Rapid Fire Pistol Question

[1SOW]

I have developed a new problem with my shooting.
At our local Fun Shoot matches,  we shoot a mix of IDPA and USPSA using a time only format with a wide assortment of steel, and paper targets.
The stationary targets are much like Steel  Challenge to shoot.

One of my favs were "Steel Gongs" that vary from 3 to 5 shots on each.  While not a top end shooter,  I was nailing the gongs at speeds well above my overall skill level for eight or ten matches  (4 months worth).  That has changed.

Lately I'm pulling the pistol down after the second or third shot of five.  Maybe anticipating recoil or something else.  I do see the front sight briefly on every shot,  but I'm still stringing down...a lot for the last two-three shots.  If I slow down,  all the shots are grouped okay.  I don't want to slow down.

Double taps are fairly good even on small plates.   I dry fire, etc etc and don't see the problem,  but with a DA/SA 75 dry fire is not as fast and no recoil.
Tomorrow I'm going to my practice range with a few snap caps slipped into the mags,  juggled behind my back and holstered.

Anyone else have some live fire suggestions that might help get back up to speed ?

[rhart]

Not sure if it applies to your case, but the same happened to me. I finally realized that I was starting to stand up slightly from my crouch as I fired which caused my arms to loose shoulder support and drop somewhat near the middle/end of the string.

[oldfrank]

My friend and shooting partner live close by and shoot a lot of matches together so I get to watch him shoot a lot.

When he gets tense and tries to go faster he tightens his grip and invariably will shoot low. I keep reminding him to keep most of the grip with his off hand and keep the gun hand relaxed but it is hard to do under pressure.

Maybe look into that when you are at the range.

To shoot well we only need to remember 9 or 10 things at once. I can usually do about 7 of them

[motosapiens]

1. keep aiming until the shot actually breaks.
2. wait until the sights are on the target to squeeze the trigger.

in my experience, most problems like your are caused by failure to continue aiming until the shot breaks. it is tempting to stop paying attention once you send the signal to squeeze the trigger and shift your eyes to the next target, or blink, or otherwise stop aiming.

[1SOW]

Thanks guys.
All were good reasonable suggestions.  I think grip, trigger press  and not being relaxed played a role in my problem.
I did shoot better today,   but around the fourth shot I drifted South a couple of times. 
I need to completely relax before the beep,   and take the time to get all the basics right before the first bang.

Range practice again Saturday--no match I can make.

[Joe L]

It's all mental.  When I did that (in my IDPA days), I changed my grip strength during the trigger pull, "hurrying" the shot, and pulling it down.  Give some thought to maintaining constant tension in your other grip fingers as the stage progresses, carefully but rapidly prepping the trigger without any change in tension of the other fingers. 

I have to watch this myself when shooting rapid fire in bullseye matches, "the hurryer I get, the lower I shoot".  Perhaps try to visualize perfect trigger control and tight, constant, grip tension through the entire stage. 

Joe

[M1A4ME]

With a rifle, the POI can shift as recoil moves the rifle butt around on your shoulder - if you don't have your technique down pat.

With a handgun, as you shoot rapid fire, what's the chance as you get further into the string that the pistol moves a little in your hand, resulting in a change of POI?

[1SOW]

With a handgun, as you shoot rapid fire, what's the chance as you get further into the string that the pistol moves a little in your hand, resulting in a change of POI?

I hold high on the grips with maybe 65-70% weakhand and 35-30% stronghand.  (My weakside grip tape definitely wears faster )
Grip is one of the areas I'm trying to stay aware of..  Like JoeL said, I'm thinking that my strong hand grip may be  tightening as I ride the reset and fire fast.   I had one shot where I didn't let the pistol reset before I pressed the trigger.   


Another variable I did leave out was AFTER the 4-5 shot's I'm normally transitioning to another target.  Hmmmm,  that might be something that affects my grip or press on the last gong shots.   "Stay in the moment".  Mental discipline.

Sheesh,  I was smoking these gongs for a while,  then started to lose it. 

Enough of my rambling.  I got some worthwhile suggestions here.
Thank you all.
   

[MontanaCZ]

Not adding much here I suppose, however I have experienced the same while shooting 3Gun and Steel Challenge.  Especially Steel Challenge. Anticipating, and moving, before I am done is one thing. Not relaxing is another; if I get tense I tend to pull shots. I will also tend to work the trigger to get it to go "now", and draw the shot too.

I have noticed that on different pistols this can show up in varying degrees.  With an XD, I tend to pull the shots left (first shot dead on, next ones are left of center). CZ's I tend to pull low.  1911's I tend to do it much less, but low or low left.  If I slow down a tad and relax, no problem.

Always something to learn. I now will push myself beyond how good I can shoot in practice, and dial it back in competition. I just keep upping practice and the other follows, eventually.

[levellinebrad]

It's all mental.  When I did that (in my IDPA days), I changed my grip strength during the trigger pull, "hurrying" the shot, and pulling it down.  Give some thought to maintaining constant tension in your other grip fingers as the stage progresses, carefully but rapidly prepping the trigger without any change in tension of the other fingers. 

I have to watch this myself when shooting rapid fire in bullseye matches, "the hurryer I get, the lower I shoot".  Perhaps try to visualize perfect trigger control and tight, constant, grip tension through the entire stage. 

Joe

This right here. Your grip is changing, most probably loosening up. I'm trying to break the same habit. I took a class with a guy by the name of Chris Tilley. He diagnosed the problem and made me concentrate on my grip. Problem went away. It comes back when I feel myself being lazy with my grip.