I own a 40 XD (which I just baptized this weekend) and a S&W J Frame. Went to an open range in PA to shoot this weekend and I can't seem to hit the side of a barn with the things.
I understand that the short barrel hinders distance accuracy, so I was wondering if any of the sub owners out there have any advice on technique when using them.
Sub compact shooting
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gunderwood
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Re: Sub compact shooting
It really isn't the short barrel for say, but rather the fact that recoil tends to be higher and a shorter sight radius. The actual barrel length doesn't help, but at the ranges these are intended for, it really doesn't matter. The short sight radius is the biggest contributor to degraded accuracy between a compact and a sub-compact IMO.Ebonyknight wrote:I own a 40 XD (which I just baptized this weekend) and a S&W J Frame. Went to an open range in PA to shoot this weekend and I can't seem to hit the side of a barn with the things.
I understand that the short barrel hinders distance accuracy, so I was wondering if any of the sub owners out there have any advice on technique when using them.
What distance were you shooting at? Previous experience shooting handguns?
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Mindflayer
- Sharp Shooter
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Re: Sub compact shooting
I was shooting my XD 9 subcompact this weekend and quickly hammering out the rounds. I am a shooting newbie (< 6 weeks), and I was getting them all on target at 30'. Wasn't shooting well - groups were not tight at all on the 8" Dirty Bird.
Last weekend, I was good out to 50'.
Last weekend, I was good out to 50'.
Re: Sub compact shooting
@Mindflayer: first off, welcome to the Wonderful World of Marksmanship! Six weeks, eh? You're doing a lot better than most if you can say you were good out to 50'. For the first several months I couldn't hardly hit the target at that distance, let alone an 8.5" x 11" paper. That has, of course, been remedied. 
To those relatively new to the smaller guns: take it slowly at first. I have some experience with the Ruger LCR. When learning that gun, I took it just as slowly and carefully as I did the Super Redhawk. Just kept repeating to myself, even out loud at times, "sight alignment...trigger squeeze...sight alignment...trigger squeeze...", and focused on those things. After each shot, if you can't see the holes you made, bring in your target and see how you did. From that information, just make adjustments in your shooting as necessary.
This helped me greatly, no matter what type of gun. I am now (re)learning how to shoot rifles, and I'm doing the same thing there, too. This is with a Ruger 10/22. In a couple of months, I went from 4-inch patterns at 22 yards to getting them close to within an inch at the same distance. And the same principle applies to subcompact guns.
To those relatively new to the smaller guns: take it slowly at first. I have some experience with the Ruger LCR. When learning that gun, I took it just as slowly and carefully as I did the Super Redhawk. Just kept repeating to myself, even out loud at times, "sight alignment...trigger squeeze...sight alignment...trigger squeeze...", and focused on those things. After each shot, if you can't see the holes you made, bring in your target and see how you did. From that information, just make adjustments in your shooting as necessary.
This helped me greatly, no matter what type of gun. I am now (re)learning how to shoot rifles, and I'm doing the same thing there, too. This is with a Ruger 10/22. In a couple of months, I went from 4-inch patterns at 22 yards to getting them close to within an inch at the same distance. And the same principle applies to subcompact guns.
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Re: Sub compact shooting
Try shooting slower.Mindflayer wrote:I was shooting my XD 9 subcompact this weekend and quickly hammering out the rounds.
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Ebonyknight
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Re: Sub compact shooting
Well I have been shooting for years, but that should be said with a few grains of salt. I have been a gun owner for about 10+ years, but only get to the range maybe twice a year. So I am essentially a newbie. I never really fired the J Frame, but kept it for self defense and fell in love with the XD sub and bought it a few months ago.It really isn't the short barrel for say, but rather the fact that recoil tends to be higher and a shorter sight radius. The actual barrel length doesn't help, but at the ranges these are intended for, it really doesn't matter. The short sight radius is the biggest contributor to degraded accuracy between a compact and a sub-compact IMO.
What distance were you shooting at? Previous experience shooting handguns?
I really like shooting my garand, and I am good at 125+ yards (gotta love iron sights), but noticed when I fired the subs and jframe, I couldn't hit a target at 25 yards. Needless to say that concerned me, so I brought my concern here.
The answer is more or less what I figured. Get out to the damn range more than twice a year.
Re: Sub compact shooting
Yes, pistol shooting is much different than rifle shooting IMHO. I shot rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders growing up. When I first shot a handgun, I was utterly amazed at the difference. Trigger control is so crucial for me. I was used to short, quick triggers. Now with the handgun, I must endure the marathon race to get that trigger back far enough to go bang! Well, I am still learning, too.