Breaking Bad Habits

[Al]

Developed bad habits over the years with respect to pistol shooting. Most of them were grip problems. This video helped a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJrA7wMXuuQ

He doesn't cover trigger control or breathing control but its a great video. And he has others.

I found with thousands of dry firings I can squeeze the trigger with almost zero movement of sight off the target. I put a one inch black circle on a piece of white paper (27 ft).

Other suggestions?

 

[totegoat]

I have been shooting that well for over 50 years. Glad the bad guys don't.

 

[AZjeff]

Dry firing is great for mechanics, draw and presentation and even mag exchanges although with an empty pistol and mags it will feel a bit different when you're loaded up. It doesn't replace live fire though for recoil control and sight management.

If you can shoot 5 shot 1" groups at 10 yards you've got the trigger figured out.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
I have been shooting that well for over 50 years. Glad the bad guys don't.

I have been shooting for 58 years so my bad habits are even harder to break..lol.

 

[Eddie]

For self defense I prefer a shot gun. Non of this 380 or 9mm mini-bore where you need to take a second or two to sight and fire. Ed

 

[bubbatime]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
For self defense I prefer a shot gun. Non of this 380 or 9mm mini-bore where you need to take a second or two to sight and fire. Ed


How do you conceal carry that shotgun at the grocery store or Wal-Mart? You live in Florida, the gun-shine state, a VERY gun friendly state with good gun laws and shall issue concealed carry laws.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
For self defense I prefer a shot gun. Non of this 380 or 9mm mini-bore where you need to take a second or two to sight and fire. Ed


Anyone who takes self-defense seriously can draw and fire on target as quickly as you can bring the shotgun to bear accurately. No argument the shotgun is an excellent home defense gun.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
For self defense I prefer a shot gun. Non of this 380 or 9mm mini-bore where you need to take a second or two to sight and fire. Ed


Brotha, you need to open your eyes and get into reality. I agree on the 380 (although the bullet technology has vastly improved) but the 9mm is a different story than it was even a decade ago never mind a century ago. Technology has made the 9mm, 40SW, 45ACP wars a moot point. Nobody can say with legitimate authority that either of the 3 presented kills better than the other. They are statistically in a dead heat.

The 1 variable that separates the wounded party from life or death tends to be the difference between getting hit a single time (more likely to live) opposed to getting hit 2xs or more (far greater chance of death).

 

[OneEyeJack]

Whatever you shoot, proper mechanics and practice are kind of important. Last year a bad guy tried to rob a man and when the man resisted the bad guy fired 5 times at point blank range with a 10 mm Glock and missed on every shot. A 3rd party fired one shot to the back of the bad guy's head at 10 yards with a 22 Baretta, killing the bad guy instantly. The 3rd party guy competed in 22 cal target shooting and evidently was a good shot. The one problem with this incident is that one might think a 22 is an acceptable self protection weapon while ignoring the skill and expertise of shooter that may never be duplicated by the average shooter.


There are many reports that point to the idea that being able to hit your target is very important but can be really difficult under pressure. In one incident the police and the bad guys had a shoot out. 147 shots were fired and no one was ever struck with a bullet. The two bad guys gave up when about a dozen cop cars showed up to back up the 4 cops already there which made an escape impossible.

 

[totegoat]

Not claiming to be an expert, but buy yourself an infrared thermometer.

Hold it by your side, look at a target, raise, point, and shoot from the hip.

I bet most will score a killing shot.

The thermometer mimics any small handgun, but the mechanics will prove my point.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
Not claiming to be an expert, but buy yourself an infrared thermometer.

Hold it by your side, look at a target, raise, point, and shoot from the hip.

I bet most will score a killing shot.

The thermometer mimics any small handgun, but the mechanics will prove my point.


What is your point and where did you come up with this? Are you saying that proper training is unnecessary? And what distance do you think you can make a "killing shot"?

We actually practice this with....REAL LOADED GUNS

(it's called shooting from retention BTW) and a guy I shoot with is "an expert", lots of instructor ratings, really good shooter, etc., and running for time he can get good hits at up to 3 yards, maybe 50% at 5 yards, under 20% at 10 yards. Anyone less skilled will do way worse. Realize if you're "shooting from the hip" for real your situation is extremely dire and the bad guy is coming at you fast.

FYI, proper training and mindset dictates that you shoot to stop the threat, not to make a "killing shot".

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
Not claiming to be an expert, but buy yourself an infrared thermometer.

I would never to this. Its not a reliable way to train in self defence. You would need to use firearm you are using with live ammo.

 

[totegoat]

But live ammo ruins clocks, lamps, tv's, and other targets of opportunity.

Just saying its a simple and safe way to check your instinct pointing with zero danger of shooting yourself in the foot or leg.

 

[billt460]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
But live ammo ruins clocks, lamps, tv's, and other targets of opportunity.


Why in God's name would you put live ammo in a gun that your playing with in your house??

 

[totegoat]

Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: totegoat
But live ammo ruins clocks, lamps, tv's, and other targets of opportunity.


Why in God's name would you put live ammo in a gun that your playing with in your house??


No Sarcasm in your world?

 

[billt460]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
No Sarcasm in your world?


In my sane world sure. But with so many kooks on the Internet these days, you never can tell. I go on You Tube and listen to people try to tell me the Moon missions were faked, and we attacked ourselves on 9/11. And they're SERIOUS! After absorbing that kind of stupid nonsense, someone shooting up their living room doesn't sound too far fetched these days. Know what I mean? A lot of people out there 2 bricks short of a load. (Not saying you are).

 

[bdcardinal]

You can always use Snap Caps when training. Just be darn sure the magazine only has them in it. You can even buy a spare magazine and dedicate it to training.

As for Florida, I was very impressed with the selection compared to stores here.

 

[totegoat]

Just got back from the range. Point and shoot was accurate enough to put down an intruder.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
Just got back from the range. Point and shoot was accurate enough to put down an intruder.

Personally I will not practice that technique. Unless you are very practised with proper defensive shooting this is a bad idea (in my humble opinion). You need to thoroughly (quickly) survey the area and use practised techniques. You are unlikely skilled enough in this area.

Take the 2 Day NRA "Self Defence Outside the Home" Course and you will see why I am saying this. You will expend 250 rounds of ammunition in all types of situations. Its an amazing course.

Also you are likely to "limp wrist" and jam the firearm with this technique.

 

[totegoat]

Even if you are limp wristed, I still maintain that point and shoot is effective in most cases.