TARGET PISTOLSHOOTING

TARGET PISTOLSHOOTING – TIPS

Since 09-23-06

http://www.bullseye.wellington.net.nz/improving your shooting.htm#TARGET PISTOL SHOT ANALYSIS

STANCE: When assuming a firing stance, the shooter must support the extended arm holding a pistol. As a result, the muscular system undergoes considerable strain. It must not only maintain the shooter's body in a definite position but must also exert a counteraction to the rather large weight of the suspended pistol.

The shooter must hold his body with a slight rear ward bend in the back and with the pelvis brought slightly forward. In such a pose, the body is kept stable not so much by the work of the muscles, but by strong ligaments.

The stability of the firing arm and pistol depends to an extent upon the correct placement of the feet, the most stable and most comfortable stance will be when the feet are placed approximately shoulder width apart with the toes apart slightly.

In order for the stance to be stable the shooter must distribute the weight of his body, the arm and pistol evenly on both legs; the load placed on each leg must pass through the balls of the feet. When the weight of the body is distributed in this way the body's line of gravity will run through the middle of the support area. The stance will be the most stable when the muscles of both legs carry the same load.

The free hand should be inserted into the left pocket in a relaxed manner, or you may hook the left thumb over the waist belt. The free arm must not be allowed to hang loose, as any wind or recoiling of the body during firing will cause the free arm to swing, transferring to the body any movement.

The pistol arm should be extended with the wrist stiff and the elbow locked without strain. The arm must be straight, firmly extended and with no unnecessary tension of the muscles.

To align your self properly with the target, use the following method:

a. First face approximately 45 degrees from the target.

b. Look at the target by turning only the head.

c. Raise the arm to align with the target. Close your eyes, raise your pistol arm a foot or two above the horizontal and then allow it to settle back relaxed and naturally to the horizontal. Repeat this procedure once or twice and settle into a natural position.

d. After settling into a natural position, open your eyes to check if your arm and pistol are aligned with the target. If the pistol has settled in the center of the target, you have your natural position.

e. If the arm settles to one side of the target center, move your rear foot in the direction of error. Maintain without change the stance of the body as a unit from the feet to the shoulders and head. Swing the whole body by shifting the position of the feet until the arm and pistol are naturally aligned on the center of the target. Tests such as this will readily indicate your natural position. In no instance must the shooter correct errors in hold by moving the arm independent of the body. This type of correction is purely artificial and the arm will revert to the original error after recovery from the recoil of a shot.

f. Recheck after each error is found until no error exists.

GRIP: The tighter the grip, short of setting up a tremble, the better the control. The degree of pressure that should be exerted in gripping the pistol is determined by the condition of the muscles that do the gripping. Frequent practice, experience and certain exercises promote a strong grip.

There must be no change in the tightness of the grip, any degree of tightening or loosening of the grip will cause the sights to move out of alignment. The pressure of the grip must remain constant

The trigger finger should not touch the stock or the frame of the pistol because of the added friction and drag on applying trigger pressure. Dry fire a few shots watching the front sight carefully. If the front sight moves at the instant the hammer falls, reposition the trigger finger to the left or right, up or down, on the face of the trigger. Repeat the dry firing and adjusting the position of trigger finger until the release of the hammer causes no movement of the front sight in the rear sight notch.

Method of getting the proper grip:

a. With the non-shooting hand, pick up the pistol by the barrel and of the slide and keep the muzzle pointed down range.

b. Spread the index finger and thumb of the shooting hand apart to form a "V", with the thumb held slightly lower than the index finger.

c. Fit the pistol into the "V" of the thumb and index fingers by seating the grip safety straight and firmly into the loose "web" of akin in the "V".

d. Stretch the fingers forward, letting the trigger finger come to rest flat against the pistol frame just above the trigger guard. Safety dictates the trigger not be contacted at this time.

e. The lower three fingers should come to rest closely touching each other, with the center bone of each finger resting on the curved front surface or "front strap" of the receiver. Little or no pressure should be exerted on the finger tips extending around the front strap to the surface of the left handgrip. Pressure exerted on the front strap by the little finger should be lighter than that brought to bear by the middle and ring fingers. Too much pressure with the little finger may cause the muzzle to depress slightly, resulting in the front sight aligning low in the rear sight notch.

f. The thumb should be raised to a level higher than the index or trigger finger. Only the joint at the middle of the thumb is high against the stock in the vicinity of the slide safety. The end of the thumb is turned up and away from the stock as it has no function. Pressure exerted on the aide of the pistol by the end of the thumb has a tendency to disturb sight alignment. The thumb should not exert great pressure on the aide of the pistol as early fatigue will result.

g. A controlling grip can be affected by the three lower fingers directing primary pressure on the front strap straight to the rear

h. The non-shooting hand should be used to adjust the "fit" of the pistol into the shooting hand. A slight rotation of the pistol in the gripping hand as it is alternately gripping and releasing will allow the equalizing of a forceful grasp. The gripping hand must reach around to the right far enough to allow the trigger finger to reach into the trigger guard and also to position itself on the trigger at the exact point at which the trigger pressure can be applied straight to the rear.

According to the size of the hand, the trigger finger will apply pressure with the tip, ball of the first section or the crook of the first joint or elsewhere. The primary concern is not what portion or spot along the trigger finger is the standard point of contact, but at what spot on the finger you can bisect the trigger, press straight to the rear without disturbing sight alignment.

i. When the "fit" is correct, remove the trigger finger from the trigger, free the pistol from the non-shooting hand and tighten the grip with great force until a tremor is noticed.

Release a small percentage of this gripping pressure immediately, enough so that the tremor disappears and leaves the shooter with a hard, solid grasp that will result in absolute control.

The tighter the grip, the better the control. The shooter is now exerting correct pressure for maximum recoil control.

SIGHT ALIGNMENT: When aiming the front sight is positioned in the middle of the rear sight notch with an equal light space on each side. The horizontal top surface of the front sight is on the same level as the top horizontal surface of the rear sight notch

The Relationship of the Sights.

Most often a shooter locates the front sight in a different position In the rear notch. This accounts for a greater dispersion of shots onthe target, since the bullets will deviate In the direction In which the front sight is positioned In the notch.

The accuracy of a shot depends mainly upon the shooter's ability to consistently maintain correct sight alignment. The main effort should be toward keeping your sights aligned. Holding the pistol perfectly still is desirable but It is not mandatory.

Displacement of the Bullet When The Pistol is Shifted: (a) Parallel, (b) Angular

Correct sight alignment must be thoroughly understood and practiced. It appears on the surface as a simple thing - this lining up of two objects, front and rear sights.

The problem lies in the difficulty in maintaining these two sights in precise alignment while the shooter is maintaining a minimum arc of movement and pressing the trigger to cause the hammer to fall without disturbing sight alignment.

The solution is partly in focusing the eye on the front sight during the delivery of the shot.

Improper. Control of sight alignment is not precise. Distinct focus on target renders sight indistinct.

Control alignment is precise. Focus limited to front sight only, renders the sights distinct and target indistinct and sight relationship can be controlled constantly.

It is imperative to maintain 'front slight point of focus" throughout the sighting and aiming of the pistol.

The shooter must concentrate on maintaining the correct relationship between front and rear sight, and the point of focus must be on the front sight during the short period required to deliver the shot.

If the focus is displaced forward, and the target is momentarily in clear focus, the ability of shooter to achieve correct sight alignment is jeopardized for that moment.

TRIGGER CONTROL: Align the sight, settle into your normal aiming area and exert positive, uninterrupted, increasing pressure, straight to the rear, until the hammer falls.

The pressure put on the trigger must come from independent movement of the trigger finger only.

Initial pressure is an automatic, lightly applied pressure, approximately one-fourth or less of the total required to fire the pistol. This careful action is an aid in the positive pressure that will release the hammer quickly and smoothly.

In order to fire a controlled shot the shooter must learn to increase the pressure on the trigger positively, smoothly, gradually, and evenly. This does not mean, however, that the trigger must be pressed slowly.

Correct Placement of the Index Finger on the Trigger.

Ability to control the trigger smoothly is not sufficient in itself to produce an accurate shot. The trigger must be activated in conjunction with correct sight alignment, minimum arc of movement, and maximum undisturbed concentration.

This might be called cadence, rhythm or timing. Under any name, it comes only to those who practice frequently.

TARGET PISTOL SHOT ANALYSIS