Tips on Pistol Shooting

[hvj1]

Hello Dev,
A relaxed handshake type of grip, probably the grip we use to shake the hand of a lady at a party, will just not do, the closest I can come to describing the grip is the power grip you use when you meet somebody who you wish to intimidate with your grip, an ego grip if you will. Having said that , there are severe limitations in the assistance I can provide you over the internet. Still, please try and adjust your trigger shoe setting, either push it to the maximum end and check how the barrel moves when you operate the trigger, keep adjusting to the point (moving the shoe backwards) till there is very little deviation to the left or right.
Next you must tell yourself to pull the trigger along a straight line passing through the barrel and backwards towards you, in one smooth continious motion.
Regards

[hvj1]

Self Talk continued..
As I have mentioned before, the key to better shooting is to get the 'self talk' working for you. You can do this as follows;
1. Keep the self talk centered in the present.
2. Keep the self talk positive.
Now how does one keep the self talk centered in the present?
1. The first step in this direction, is to understand the concept of 'shot cycle'. Simply put, a 'shot cycle' comprises of steps or actions we take, from taking your grip to the time you rest your pistol back on the shooting bench. The objective of the shot cycle is to achieve a 10. My shot cycle was as follows;
Step 1: Fully concentrate on taking the correct grip, the placement of the trigger finger and 'feeling' that the grip feels just right, I would
lift the pistol up slightly, hefting it to 'feel' whether it felt right.
Step 2: Loading and then placing my left hand in the pocket , I would stand still, to 'feel' my balance and position. Once I 'feel' right, then I shut my eyes
and visually 'rehearse' the next steps in my minds eye in great detail. ONLY , when I 'feel' confident, then and then alone I would proceed to the next step.
Step 3: I open my eyes, look towards the aiming area, allowing my eyes to get used to the light intensity, then lift the sights directly into the aiming
area. I begin acquiring sharp and clear sight picture approximately a foot below the target. By this time I have also completed my first pull and
have started my final pull on the trigger.
Step 4: The sights settle into the aiming area, while my trigger has almost completed half the final trigger pull. I stop my breathing (half full).
Step 5. I begin executing follow through- ( sharp aligned sights, trigger moving back positively, sights maintaining arc of movement within the aiming
area). My goal at this step is to MAINTAIN FOLLOW THROUGH.
Step 6: The shot breaks while I am 100% concentrating on maintaining follow through, I extend this for a couple of seconds, with the same intensity,
Step 7: I lower my pistol and 'call my shot'.
Step 8: I visualise the corrections to be made in the next shot, in a POSITIVE manner, then move on to step No.2 directly , if I feel the grip is alright.

The above steps are also called as the Sequence of Action (SOA) in a shot cycle or sequence of steps (SOS)in a shot cycle. I prefer to calling it my 'mantra'.
Why ? While chanting a mantra, we use a string of beads (rudraksha), to count each bead as we complete one mantra, then repeat the mantra again and again, keeping count with the beads. The whole exercise of counting beads, in tandem with chanting the mantra, helps greatly in keeping the mind focussed on the mantra itself.
The eight steps are the eight beads in my mantra chain, by constantly repeating these, my mind is focussed completely on the each step of the shot cycle.

[dev]

Hi Master,

Thank you for clearing the grip thing up. I worked on the trigger pressures and I will work on the trigger shoe next. The problem is these multi-focal eyes and tiny screws on the trigger area...caramba what a pain.

Regards,

Dev

[hvj1]

You are welcome Dev.

[hvj1]

In the shot cycle , SOA, I have embedded number of junctures, where, I tend to 'feel' for the grip, balance, position, etc. Usually, we as shooters, rely only on one major sense, while executing the shot, which is 'visual'. When you start 'feeling' for your position, grips , rehearsal, one brings into play almost all other senses, especially tactile (touch). Within the shot cycle comprising 12 - 15 seconds (start to finish), if you have several such junctures where you allow almost all your senses to come into play, then it has the following benefits;
1. While you are in the process of feeling, the self talk pauses.
2. The razor sharp positive tension required by your entire body and mind, is elevated in this 'feel' stage.

A good exercise, is to fill a small bag, with nuts, bolts, screw, ball bearing almost anything of ordinary day to day use (not sharp or pointed), shake it up, then say that you want a particular screw , then you look away and grope inside the bag, allowing your tactile senses do the identifying. Do the same with your pistol, dont look, while taking a grip, feel the grip, repeat the same with position, rehearsal etc. And please dont start this exercise only to give it up once the novelty of the same has worn off.

[hvj1]

Hello friends,
Have you worked out your shot cycle? Please do so quickly and post them here, so that I can guide you further and guarantee you an increase in performance?
You wish to identify a shooter who is working within a 'shot cycle'?
1. The guy who doesnt talk much.
2. The guy who is the least distracted by a girl bending over (front or back)
3. The chap who has the distant look.
4. The chap, who gets pissed off , when he is disturbed during practice session.
You want to identify those who dont follow a shot cycle? The shooter who does all of the following and more, when he is on the firing point.
1. The chap who nods and smiles, when his friend enters the range, while he is practicing.
2. The guy who keeps rubber necking.
3. The guy who oggles the girl who is bending (front or back).
4. Continously changes position.
5. Mutters to himself.

Now heres the bad news;
99.999999 shooters in India , do not have a shot cycle.
98 % have never heard of a shot cycle.
Good news:
You now know what a shot cycle is, all you have to do is decide, which % group you wish to be in. The eventual winners or the eventual losers.

[hvj1]

The three shot cycle:Most novices, approach their training/practice sessions in the most haphazard manner, as result their performances/results are also just that. To be more organised, I have discussed the ‘shot cycle’, the detailed discussion on the same is in the Mental Training thread.
As the chinese saying goes, “A journey of a thousand mile, must begin with the first step” and that step, to my mind, must be taken correctly.
The sequence of actions, SOA, as discussed if followed to the letter, will provide a quantum jump in performance. However, the novice should take small steps, hence the introduction of the three shot cycle, which works as follows;
1. Work out your shot cycle – SOA. Try to keep it simple.
2. Once you are reasonably satisfied with your shot cycle, then implement it in your training session, by preparing yourself mentally to shoot 3 shots or 3 shot cycles.
3. I would advise you very strongly to keep a check on your self talk, be positive all the time.
4. Put a lot of emphasis on ‘feel’, related to grip, stance, balance, mental confidence while rehearsing, trigger finger placement, sight alignment and ultimately the follow through.
5. Complete the three shot cycle, without analyzing too much.
6. After completing the three shot cycle, identify only one error. Take it to the rehearsal step in the SOA, commence the next step only after you have mentally rehearsed the correction with a positive outcome (mentally).
7. Keep working at it, till you have sorted out the error, before moving on to the next,
Please note, that mental discipline is the essential ingredient for your success. Hence train your mind to focus 100% on each step of the shot cycle.
Novices are advised, to take plenty of breaks, between each three shot cycle, since this is new to your mind and it will rebel. You will feel very tired and drained out, hence replenish your body with plenty of liquids.

[hvj1]

As A K Hangal said in Sholay
Yahan pe sannaata kyon hai bhai, koi bolta kyun nahin?

[hvj1]

As A K Hangal said in Sholay
Yahan pe sannaata kyon hai bhai, koi bolta kyun nahin?

[eklavya]

Dear hvj1,

Thank you for files. One question I had related to pistol shooting in ipsc/idpa scenarios.
Issue I always had and perhaps my biggest one is How to achieve perfect sight alignment faster.

when I draw and then I have to sometimes literary look for the target and perfect sight alignment.

So is there any dry fire drill to solve this particular problem. with target being at diff level and poping up sometimes out of no where this could be even tricky to practice I guess.
I am often told if you wait this long between draw and shot (trying to adjust sight) you will surely be shot by other one in real gun fight..and also its one of the prime reason for my low scoring as time taken is big factor there.
point is I am really slow in achieving perfect sight alignment..what should I do to improve there?

Thanking in Advance,

[hvj1]

Hello Eklavya,
There are principally two elements, which you need to work on;
1. Work hard on your grip, that is when you wish to draw, as your hand comes in contact with the gun, your grip must be more or less correct. For this, you need to check how your grip, that is fingers, 'V' between thumb and forefinger, and palm, are in contact with the pistol, WHEN you have a PERFECT SIGHT alignment.
2. (Without drawing) Shut your eyes and try to take a grip, FEELING your way rather than using your eyes. Having taken a grip (felt through), check for sight alignment. Practice this aspect again and again till you get it right and becomes natural to you.
3.When you are reasonably confident of the grip, practice your draw, allow your hand, fingers, V, palm to TELL you that the grip is correct. Again practice this again and again, till it becomes perfect.
4. Before you take a grip, VISUALIZE the entire process of taking the grip with the end result,i.e. perfect sight alignment.
The second element is the Sight alignment itself.
Read through the first few lessons, download the cut out shape of the sight alignment and follow the suggestions provided in those lessons.
Do keep in touch and inform me of your progress.
Finally, one last word: Have a very strong desire to get correct grip which translates into correct sight alignment and work HARD initially to get it right. Eventually, it will become second nature.
All the best.
Regards

[jitu sati]

hey hvj am finally back. looks like u could not make it to pune on 13 14 or 15 Jun. anyway ur disciple is back on line. will begin the prac session from tomorrow. will have to go back to the drawing board. now for some serious prac. any thing in particular i should keep in mind to start after a big gap. one thing for sure no more sannata on this thread. i am going to start off with my queries
jitu

[jitu sati]

hey hvj,
am going back to drawing baord now. will start right from the first lesson. but hope to get the knack after a few days. then will take the shooting sequence. will imdtly post my sequence. nice to see some progress on this thread . hope this will continue and will give me the jewels of advice as before
jitu

[shooter]

I cant believe i was missing this gem of a thread. I think this one should be a sticky. Though i am not a pro, i can see how it can also be applied to shotgunning.

(yeah yeah i know its all in the title).

HVJ1 you are too cool for school.

[jitu sati]

hey hvj did my first session
thankfully not all is lost. did my fig 8s. will start box drills today. shot just 10 shots to see if the hand has got any steadiness left. thankfully nothing went below 8. but will need to do quite a few days of box drill to come back to earlier standards. any thing else i should do. request advise
jitu