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I've been working on my groupings and distance and am having an issue that I hope someone can help me with. At the 9 & 21 feet-no problems-good groups on target--but when I move it out to 45 ft, my shots are so random! I hit the target--but there is no consistency about it-can't get any groupings and target aquisition (x) is a joke. And the more I work on it, the worse it gets. What am I doing wrong--and how do I cure it?

Thanks

Mary

There are many possible causes.

An easy way to begin the diagnosis would be to use a smaller distance increment after 21 feet - say 30 feet - to see what is happening there.

Here's a resource to help you figure it out: Pistol Group Analysis Guide

looked at it--thanks! But my "scattered" is even more scattered than their scattered example!!

JustMe - I suggest that you find shooting coach for some personalized instruction. They will be able to observe your shooting firsthand and be able to find out why you are not shooting consistantly.

Get them in the same hole at 5ft. Like literally the same hole. If you can't do it at 5, got to 4 etc, then go back up to 5.

Then 6 ft. Then 7ft....

It will be boring, and aggravating, but that is how surgical shooting is developed. Walk before you run.

Mary, 9, 21, and 45 feet, so 3, 7 and 15 yards.
So are you trying to prepare for qualifications?
If so, if you put all of your 9 and 21 feet shots inside the size of a large (Thanksgiving? type) paper plate, then you can miss the 45 feet shots and still qualify.

Understand that you need 175 points out of 250 to qualify.
If you fit inside the "paper plate" sized 35 out of 40 (20 and 20 from 9 and 21) then the final 10 from 45 are irrelevant (just be safe)

If you are trying just practice at 45 feet, if your weapons are like mine and your eyes like mine, my front sight completely a normal target at 45 feet, so I generally get a reasonable sight pattern and shoot.
its not great grouping at that far away, but its enough for protective shots if needed.

Good luck

Teamless wrote:Mary, 9, 21, and 45 feet, so 3, 7 and 15 yards.
So are you trying to prepare for qualifications?

yes--but for the instructor course which requires 90%==i'm better overall with the pistol than the revolver. I have no trouble with the 9 & 21 for either one-groups are better with the pistol--but all are still in the right area. But when I get to the 45-with the pistol I am mostly in the 8 ring somewhere(not grouped), but with the revolver it is just random!
One person told me to start using an index card to narrow my target down-then go to a sticky note. that if I can hit the smaller target close, that will mimic the farthr distance. maybe i have worked myself into a "mental block" about the 45!

What firearms are you using?

I will have to try some of these suggestions before I renew my license in two weeks. It will be my first time to qualify with my .45. As mentioned in other threads, I shot better with my .45 than my .40 right out of the box, so I think I'll be fine, but it's still be nice to do better now than 5 & 10 years ago. No, I don't know my score then, but I have a pretty good idea of what the target looked like.

DocV wrote:What firearms are you using?

glock 19 & 26--both fire about the same for me--for stand & fire and practice I use the 19 more--the 26 is more my carry

for a revolver I have an EAA Windicator .357/38sp. I've been using the 38sp rounds

JustMe wrote: glock 19 & 26--both fire about the same for me--for stand & fire and practice I use the 19 more--the 26 is more my carry

Good choices

JustMe wrote: for a revolver I have an EAA Windicator .357/38sp. I've been using the 38sp rounds

2 inch barrel or 4 inch barrel? If it is a 2" barrel, is the barrel crowned? What brand ammo?

I expect you are merely going through an educational process. Even slight differences - pistol vs. revolver, calibre, barrel length, sights, weight, etc - can account for grouping variance. If you can, see if you can locate several different revolvers that you can test fire.

Edit: I am implying your grouping with the revolver isn't you.

It's a 2" ---I don't know about the crowned? new term to me? different ammos--lower end practice type-brass

Mary,

There are several possible reasons and I think you need to find a coach to work with you. I would probably jump to the conclusion that the revolver spreads as you are using it double action. Try learning to stage the trigger by slowly squeezing it and then realigning the sights just before the hammer falls. I don't know how to do this on an EAA, but it is fairly easy to learn when the hammer will fall on an S&W.

I would point out that this may also be your own mind working against you. One reason for the spread is the simple rule of the distance increases the spread. If you are always shooting within say a 2 degree angle, the spread between shots may look close enough at 7 yards but then looks much worse at 15 yards when it really is the same shooting. Then as you see it getting worse, you get anxious and try to correct it which makes it even worse instead.

Try relaxing and not worrying about it as long as you are still on the paper. In real life, almost any hit on the BG is good enough. Very rarely will they hang around to see if you get better with the second or third shot. So, to practice, take things a little slower. Then as the accuracy comes back in, speed up a little at a time until you are where you want to be with accuracy and speed.

You are right--it is worse when I DA rather than SA. The EAA has a very long stiff trigger pull. It's better when I SA it. I am beginning to wonder if I have just developed a mental block!

2 inch revolver is extremely difficult to shoot at distant ranges due to short sight radius. Concentrate on your sight picture, not on the target just before, during, and shortly after you pull the trigger. You need a perfect sight picture to fire at longer distance with a revolver. Cock it and do it single action style. I was having the same problems, too, until I tried this. Also, try shooting with a laser grip. It helps you see it better if you're jerking your hand in anticipation of the bang. Have a 2nd person and/or video analysis because it is hard to see what you're doing in the 3rd person, which is necessary in order to correct mistakes.

To avoid the jerk response in anticipation of the bang, take a deep breath, let it out, and relax. Then, STAY relaxed while you shoot. ALLOW the gun to rise and don't try to control the muzzle flip. Just let the gun naturally rise and fall with muzzle flip and gravity. Again, do NOT try to correct/control muzzle flip.

I was having the exact same problem you were having until I tried these tips given to me by "Kit" the gun instructor at DFW guns. Now, I'm have no problems at all.