Techniques

[krism83]

I know a few guys on here are competitive shooters either with a rifle or pistol, long distance, speed steel, or uspsa. I am a decent shot, pretty quick at steel shooting and am on a learning curve for USPSA. Being an avid hunter helps with the rifle shooting, but I'm looking to try a few things to get that much better, faster, or longer range. So I was wondering what techniques you guys use in your shooting, doesn't matter what position or weapon I will probably try it at least once...that last part almost sounded kind of dirty.

[jyerxa]

Just go shoot. 

[coachcw]

try shooting between heartbeats .

[high country]

Nothing sped me up more than both eyes open.

[Hornseeker]

I was highly dismayed at my performance in a couple rounds of trap the other day....1st real rounds in my life... I've shot a lot of clays through the years, but very little of the birds coming across the bow.... I'd be real interested in hearing some trap tips!! (not a real hijack!)

Here's a tip...have your buddy hand you the gun to take your next shot....not knowing if its loaded or empty. This goes for ANY weapon... when you never flinch on those dry fires... you will be making some progress!!!

 

[wraithen]

With trap you gotta get on target and pull the trigger quick. That's what I've learned so far. If the clay flies more than a second and a half you probably wont hit it. I'm still trying to get skeet. I can sometimes hit the low tower but the high one is invincible to me.

[Miles]

Nothing sped me up more than both eyes open.

Same here. 

[krism83]

Here's a tip...have your buddy hand you the gun to take your next shot....not knowing if its loaded or empty. This goes for ANY weapon... when you never flinch on those dry fires... you will be making some progress!!!

 

Thats a good tip. Every once in a while I find myself jerking the trigger on my .40. I can shoot mag after mag of ammo with no problem keeping a pretty tight group and then out of no where I jerk it and anticipate the recoil and get a good flyer out of my group.

Both eyes open I will try as well. With both eyes open though, what is the tip to focusing on the front site. This may sound like a stupid question but one I have to ask being a dominant eye shooter for my entire life.

[high country]

Don't change a thing.....except open your other eye....you will be surprised.

[wraithen]

It may take a bit of time to get used to which image to focus on. I don't make that transition very easily since my left eye tries to take over I always will see both perpectives at the same time. For handguns what made me waaaay better instantly was only letting the trigger go forward until you feel the click of the trigger reset. I sometimes double tap while doing this. Both shots are within 2 inches of each other. (I am NOT a great shooter. My wife outdoes me with any gun most days of the week.)

[NW-GSP]

for trap shooting always swing through your shot, most guys stop moving their gun when they pull the trigger act as if your still keeping aimed on the target. made a huge difference for me

[Alchase]

Here's a tip...have your buddy hand you the gun to take your next shot....not knowing if its loaded or empty. This goes for ANY weapon... when you never flinch on those dry fires... you will be making some progress!!!

 

Thats a good tip. Every once in a while I find myself jerking the trigger on my .40. I can shoot mag after mag of ammo with no problem keeping a pretty tight group and then out of no where I jerk it and anticipate the recoil and get a good flyer out of my group.

Both eyes open I will try as well. With both eyes open though, what is the tip to focusing on the front site. This may sound like a stupid question but one I have to ask being a dominant eye shooter for my entire life.

Practice aligning your stance and bring your weapon to ready then extend with your eyes closed. When you are off target adjust you body until you are correctly aligned with the target. When you do this a few times you will start to get muscle memory and your body will align by itself. Then do this with your eyes open and loaded with snap caps. You can also put a dime in top of your weapon (works for most semis) and with a load of snap caps go through your trigger pull drills and like Wraithen suggested releasing the trigger until you feel the reset. Do this until you can consistently cycle through without having the dime fall off. These you can do at home as well.
Next time you go to the range have a buddy load a mag for you, placing snap caps in with the live loads. This is the best way I know to show shot anticipation, especially with followup shots.
I practice sight alignment all the time while watching tv, drives my wife nuts, lol

[jaymark6655]

Alchaase reminded me of a tip,  get your stance set up, aim, close your ears take a normal breath, open your eyes.  If you are still on target good, if you are off adjust your whole body (example in prone don't move your rifle but scoot you body left or right until you stay on target up and down adjusted by changing the hold like your hand placement on the forestock), works really well for rifle sounds like it might work for pistol too.