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How to overcome flinch with rifles/handguns?

Are u shoot at a range or out in the woods somewhere? I don't like being around other people and don't go to the gun ranges close to where I live in the city cause they crowded. I drive and hour to public range in the national forest. Pull up at dawn and u normally by urself. I shoot as little as possible to make me confident I'm on target and accurate shooting at paper. I don't like shooting at paper.....I wish I had private land I could shoot at. Interactive targets are so much more fun to me...those rolling ball style were the yardage is constantly changing are real fun....and being alone not having to watch other people makes more enjoyable.
 
The snap caps and blind loading are for diagnosing the problem. You already know you flinch. Trigger time is the only thing that will get you over it. Every time you pull the trigger there is a small contained explosion in your hands or close to your face.
It is like a boxer watching a video of how it feels to get punched in the face. After a couple thousand punches to the face, it don't matter anymore.
 
Maybe look into Shot IQ. I develop a flinch after a while with my muzzleloader and 450. Good electronic ear muffs and a solid rest help reduce it. When you’re not worried about the recoil it’s easier to focus on your shot. Usually in the woods I don’t notice the recoil when the time comes. I’m looking into Shot IQ for archery because I’ve had target panic off and on for years. Going to try a hinge release as well.
 
Time behind the gun actually shooting and dry firing. It sounds like anticipation is eating you up. Check out shotiq by Joel turner, his process might be something that helps you.
Joel’s son Bodie’s archery skill these days to me is a huge validation of his dad’s system. My shooting is good enough, and I don’t reach out far enough, to as of yet go through the program but if I was struggling I would.

Also, man do I like shooting my AR so much more since I put a suppressor on it three years ago. If I had the extra money I’d silence every gun I own…
 
Just reinforcing some of what has been already said... It could be target panic, but it sounds like a shock-induced anticipation (recoil/noise) flinch. So, I would recommend using ear plugs AND passive (non-electronic) muffs with the highest NNR (try for at least 29NNR) you can find (without interfering with your cheek weld). If it's shot anticipation, not target panic, mentally it's a similar fix; start SLOWLY squeezing the trigger and then move your focus towards only on floating/holding your crosshairs on target until the gun goes off. If it's anticipation, basically you have to get to the point where recoil and noise doesn't phase you, period... A good solid set of foundational fundamentals will greatly benefit you, as you shouldn't have to think about what you're doing to set yourself up every shot (I'm not saying to be lax or careless, but to the point of basics, safety can be a routine aspect too); to this point, many range sessions with a .22 CAN help, but unless it's proper practice it will be useless or just reinforcing failure. Once you decide to transition to a larger caliber, recoil management and full focus ONLY on proper fundamentals, is key. If that doesn't help, the next step would be searching for a "minimum requirement" caliber (less recoil/noise) that will still accomplish you goal. If none of this works, I would recommend seeking professional help... Like has been said, this will need to be addressed similarly to target panic!

Quality of practice, time, and focus are more important than just round count. At my peak, I was only shooting an average of 100 rounds per week (match weeks were higher of course), BUT it was 4 to 5 days per week. Those rounds were made to count! Load development, zeroing, verification, competition, etc...
 
I could be wrong, but what the OP said is "I flinch". We are all giving him great shooting and hunting tips, but until he is over the flinch, none of it matters.
 
I could be wrong, but what the OP said is "I flinch". We are all giving him great shooting and hunting tips, but until he is over the flinch, none of it matters.
I'm taking it all in. I think it's a flinch, but I could be just using the wrong words to describe what I am doing. I know with handguns it's a tensing/shot anticipation flinch and the gun tips down, I can see myself doing it but need to get one of my own (in a smaller caliber) and practice more there too. I am not as sure with the rifle side, because it doesn't seem to show up as much with my 22, so in general I think you are on the right track (and appreciate you continuing to be adamant about it) but also think that pretty much all of the tips here will help me learn. In reality I haven't shot enough to know ( I haven't really counted but likely still less than 500 shots with any sort of gun, super new here) and it's very possible this post was too early/I just need to focus on the fundamentals, but over thinkers gonna overthink. And post online when they can't make it back to the range right away.
 
IMO target panic and flinching can be totally different things especially with a high power high impact weapon.

Target panic can come from the lack of confidence in your abilities but wanting perfect results and breaking down mentally.
(self control)

Flinching let’s just face it your afraid of the weapon be it recoil or noise your not in control and that most likely starts before the first round leaves the muzzle due to preparation.
(self control)

My advice find a local shooter that knows what they are doing and learn the correct way in person. Once you can execute proper form it’s this simple your either going to do it the correct way or your not that’s on you.
(self control)

Everyone likes to shoot it’s fun and everyone wants to shoot well but the end result on target isn’t what we really drive for it’s the (self control ) we are after the good shooting comes next.


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Hi. My name's Matt. I suffer with Target panic as well. Especially on live targets.
Best way I found to improve my game, was keep watching thru the scope or pins. More practice would probably help as well. Getting older has helped to lower the anxiety and panic as well. Wish I had more time to play with guns. But your not alone.
 
I had a bad flinching problem and finally (mostly) broke it. When I was young and dumb I tried I shooting my shotgun (rifled bore w/ scope) while extremely hungover one morning and got scoped real hard. Dry fire practice is what worked for me but if you've got a friend to help you at the range try something like this:

Sit on the bench, aim at the target and practice dry firing until you don't flinch. Give the gun to your buddy, he either loads one or doesn't, and hands it back to you. If you flinch on the shot, continue dry firing until you don't flinch. Repeat, repeat and repeat until you don't flinch when pulling the trigger on the loaded or unloaded round. It should be a suprise everytime, in other words you want to learn to focus on the trigger pull and follow through as opposed to anticipating the shot. You don't want to think about when the gun is going to go off, you want to think only about pulling the trigger and keeping the crosshairs on your target.

I've been doing much better but every time I go to the range (which really isn't often), I'll sit down and dry fire a couple to make sure I have that train of though. Sometimes on stand I'll even practice pulling the trigger, not necessarily dry firing (loaded w/ safety on), just pointing at a tree and squeezing the trigger to break the thought of anticipation.
 
Hi. My name's Matt. I suffer with Target panic as well. Especially on live targets.
Best way I found to improve my game, was keep watching thru the scope or pins. More practice would probably help as well. Getting older has helped to lower the anxiety and panic as well. Wish I had more time to play with guns. But your not alone.
I did this with my bow and would practice drawing back on deer when I was younger. It helped immensely with my target panic/shakes.
 
I havent done Joel's course but I 100% agree with the principles of it. Doesnt matter what you are shooting, there has to be a process. The final step is the most important and that is trigger break or release. Control your mental focus so that all of your energy is focused on only that aspect of the shot and you will fine shooting any weapon that is put in your hands. If all of your focus is on trigger break, you have no capacity to consider recoil or noise or missing or food or big boobies. Clean precise focused trigger break.
 
Chart is for a right handed shooter. Reverse it if you are gifted. Also this applies more to pistol than rifle as pistol targets are usually 50 yards and in. A rifle is obviously more forgiving thereby making the chart not “as” applicable. But the fundamentals still apply.

As the op stated above, he isn’t flinching, he is anticipating. Dry fire and snap caps (dummy rounds) will work. If it is noise induced anticipation, ear protection or the addition of a suppressor will assist with that (with an added cost of course).
 

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I would work my way up from the .22 to a .38 with target loads or soft shooting 9mm. Starting off with a 10mm is a handful. Don't worry about shooting fast. Get a good sight picture, keep your sights on target and gently squeeze the trigger so you do not anticipate the discharge. If you feel like you are getting off target with your sights or you are going to force the shot, lower your handgun, relax and start again. One accurate shot is much better than a full mag. or cylinder sprayed all over the place.
 
Chart is for a right handed shooter. Reverse it if you are gifted. Also this applies more to pistol than rifle as pistol targets are usually 50 yards and in. A rifle is obviously more forgiving thereby making the chart not “as” applicable. But the fundamentals still apply.

As the op stated above, he isn’t flinching, he is anticipating. Dry fire and snap caps (dummy rounds) will work. If it is noise induced anticipation, ear protection or the addition of a suppressor will assist with that (with an added cost of course).
Breaking wrist/tightening grip seems to be my primary issue. Generally Low/right. Great info, learning a bunch from this thread.
 
Generally, all good advice above. In my opinion, it’s all about trigger control. How can you flinch if you don’t know when the gun is going to go off? You’ve probably heard the old saying “the shot should be a surprise” and that’s why that saying exists. You have to train yourself to put a constant, steady pull on the trigger until it breaks. If you can do that, you won’t know when to flinch. The rate or speed of the pull will sometimes vary by the situation, but the pull will always be firm and steady at a given rate. Your finger will never continue to accelerate once you have established the proper rate as you pull the trigger.

Great thing is that you can get trigger control fundamentals down with a .22, so you don’t have to pound yourself to death with an expensive to shoot, high recoil rifle that might even make things worse If you are flinching from the recoil to begin with. Dryfire can also be used. When you’ve practiced for a while. Step back up to the rifle and put all your focus into achieving a perfect 1st shot using what you have learned. Don’t sit there and pound yourself to death. Come back another day and strive for that perfect 1st shot.

Lastly, putting money into a trigger that has a lighter pull with a solid wall and no creep will help tremendously in achieving the “surprise” as opposed to a trigger that seems to creep an inch before it breaks, which just leads to anticipation of the shot. You can easily find more in-depth trigger control fundamentals online. Good Luck!
 
Two words for you: dry fire

You can practice all the fundamentals of marksmanship without actually firing a round. It is a great exercise for getting over flinching or shot anticipation. You might feel silly just dry firing, but I can assure you that this will dramatically improve your marksmanship abilities in ways that just relying on range time cannot
 
Breaking wrist/tightening grip seems to be my primary issue. Generally Low/right. Great info, learning a bunch from this thread.
From my experience (I am not an expert) low right hits are generally because you are not pulling the trigger back straight. It could be the position of your finger on the trigger or the wat you grip the handgun.
 
Once you get over the flinch, place 2 dots 18" apart horizontally. Run your target out to 7 yards. Send 2 rounds to the left target and 1 to the right. Stop. Send 2 to the right and then 1 to the left, stop. All three rounds should be within 3-5 seconds. Your target acquisition and accuracy will go through the roof in a couple weeks of doing that. The worst practice is a single X you are sending every round too. This will also helps with target panic.
Like this. Some rapid fire with a 22 pistol on multiple targets helped my wife a lot when I introduced pistols to her. When your confident with that accuracy is breathing and not knowing exactly when the trigger is going to break and practice, practice.
 
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