Shooting Mistakes to Avoid During Target Practice
There’s nothing like the feel of a gun in your hand. It’s a powerful weapon that requires responsible users.
Part of being responsible with a gun is learning how to use it safely. Besides taking a gun safety course (which we highly recommend), there are a few mistakes you should avoid while engaging in target practice.
While some of these mistakes aren’t going to result in “deadly” consequences, it’s always best to learn the right way to do something.
Mistake: Having Inconsistent Trigger Control
Trigger control is an important aspect of shooting. While you may have a good grouping on the target, they may also be too far right or too far to the left. If this happens, it means you are using too much or too little of your finger.
Another sign of a problem is if you hit the bullseye once, but all your other shots are all over the place. In these situations, the issue is likely your trigger control.
It doesn’t matter which of the trigger issues you are dealing with; the solution is the same – make sure you use even, smooth pressure when pulling the trigger. As you squeeze the trigger, distribute even pressure and do this in one smooth motion.
Mistake: Flinching
You may flinch in anticipation of the flash and firing of the gun, the loud noise, or the anticipation of recoil. However, when you flinch, your hands will dip down. The tension in your body causes this.
You can fix this by trying dry practice. This means that you practice shooting without any ammo. You can get the fundamentals down without worrying about the issues mentioned above. If you practice like this enough, the good habits you develop will carry over to your loaded firearm.
Mistake: Failing to Follow Through
Follow-through is an important aspect of shooting. If you aren’t following through, you aren’t alone, though. It’s a very common mistake. When you follow through after shooting, it will help you after the shot.
Some people shoot their guns and then look up to see if they hit the mark they were aiming for. You shouldn’t do this. Once you pull the trigger, you need to stay in your shooting position. With this type of follow-through, you can maintain a consistent group of shots on the target. You will also be able to find how and what you need to adjust.
The goal here is to ensure that all your shots are about the size of a quarter. This is preferable to having a single bullseye and the rest being spread across a 10” target.