The simple act of pulling the trigger seems like it would be the easiest part of firing a gun. While it’s a very simple concept, it creates problems for many beginner shooters. Even experienced shooters have been known to flinch before shooting some of my big bore revolvers.
Basic Pistol Shooting Tips
There are a few basic steps that all beginner shooters need to master before taking there first trip to the range. When initially learning how to shoot dry fire practice really does help. Practicing without having to worry about recoil helps with basic shooting techniques.
- Hold the gun firmly with a proper grip. There are a lot of different grips to choose from depending on the size of your hand. You’re going to want to hold the pistol with two hands and have a firm grip high on the backstrap. Most of the issues beginner shooters encounter are caused by a weak grip.
- Properly align the sights on your intended target. It really isn’t difficult to align your sights. Simply lineup the top of your front post with the top of the rear post. Once you figure out the vertical alignment center the front post in the middle of the two rear posts.
- Center the first pad of your index finger on the trigger. New shooters tend to cup the trigger farther than they should resulting in a slow trigger pull.
- Begin pulling the trigger back smoothly without moving the rest of your hand. As you pull back the trigger the barrel will naturally raise slightly to counter the trigger pull. A firm grip should minimize the barrel lift resulting in more accurate shot placement. Once you’ve created enough pressure on the trigger the gun will fire.
Proper trigger pull is one of the most important aspects of shooting. When you pull the trigger correctly the gun shouldn’t jerk or move. One of the most common errors you see in new shooters is a flinch or jerk as they pull the trigger. Most of the time this is caused by to much recoil on a beginners gun. You can eliminate the flinch by using dry fire practice to hone in your skills and practicing with low recoil rounds. Serious shooters will spend many hours perfecting their trigger pull, both on the range and at home. Trying to feel the trigger break while working at home should significantly reduce a jerky trigger pull.
How to Align Your Sights
Traditional pistol sights consist of a single front post and two rear posts. There are a few other variants like ghost ring sights, but they all work on the same basic principle. When you align the three posts both vertically and horizontally the gun should be accurate if properly sighted in. First focus on the front sight and then try and align the rear sights an equal distance apart.
Pistol sights come in several sizes shapes and colors. Looking at a few guns at your local gun store should give you a good idea of your preference. Most of the time I like to stick with a basic night sight like you would find on factory Glocks. You’ll quickly get used to just about any type of sight so it really doesn’t matter what type of sight you choose.
Proper Pistol Sight Alignment
Properly aligning the sights on target will give you the perfect orientation both horizontally and vertically. When shooting a pistol you really don’t have to worry about bullet drop until you get out past 50 yards. Considering most police departments consider self defense range at 7 yards you really shouldn’t have to worry about bullet drop outside the range. So how do you find the perfect sight picture?
- Properly grip the gun with two hands and hold it at arms length with your elbows slightly bent.
- Focus your eyes on the front sight and align it in the middle of the two rear posts.
- The top of the front sight should be level with the the two rear posts. Sights that include dots make aligning the front and rear sights even easier.
- Center the front sight horizontally between the two rear posts. The gaps between these two posts should be as close to even as you can get.
- Once you’ve aligned the sights you’re ready to place them on your target where you want the impact.
When To Adjust Your Sights
The telltale sign of a novice shooter is blaming their sights for poor bullet placement. Shots spread out symmetrically around the target are typically the result of shooting problems. If the shots are in a tight group a few inches off to the side you most likely need to adjust your sights.
Finding The Best Shooting Stance
One of the most often overlooked aspects of shooting is stance. People start to accept the controlled environment of a shooting range and don’t adjust to the real world. In reality how you stand and shoot is going to depend on your surroundings. It’s important to try and shoot from different stances and develop skills that will adapt to the environment. The tips below should help you control your gun and shoot quickly.
Leg and Foot Position
You’re legs should be positioned with your dominant side about 1 foot behind the other. A shooting stance is all about getting into a comfortable yet powerful position. Your movement should be strong and fluid like a boxer moving around a ring. Keep your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart with your knees slightly bent.
Body Position and Balance
With a body position leaning slightly forward you can counteract the recoil of the gun. Try and get into a position where the recoil gets absorbed throughout your stance. You’ll be able to control the gun better and quickly get off follow up shots. Controlling the muzzle rise and recoil will allow you to quickly get back on target. If the recoil makes you feel off balance change your position around or choose lighter loads.
Arm Position and Grip
Hold the gun with your arms fully extended and slightly bent. There’s a debate among shooters on whether you should have slightly bent elbows or locked out. Personally locking out my elbows causes instability, but there are a lot of shooters who disagree. One of the single biggest issues I see in new shooters is a loose grip. You’re going to want to hold the grip high and tight with two hands.