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Hi everyone!

When I was qualifying for my license, my instructor identified the shooting pattern in the target as symptomatic of lefties. I had a tight spread thanks to my grip, stance, etc., but my location was consistently just a few inches down and to the right. At three feet distance it isn't really noticeable, at 7 feet it is noticeable, and at 15 feet it could theoretically mean missing what I'm trying to hit, which is a big deal in a real life threat. So it's definitely something I am looking to improve. Any suggestions? I don't know if this has been asked before, I am fairly new here.

Thanks!
Ian

It's probably not a 'left handed shooter' issue, but just an issue on how you are shooting. It could affect right handed shooters as well. Try this chart for remedies. Just reverse the chart, so your issue would be the one down and to the left in the chart http://www.georgia4h.org/safe/disciplin ... alysis.pdf

Uploading so you can print in reasonable resolution, if you want.
(Right-handers: do not use these targets. For lefties only. )

Edited to add: These types of symptom-displaying targets typically make the assumption that the handgun is being fired one-handed. While some symptoms carry over to two-handed shooting (breaking the wrist down or "cowboying," trigger slapping, recoil anticipation "pushing," etc.), you have to take into account the actions of the off-hand. For example, as a left-hander, if you clench your right hand at the time the shot breaks, it could result in the same symptom as having too little finger on the trigger.

You don't need anyone else to help you diagnose it, either. If you have a GoPro (or similar) take it to the range, set it for a high frame rate so you'll get better slow-mo playback, position it on the bench facing up underneath and maybe just forward of where you will be holding the gun, and go to town. Go home and take a critical look in ultra-slow-mo at exactly what your hands and fingers are doing--and all movements of the muzzle--immediately before and after the break of the shot. It can be educational, even for experienced shooters.

Last, here's a tip from back in the dark ages. First, unload and confirm clear; then do it again. If using a handgun with a rounded surface around the barrel (1911, Beretta) balance a coin near the front sight, take aim, and dry fire. Any but minuscule movements of the gun, and the coin will fall off. If using a striker-fired gun that has a wide, flat surface (Glock, XD), find something spherical like a marble or ping pong and give it a go with that.

Just MHO, but dry-fire practice can cure a lot of ills, and that little trigger control exercise is helpful to come back to from time to time to make certain you keep a feel for what Col. Cooper called the "surprise break" of the trigger.

ianmko wrote:Hi everyone!

When I was qualifying for my license, my instructor identified the shooting pattern in the target as symptomatic of lefties. I had a tight spread thanks to my grip, stance, etc., but my location was consistently just a few inches down and to the right. At three feet distance it isn't really noticeable, at 7 feet it is noticeable, and at 15 feet it could theoretically mean missing what I'm trying to hit, which is a big deal in a real life threat. So it's definitely something I am looking to improve. Any suggestions? I don't know if this has been asked before, I am fairly new here.

Thanks!
Ian

Maybe not a left vs right handed problem, except for where the rounds impact. I shoot right handed and consistently impact target low to the left. At a handgun class this weekend the instructor identified the cause as the entire hand squeezing at trigger pull instead of just the trigger finger. After consciously working on this my groups began to impact more center of target.

Sounds like you are jerking the trigger.... easily remedied with dry fire practice! It's a common problem, we've almost all been there.

This is all really helpful. I'll definitely spend some time practicing the dry fire.

On the trigger "slap"... the guys at 360 Tactical/Memorial Shooting Center taught me about the trigger reset click. I've been practicing that way since, to avoid fully releasing the trigger on my XDM 9mm. So my finger never actually moves off the trigger, and only relaxes until I hear the click from the next round entering the chamber. Is this a good way to minimize slapping the trigger?

Sounds like you are jerking the trigger. There are a number of different ways to correct this. You can find them with google.

Having said that, each of these methods have worked for me for a while and then the jerking the trigger habit comes back. So I kind of cycle through the various "cures". I hope yours is not as ingrained as mine and you can fix it right away. If not, welcome to the struggle.

Flinching is very similar to jerking the trigger. You may be doing that instead or as well. My problem is really flinching although it sometimes results in me jerking the trigger.

As AndyC points out, the real issue might be that the sights are off. That can be checked fairly easily by another experienced shooter. If it seems the sights aren't really off, the issue probably comes back to something the shooter is doing while trying to get the shot off.

Trigger manipulation is the bane of practically all pistol shooters. Ideally, once your finger contacts the trigger, you add pressure STRAIGHT BACK on the trigger until the sear breaks -- all the while maintaining a perfect sight picture. Simple in concept, but difficult in execution. As others have mentioned dry fire practice (absolutely dry -- gun double or triple-checked to be empty and no ammo in the room) can help tremendously.

Starting with an empty gun, set the sear (cock the gun); get a good sight picture on a specific target; move your finger to the trigger and begin to add pressure while watching the front sight; continue adding pressure until the sear breaks while you are watching the front sight. If your grip is changing or your trigger finger is making the gun move you should be able to see the movement of your front sight as you do this. Repeat this process 30 - 100 times a day for a while, trying to eliminate all disturbances to that perfect sight picture as you move the trigger.

Also remember that we need to practice correct mechanics again and again to ingrain them. The easiest way to see movement is to go slow at first and strive to get the movement correct ~99% of the time. Then and only then incrementally step up the pace. You can't really expect to be able to be perfect at slow fire and then pop off a rapid fire string that is equally perfect unless you've ingrained the correct movements both slow and fast. Don't even try fast until slow works as you want it to.

When you are again shooting live ammunition, you may discover that your shots are again drifting in a particular direction from your intended point of aim. This may be your body's personal response to the sound/recoil of the firearm. You may want to have a shooting buddy prep your gun between shots, randomly providing you with an empty chamber. If you are paying attention to the front sight all the way through the trigger press, you'll likely notice the flinch in anticipation of the shot going off when nothing is in the chamber. Again, dry fire practice is called for to make the proper trigger press the one your mental pathways produce by default.

Dummy rounds.

Have someone else load a mag for you putting Dummy rounds in at their discretion. When you hit one, pay attention to your reaction to the anticipated bang. It will take several attempts to break the jerking, flinching, slapping, anticipation, but the results will surprise you.
JMHO

Thank you, everyone, for these very thoughtful and interesting comments and helpful suggestions.

Since I bought my firearm new from Springfield Armory, the XDM is not a new model, and I'm still a fairly new shooter, I'm going to assume the sights are not off and the problem is amateur technique.

"Tight spread" means two things: 1) once I shifted from the "teacup and saucer" hold to the double wrap around with both thumbs next to each other hold, once I shifted from one foot forward to squared off and "punched" forward in stance, once I shifted from unconsciously locked knees/hips/elbows to a flexed-but-not-strained focus stance, my shots went from basically everywhere to an area in a spread roughly 4x8". I haven't measured it exactly. Not hitting the center X of the silhouette exclusively, but I am hitting the X in a spread down in the 4:30 o'clock direction, sometimes out to the 7, but mostly inside that.

The clear answer from all these thoughts is "Practice, practice, practice!" This makes the most sense.

Are dummy rounds the same as those dark red snap caps? Do they exit the barrel, or just make a noise?

ianmko wrote:Are dummy rounds the same as those dark red snap caps? Do they exit the barrel, or just make a noise?

SnapCaps = yes. Barrel exit or noise = no. Though there are a variety of different types of SnapCaps (though I keep using the brand name); search Brownell's or Midway.

Very, very few modern pistols have their firing pins damaged by empty-chamber dry-fire. But using SnapCaps not only gives the firing pin something to cushion its blow, but it allows you to practice a number of functions, from semi-realistic mag changes (reloads) to common stoppage clearance. I have and use SnapCaps in all calibers I own...well, except .32 ACP. Never mind. When practicing dry reloads, I always have a SnapCap in the new magazine. Makes for a more realistic insertion, and helps insure I don't accidentally damage the feed lips.

Glock aficionados won't like me mentioning this, but when it comes to dry-fire practice your XD's fire control mechanism has a benefit over stock Glocks. Once you've reset and activated the trigger, your XD will still allow a pull through its normal range of motion, albeit without the sear resistance and trigger break. With a Glock, once you pull the trigger it's pinned to its rearmost position. The upshot is that you can practice trigger control on an XD without resetting the trigger each time.

But like AndyC noted, be certain the sights on your gun aren't wacky. Most aren't, but I bought a PM9 once where the sights were visibly misaligned just looking at them out of the box. Have a good shooter try the gun or, perhaps easier, shoot it from a bench rest. Doesn't need to be anything fancy, just a secure rest--a sandbag, a rolled-up towel, a backpack--that will help eliminate freehand glitches from your shooting. If you shoot your XD from a solid rest and it still groups low-right, it may well be the gun. This assuming your sight alignment is correct.

You selected a good firearm. A little work, and you'll be very accurate with it.