Ive got a terrible flinch, how do I fix it

Travis Bickle · Nov 17, 2013

So the first handgun I ever shot was my fathers M&P in .40 when I was 14. I was a very small kid and the recoil physically hurt to handle. I think this paved the way for me developing a terrible flinch. Now 7 or 8 years later I can hit anything with my ruger mkII but when you put a 9mm in my hands I turn into a limp wristed fairy who flinches all over the place. Im much much bigger now so wrist strength is not the issue, its all psychological. How do I get over this? Ive been practicing with 9mm but havent got much better. Should I buy a lighter kicking gun in a smaller caliber to help work my way up to something bigger?

Magnumite · Nov 17, 2013

Lots of dry fire practice at home. Be sure to use a firm grip. Also load and shoot one round at a from a mag, then dry fire a couple rounds between single shot loadings. From there you should go to a ball and dummy drill. The ball and dummy drill is one of the best for detecting and helping to alleviate flinches and poor form.

sgt23preston · Nov 17, 2013

Travis Bickle said:
So the first handgun I ever shot was my fathers M&P in .40 when I was 14. I was a very small kid and the recoil physically hurt to handle. I think this paved the way for me developing a terrible flinch. Now 7 or 8 years later I can hit anything with my ruger mkII but when you put a 9mm in my hands I turn into a limp wristed fairy who flinches all over the place. Im much much bigger now so wrist strength is not the issue, its all psychological. How do I get over this? Ive been practicing with 9mm but havent got much better. Should I buy a lighter kicking gun in a smaller caliber to help work my way up to something bigger?

Sgt Preston here...

This is NOT a new problem...

Lots of people have had it...

The soloution is very simple...

Step 1. Buy a set of snap caps...

Step 2. Make sure that the pistol is empty & clear...

Step 3. Using the snap caps, hold the pistol in you hand & without looking at the sights, very slowly squeeze the trigger = Dry Fire to learn the "feel" of the trigger...

Step 4. As you confidence builds up look at the front sights, they should not move or flinch when the hammer falls...

Step 5. After you have mastered getting the feel of the trigger (this could take a week or more), take the gun to the range & focus on squeezing the trigger & making perfect shots, do NO pay much little attention to the sights at first, just don't flinch..

Step 6. Practice, Practice, Practice...

fivepointstar · Nov 17, 2013

don't expect the recoil....pull back on the trigger slowly and let the round go off and surprise. don't anticipate!!

jr88 · Nov 17, 2013

Are you sure it is a trigger jerk, or just poor recoil management. If you are honestly uncomfortable with the recoil itself and feel this way before you start shooting then you would approach that differently than a "jerk" reaction.
Read this article: http://re-gun.com/2011/04/ball-and-dummy-for-dummies/

annihilation-time · Nov 17, 2013

Snap caps help. However, until you get over the idea of recoil, you're going to flinch. You need to become comfortable and familiar with it. Going to the range everyday for a week and firing a thousand defense caliber rounds worked for me.

Kinbote · Nov 17, 2013

What kind of 9mm do you have? Some of the small ones have a worse kick than larger .45's. If you want to meet at Myrtle Grove, I can let you try a few of my handguns, and try to help you with your problem.

Mooseman · Nov 17, 2013

Snap caps and a lot of dry fire practice with them.

jimbobborg · Nov 17, 2013

I hope you aren't using a pistol like the one you learned the flinch from. Have you tried a revolver yet?

Jaybeez · Nov 17, 2013

good ear protection helped me, as did a lot of shooting 22s.

Blaster229 · Nov 17, 2013

I'm sorry. But snap caps do NOTHING for you getting used to muzzle blast and recoil.
Bad trigger finger/control has nothing to do with how you react to these pistol explosions.
Snap caps or empty brass loaded with live rounds in a magazine just tell you if you flinch anymore or not.

You need someone coaching you through shooting this pistol while you are shooting it, along with you just getting used to it after shooting it for awhile.
You are flinching during the recoil and you are landing bad shots. You see these bad shots and are getting discouraged and angry because of a poor group. Then you get tired and give up and go away upset.

A lighter recoil .22 pistol is not going to help you with a larger caliber pistol.

ziondogg · Nov 17, 2013

Come shoot 20 rnds out of my .454 Casull and then go back to the 9mm. Problem solved!

BlackBart · Nov 17, 2013

ziondogg said:
Come shoot 20 rnds out of my .454 Casull and then go back to the 9mm. Problem solved!

That might be the way to go because a 9mm isn't exactly heavy at all.

Sundazes · Nov 17, 2013

Use a revolver and only load a couple of random cylinders. Spin it before you close it. No don't do a hollywood and slam it.
Fire it on single action. You won't know when a round is coming up. Keep practicing.

Streetgang · Nov 17, 2013

Blaster229 said:
I'm sorry. But snap caps do NOTHING for you getting used to muzzle blast and recoil.
Bad trigger finger/control has nothing to do with how you react to these pistol explosions.
Snap caps or empty brass loaded with live rounds in a magazine just tell you if you flinch anymore or not.

You need someone coaching you through shooting this pistol while you are shooting it, along with you just getting used to it after shooting it for awhile.
You are flinching during the recoil and you are landing bad shots. You see these bad shots and are getting discouraged and angry because of a poor group. Then you get tired and give up and go away upset.

A lighter recoil .22 pistol is not going to help you with a larger caliber pistol.

This is the correct answer. You must have a coach. We all have shooting deficiencies, some more than others. Your issue needs coaching and LOTS of randomly placed snap caps in each magazine.

Travis Bickle · Nov 17, 2013

Im shooting a styer s9 but I do the same thing with a beretta 92. I dont flinch when I dry fire because im not anticipating. But if I were to load a bad round or snap cap mixed in with live rounds you would see me flinch and jerk up. Its not an anticipation of that soft 9mm recoil but of the sound and muzzle blast. Im considering selling my styer and buying a really heavy .357 then working my way up with .38 special loads

jr88 · Nov 17, 2013

Travis Bickle said:
Im shooting a styer s9 but I do the same thing with a beretta 92. I dont flinch when I dry fire because im not anticipating. But if I were to load a bad round or snap cap mixed in with live rounds you would see me flinch and jerk up. Its not an anticipation of that soft 9mm recoil but of the sound and muzzle blast. Im considering selling my styer and buying a really heavy .357 then working my way up with .38 special loads

I have seen young shooters who don't like the report. A different gun isn't the answer, I would get better hearing protection and then shoot as much as possible to get used to it. Read the article I suggested, it should help. Bottom line is getting used to the noise and muzzle blast. I come from a "loud" family and quite honestly enjoy the noise of shooting, it masks the other noises I am used to hearing. lol If all else fails, get married...after a while you will get used to loud annoying noise!

Ab_Normal · Nov 17, 2013

sundazes said:
Use a revolver and only load a couple of random cylinders. Spin it before you close it. No don't do a hollywood and slam it.
Fire it on single action. You won't know when a round is coming up. Keep practicing.

This will do it. Make sure you take a few buddies with you to the range so they can laugh and ridicule you when the gun wiggles all over the place without a round going off.

wilcam47 · Nov 17, 2013

shoot a revolver...load every other one with a live shell...it will get you used to not anticipating the recoil..

ccarson · Nov 17, 2013

jr88 said:
I have seen young shooters who don't like the report. A different gun isn't the answer, I would get better hearing protection and then shoot as much as possible to get used to it. Read the article I suggested, it should help. Bottom line is getting used to the noise and muzzle blast. I come from a "loud" family and quite honestly enjoy the noise of shooting, it masks the other noises I am used to hearing. lol If all else fails, get married...after a while you will get used to loud annoying noise!

This might be it
try doubling up your ear protection

Ive got a terrible flinch, how do I fix it

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