Shooting low and left

[Chris54326]

I have a Glock 27. When I first got it, I felt uncomfortable with the fact my little finger wasn't on the grip of the pistol, so I installed one of those grip extenders, and then I didn't do a whole lot of firing the weapon after that. 35 yeas later, I'm doing a lot of practice to get back my handgun skills so I can carry concealed. Finally getting my grip alignment back a little better and the groups are coming down in size..........though not as small as I'd like. I find myself shooting low and left and after much reading on the subject the consensus is it's caused by gripping the trigger hand too tightly. If I remove the grip extender and allow my little finger to simply fold underneath the magazine, might that cause me to grip the trigger hand a little more lightly and not pull the barrel down during firing? Not sure I still have the original bases to my two magazines or I'd just go try it.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[mike cyrwus]

dry fire the gun. make sure its totally empty, aim at a safe target.

Whatever you can do to prevent the front sight from moving around when you pull the trigger will help live fire accuracy.

You goal is zero to no movement of the front sight during, at, and after the trigger press.

thats about the best you can hope for in lieu of finding someone qualified to straighten you out.

 

[Chris54326]

Okay, Mike. I'll drop it at this point so I don't wear out my welcome here on the forum. I know I ask a lot of questions..........sorry.

I get no movement when I dry fire...............but while dry firing I don't have to keep the handgun in my hand during the recoil.

 

[runawaygun762]

Chris, your grip pressure has almost nothing to do with individual shots, only in recoil management. Hitting a target is ultimately about sights and trigger. If you get no movement while dry firing, but low left hits with live rounds, one of two things is happening; your sights are off or, more likely, you are anticipating recoil, which is resulting in you either flinching or jerking the trigger.

Don't worry about having your little finger hanging off the gun. If you're using a good two-handed grip, that won't matter at all since it's the support hand that does most of the work in recoil management. Here's a drill I recommend you try, since you're just getting back into it:

Load the gun, then take the mag out. You'll fire twice. The first round is live, the next one will be on an empty chamber. You may be surprised to notice how often you'll have a slight downward twitch when dry firing it, even though you know the gun is empty. Keep this up for a mag or two and you'll see your twitch start to go away. I don't remember the guy's name, but look up pro tips from the Sig Academy, that's where I first saw the drill.

 

[Robusto]

I keep a tight grip and (in my mind) disconnect my trigger finger from the rest of my hand.
Allowing the trigger finger to apply light and even pressure to bring the trigger back.
It is like my trigger finger is completely separate from my hand.

When I find that I pulling low and to the left during practice, I do some dry fire practice with an empty shell on top of the slide near the front sight.
I hope this helps. If it does not: stop building on a bad habit that will be really hard to train out of.
Get some qualified help to fix the "hook in your golf swing".

 

[Chris54326]

Chris, your grip pressure has almost nothing to do with individual shots, only in recoil management. Hitting a target is ultimately about sights and trigger. If you get no movement while dry firing, but low left hits with live rounds, one of two things is happening; your sights are off or, more likely, you are anticipating recoil, which is resulting in you either flinching or jerking the trigger.

Don't worry about having your little finger hanging off the gun. If you're using a good two-handed grip, that won't matter at all since it's the support hand that does most of the work in recoil management. Here's a drill I recommend you try, since you're just getting back into it:

Load the gun, then take the mag out. You'll fire twice. The first round is live, the next one will be on an empty chamber. You may be surprised to notice how often you'll have a slight downward twitch when dry firing it, even though you know the gun is empty. Keep this up for a mag or two and you'll see your twitch start to go away. I don't remember the guy's name, but look up pro tips from the Sig Academy, that's where I first saw the drill.

Thanks for the tip. Makes good sense. I'll try it.

 

[Chris54326]

I keep a tight grip and (in my mind) disconnect my trigger finger from the rest of my hand.
Allowing the trigger finger to apply light and even pressure to bring the trigger back.
It is like my trigger finger is completely separate from my hand.

When I find that I pulling low and to the left during practice, I do some dry fire practice with an empty shell on top of the slide near the front sight.
I hope this helps. If it does not: stop building on a bad habit that will be really hard to train out of.
Get some qualified help to fix the "hook in your golf swing".

Keeping my trigger finger separate is not a problem for me............but I think I'm gripping just prior to the recoil and anticipating the impact.

I'm trying to get with an instructor in Oklahoma City. He's going to work with me on it. Just can't get up there for a while.

 

[runawaygun762]

I tried the search with no luck. How do you post videos on this forum?

 

[Chris54326]

David,

When you click on "reply", you get the reply surface along with an area in blue above it. That's where you change fonts, size of your letters, etc. The row below that has what looks like a picture. Click on that and it will give you a chance to enter a URL for your image............assuming you have it hosted somewhere.

 

[runawaygun762]

Let's see if this works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ct1ow9RR1g&list=UUP8AIH_CSMAnITfsf79tPcA

Trying to add the URL in that popup didn't work. It has to be something with this computer, as I can't quote posts from this one either. In any event, here is the link to a video I just made in the back yard demonstrating the drill I described above. No professional camera work, although he did do well for a seven year-old.

Hey, it did work. I ROCK!!!! No, YOU ROCK!!!!

 

[Chris54326]

Thanks for the video, David. I got/get it and will try that when I go out tomorrow.

 

[Matt1911]

I would guess you're anticipating recoil more than anything.

 

[Wall]

Chris, post a picture of your shooting grip from both sides.

 

[Chris54326]

I would guess you're anticipating recoil more than anything.

More than likely you are correct.

 

[Chris54326]

Chris, post a picture of your shooting grip from both sides.

I had the range master at a shooting range in Oklahoma City ask me to show him my grip. When I did, he said it's exactly as he would recommend. So I think it's either the strength of my grip, anticipating the recoil, or not being able to lock my wrists. I'll get if figured out.

 

[Wall]

I had the range master at a shooting range in Oklahoma City ask me to show him my grip. When I did, he said it's exactly as he would recommend. So I think it's either the strength of my grip, anticipating the recoil, or not being able to lock my wrists. I'll get if figured out.

Don't mistake range master for instructor.
Just because he knows the safety rules doesn't mean he knows how to shoot.

Are you sure you using the exact same grip while shooting as when showing?

 

[Chris54326]

Yes, I am. And the Range Master told me he was their head instructor.

I truly believe my problem is, as I mentioned previously, strength of my grip, anticipating the recoil, or not being able to lock my wrists. It's been at least 35 years since I shot regularly. I lost my ring finger on my support hand a year and a half ago and I'm sure my strength isn't back up to normal...........and the surgeon said it may never reach what it was prior to the surgery.

 

[Wall]

Yes, I am. And the Range Master told me he was their head instructor.

Well then, it must not be the grip.

BTW: you could've just said the Head Instructor reviewed your grip.

 

[TerryKendell]

I would guess you're anticipating recoil more than anything.

Take a revolver and load with one cylinder empty.
Spin the cylinder and with out look at cylinder for the empty hole.
Rapid fire, and you will be able can to see if you are anticipating recoil then the gun clicks on the empty cylinder.

 

[Chris54326]

Have done that many times...............and also with shotguns. I know it works. Thanks. When I do it with my Glock, I'm not moving even when there is no "boom". But I think David Marlow's suggestion might work.....................because that's the way I taught my wife to shoot a shotgun without flinching. I loaded the shells (or not) behind her back and then handed her the shotgun. It was humorous to see her yank that barrel all over the place when she pulled the trigger on the "no shell loaded". She learned quickly to stop the anticipation. So when I can get outside tomorrow, I'll try David's tip.

Thanks for all the help, guys. Let me see what I can accomplish and I'll get back to you with the results.