My problem has been diagnosed

[Brush-Wolf-Lady]

By a firearms instructor, today. The ol anticipatory flinching which makes you lower the gun before firing, causing low hits. He said to relax, squeeze, all that. I just couldn't relax.

Any tips on how to get me to relax and stop this? I am a rather high strung person to begin with.

I actually didn't have this problem when I first started shooting a few months ago, even with a .45. So it's a bad habit I picked up.

[darkvibe]

Try aiming and squeezing the trigger very, very slowly until it goes off. After a while it will get easier. Also practice, practice, practice to get used to the recoil.

[speedracer211]

Snap caps. Buy them, practice with them and you should see an improvement.

[Bycyclist]

Originally Posted by Brush-Wolf-Lady

By a firearms instructor, today. The ol anticipatory flinching which makes you lower the gun before firing, causing low hits. He said to relax, squeeze, all that. I just couldn't relax.

Any tips on how to get me to relax and stop this? I am a rather high strung person to begin with.

I actually didn't have this problem when I first started shooting a few months ago, even with a .45. So it's a bad habit I picked up.

Double plug (foamie ear plug + ear muffs) for now.

That anticipatory muscle contraction is often a learned response to the loud noise. Until you can recondition your physiological response to "relax" into the noise and just let it "wash through you", you will continue to do this type of flinch (there are different types of flinch).

Snap caps and dry fire won't get rid of this if this isn't the flinch caused by poor trigger control -which it doesn't sound like it. The dry fire practice helps get rid of the flinch caused by poor trigger control and maybe a bit on this one, but for now double plug.

Didn't your instructor give you aids/tips?

Double plug gets you so you don't keep reinforcing this reactionary flinch to the noise.

To actually cure it - you'll need to get a location where you can just shoot into the berm, say from 7 yds. away. Load several mags and pull the trigger as fast as you can, concentrating at your front sight. When you can actually SEE your front sight, and its tracking up and down, you'll find most of your flinch problem goes away.

This drill (did similar in both in Burkett's and Jarrett's classes) works on several things:

- by focusing on the front sight during rapid fire, you'll increasingly became very aware of what your gun is actually doing

- if you're firing as fast as you can, your blinking can't keep up with the recoil of the gun, so you'll begin to actually SEE whats happening

- by the continuous loud fire, you'll learn subconsciously that the noise is not to be feared, and will reduce your subconscious reactionary flinch (sort of like fear immerson therapy)

- by continuous fire, you'll really test out just how good your grip and stance is. If you're executing proper grip and stance - your grip/stance won't change at all during your string of fire

My caveat in bringing this up is I'm not sure of your experience and ability to be controlled in this type of drill. You need to absolutely be sure you can do this safely, otherwise get your instructor to assist.

This is one of the drills that has dramatically improved my overall gun handling capabilities I've picked up in my classes.

[cspearling]

I found myself doing this at the begining of the trip to the range. I found it helps to aim, and slowly squeeze the trigger and let the gun go off on it's own almost supprising you when it happens. You'll learn not to anticipate the shot, then you can learn to control the recoil, and followup. Those are much easier to get down than forcing youself to concentrate on anything but the sights when firing. You'll notice your groups getting tighter, and your jumps getting less.

If nothing else, it doesn't hurt to try!!

[ElJimmyStrappo]

Dry fire drills.

[dyferant]

Can you see your sights in recoil? What is the size of your groups? Try keeping your eyes open so you see your sights lift off the target when the shot breaks. Most people flinch when they close their eyes right as they press the trigger. Good luck.

[apollosmith]

Beyond what the others have recommended, I've also heard that you can watch only the gun while firing. Don't even look at the target or even the front sites alone. Just squeeze of rounds while watching the entire action of the gun. Watch when it fires, how it jumps, how the action cycles, and how your hand reacts. I'm told this really helps you realize that the gun isn't so bad. Part of the jumpiness comes from not really knowing what the gun does when it goes boom.

[Brush-Wolf-Lady]

I will try these methods out, thanks for the responses!

Like any skill, it takes time to get it right.

[robinsre]

Yep dry-fire dry-fire dry-fire.

If you find yourself flinching at the range, take out your rounds, set them aside, dry fire for the number of rounds in your magazine.

It will help you avoid flinching, plus it will make the people in the lanes next to you do a double take.

Of course you might get the average cantankerous old geezer saying "you know little lady...there's no ammo in that gun"

To which the proper reply is.


"Are you daft old man?! Of course there is!"