Handgun Accuracy- Milking

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  • Tungsten

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 1, 2012
    7,232
    Elkridge, Leftistan
    I had a lot of trouble with flinching/milking the gun and I seem to have fixed the issue. At least now I know when it happens before I even see the POI.
    When it starts to creep back into my shooting, I make sure to relax my pinky finger (grip only with middle and ring finger) and that typically solves the issue.

    I understand that is an effective way to fix the issue on the range with plenty of time to align target....focus on front sight....relax pinky...squeeze trigger..
    BUT
    I also realize that under stress I cant afford the luxury of all that time and concentration.

    So my question is: Will relaxing the pinky eventually develop the muscle memory for it to become automatic, or am I really just compensating for a flaw that I need to fix with some other technique?
     

    StantonCree

    Watch your beer
    Jan 23, 2011
    23,932
    In a defensive situation 90% of your training will go out the window. My advice, learn to hip fire
     

    ClutchyMcClutcherson

    Active Member
    Aug 29, 2016
    703
    Odenton, MD
    You’ll probably get different advice from different people, but if that grip works for you and you’re accurate with it then stick with it. As far as reverting to a bad habit, one solution could be to induce more stress on yourself when shooting. Push yourself so you see what bad habits show up and then continue to work on them. For example rather than just bullseye shooting for a hole mag, introduce different drills to your training. Timed shooting and someone to make things competitive will induce stress so you can see what you have to work on. Just my 2 cents.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,884
    My Star Trek Transporter isn't working for me to observe your shooting .

    But How Bad IS your "milking" ? Are we talking 4in offset @ 25yds, or missing the paper @ 3yds ? A solid grip with all available fingers is generally a good thing, and an advantage to control. Eliminating the use of an entire finger is a pretty extreme measure .
     

    daNattyFatty

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 27, 2009
    3,908
    Bel Air, MD
    This is a joke, right? :shrug:



    Depends on the distance between you and the threat. You’re not going to get 2 handed full extension at anything less than 5 feet.

    And as has been quoted before, you’re not going to “rise to the occasion”, you will “revert to your training”, whatever level that is.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,738
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Depends on the distance between you and the threat. You’re not going to get 2 handed full extension at anything less than 5 feet.

    And as has been quoted before, you’re not going to “rise to the occasion”, you will “revert to your training”, whatever level that is.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

    You are correct and as you said, "you will revert to your training."

    The part I don't agree with is that 90% of your training will go out the window. Under stress, we do revert to our training assuming you are going to fight and not take flight.
     

    daNattyFatty

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 27, 2009
    3,908
    Bel Air, MD
    You are correct and as you said, "you will revert to your training."



    The part I don't agree with is that 90% of your training will go out the window. Under stress, we do revert to our training assuming you are going to fight and not take flight.


    I don’t think 90% would be a far cry. Think about it. Shooting, weapon manipulation and tactics are perishable skills. I’m willing to bet that not many shooters in general do or are able to regularly practice that type of stuff. Most range trips will consist of stationary target shooting and remaining in your lane.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,738
    Socialist State of Maryland
    True, but I wasn't thinking of shooters who just shoot for a hobby. I was thinking of those who have chosen to carry a firearm and have obtained training and continue periodic training.

    I agree, the person who shoots solely standing in front of a paper target will probably not have the training to fall back on.
     

    Mike OTDP

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 12, 2008
    3,319
    Back to the OP...Dry fire. Focus on releasing the shot without sight movement. Dry fire some more. Dry fire a whole LOT more. Then live fire. Etch perfect form into your muscle memory.
     

    Tungsten

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 1, 2012
    7,232
    Elkridge, Leftistan
    My Star Trek Transporter isn't working for me to observe your shooting .

    But How Bad IS your "milking" ? Are we talking 4in offset @ 25yds, or missing the paper @ 3yds ? A solid grip with all available fingers is generally a good thing, and an advantage to control. Eliminating the use of an entire finger is a pretty extreme measure .

    I don't completely loosen up the pinky, I just consciously relax it slightly.
    I have attached a pic of my target so we will see if it works here. Both "milked" shots I called immediately (shots 6,7 out of 10)... I'm kinda stoked about the excellent grouping of them :D.

    25 feet (minimum distance at OnTarget), 2 hand, unsupported standing, stock iron sights on a Walther PPQ.
     

    Attachments

    • Target.jpg
      Target.jpg
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    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,564
    Harford County, Maryland
    Nice work feeling the pinky grasping at time of shot. You’re focused.

    It seems you may be anxious about alignment of the iron sights. Problably seeing the sight picture you want, trying to freeze it by gripping it tighter while pulling the trigger. Breaking the wrist a little, too. At 25 feet that is about a 4.5 - 5 inch pull. Those errant shots are about 30 degrees away from classic trigger jerk. Milking is typically in the 4:30 to 5:00 area of the target, assuming right hand shooter.

    Your group is much better with the dot sight. So working on a snugger grip and establishing a good index using area aiming should knock that issue out. Of course, lots of dry fire with watching the behavior of those sights.
     

    Brychan

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 24, 2009
    8,391
    Baltimore
    I have no idea if this is even a viable training exercise, but for fun I will sometimes set up multiple targets in the back yard at various heights and distances do a little action shooting with a BB pistol. Moving at a quick pace I find that sometimes not only am I not using the sights am not even really looking at the pistol just focusing on the targets, I seldom miss. If I had the property I would set a real action range and see how well I could do with a real pistol.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,884
    Humm . That's Interesting Tungsten. ( Not meaning to pick on you , that's truly interesting.) As noted , straight down, but still horizontally aligned falls outside of what is typically seen .

    I could throw a cpl things out there, but they would be in different directions, and the wrong long distance guess would just be confusing and perplexing .

    I would be be intrigued to observe you, and try a cpl hands on coaching . If we could work out the timing and location , it would be a pleasure to work on somthing like this , instead of the usual jerking and snatching .

    ************

    And as a public serving to our handgunning audience out there ( other than Tungsten) , I'll echo MikeOTDP -

    95% of pistol shooting is fundamentals done well . Trigger control, grip, trigger control, kinda ok stance, trigger control, good grip (grasp), trigger control, kinda ok aiming, and trigger control . And some more trigger control for good measure .

    Meaning dry fire . Dry fire while acomplishing kinda ok aiming, with kinda ok stance .
     

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