Somebody School Me On This....

[Mikey]

So after about 2 years of shooting semi-automatic pistols, I can finally pull in my groups to 2" at 7yds freehand. So I think I can safely say that I have a basic understanding of this.

I've never shot a revolver before. My local range had a few so I thought I would try it out on the fly. I rented a S&W J Frame Airweight today in .38spl and I must say that I CANNOT hit a barn with it. At the 7yd line, I got groups of about a foot. Holes all over the top half of the target with no specific groups. 50 shots yielded not one bullseye I would line the sights, gently squeeze and pull. The kick would always leave my sights pointing towards the ceiling after the follow through.

Anyone have any good pointers or articles online that I could read?

[Joeywhat]

Double action trigger? Try a revolver that allows for SA as well, and see how your groups are. The increased trigger weight might be throwing you off. Also, try tightening your grip and make sure your stance is proper. Slightly bend your knees and lean slightly forward.

[rpsmith]

I heard that with DA revolvers you should aim slightly lower to compensate for the heavy trigger pull and recoil.

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

Double action trigger? Try a revolver that allows for SA as well, and see how your groups are. The increased trigger weight might be throwing you off. Also, try tightening your grip and make sure your stance is proper. Slightly bend your knees and lean slightly forward.

Ya it was a DAO trigger. I worked on getting a good stance but I think the grip is where I'm lacking. I just don't think two fingers on a tiny grip help with the kick at all. My supporting hand doesn't know what to do yet. I kind of have it cupped and squeezed (kind of like in Weaver stance).

Originally Posted by rpsmith

I heard that with DA revolvers you should aim slightly lower to compensate for the heavy trigger pull and recoil.

Really? I thought about doing that and decided not to because it sounded like one of those things that sounds like a great idea, but leads to bad habits. I let off a few shots like that but I didn't really get any results. I probably didn't aim low enough to notice much of a difference. I should aim at the ground next time and see what happens

[bps3040]

The Snubnose Tactics Files Tactics

Lol, you have to get used to the trigger. I have dry fired mine 2000 times and have about 500 live rounds thru it. Once you shoot it a while, it smooths out nicely and your shots start to group nicely. This was my 1st time with live ammo, but I had dry fired 500 times by then.

[Joeywhat]

Aiming anywhere besides where you want it to go is just putting a band-aid on the problem. Practice proper trigger control. You may have to actually use a heavy trigger pull to do that. One of my pistols is DA/SA, so i often practice keeping it right on target dry firing in DA. Now I move VERY little even under heavy trigger pulls.

[rickett]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Ya it was a DAO trigger. I worked on getting a good stance but I think the grip is where I'm lacking. I just don't think two fingers on a tiny grip help with the kick at all. My supporting hand doesn't know what to do yet. I kind of have it cupped and squeezed (kind of like in Weaver stance).

Try to push with your shooting hand while pulling with your cupped support hand, so that they cancel each other out but are both under tension. It creates a pretty solid grip and helps with the recoil. Seems to tame my .357 a bit anyway.

[Chapie+]

Originally Posted by Mikey

So after about 2 years of shooting semi-automatic pistols, I can finally pull in my groups to 2" at 7yds freehand. So I think I can safely say that I have a basic understanding of this.

I've never shot a revolver before. My local range had a few so I thought I would try it out on the fly. I rented a S&W J Frame Airweight today in .38spl and I must say that I CANNOT hit a barn with it. At the 7yd line, I got groups of about a foot. Holes all over the top half of the target with no specific groups. 50 shots yielded not one bullseye I would line the sights, gently squeeze and pull. The kick would always leave my sights pointing towards the ceiling after the follow through.

Anyone have any good pointers or articles online that I could read?

Mikey,

I am not sure you can compare how you have shot one gun for 2 years with another for the first time. Practice, practice, practice. That's how you got good with the semi-auto and how you would get good with the j-frame. What action did the auto you've been shooting for 2 years have. I am assuming (always dangerous) that it's single action or safe action but not double action. I wouldn't even compare groups from a smooth 1911 to an airweight j-frame. That's apples and oranges.

Chapie+