The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Tactics and Training

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 5, 2010, 12:44 PM   #1
spotter123654
Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2010
Location: New England USA
Posts: 86
How to stop flinching

i used to never flinch but i do it now more increasingly wondering if there is any techniques
spotter123654 is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 12:55 PM   #2
GUNSITE
Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 72
Your focusing on the gun and the BANG, your anticipating, focus on the sights and target as you squeeze.
__________________
THE TWO LOUDEST SOUNDS YOU'LL EVER HERE ARE... A BANG WHEN YOU EXPECT A CLICK...OR A CLICK WHEN YOU EXPECT A BANG
GUNSITE is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 12:58 PM   #3
The Great Mahoo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 3, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 1,269
I have recently gotten back to the range after a few months of not getting out much. I was surprised to find a minor flinch, something I haven't done in years. After a little time on the range, I seemed to iron things back out.

Take a revolver, such as a .357 or .44, load some chambers with magnum, some with normal loads, and some empty chambers. Spin the cylinder so you don't know what is coming up, then start firing. I did this with my .327, loading some .32 S&W in some chambers, nothing in others. I was amazed at how when I hit a .32 after a .327, or an empty chamber after either, how much of a finch I found myself with. Once I was recognizing it, I was able to put it out of my mind and get back on target where I should be.

Alternatively, dry-fire can help, or it can make flinching worse if you get too used to no recoil after too much dry-fire.

As always, the best cure is just more trigger time with some live ammo and drilling it into yourself to stop flinching.
__________________
“There are three reasons to own a gun. To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face.” - Krusty the Clown
The Great Mahoo is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 01:13 PM   #4
troy_mclure
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2008
Location: gulf of mexico
Posts: 2,716
shoot more .22
__________________
There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."
troy_mclure is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 01:26 PM   #5
Uncle Ben
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 31, 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 400
While at the range, as soon as you notice you are flinching, or that you are simply off target more than you should be - start shooting slower for one or two magazines worth. Pull the trigger slowly and smoothly straight back and let the trigger "break" surprise you (as in "surprise break"). If you don't know when the trigger will break, then you don't know when the gun will recoil, and you can't really anticipate it.

Once you feel like you are back to "normal", shoot at your normal pace again and see how you are grouping (or slowly speed back up to your normal shooting pace again). Repeat as needed.
__________________
Lazy + Complacent = DISARMED
*FIGHT to keep your guns & join the NRA. Contact your representatives about 2A issues at www.capwiz.com/nra/dbq/officials and to be kept up to date on the current issues visit www.nraila.org

Last edited by Uncle Ben; March 5, 2010 at 02:01 PM.
Uncle Ben is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 01:50 PM   #6
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
Dry Fire and Ball & Dummy excersizes.
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 02:15 PM   #7
golfballshootr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 185
Break out the 22LR or .17HMR and go back to focusing on mechanics, and you have the luxury of the cheaper rounds while you get this worked out.
golfballshootr is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 02:32 PM   #8
spotter123654
Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2010
Location: New England USA
Posts: 86
alright thanks guys i just found myself doin it today and it ticked me off but thanks haha
spotter123654 is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 02:52 PM   #9
qcpunk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Location: Farmsville, AZ
Posts: 305
I have used the method Uncle Ben described. Every now and again I will find my self flinching. I simply slow it down, exactly as Ben described and was fine for the rest of the day at normal speed
qcpunk is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 02:58 PM   #10
wyobohunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 21, 2008
Location: Back in Wyoming
Posts: 1,125
my Dad used to bring a few primer only cases and load the gun without me watching. Every now & then the gun goes pop instead of bang. To avoid flinching you just assume every single one is a primer only.
__________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results
wyobohunter is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 03:05 PM   #11
Baphomet
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 26, 2006
Posts: 262
Eggshells...

I'm going to pass this along only because it works for me, silly as it might sound.

Maintain focus on the front sight and mentally repeat "eggshells" to yourself over and over again until the shot breaks.

That's it. I don't know why this works but seriously, it does work.

I'm guessing what word you mentally repeat probably doesn't matter and that it simply draws your mental focus away from the trigger by keeping your conscious mind occupied with... something. Whatever. Seriously though, I'm a life-long shooter well into my 40's and still do this from time to time. I tried thinking/repeating other words (lemons for example) but I keep coming back to eggshells.
Baphomet is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 08:23 PM   #12
Stevie-Ray
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 22, 2007
Location: The shores of Lake Huron
Posts: 4,783
I've loaded dummy rounds. Mix them in with live rounds before loading. Works equally well for auto and revolver.
__________________
Stevie-Ray
Join the NRA/ILA
I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.
Stevie-Ray is offline  
Old March 5, 2010, 08:45 PM   #13
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
 
Join Date: April 26, 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,649
Quote:
Maintain focus on the front sight and mentally repeat "eggshells" to yourself over and over again until the shot breaks.
That's it. I don't know why this works but seriously, it does work.
Not a bad idea at all! I've suggested to students with flinches they try counting or reciting the alphabet, but I think an irrelevant word might work better.

My best technique is to shoot five or ten rounds of .22 long rifle, five or ten of center fire, five or ten of .22 long rifle, et cetera. It typically takes a couple hundred rounds of that discipline to eradicate a seep-set flinch.
__________________
No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.
Standing Wolf is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 04:37 AM   #14
r_magill
Member
 
Join Date: February 21, 2010
Location: Near Allentown, PA
Posts: 43
What Uncle Ben said is spot on for on the range. The gun isn't going to hurt you, so do your part (proper stance, grip, sight aleignment, etc) and slowly sqeeze the trigger back until the gun finally goes off. What I find helps too is to completely concentrate on the front site (stare, really) until it hops up from the recoil. With my concentration of the fron sight, I am not watching the hammer move nor am I anticipating the recoil based upon how far back the trigger is.

Also, one thing that helps me at home is *with a completely unlaoded firearm that has been double checked*, I dry fire with a quarter on the front sight. If the quarter falls off, I am doing something wrong. If it stays on, I am doing things right. I hope this helps.
r_magill is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 05:06 AM   #15
NWPilgrim
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,340
All of the above is good advice. Force yourself to concentrate on front sight and smooth, steady trigger pull. Dry firing several times to check for flinch and re-establish good technique.

I like revolvers best for this so I can load a few chambers and leave a couple empty. Shoot the cylinder and see if I flinch on the unknown empties.

Spend some time with a .22LR to reinforce good technique (front sight and trigger). And shoot some of your biggest kickers to "get over it". Nothing like a 4" .44 Magnum to refresh your appreciation for 9mm pistol.

The more you shoot the less liekly a flinch will come on. So tell the wife you need more range therapy!
__________________
"The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition."
- James Madison
NWPilgrim is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 08:54 AM   #16
N.H. Yankee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 17, 2004
Location: Rural N.H.
Posts: 1,586
Shoot weekly if possible, I found that when I haven't shot for a time ( about a month) my first 1-3 shots are off due to jerking not flinching but same thing practice makes perfect. I also like using a 22 to warm up because its cheap.
__________________
The real danger to America is not abroad but within..
Having an open mind is a good thing, but not so open that your brains fall out!
Save America, abort liberalism.
N.H. Yankee is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 09:59 AM   #17
nate45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 15, 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,746
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Ben
Pull the trigger slowly and smoothly straight back and let the trigger "break" surprise you (as in "surprise break"). If you don't know when the trigger will break, then you don't know when the gun will recoil, and you can't really anticipate it.
Yes, the surprise break is a key tool of avoiding the flinch.

Although if you shoot to many powerful rounds in one session, nothing will help. More that a dozen full power magnum pistol, or rifle rounds and even I start to flinch.
__________________
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
(>_<)
nate45 is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 12:06 PM   #18
Skans
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 20, 2008
Posts: 11,132
Shoot more. That's really all it takes - just getting used to shooting. Also, practice other shooting drills other than just standing in one place shooting paper targets.
Skans is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 02:26 PM   #19
LaserSpot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 24, 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 311
Stevie-Ray said:
Quote:
I've loaded dummy rounds. Mix them in with live rounds before loading. Works equally well for auto and revolver.
This worked for me too. I would make up some dummy rounds and mix them with live ammo in my pocket; I then load the magazine without looking. Try to pull the trigger slowly and let the shot surprise you. The gun should stay rock-solid when you hit a dummy.

You will be really surprised when it goes click and your muzzle jumps a couple inches!


kraigwy said:
Quote:
Dry Fire and Ball & Dummy excersizes.
I had to look up Ball & Dummy, but it's the same thing: http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/pistoltrainingtg.htm
LaserSpot is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 06:10 PM   #20
wyobohunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 21, 2008
Location: Back in Wyoming
Posts: 1,125
How is your trigger?

It also helps if you have a good clean and appropriately light trigger. A stiff gritty pull with creep will magnify your tendency to anticipate recoil. This is the reason that many of my guns have been in to the gun Dr. for a trigger job. Some of the triggers weren't too bad but once I fealt what a really good trigger wa I've have a hard time settling for less than perfect.
__________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results
wyobohunter is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 06:41 PM   #21
Don P
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 17, 2005
Location: Swamp dweller
Posts: 6,187
Stop shooting?
__________________
NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer,
ICORE Range Officer,
,MAG 40 Graduate
As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.
Don P is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 07:11 PM   #22
Slamfire
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Posts: 5,261
Quote:
i used to never flinch but i do it now more increasingly wondering if there is any techniques
As stated before, Dry fire will help. Dry fire is excellent for training and should be done by everyone who wants to improve their accuracy.

But flinching is an involuntary reaction. At some level of physical punishment, you are going to flinch. The flinch reaction will start sooner the heavier the recoil and louder the noise.
Slamfire is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 09:24 PM   #23
mega twin
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 15, 2006
Posts: 434
also, make sure you are wearing some really good ear protection.
If I find myself flinching,I use ear plugs and muffs together. The less bang,the less I flinch.
mega twin is offline  
Old March 6, 2010, 10:58 PM   #24
spotter123654
Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2010
Location: New England USA
Posts: 86
alright thanks haha i think what mainly started it was i had like weird round that sparked when i fired it and so then i was is it gonna do it again? i think i was more anxious than anythin else.Thanks
spotter123654 is offline  
Old March 7, 2010, 08:43 PM   #25
semi_problomatic
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 27, 2009
Location: Ft. Polk
Posts: 883
my wife does the same thing, I'm investing (I think) into a walther p22 to give her more time shooting. She did great that first shot but every shot after that she'd flinch more and more. She was shooting a glock 30.

SO I'm going to take her to the range with the .22 and let her drop rounds with that and I'm getting her some dum-dum rounds from midway so she can practice dry firing.
__________________
Freedom's just a word. If I'm gonna die for a word, my word is jello...
semi_problomatic is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08873 seconds with 8 queries