PM9 with 800 Rounds now........

[joelotto]

Today I shot 150 more rounds taking me up to 800 rounds with no problems....ZERO problems :D I'm not sure why but my shooting is getting worse.....not better. I wish I could find somebody in the El Cajon, Ca area that wouldn't mind showing me what I'm doing wrong...not sure if its my grip, trigger pull, or what but the bullet is not hitting close to where I'm aiming....even at only 10 feet. I'm right handed and would expect to pull a little to the right when I shoot but I'm more to the left and down about 8" in both directions. Lets say I want to start from scratch....what is the best shooting distance to start at.....I'm thinking about starting a 7 feet and as I hit the target as expected move it out a little farther and so on. What the shooting expert here think is a good game plan. :4:

I also put 100 rounds through my new Kimber Ultra CDP .45 and I was shooting real good groups out 30 feet. So I know I can shoot a little but I really would like to get my skills with the PM9 much better as it's a perfect gun for CCing

[Swat_dude]

Sounds like you are anticipating, thrusting the gun forward and down in preperation for the recoil. Maybe the little snapper has your hand spooked??? Try having a buddy load a training round in the mag so you don't know which bullet it is and see what happens when your striker lands on the dummy round. Also, go back to the basics on trigger control, using the first pad of your trigger finger and pressing slowly so you are suprised when the gun goes off.

[Michael W.]

Today I shot 150 more rounds taking me up to 800 rounds with no problems....ZERO problems :D I'm not sure why but my shooting is getting worse.....not better. I wish I could find somebody in the El Cajon, Ca area that wouldn't mind showing me what I'm doing wrong...not sure if its my grip, trigger pull, or what but the bullet is not hitting close to where I'm aiming....even at only 10 feet. I'm right handed and would expect to pull a little to the right when I shoot but I'm more to the left and down about 8" in both directions. Lets say I want to start from scratch....what is the best shooting distance to start at.....I'm thinking about starting a 7 feet and as I hit the target as expected move it out a little farther and so on. What the shooting expert here think is a good game plan. :4:

I also put 100 rounds through my new Kimber Ultra CDP .45 and I was shooting real good groups out 30 feet. So I know I can shoot a little but I really would like to get my skills with the PM9 much better as it's a perfect gun for CCing

I agree with what Swat_Dude is saying, sounds like you are anticipating the
recoil and with the longer double action trigger pull you have more time
to "push" into the shot in anticipation. The 1911's single action breaks sooner
and gives you less opportunity before the hammer falls.

Having a friend load a snap cap into the mag is a great way to
see what your error is and can be very revealing.

Here's a chart to help you troubleshoot some common problems.

http://www.homegunsafety.com/images/correction_chart.gif

Hope this helps.

Michael-

[wyntrout]

Try this:
How to shoot a handgun accurately by Massad Ayoob Issue #85 (http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob85.html)
This guy has some experience and knows what he's talking about.
Wynn:D

[joelotto]

I know that I use the second pad on my index finger...so I will work on fixing that and start using the first part of the index finger. I don't think the recoil is bad at all on the PM9 but I guess I could be anticipating the recoil some...... will try to pay attention to this and take more time. In the article is says front sight focus is also very important as well as how you stand. I will pay more attention to all those things and maybe more....set the target to 10 feet, and then move it out to 15, 20, 25 feet as I get better. I know it can be done as I've seen that video of the guy shooting the smaller P380 with great results. I plan to get the p380 once they start producing the model with a safety for Ca.(anybody know when the Ca model will be hitting the market). Plan to have the P380, PM9, Kimber Ultra CDP .45 as CC weapons.

I might hit the range tomorrow...get some pics if I get good results on the targets and maybe some Gun Porn. Thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming.

[wyntrout]

Actually, the first joint of your trigger finger is best so that the finger is 90° or perpendicular to the frame as the gun fires. This causes less lateral movement of the finger and sideways movement of the gun as the finger compresses trying to keep the pad on the trigger... or something like that. I had a video clip that was really good for that, but I can't find it.:(
Wynn

[rglbegl]

I wish I could find somebody in the El Cajon, Ca area that wouldn't mind showing me what I'm doing wrong...


Maybe one of these days we can meet up at Iron Sights.
Not a huge fan of that range, but it is about halfway between us.

[hsart]

One exercise that I do when I'm straying off target and developing a few bad habits is to start my range session with the target at 36 inches. Take five rounds and very slowly try to get all five rounds in the same hole. Concentrate front the front sight, exhale, and slowly pull the trigger. I have amazed my self at how this very short distance concentration can re-focus me on proper trigger pull and keeping the gun steady. Also very good advice in prior posts here.

[jocko]

hsart: good point indeed. sometimes I think we tend to pradctice to far also. I try to keepmy shooting under 10 yards all the time and alot at 5 yards. Probably an encounter with a BG will be under 5 yards.

[Michael W.]

..... I don't think the recoil is bad at all on the PM9 but I guess I could be anticipating the recoil some......


Joe,

Anticipating recoil doesn't have so much to do with how bad the recoil
is in a given gun although a gun with high recoil can exacerbate
the underlying training issue. People that shoot 22's will also "pull"
a shot now and then, I know I certainly do.

Don't be discouraged, this is a problem 99% of shooters have to deal
(whether they want to admit it or not) especially when first learning
a new gun.

Michael-

[Bawanna]

Joe,

Anticipating recoil doesn't have so much to do with how bad the recoil
is in a given gun although a gun with high recoil can exacerbate
the underlying training issue. People that shoot 22's will also "pull"
a shot now and then, I know I certainly do.

Don't be discouraged, this is a problem 99% of shooters have to deal
(whether they want to admit it or not) especially when first learning
a new gun.

Michael-

Exactamundo Michael. Joe stay on that pony and don't let him buck ya. You ain't the only one that has these issues and you may have them again. I might also add that when bad things or habits seem to be taking over it's sometimes best to just quit for that day. Think about the basics as those above me have mentioned and try it again. We all, and I mean all slip. New shooters usually have the advantage over shooters who have developed bad habits. It's like cigarettes, easy to quit after 2 but after 20 years its a tough deal. Stay with it. The training rounds help tell the story. Up close is good, I've never done the target at 36" but I intend to very next range session.
Lets us know how it goes next time out.

[joelotto]

I watched some videos by Todd Jerrett on youtube......some good stuff. Also watched some other videos by others and some how I ended up watching a five part video on why the Concord crashed...LOL got a little side tracked.