Tips on keeping a pistol from kicking?

Question

hey, I just got a 9mm pistol, and I just can't seem to shoot as well as with my rifles even from short distances. I think the problem is that the front of the gun kicks up a little bit, but I just can't seem to keep my wrist steady. is there any tips that the community can offer me?

Answer 1

relax, squeeze the trigger slowly so that it sort of surprises you when it goes off. a lot of perceived kick is just a knee jerk reaction and anticipating the shot.

my first handgun was a ruger superblackhawk when i was fifteen (i might have weighed a buck fifty then). i used to hip shoot it with ease. it's more of a buzz then a kick anyway if you just loosen up. this will help you get back on target more quickly than trying to manhandle the gun.

here's a tip for stopping  knee-jerk stuff -have your buddy load or not load a round each time you fire. if the gun is empty when you fire and you jerk a little....well then you know.( note: only do this with transfer bar system as dry firing can damage guns with a traditional firing pin)

when reacquiring the target, concentrate only on your front sight and let everything just sort of  line up.

Answer 2

What grip and stance are you using?

If it is the old both arms extended out in front of you Isosceles stance  that may well be your problem if it is not done properly

I am a big fan of the Weaver style stances

The front of your trigger guard may be squared off combat style as is fairly popular these days

The front of the guard is where your non firing hand goes not around the grip

You should pull on the front at the same pressure as you push on the grip with your firing hand

You're not looking for a death grip just good solid even pressure on both the front and back of the gun

That will eliminate muzzle flip t some degree

This site may explain it better

http://www.corneredcat.com/Basics/stance...

Answer 3

Use both hands, wear a shooting glove, use a wrist supporter.* Breathe, Relax, Aim, Squeeze, Fire.*~

Answer 4

I seriously recommend lessons. I hope you contact Front Site training school.

The best advice I can give is go to the range with an experienced and competent handgun shooter, who can correct your grip and watch you shoot to see if you are jerking the trigger or flinching.

Buy some "snap caps" from an outfitter store or sporting goods, which are dummy shells used for practicing trigger technique or sighting without firing any rounds. If you have them loaded at random in your magazines by a friend, they will also help you prevent flinching from expected recoil, and learning to clear malfunctions.  

Answer 5

You can't keep it from kicking except by not firing it.

As to the accuracy, you can't expect rifle accuracy from a pistol:

* The weapon is not that accurate. A good pistol will throw 2" groups

at 25Yd.s from a rest.

* They have a short sight radius, so the 'picture' is very critical.

You can't see the small deviations you can with longer radius rifle sights.

Tips:

Pay more attention to that sight picture.

Try to keep your hold consistant, and watch those sights as you squeeze.

They'll tell you what your squeeze is doing to your hold.

Dry firing helps.

Don't be afraid to use the two handed Weaver stance if you need

a good shot.

Answer 6

No matter what you shoot, there will be recoil.

Minimal recoil will depend on the weight of the bullet.

Try a 105 or 115 grain load and the gun should be more enjoyable to shoot.

Winchester makes a target load in a 115 grain, as well as Mag Tech and Fiocchi.  Also Remington loads a 115 gr.

You may also be able to control recoil by how you hold the gun.  Proper technique can help.

Trying to explain technique through an email/answer may be difficult, but hold the gun with the hand you use and then cup you second had under and around the first hand.

Grip the gun tight, but not so tight your hand turns red.

Grip the first hand a bit tighter with the second hand.  Some of your second hand should cup the bottom of the gun and your fingers should overlap the first hands bottom three or so fingers.

This helps, or should help.

I work a large sporting goods store in Mich.  We teach proper technique to many new hand gun shooters on a daily basis.

Good luck

Answer 7

Go to one of the free online target sites or  try Lee.precision.com.

They have a 'diagnostic' target that will point out common "hold'

problems.

You can center  it behind your normal pistol target ( all white & hard to see) & will show where you where you  are going wrong.

If you are consistent in the  faults it shows  or can correct them then you can adjust your sights once you get consistent grouping.

In between, practice  by dry firing w/ a "snap cap" to build some strength.

As you said , "you just got it" so practice & get used to it.

Answer 8

well you can't stop it from kicking. also your hand gun is not going to be as accurate as a rifle. now to help the problem first off are you using a two hand grip? if not start, two handed grip is more accurate because it is more stable once you are doing that if you are right handed push forward with the right and pull back with the left this will keep your grip tight and help to stay steady when firing multiple rounds.

Answer 9

Shooting pistols is very different than shooting rifles. Don't get frustrated, you are a rookie again, just have patience and keep trying. Even good pistol shooters don't hit groups like rifle shooters do, so don't stress yourself.

While a lighter load may help a minuscule amount and grip is important, what you really need is some more wrist and hand strength. Curl a dumbbell, squeeze a rubber ball, do some push ups. I can tell the difference in my shooting when I've slacked off and allowed my muscles to weaken.

When I was in advanced pistol training decades ago, our instructor told us to practice holding a half gallon milk jug filled with water (4 pounds or so) in the pistol position for a full 10 minutes as steady as we could. Trust me, it's not easy and no one in my class could do it, not even those of us lifting weights. We would hold our jugs in class and later in the barracks while watching TV. In a short time, it worked and our pistol holds became rock solid.