Experienced pistol instructors - please help...

**QuietShootr** · 09-06-11, 13:45

Need some advice from the more experienced trainers here. I'm teaching a friend's wife to shoot pistol, and I'm just about out of tricks to get her to integrate "look at the front sight, squeeze the trigger" with any degree of consistency. I've tried squeezing the trigger for her (which almost always works), tried ball-and-dummy, tried strong left hand, and no joy. She just can't hold it together for more than a shot or two.

I have NEVER had this much trouble getting someone to shoot, even starting from zero.

How would you address a student like this?

**rickp** · 09-06-11, 13:49

What exactly is she doing? Is she flinching, is she yanking the trigger etc...? Also where are the rounds impacting on the target?

R.

**QuietShootr** · 09-06-11, 13:57

Originally Posted by rickp

What exactly is she doing? Is she flinching, is she yanking the trigger etc...? Also where are the rounds impacting on the target?

R.

Everywhere, which is what puzzles me. Normally, high hits mean loss of front sight, low hits mean heeling, left or right is too much or not enough finger. She does ALL of these.

**CoryCop25** · 09-06-11, 14:04

Sounds like a combination of bad grip and lack of concentration. Get the grip issue fixed then wok on concentration. have the shooter say front sight, front sight, front sight as she is pressing the trigger and see if that woks.

**C4IGrant** · 09-06-11, 14:09

Assuming her grip and stance are good.

Pick one topic and stick with it. Meaning, do all four levels of ball and dummy. Spend hours on this. Then, switch to the sight alignment issues (as this is far less of a problem than the flinch). Tape the rear sight so that she cannot see it. This will force her to focus on just the front.

Good luck!

Edited to add I am not a professional pistol instructor (and do not claim to be). I do deal with a lot of new shooters every month and the above is what I do with them. So please take my comments with a grain of salt.

C4

**tb-av** · 09-06-11, 14:13

Is she closing her eyes?

...and how does heeling make your shots go low? I thought it was just the opposite.

**rickp** · 09-06-11, 14:21

All good advice.

You need to break it down, and I mean REALLY break it down. Once the stance is good, go to the grip, then really break down the trigger press. Do a BUTTLOAD of dry firing.
The suggestion about talking to oneself saying, trigger, trigger trigger as she slowly adds pressure to it really helps me when I shoot slow for accuracy. It sounds like you're going to have to be super patient and spend a lot of time with that shooter. Eventually it will start to come together for her and you.

**Mac1** · 09-06-11, 14:29

Do not over-coach. Offer advice when the pistol is holstered or tabled. Encourage 'Discovery Learning'. The shot group description tells me that there is lack of cognitive thought. Do not think for her.