Fixing a Pistol Flinch... Getting Frustrated...

[Boyandhisdogs]

I have the flinch where I squeeze the grip at the last second and pull the shot low-left (I'm right handed).

It doesn't happen when I dry fire, or shoot my .22, it only happens with my .45. I can dry fire all day long, shoot 100 round of .22 dead on, and still pick up the 45 and flinch just as bad as always.

I know it's happening, I know I shouldn't do it, I just don't know how to make myself stop doing it.

Any ideas?

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[arthurclarke]

For trigger flinch. Randomly mix in some dummy rounds during your live fire training. If im by myself, I close my eyes while loading the mags so I don't know which round is the dummy. Or have a friend do it for you so you don't know when it's coming. When you get to the dummy round you'll notice the big flinch. I mix in 4 dummy's into a 15 rd mag. Just make this part of your regular training and the flinch will go away. This usually fixes everything.

For flinching with your grip you can apply equal pressure with your support hand. Then also tilting both elbows up where you are applying equal torque into the lower part of the grip with your lower fingers. This overpowers the flinch. There's probably YouTube videos of this. It's a way of dealing with the flinch from the grip. It's not fixing the fundamental problem.

I had this grip flinching issue and I permanently fixed it by using Kyle Defoors grip method. It is a little different than everyone else's recommended grips. So maybe you can try a different grip.

 

[arakboss]

I have the flinch where I squeeze the grip at the last second and pull the shot low-left (I'm right handed).

It doesn't happen when I dry fire, or shoot my .22, it only happens with my .45. I can dry fire all day long, shoot 100 round of .22 dead on, and still pick up the 45 and flinch just as bad as always.

I know it's happening, I know I shouldn't do it, I just don't know how to make myself stop doing it.

Any ideas?

Fire 1000 consecutive rounds at a target and your flinch will be gone.

 

[stick655]

Get some .45 snap caps and sneak a couple into the magazine, or have someone else do it so you don't know where they're at then practice like that. Could be perhaps you need some guidance on proper grip too? Or you may have to just stick with the lower calibers.

 

[RVTECH]

Randomly mix in some dummy rounds or snap caps during your live fire training. If im by myself, I close my eyes while loading the mags so I don't know which round is the dummy. Or have a friend do it for you so you don't know when it's coming. When you get to the dummy round you'll notice the big flinch. Just make this part of your regular training and the flinch will go away.

Ditto this.

I had this first performed on me with a .38 revolver when I was a kid and it really helped me with my future shooting.

 

[Smiling Jo]

Hello! Wondering what part of the index finger you are using to squeeze the trigger? Some wrap too much of the finger around the trigger and thus can cause an unintentional pull of the gun to the left. Using just the first pad of the finger and practicing a deliberately slow movement that is straight back (isolating the movement to just the finger) may help. This may cause surprise like release of the sear and subsequent discharge. Thats very beneficial to practice a lot.

Hope thats helpful.

 

[Cerberus Group]

I see you're in eastern Washington, anywhere around Goldendale...if so, stop I'll get ya fixed

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Slow down and focus.
That, or switch to an all steel 9mm.

 

[Mikej]

For trigger flinch. Randomly mix in some dummy rounds or snap caps during your live fire training. If im by myself, I close my eyes while loading the mags so I don't know which round is the dummy. Or have a friend do it for you so you don't know when it's coming. When you get to the dummy round you'll notice the big flinch. Just make this part of your regular training and the flinch will go away. This usually fixes everything.

For flinching with your grip you can apply equal pressure with your support hand. Then also tilting both elbows up where you are applying equal torque into the lower part of the grip with your lower fingers. This overpowers the flinch. There's probably YouTube videos of this. It's a way of dealing with the flinch from the grip. It's not fixing the fundamental problem.

I had this grip flinching issue and I permanently fixed it by using Kyle Defoors grip method. It is a little different than everyone else's recommended grips. So maybe you can try a different grip.

What kind of .45? 1911? That's a fair amount of recoil to produce a flinch if so. I've used the 3-live/2-spent shells in a 6/shooter revolver like RV-Tech says. You really get to see your flinch on that one! What has helped me now that I'm having to re teach myself hand gun is, Dry-fire. A lot! Squeezing the trigger very light/soft. Take your time with every shot. Make the hammer drop be a surprise. In my case I found there was movement before the break that I didn't realize was there.
Just something else to consider.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I have the flinch where I squeeze the grip at the last second and pull the shot low-left (I'm right handed).

It doesn't happen when I dry fire, or shoot my .22, it only happens with my .45. I can dry fire all day long, shoot 100 round of .22 dead on, and still pick up the 45 and flinch just as bad as always.

I know it's happening, I know I shouldn't do it, I just don't know how to make myself stop doing it.

Any ideas?

Can you call your shot release? You seem to indicate you can when you say you don't flinch when dry firing.
You should be able to call your shots if you are live firing or dry firing.

 

[MTpockets]

Since you already know that you are flinching… no need for dummy loading snap caps…

Load the magazine with a single round.
Move your concentration to the target.

This method doesn't work for everyone, but single loading can help the operator focus on the target… The target is the reason that you have your firearm in your hand(s)… Now that you are focused on the target, let that trigger break on it.

 

[titsonritz]

It's all in your head, Chuck explains what is going on and how to overcome the flinchies.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eETQjJQT68w

 

[thorborg]

For me just dry fire doesn't fill the total picture, taping a cheap laser (or a bore sight laser) to the slide (along with dry fire) does. it is better than a laser snap load because the dot is there all the time so you can see what's happening not just when you pull the trigger.
this way I can place the dot on a fixed spot on the wall concentrating on keeping it there as I pull the trigger. Harder than one might think. Anyway it gives me something to concentrate on other beyond the trigger pull itself. When I first started I was amazed how the laser made squiggly lines all over the wall. trying to keep it contained was not just fun but productive too.

 

[po18guy]

I have the flinch where I squeeze the grip at the last second and pull the shot low-left (I'm right handed).

It doesn't happen when I dry fire, or shoot my .22, it only happens with my .45. I can dry fire all day long, shoot 100 round of .22 dead on, and still pick up the 45 and flinch just as bad as always.

I know it's happening, I know I shouldn't do it, I just don't know how to make myself stop doing it.

Any ideas?

In aimed fire, you should never know - never determine - exactly when the round will fire. It sounds as if you are jerking the trigger in anticipation. Of what? Some of us are bothered by sudden loud noises, muzzle blast, the impact of recoil etc. We are wired to be alarmed at sudden loud noises or impacts. Shooting slams you with both. Dry firing mostly eliminates this, but only reminds you of the live fire which is giving you difficulty. The mind can be a terrible thing. How to address the stress - anxiety if you will - of a live round going off?

Several things might be done. Try taking your focus off of the perceived recoil and blast and zero in like a laser on the sights while very slowly increasing trigger pressure. Of course, the classic advice to take in a full breath, let half out, then hold it, is also good advice and well proved on the ranges through history.

You might be thinking back to front here. Firing the weapon is the means to cut a hole in the center of the bull. If you focus on the means, the end may not be achieved. Focus on the end - the center of the bull, the B27 or whatever you desire to hit, then allow breathing, grip, trigger squeeze and sight alignment to serve that goal. Make that bullseye the point of your life and how you get there will be more acceptable.

If the 'bang' is stressful, there are ways of accommodating that, or working up to the level that you are shooting. Dry firing is ground zero, with live fire the max. Somewhere in between is a middle ground that you can use as a bridge in training.

You could practice with Speer plastic rounds which are primer fired. You can use primed empty cases for a bit of bang without the recoil. In dry firing, you know that no BANG! will occur. Thus, no problem. Yet, when you know that a bang WILL occur, you experience difficulty. As with walking, language, driving, welding, whatever, practice and repetition is how we learn. Good shooting is a matter of adapting to the sudden and unnatural sound and recoil impact of a weapon. This mastered by repetition. We are adaptable creatures.

An acid test is to fire a weapon of notably higher recoil and blast. Then, downshifting to a .45 will be easy by comparison. In any case, range time and lots of rounds downrange is key. Jerry Miculek estimates that he has fired two million rounds. It may actually be more than that. To him, recoil and blast have become as natural as breathing, walking and talking.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Hello! Wondering what part of the index finger you are using to squeeze the trigger? Some wrap too much of the finger around the trigger and thus can cause an unintentional pull of the gun to the left. Using just the first pad of the finger and practicing a deliberately slow movement that is straight back may help. This may cause surprise like release of the sear and subsequent discharge. Thats very beneficial to practice a lot.

Hope thats helpful.

That worked for me. Felt wierd at first. I focus on the target, smooth pull using first pad on my finger, release and feel the reset. My groups tightened up and even though it felt slower, my times improved also.
"You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight."

 

[NeoBlackdog]

"You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight."

Truer words were never spoken!

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Funny story - I had fired a couple hundred rounds through the SW99 and was pretty accurate, before discovering I should ease to the reset and not let off completely...

 

[Boyandhisdogs]

What kind of .45? 1911? That's a fair amount of recoil to produce a flinch if so. I've used the 3-live/2-spent shells in a 6/shooter revolver like RV-Tech says. You really get to see your flinch on that one! What has helped me now that I'm having to re teach myself hand gun is, Dry-fire. A lot! Squeezing the trigger very light/soft. Take your time with every shot. Make the hammer drop be a surprise. In my case I found there was movement before the break that I didn't realize was there.
Just something else to consider.

Yes it's a full size 1911, a S&W E-Series. I shoot 230 grain ball, typically 10-20 yards at both paper and steel.

I also have a 38 snubby revolver and like to do as some have suggested (load a couple dummies in each cylinder) somewhat regularly just to test myself. The flinch comes and goes with the 38, and usually if I catch myself flinching I can usually fix it and shoot pretty well, at least at pocket pistol distances.

Hello! Wondering what part of the index finger you are using to squeeze the trigger? Some wrap too much of the finger around the trigger and thus can cause an unintentional pull of the gun to the left. Using just the first pad of the finger and practicing a deliberately slow movement that is straight back (isolating the movement to just the finger) may help. This may cause surprise like release of the sear and subsequent discharge. Thats very beneficial to practice a lot.

Hope thats helpful.

I use the pad of my finger for all guns except DA revolvers. For DA I use the first joint.

Can you call your shot release? You seem to indicate you can when you say you don't flinch when dry firing.
You should be able to call your shots if you are live firing or dry firing.

Call how? Like know exactly when the trigger will break?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Call how? Like know exactly when the trigger will break?

Yes, by knowing/seeing where the sights are when the hammer falls with your eyeballs. How do you know you are not "flinching" when you are dry firing as you said?

 

[Boyandhisdogs]

Yes, by knowing/seeing where the sights are when the hammer falls with your eyeballs. How do you know you are not "flinching" when you are dry firing as you said?

By watching the sights not move I usually pick a fine point on the wall or an object. When I do my real flinch, as revealed by mixing in dummy rounds with live rounds, the flinch is very pronounced and very obvious.

I can also feel myself doing it during live fire. For a split second as the shot goes off I get this feeling like the gun is going to jump out of my hand and I panic and squeeze it.