Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

So I took my new Glock to the NRA range for the first time, just got back. It was great! They make you take a short safety test which is basically reading the answers off a sheet and marking them down, took me about 5 minutes. The cute young girl at the desk was very nice and helped me get everything I needed, an extra box of 9mm, earplugs, and targets. The range is well designed with safety glass in between the shooting booths and range officers making sure no shenanigans go on, I even saw him giving tips to someone about hand placement so he didn't cut his thumb on the slide. The overall atmosphere was friendly, fun, and safe.

Would really like to get some advice from you guys though, this is the first gun I personally own and although I have been shooting many times it was never really a regular thing for me so I don't have a lot of practice and I've mainly shot rifles. I was kind of disappointed with myself about my shot placement. I know I am new so I'm not going to beat myself up about it, just get more ammo and keep practicing about once a week but it would be nice if you can offer any advice to a beginner shooter on what I'm doing wrong. Any general advice is appreciated!

15 rounds at 15 feet #1 slow fire:

15 rounds at 15 feet #2 slow fire:

15 rounds at 20 feet #1 slow fire:

15 rounds at 20 feet #2 slow fire:

15 rounds at 20 feet #3 slow fire:

15 rounds at 25 feet #1 slow fire:

10 rounds at 15 feet rapid fire:

Oh yeah, were any of you there today? Didn't spend time talking to anyone just wanted to get in there and do my thing and get out but you might have seen a youngster in a Navy shirt and jeans with a Glock

Couple things that come to mind...

Use a smooth, firm trigger pull - don't jerk the trigger

Sight in the same way every time.

Your shot groups are a bit wide, but I don't see any patterns suggesting that you have a specific problem such as flinching.

I recommend you get some training on pistol fundamentals before you try to get better on your own and risk developing some bad habits. Probably the best start is to take a class that covers pistol shooting fundamentals well.

Chasbo00 wrote:Your shot groups are a bit wide, but I don't see any patterns suggesting that you have a specific problem such as flinching.

No patterns because my accuracy is completely random

zenmaster wrote:

Chasbo00 wrote:Your shot groups are a bit wide, but I don't see any patterns suggesting that you have a specific problem such as flinching.

No patterns because my accuracy is completely random

The good news is that's easy to fix.

Chasbo00 wrote:The good news is that's easy to fix.

Money is really tight at the moment so I'm not sure I can afford classes for a while... I don't want to sound arrogant but I feel like $200 of ammo would do more for me than $200 on a class + ammo. I know the usual advice is breathing, grip, trigger pull I guess I am just looking for some more in-depth information about these topics? I'm hesitant to use Google because I know there is a lot of bullshit info out there on the internet.

If I am wrong about the classes just let me know and I would not hesitate to spend a bunch of dough, but I just feel like I need some more practice on my own to get a feel for my weapon before I do that, haven't even gotten this gun broken in yet.

mine look the same way from last friday. I just changed the front site on my Sig 1911-22 to the middle height one it came with and centered it better. Now at least I am not consistantly low and to the right. I'm writing it off to still getting use to the new gun and handgun use in general. If I hit paper I feel I am doing okay. being in the range with people shooting all around you can get your blood pumping a bit. I feel that as I become more relaxed in the environment that my pulse and breathing will calm way down and then hopefully my aim will get tighter and more consistent. If not, I still have a shotgun and my bedroom is at the end of a long hallway! (not that I'm using a .22 for home defense, it was a joke!)

DryBones wrote:I'm writing it off to still getting use to the new gun and handgun use in general. If I hit paper I feel I am doing okay. being in the range with people shooting all around you can get your blood pumping a bit. I feel that as I become more relaxed in the environment that my pulse and breathing will calm way down and then hopefully my aim will get tighter and more consistent.)

Yeah I really think nerves, new gun, new range had a fair amount to do with my performance. I was just kind of nervous being in a new place with a lot of shooters (there were at least 10 booths occupied, at an indoor range) and I could tell my hands were shaking a bit. But I think it's important to practice in that kind of situation because when SHTF your heart is going to be going 150bpm, hands shaking and not thinking so clearly. So I don't think I really did too bad for my first time with this gun but I would still like to improve my consistency.

the main thing is we are getting out and practicing. next time I will bring my .40 Sig as well.

zenmaster wrote: I don't want to sound arrogant but I feel like $200 of ammo would do more for me than $200 on a class + ammo. .

Wrong plan.

A good instructor (and I said "good") can diagnose your problem inside of 10 minutes.

You can blow $200 worth of ammo, and shoot poorly. You can go back next month and blow another $200 on ammo, and still shoot poorly....rinse and repeat.

Or....you can find an instructor and spend an hour at the range getting some private instruction, and have your issues fixed inside of 50 rounds.

The call is yours...

ProShooter wrote:

zenmaster wrote: I don't want to sound arrogant but I feel like $200 of ammo would do more for me than $200 on a class + ammo. .

Wrong plan.

A good instructor (and I said "good") can diagnose your problem inside of 10 minutes.

You can blow $200 worth of ammo, and shoot poorly. You can go back next month and blow another $200 on ammo, and still shoot poorly....rinse and repeat.

Or....you can find an instructor and spend an hour at the range getting some private instruction, and have your issues fixed inside of 50 rounds.

The call is yours...

Thanks I will take this advice and look in to the NRA classes in the next couple of weeks.