Pistol technique advice please.

[uk2240]

ok while i'm having fun shooting my 2240 i'm still not very accurate, i'm finding the pistols moves around alot while i'm aiming, it could just be i still need to get my hand muscles used to the weight of the pistol but is there anything else i can try? 

[Colt25]

Don't squeeze the pistol too hard. Then your heartbeat moves around the pistol. I have a mark i wich I hold VERY loosely. Too hard. And shake, shake, shake...
In fact. i hold my mark I so loosely that if someone bumped me I think I would drop it. But I am shooting it as a competitive shooter would and.
Look on YT at some competitive 50m free pistol. Mess around with different grips.

[BDS]

You asked a great question but... there are 100's of possible answers. 

The 2240 is similar in size and grip shape to a full size auto loding pistol. The techniques are varied for true target or bullseye shooting or free pistol sports with auto loaders and they are all argued among the "experts" so, I would Google up some videos and info on bullseye shooting to get started with. Basic pistol shooting requires proper stance, weight distribution, some level of arm strength and very good motor skills. Also, trigger management is HUGE. If you have an un-modified 2240 trigger, I would guess half of the problem is gun movement due to trigger pull and leverage. Also, a simple technique that works with all types of shooting, rifle or pistol, is to follow the pellet or bullet thru the target. When I consciously do that, any of my guns "act" more accurately but in reality, they are all one hole shooting guns, it's me that makes them less accurate, not the gun. Follow thru on that shot and you will see improvement and definitely mod that trigger and learn to use the very tip of the pad of your trigger finger to squeeze the trigger in  one, deliberate motion. 

[RC1947]

Breath, relaxation, practice, and a bit of mind over matter (see the small book, Zen in the Art of Archery) all contribute to consistent shooting.  We can't stop our hands from moving, so we need to work with it.  It's always a challenge, and that keeps it interesting, or frustrating.  Keep shooting and good luck. RC

[uk2240]

I found i had similar problems when i first started using catapult/sling shots with the arm/hand not being used to pull from the elastic so that took pratice to build up the hand, but i also found a change of target also useful i.e from a bull to say a bright bottle cap? anyone had experience with that?

My current set up is stock apart from gmac adjustable trigger spring, gmac sear and gmac trigger

[BDS]

OK, you have a good trigger set-up there, no excuses there! 

Practice and breath control and... keep that trigger finger free from the weak hand or other interruptions too.

[Rualert]

   I agree with everyone, you may also want to add a couple of things whenever you have a chance, use one of those hand exercisers. You know the ones that look like two padded handles with a spring on top. The other trick I also use to increase hand/arm strength is fill one or preferably two gallon milk jugs or simular with water, and hold them straight out in front of you at shoulder height. Start by trying for at least 15 seconds-30 seconds at a time, then again for "ten sets". Think like weight lifting, this I found helpful when shooting IPSC, one of my coaches suggested both to me. If you find yourself pulling the gun/shot down, left, right, then try this strange little trick for the mind, and hand muscle memory. Hold your pistol one handed, two handed which one just depends on how you shoot, then with your strong/dominant hand hold that hands thumb up beside the gun, and concentrate on keeping that thumb up. If you see the thumb going down, you know you are pulling the shot and anticipating it. I know sounds very strange, but I found out he was right, and once I was able to concentrate and not pull the shots, my accuracy improved greatly. They always drove accuracy not speed into my head, and it paid off during competition.

Casey

[uk2240]

All Good tips guys  thanks alot for all your feed back

[KevinP]

   use one of those hand exercisers. You know the ones that look like two padded handles with a spring on top. on.
Casey

I did a survey back in the 80's with my 400 + member PD .... I used a grip meter tester I borrowed from my Doc. .... Looking at the strength of the hand grip of the officer and comparing it to their qualification scores .... there is a direct correlation between better shot placement and hand strength.  I would always tell the new recruits to use the spring exercisers whenever they could ....

Put a dime between the two handles and hold it at arms length . see how long it takes for the dime to drop on the floor, it will.

Another exercise is to take a stack of magazines in both hands, hold them till they drop on the floor, they will ....

[breakfastchef]

Position the pad of your finger (behind the nail) on the trigger, not the joint of the finger, on the trigger. This allows you to isolate finger movement to the second joint of the trigger finger and virtually eliminates any movement that may affect your hand. Here is a long paper from ISSF on trigger technique - http://www.45acp.be/3tech/32schiet/Homework%20Serge%20OTTEVAERE.pdf

[Plekto]

I usually use a shooting stick, which gives me several options.  My usual technique is to not use the stick for the pistol but to use it for my off hand.  I shoot left handed so with the stick in my right hand, I just bring it over to the left side, brace it a bit, and drop the pistol into position on my forearm.

Another trick if you are sitting is to use a small beanbag or similar and rest it on your knee.  You see competition shooters using this trick all the time.   Though they usually have very fancy setups, the basic mechanics is the same. 

[Crosshairs]

Trigger pull is one of the most important things when shooting it's really the last thing you do before the gun shoots so all the breathing holding the gun right ect is great advice but dont do squat if you you jerk the gun wile pulling the trigger so all things must kinda blend together. I would try pratcing your trigger pull dry fire and just look at the front sight try to pull the trigger without moving the gun and see what happens.
                                   Mike 

[Fronzdan]

Other than what's already been mentioned (building up hand/arm strength, smoothing/lightening the trigger, proper breathing technique and practice practice practice) I would also add that you want to avoid the coffee and Red Bull if you're going to shoot.  Both of those make me shoot like a shotgun.  And consider getting a trigger shoe.  For me anyway, this plays into what breakfastchef suggested about using the pad of your finger.  A narrow trigger with a hard pull tends to make the trigger feel less consistent against the finger pad.   A nice wide trigger feels better and for me results in more consistent shooting.

[1377x]

practice enough your muscles will develop a memory for your pistol hold and will do wonders for you technique
muscle memory is great

[uk2240]

i managed to get out in the garden today and try some of the things suggested, it's now clear i was gripping the pistol far to tight, once i got into the swing of it my groups tightened right up, still in need of plenty of practice but but already a positive improvement.

thanks everyone for your help