Anticipating Recoil

[SniperHill308]

I've recntly started praticing to be able to shoot in competitions when I get better. ###I'm shooting a Glock 20 in the 10mm and my shots are off because I am anticipating the recoil. ###Is there a way to break myself of this habit or will it go away after a lot of practice. ###I realize that the 10mm has a lot of recoil but at this time I have to make do with what I have. ###Any advice anyone can give me will be truly helpfull. ###Thanks again and shoot on.

[RBittleston]

I have heard of competition shooters reloading very light loads specifically for their matches. ###It does not take much force to punch paper or knock down a steel target. ###This along with practice should eliminate your anticipation.

[MarinePMI]

SH308,

RB has the right idea. ###Load light and get a set of springs from Wolf. ###They make reduced poundage springs, that with lighter loads, will ensure proper functioning of your pistol. ###If you just want to practice without all the fuss, get a .22 pistol. ###I can't stress enough to shooters, that when there's a problem with your shooting...GO BACK TO THE BASICS! ###Most competitive shooters practice with a .22 pistol first, before even breaking out there hardball pistols. ###When transitioning from .22 to a higher/bigger caliber you'll instantly see how much you flinch, milk, anticipate and heel the weapon. ###There are many affordable .22 pistols out on the market right now. ###Everything from the new Beretta NEO U22 ($249) to the full blown (if you can find them) S&W Model 41 competition model and Sig/Hammerli Competition models. ###Flinching is just something that takes concentration and will power to over come. ###The easiest advice I would give is relate it is to compare it to jumping down from a truckbed. ###You know if you lock your legs or stiffen up it's gonna hurt a lot more than if you relax a little and just accept the recoil. ###Don't fight it, just accept it. ###Just my two centavos worth...

[deerguide]

Long ago, I shot with the 5th Army Marksmanship Unit. ###Had a bad flinch till one rainy day. ###We couldn't go to the range so spent the day out under a shed dry firing. ###First couple of dry fires and I guess I looked kind of funny dodging nothing. ###Needless to say, when I went back to the range next day, the flinch was gone.

[JDC]

Though not handgun related, Deerguide has the idea.

My buddy and I will take an "load" each others' deer rifles. You don't really know if there is a round in there or not. Sight up, squeeze.... click.. you really find out how bad you are flinching. I think it works real well.

[storm]

I have a Glock 20, great gun. It's a little big for my small hands compare to my other glocks. It is my stardard side arm for all my hunting trips. I Killed two blacktails with it.
In competitions I had out shoot scoped revolvers with it, even out to 200 yards.

Back to the topic, I deal with recoil by going both ways. First, a .22 pistol is a great idea. It allow you lots of practice to develope proper form. It also save you lots of money in the long run.

However, if you are recoil shy, a .22 will not fix that. ###In my experience the best way to deal with your problem is to shoot some much more powerful, like a 454 or 50. After a while you can go back the a 10mm and you will hardly notice the recoil at all.

[Handcannon]

Flinching is easier to prevent than to cure, hehe kind of like gunshyness in dogs. I don&#39;t know what I can add here because everyone else had such good advice.I don&#39;t know what kind of comp. you&#39;re gonna shoot at but if it is IDPA or IPSC if you notice most of the guys will be using smaller cals. but with increased velocities for major. Very few of us even use .45s. Most flinching however is really sound related and not physical pain related so make sure to use good plugs plus goodmuffs and go back to the basics. By the way I prefer Large cal in both handguns and rifles(I know I am sick). 475Line 444Mar 45-70govt 50-100 375JDJ 458Lott 416JDJ hehe http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ren.gif Handcannon

[AMMOe]

Good advice from one and all. Lighter loads are sure to help. One method I use to illustrate to a new shooter how badly they are "anticipating" the shot is to take their weapon and load a single round into it away from their view. I then place the weapon in their hands and tell them to fire an aimed shot. Then I repeat the process. Sometimes I leave the chamber empty. The idea is that they never know if the gun will discharge a shot or not. All focus is on sight alignment and trigger control. I have seen shooters all but lose their flinch in a single two hour secession. ~Andy

[Kickaha]

One thing I do is practice for the recoil. That is, when I take a shot, I don&#39;t care whether I hit the target. I&#39;m not really even aiming at the target in more than a general sense. I&#39;m concentrating solely on the recoil, on allowing it to happen. If you can&#39;t help looking at the target afterwards to see what you hit, you&#39;re not concentrating completely on the recoil. So remove the target completely and shoot at the dirt.

It doesn&#39;t take long this way to get used to the recoil. Probably less than 100 rounds for most folks. Once you&#39;re used to it, put the target back up. And if you find yourself flinching again, go back to step #1.

[jmabbott888]

JDC I did that to 1 guy & the rifle actually looked like it kicked as much as he flinched lol. Thats a real good way to tell someone they are flinching when they are in denial about it

[bradne]

Here are two suggestions you may try to eliminate the anticipation of the recoil. The first is as you are squeezing the trigger, really concentrate on the front sight of the weapon. And as you are steadily squeezing the trigger, say out loud or in your head "front sight, front sight, front sight" over and over. This may sound strange, but I can assure you that you will be so concentrated on your front sight, that you will be surprised every time your hammer drops. Next, purchase a couple of "snap caps", which are the plastic spring loaded shells designed to allow you to dry fire a weapon. You should never dry fire any weapon without something to absorb the force of the fireing pin. Take a single snap cap and mix it in with however many rounds your magazine (or cylinder) takes. Put all the rounds and the snap cap in one hand and mix them up, then load the magazine with your eyes closed. Insert the magazine and fire it down range. Upon reaching the snap cap, you will immediatly see how badly you are anticipating. Both of these were taught to me by an old rangemaster at the federal law enforcement academy. Of course practice makes perfect.