9mm Pistol Practice #2

[slyitry]

 

[outrider58]

LOL! Your 'eyes' comment.

Judging from the accuracy demonstrated by your bench shooting, I'm thinking you might be having a grip problem. Though you didn't have the need to re-establish your grip while shooting free-hand, you did while bench shooting. At fist glance, I was willing to pass that off as a bench shooting difficulty, but then, looking at you free hand(or off-hand) shooting with all the low hits and spread, I'm seeing a grip problem. It might just be me, but with most shots you took while standing, you physically had to bring the muzzle back down after each shot. With a proper grip, that muzzle should naturally come right back down to your point of aim, in this case, the bullseye.

Watch your red dot as you shoot. Where is it going through the shot cycle? Is the dot actually leaving the sight window? It shouldn't. You want that dot to move up and down inside the sight window in a straight vertical line. Use the dot to diagnose the problem.

At least you didn't exhibit any pre-ignition push. You weren't anticipating the recoil. Most of your low hits were somewhat centered. That's a good thing.

 

[slyitry]

LOL! Your 'eyes' comment.

Judging from the accuracy demonstrated by your bench shooting, I'm thinking you might be having a grip problem. Though you didn't have the need to re-establish your grip while shooting free-hand, you did while bench shooting. At fist glance, I was willing to pass that off as a bench shooting difficulty, but then, looking at you free hand(or off-hand) shooting with all the low hits and spread, I'm seeing a grip problem. It might just be me, but with most shots you took while standing, you physically had to bring the muzzle back down after each shot. With a proper grip, that muzzle should naturally come right back down to your point of aim, in this case, the bullseye.

Watch your red dot as you shoot. Where is it going through the shot cycle? Is the dot actually leaving the sight window? It shouldn't. You want that dot to move up and down inside the sight window in a straight vertical line. Use the dot to diagnose the problem.

At least you didn't exhibit any pre-ignition push. You weren't anticipating the recoil. Most of your low hits were somewhat centered. That's a good thing.

You are definitely correct on the grip issue and having very dry hands did not help at all. With my Glock I don't have the problem with shooting low as I do with this pistol although I've been shooting glocks for years and this is only the second time out shooting this pistol. I will be working on my grip and slowing down to improve on the accuracy. You have no idea how much I appreciate your input.

 

[Jimgoespewpew]

That's a LOT of movement for a Nina shot from a bench rest.

 

[Phoenix_1295]

One thing I noticed is that your upper body is moving rearward with the recoil when standing. If you incorporate a slight forward upper body lean/bend and keep your core strong, it will give you a more solid platform.

As far as the hit-below-aim shots, this can be caused by tightening your grip as you shoot and/or jerking the trigger. Get the tight grip before shot and maintain consistently through shot. Concentrating on each of these separately will allow you to determine if one or both are the cause.

This input comes with no guarantees.

 

[slyitry]

That's a LOT of movement for a Nina shot from a bench rest.

It is. It's also a lot of movement for me when shooting standing also. I know my poor grip did not help but I'm also thinking maybe height over bore with this pistol.

 

[slyitry]

One thing I noticed is that your upper body is moving rearward with the recoil when standing. If you incorporate a slight forward upper body lean/bend and keep your core strong, it will give you a more solid platform.

As far as the hit-below-aim shots, this can be caused by tightening your grip as you shoot and/or jerking the trigger. Concentrating on each of these separately will allow you to determine if one or both are the cause.

Thanks. I will give both a try tomorrow.

 

[Jimgoespewpew]

The flashlight should reduce muzzle rise, but it may also be unbalancing the gun and affecting your grip. Try without it.

 

[John from MD]

Unlike a rifle, I always rest a pistol on the grip. You may want to try that before adjusting anything. Also, get some scrap 2x4's and put a piece of carpet on them for a better rest.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Assuming you wish to have POI from bench be similar to POI standing :

Best Practices is to have the rest supporting your wrists/ forearms , and not actually contacting the gun .


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I'm sure you've mentioned , but with the new forum incarnation , I suck at looking back at people's cumulative posts .

What general area are you located ( OP) ?

 

[md77]

Just a couple comments, Remember they are free and thus possibly worth what you paid for them. Why are you shooting with one foot so far back? IMO repeatability is really important and our bodies are lazy. Stand with both feet "on the line" and when you push the pistol out it can only go one place. Put one foot back 10" and now you have to either collapse one of your arms or rotate your hips to get the pistol pointed toward your target. To experience this get into your shooting position and point your empty and safe pistol at the target. Then close your eyes and rotate your shoulders and hips around, swing right and left while moving the safe and empty pistol up and down. Then stop all movement and relax, when you open your eyes are you on target? If not you are fighting your body to get it to be where you want it every round. (Sorry that was so long-winded.) I would suggest rotating your support hand so the top of your arm is flat and your thumb is pointed straight forward. If you are shooting thumbs forward and your support hand is comfortable (at least in the beginning) you are probably not rotating that wrist down far enough. And it looks like you have a nice place to shoot, why the rush? Shoot a few hundred rounds as slowly as you can, make every shot count like it is your only one. Try draw slowly, get on target, then move the trigger as slowly as you can, then slowly back to the holster. (Nobody ever won a gunfight by being the fastest re-holsterer.) To steal a saying: Practice makes permanent, perfect practice makes perfect.

Just a few thoughts, only one cup of coffee in so hopefully there is something useful in there.