[Charlie Stylianos]

Min-ji (roomate) and I went out the to range yesterday to blow off some final exam steam. This is the first time I actually shot at a regulation target (50 ft pistol slow fire)......yes, I'm a gun newb. Durng the past week I've just been shooting cans and various debris found around the range trying to break-in/learn the gun.

Well, check out the interesting groupings. Both targets show the exact same pattern. I asked the guy next to me if he cound deduce anything from them, and he said I needed to adjust the sights. Well, I'm thinking the sights are probably fine from the factory and don't want to adjust them to compensate for user error. You guys have any thoughts? BTW: Trigger pull is about 3 lbs.

Threw in some fun photos as well

Put about 1600 round through it and its currently in pieces waiting to be cleaned and a modified mag release from Ruger (its stovepiping).

[cmartin]

Couple pointers...

squeaze the trigger, dont pull it. If you arent smooth with the trigger you will move the gun ever so slightly and you will have a hard with accuracy.

start closer than 50ft, that's a long way, especially for a .22. I'm no good, but actually have fun at ~25ft, 50' is too far for me.

A friend helped me sight in the glock, so I might be missing something. He started close up, putting a mag through ~5 yds, then 10, then 15. He made a slight adjustment, then repeated. After maybe 3 go arounds he said the problem was me, not the gun.

You are really buring through the ammo Get some.

[rs911t]

Maybe you're just a lousy shot.

[Trak Ratt]

When initially sighting in a pistol or rifle it works good to use a sand bag or stand. Goes a long way to eliminates the variables. That pistol should be ale to shoot ~2” groups at 50.’ Like “track time” there’s no substitute for shooting. Military used to use three rounds per setting, but if you can’t put your hand over the three holes (no mater where they are) you don’t need to adjust the sights just the driver (car related content).

[Mackpipes]

From the majority of rounds fired, I would say you are jerking the trigger and anticipating the recoil (flinching). Try putting only the tip of your index finger on the trigger when sqeezing. Also move your index finger on your LEFT hand off the trigger guard while gripping the weapon. This might be what's pulling the rounds to the left. Try straightening your right elbow and lean into your stance a bit more. The guy who told you to move your sights is not correct. I think you just need some more trigger time with that weapon from a closer distance. The best way to prevent flinching is to add a few "snap caps" to your magazines while at the range. Snap caps are just dummy rounds. It's not a good idea to dry fire the weapon too much. The Snap caps will prevent any undue wear to the firing pin and sear. Plus it will make you aware of flinching. Bring you pistol up the next time you come up. I'd be happy to give you some pointers.

[Charlie Stylianos]

Yes, lousy shot........no doubt there

But what's up with left and low groupings? In the second pic, all the shots were in the 6-9 o-clock range (same with the first pic, but more pronounced in the second).

I need to hang out with one of you seasoned vets for an afternoon of lead slinging.

[Vicegrip]

All good advice. Don’t bother to push the rear the sight right or left unless you sight in with a sand bag. Left and low- Are you right handed?

I would work on trigger pull to start and leave the sights alone for now. The first paper looks like “pulling” rather than “squeezing”. The gun should surprise your hand and arm when it fires. Get a good sight picture, don't wait until it looks perfect. Start increasing the pressure on the trigger when your arm and body settle into a good sight picture. Slowly squeeze while maintaining a nice sight picture and let the gun go off when it wants to. Don’t look down the barrel and yank the trigger when everything looks just right. The action of pulling the trigger will skew the shot. The gun is always moving and by the time the bullet comes out of the barrel you perfect line up is long gone. You will get better groups as you get better at keeping a good overall sight picture rather than trying to fire on a dead perfect one. Mind body stuff but it works.

Sight picture. The key to putting the lead where you want is seeing what you need to see. Rear sight, front sight and target. Sounds easy but you cannot focus on all 3 items at the same time. Has anyone worked with you on what the sights and target should look like when you look down the barrel and onto the target? That is key to being accurate and fast. Google this one there is lots on this and it will make more sense if there are pictures of what to do along with a written description. There is a way to look through the sights without all 3 needed items being in full focus but still see all you need.

You can compensate for almost any sight alignment issue by working on sight picture. Once you know you overall accuracy and have good sight repeatability you can ether reset the sight or skew you sight picture to correct. Most folks hit low at first mostly due to poor sight picture(target set too high above front sight,) and a fired from a gun bullet falls to the ground just the same as if it were dropped from you hand. You need to correct for the amount of drop over distance the bullet will have.

After you get good at sighted shots it is on to muscle memory and double/triple tapping. Why rely on only one round when you can install 2 or 3?


Dorki day at the range? I am way overdue for a target tune up.

[Parenn911]

Charlie, thats the reason why you don't drink beers before you go to the range.
Cool photos.

[smdubovsky]

You down @ VT? Looks an awfull lot like the range in the jefferson natl forest down there. If so, I think the target is @ 50yds not 50'. 50' is a peice of cake w/ a .22. I used to be able to shoot 8-10" groups w/ the 357 @ 50yds. The front sight is wider than the whole target.

BTW, try charcoal briquettes w/ the 22. You can "roll" them down range as they disintegrate w/ little puffs of smoke. Its satisfying after a long day of shooting paper.

SMD
________
Zx14 vs hayabusa

[Charlie Stylianos]

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to try and get back out there at the end of the week. See if I can put some of that advice together.

You down @ VT? Looks an awfull lot like the range in the jefferson natl forest down there

Yup, down at VT and at the range in the National Forest. Unfortunately, the targets were set up on the first berm, and I counted off about 45 feet (shoe lenghts) back to the bench.

Found the Army Marksmanship Unit's Pistol Training Guide. Looks to be just what the Dr. ordered.

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/amucover.htm

BTW: Better pic of target/distance: