# Pistol target shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703 "2018-08-16T01:19:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/1 "2018-08-16T01:19:56Z")
I took a new 1911A1 to a range Monday, the first time I shot at a range instead of a target nailed to a tree at my little place in the woods. I put 18 of 20 into the target’s chest at fifty feet. 10% of the time, if I only got off one shot, my opponent would beat me to death with a bar stool while he bled out. How do I get better by practicing? I line the sights up and squeeze the trigger. I would survive if I could get off two rounds. Do I see that misses are to the lower left, and aim upper right? That would take me off the center. I do not need an answer fast. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/2 "2018-08-16T01:34:20Z")
Take a class. Taught by real professionals. Seriously - you would be amazed at what you don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/3 "2018-08-16T01:45:00Z")
Thanks, Crafter. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/4 "2018-08-16T02:01:55Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Take a class. Taught by real professionals. Seriously - you would be amazed at what you don’t know. I’ll just second this. I’ve taken a couple of handgun classes and a few rifle classes. I always learn so much and improve each time. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/5 "2018-08-16T02:15:45Z")
Could you, like, you know, just dodge the guy with a barstool and back away until he bled out? ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/6 "2018-08-16T02:21:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I took a new 1911A1 to a range Monday, the first time I shot at a range instead of a target nailed to a tree at my little place in the woods. > > I put 18 of 20 into the target’s chest at fifty feet. 10% of the time, if I only got off one shot, my opponent would beat me to death with a bar stool while he bled out. > > How do I get better by practicing? I line the sights up and squeeze the trigger. I would survive if I could get off two rounds. > > Do I see that misses are to the lower left, and aim upper right? That would take me off the center. > > I do not need an answer fast. 🙂 Yep, nothing beats professional instruction. And pay for it. Don’t think watching Jerry Miculek on video will make you an expert. Now my questions. Where did you get that need-two-rounds thing? If it’s for a defense situation, you have to know how to assess the situation; whether or not the threat has gone. It’s not guaranteed by a second shot. Try not to look at the target too much (by looking away from your sight picture) at this stage. It’s a common mistake in combat-oriented shooting. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/7 "2018-08-16T03:41:57Z")
(Former state high school archery champion checking in.) I’ve never shot pistols seriously, and you will do much better by getting a pistol coach, but as far as the general theory goes, you don’t want to be chasing your aiming point at this stage. Grouping, the ability to get the shots in as tight a space as possible, is much more important. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/8 "2018-08-16T05:36:01Z")
I think OP is trying to do double-taps but he’ll have to confirm that before I comment some more. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/9 "2018-08-16T06:21:48Z")
What they said. That said, there are many seemingly minor things that will affect shot placement. But before we get into those, 18 out of 20 at 50’ isn’t insignificant. > [@](#): > > For a new shooter 7-10 meters. > For an average shooter no more than 25 meters. > For a good shooter 50meters. > For a master shooter 100 meters. > I am talking 90%+ hit rates at those ranges. > > Burn Rice, Degreed Gunsmith, Firearms SME, Firearms Instructor, Gun Law Personally, I think he’s being generous with average and good shooters, but he is the professional so I won’t argue. Now, back to minor things affecting shooting. First, your sights may be off. Hard to tell with an average shooter. You really need access to a sighting vise or at least bag rests. But, things that you could be doing… Trigger finger placement. Having the trigger too close to your finger tip will cause you to push the barrel away from your hand. ie. to the left if you’re a right handed shooter. Having the trigger too far in (close to the knuckle) will pull towards your hand. You want the trigger halfway between the knuckle and the tip. Shooting low. You could be tightening your grip on the pistol as you fire in anticipation of the recoil. Shooting high. Some people actually pull the barrel up when squeezing the trigger, also in anticipation of the recoil. My children did this until I swapped a snap cap (dummy bullet) in for one round in their magazine and they saw themselves jerking up when they didn’t actually fire a round. The solution is the same for both. Concentrate more on maintaining a steady, neutral grip rather than shot placement for a little while until it becomes habit. It really doesn’t take long. Beyond that, practice, practice, practice. Kind of like golf, your goal is consistent action every time you pull the trigger. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/10 "2018-08-16T12:24:53Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > I think OP is trying to do double-taps but he’ll have to confirm that before I comment some more. It was a bad joke. Thanks, everyone. I’ll see about classes at the gun shop. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/11 "2018-08-16T13:31:44Z")
Who made your 1911A1 and what type of sights does it have? Are the sights adjustable? I just traded off a Colt Defender 1911 with fixed Novak sights. It shot low and left. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/12 "2018-08-16T13:45:44Z")
Join a good gun club. There, you will be able to take lots of classes for little or nothing. In addition, you will often be able to get free one-on-one instruction from knowledgeable shooters. Before I had a stroke, I was an excellent shot with pistols and rifles. I attribute a lot of that skill to two elderly gentlemen I befriended at gun clubs. One had been an active and successful competitor in Highpower rifle matches for many years. The other had been a bullseye pistol shooter and had a room full of trophies to show for it. Their coaching was invaluable. One thing you can do at home is dry fire practice. Treat it as seriously as live fire and use a target. If you want to make it harder, balance a dime on the pistol’s front sight. You want to be able to squeeze the trigger without making the dime fall. Also, get yourself an air pistol and either make or buy a pellet trap. In your basement or rec room, fire at least a few shots a day from the air gun. Treat it seriously as it is practice for using the .45. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/13 "2018-08-16T14:07:25Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > …balance a dime on the pistol’s front sight. You want to be able to squeeze the trigger without making the dime fall. I like this suggestion a lot. Super cheap way to work out probably the biggest variable in target shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/14 "2018-08-16T14:45:01Z")
Ever watch a baseball player lose sight of a popup in the sun & have it fall behind him? Thousands of fans in the stands can tell him to turn around & look down but he’s looking all over for it? Same thing here. Get someone to watch what you’re doing. You might have a flinch or a hiccup in your trigger pull that you can’t even notice but an observer standing back seeing the wider picture can easily pick up on. ---
**Author:** ![Emergency911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@Emergency911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emergency911)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/15 "2018-08-16T15:19:12Z")
I agree with the classes, it really takes someone watching while you shoot to figure out what you are doing. You can also google “shooting mistake chart”. Low and left on a right hander is usually a problem with you tightening your grip as you pull the trigger… I had the same issue when I started. It’s also easier to start close and progressively work back. Your mistakes will be more evident as you get to longer ranges. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-target-shooting/819703/16 "2018-08-16T16:38:27Z")
> [@Emergency911](#): > > I agree with the classes, it really takes someone watching while you shoot to figure out what you are doing. You can also google “shooting mistake chart”. Low and left on a right hander is usually a problem with you tightening your grip as you pull the trigger… I had the same issue when I started. It’s also easier to start close and progressively work back. Your mistakes will be more evident as you get to longer ranges. Example here, flip if left handed: [http://www.wideopenspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Glock-Chart-1.jpg](http://www.wideopenspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Glock-Chart-1.jpg) Don’t take that as proof of what you’re doing wrong, it’s just a general guideline. A trained observer will do more than that can.