what in the world am i doing wrong?

[stroo]

I have the same issues that you have. I either flinch, anticipate or jerk the trigger. While dry firing and shooting 22s help, the thing that helps me the most is to concentrate on the trigger pull when shooting. If I concentrate on the front sight or anything else, I soon start to shoot down and to the left. When I concentrate on the trigger pull, I tend to shoot much better.

Other things that have helped me are wearing both ear plugs and muffs. I think sometimes what I anticipate is actually the loud bang. If it isn't loud, I don't anticipate. Also aiming a a 4 inch square box on the target rather than a specific point seems to help me avoid jerking the trigger. I learned that one from Jim Cirrillo's book.

[stoneface]

I have to agree with Houston1944 and seamustx. I really found out how bad my flinch was the first time I shot my wife's Sig mosquito. After shooting a few rounds through that and smoothing it out, I went back to my compact .40 and my trigger work was much smoother (and accuracy improved).

[lawrnk]

I'm a lefty. This sounds dumb, but sometimes I find myself closing my left eye (my worse eye) and aiming with my right eye. This throws me off target each time. Just a thought.

[lawrnk]

I have the same issues that you have. I either flinch, anticipate or jerk the trigger. While dry firing and shooting 22s help, the thing that helps me the most is to concentrate on the trigger pull when shooting. If I concentrate on the front sight or anything else, I soon start to shoot down and to the left. When I concentrate on the trigger pull, I tend to shoot much better.

Other things that have helped me are wearing both ear plugs and muffs. I think sometimes what I anticipate is actually the loud bang. If it isn't loud, I don't anticipate. Also aiming a a 4 inch square box on the target rather than a specific point seems to help me avoid jerking the trigger. I learned that one from Jim Cirrillo's book.

Agreed, I wear inner ear plugs, as well as over ear muffs. It helps a great deal

[atxgun]

I took a step down from a 22 and got a co2 powered airsoft pistol. Hoping pulling that trigger enough will help break the habit. Even if not it sure is fun being able to shoot in the house

[stevie_d_64]

I am going to make my New Years resolution to include having someone else load a couple of my practice magazines at my range sessions this year...

They are to (without me knowing or guessing) where they have snuck in a couple of snap-caps in the load out...

I would prefer to not know and would like to see several times that a snap-cap be loaded right behind another one, just to keep it interesting...At least in a couple of them...

I think the combination of a failure drill, and the identifying nature of the snapcap could help you realize some of the quirky stuff you do when you shoot...

Just an idea...