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improving my shooting with a self defense handgun?

raisins

raisins

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
6,282
I have a confession to make. I stink at shooting a pistol. I'm pretty good with a bow and rifle though.

This is even close in (like 7 yards where I should be nailing the center....I'm sometimes shooting basketball size groups).

So, I don't think it can possibly be sight alignment because I've shot iron sight rifles well for a long time. And also I'm so close that a well executed shot with non-perfect sight alignment should still be hitting better than this. It isn't the pistol because I'm like this with 3 pistols from 3 makers! (SW, ruger, kahr)

I am guessing it is mostly trigger control and anticipating the shot and the rest grip.

I'm at least average strength for a male, but I feel I have this fear the gun is going to fly out of my hand. I'll sometimes squeeze too hard with my trigger hand (rightie) until the gun is shaking in my hand after a box of shells.

When I'm shooting poorly (most of the time), my shots hit low on target. Left and right, I'm having trouble remembering because the main culprit is low (sometimes really low). Bad thing is is that I have trouble calling my shots. Like with a bow, when I whiff a shot, I know it immediately and before the arrow hits. Pistol, nope. Sometimes I'll shoot a really good group centered in the target and not know why. To partly take that back, when I'm kind of distressed at how bad I'm shooting and I'm shaking....yeah, I can call those as "this is gonna be bad, I should go home"....otherwise when feeling normal, I can't call them.

I'm willing to buy another firearm to fix this/practice with if it will help (plus I like pistols....even though I stink with them).

Here's what I own now:

Ruger Mark something 22 LR single action trigger target pistol
Ruger LCP 380 acp
SW MP Compact 45 acp
Kahr CM9

I've considered one of the 22 lr pistols similar to most self defense pistols (Glock 44) to train with low recoil and a similar trigger (not single action) OR a revolver of some type (because I hear training with a revolver shooting it double action helps). I could get a 22 lr revolver or a 357 mag one and then shoot reduced recoil 38 special in a full sized revolver (shouldn't kick much). The upsides to each would be with a 22 lr I can afford to shoot a lot more, but with the 357 I would have a gun I've always wanted and could use to hunt deer here eventually.

Thoughts? I'd appreciate any help from those that have dealt with this successfully in the past with themselves or others.

Thanks - R

PS I can shoot the Ruger 22 LR target pistol pretty well with iron sights off a rest. I can hit a gallon just about every time at 50 yards with good ammo. But I'm not holding it off hand and I know the recoil is nothing and the trigger is very nice, being a single action target gun.
 
First off, I am no Hickock45. I rarely shoot pistols. I have a cm9 that I carry and it is tough for me to shoot well. It’s small, I can’t even get my pinky finger on the gun. That seems to make the recoil worse which makes me grip it harder creating bad shots just like you say.

I also have a full size ruger .357 that I can shoot lights out. It has great balance and less kick than the smaller gun.

I am not an avid pistol shooter but my solution would be shoot more rounds and buy both the .22 and the .357 in full length. At least you’ll be happy lol.
 
Wirrex said:
First off, I am no Hickock45. I rarely shoot pistols. I have a cm9 that I carry and it is tough for me to shoot well. It’s small, I can’t even get my pinky finger on the gun. That seems to make the recoil worse which makes me grip it harder creating bad shots just like you say.

I also have a full size ruger .357 that I can shoot lights out. It has great balance and less kick than the smaller gun.

I am not an avid pistol shooter but my solution would be shoot more rounds and buy both the .22 and the .357 in full length. At least you’ll be happy lol.
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which ruger 357 do you have (including barrel length)?
 
It’s an old Security Six that my father-in-law gave me. I don’t think you can go wrong with any Ruger revolver in a 6” barrel.
 
Wirrex said:
It’s an old Security Six that my father-in-law gave me. I don’t think you can go wrong with any new Ruger in a 6” barrel.
Click to expand...

I always had my eye on a single action only 357 for hunting, but I think getting a double action would help my shooting more. The redhawks are pretty expensive, so I'd probably go with a GP100.

I've always wanted to saddle hunt with one with iron sights and be good 50 yards and in with it.

Right now, though.....that would be totally inhumane of me.

Funny that I can shoot a bow better than a pistol as far as group size at same yardages.
 
This may help diagnose.
 

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My apologies for the double post. My pea sized brain hasn’t figured out how be proficient at posting just yet.
 
If you're a decent shot with a bow and rifle it could be the pistol that has issues. At least that's what I've found in pistols I've owned. I owned a .45 Dan Wesson 1911 that couldn't hit a target. It was the worst shooting firearm I've ever had. Same with Desert Eagle... Total lemon.
I sell guns that aren't accurate and keep the ones that hit where I aim... Fairly simple advice but unless you have a major flaw in your shooting form, it could be the pistol. It sounds like you could be gripping the pistol incorrectly but I'm not an instructor. I do know from experience in shooting anything that shooting often and practice is the best learning tool.

I also have a .357 that is extremely accurate. It's a S&W 686 with 6" barrel.
I have a 10mm Glock and 9mm S&W Shield that are very accurate too.
 
Look up articles by Jeff Cooper. And remember to push with your gun hand and pull back with your supporting hand. And have fun! I love shooting handguns.
 
WPS87 said:
My apologies for the double post. My pea sized brain hasn’t figured out how be proficient at posting just yet.
Click to expand...

it's all good....thanks for the post! looking at that now
 
If you are unable to hit well with that Ruger .22 you better just buy a short barrel shotgun for self defense. I would prefer that anyway even though I'm able to shoot revolvers pretty well. A 3 inch magnum load of number 1 buck will level the field for you.
 
Lucky13 said:
If you're a decent shot with a bow and rifle it could be the pistol that has issues. At least that's what I've found in pistols I've owned. I owned a .45 Dan Wesson 1911 that couldn't hit a target. It was the worst shooting firearm I've ever had. Same with Desert Eagle... Total lemon.
I sell guns that aren't accurate and keep the ones that hit where I aim... Fairly simple advice but unless you have a major flaw in your shooting form, it could be the pistol. It sounds like you could be gripping the pistol incorrectly but I'm not an instructor. I do know from experience in shooting anything that shooting often and practice is the best learning tool.

I also have a .357 that is extremely accurate. It's a S&W 686 with 6" barrel.
I have a 10mm Glock and 9mm S&W Shield that are very accurate too.
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it's all pistols (including those of friends) shot offhand, so i'm sure it is me
 
Still Kicking said:
If you are unable to hit well with that Ruger .22 you better just buy a short barrel shotgun for self defense. I would prefer that anyway even though I'm able to shoot revolvers pretty well. A 3 inch magnum load of number 1 buck will level the field for you.
Click to expand...

somewhat funny....but not helpful

this isn't for home defense primarily, for that i do have long guns
 
Sorry, I don't know anything about shooting handguns. I just pick one up and shoot them. My father could have probably helped you when he was alive. He was a real marksman and only hunted squirrels and rabbits with a Browning automatic .22. I was always in awe of his dropping running game with a single shot.
 
I’m right there with you. Alright in close but no marksman by any means. Check out the YouTube videos by Tactical Hyve. They have some good basic drills (in particular watch the one about shooting low left).
 
You can try back plate shooting. Trigger slap could be a form of target panic. Won’t be as accurate but if this is defensive use it will get the job done.
 
WPS87 said:
You can try back plate shooting. Trigger slap could be a form of target panic. Won’t be as accurate but if this is defensive use it will get the job done.
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I googled back plate shooting but didn’t get any useful hits

help?
 
It’s over laying the back plate on your slide on the target. It was pretty much a red dot before people started putting them on pistols
 
WPS87 said:
It’s over laying the back plate on your slide on the target. It was pretty much a red dot before people started putting them on pistols
Click to expand...

like “looking down the arrow”?

but in this case imagining you can see through the barrel to the target?
 
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