the session working those two factors.

The biggest single factor in improving my accuracy was FOCUS on the front sight. Not just look at it; FOCUS ON IT AND FOCUS HARD. Complete surprise to me how much of a change is made in my accuracy.

[Hal]

This may be kinda off the wall...

One thing that was/is a tremendous help was buying an annual range membership. Opportunities to shoot around urban/suburan NE Ohio are pretty limited. When I was paying by the hour for range fees I tended to try to get the most bang for my buck and as a result I was getting really sloppy. Now instead of having to watch the clock, I can concentrate more on shooting.

[Dwight M S]

Download and print the U.S. Army Marksmanship Guide off the web. It's helped me a lot, and it's free.

Dwight M. S.

[DMK]

I concur:

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/

This, a Pellet Pistol, a .22 and a season pass to the range. Make it easy on yourself to practice often and well.

"Perfect Practice Makes Perfect"

[IanS]

Lots of good advice.

I'd also like to add that working out/staying fit helps also. If you're out of shape get yourself to a gym!

Feeling better physically and mentally does wonders.