Trigger exercise.

[BenjiHunter]

I thought I'd share something I do a lot.
When you pull the trigger on any gun, the body reacts.
It's like the body is anticipating movement.
Not a good thing if you want to shoot good.
Especially with a springer.
What I do to overcome this is simple.
I take the rifle (uncocked with no pellet), set the scope on lowest magnification and aim at something small about 30 - 40 yards away.
Always in a safe way, of course.
Then I pull the trigger as if I really want to hit what I'm aiming at.
If you do it right, you will see no movement of the reticule on what your aiming at.
Do it wrong and the reticule will move off target or shake.
I do this over and over every day.
I've done this since I was a kid.
It will improve your shooting.

Probably old news, but I thought I'd share.

[Tom SC]

It's not old news to me. Thanks I will try it.

[oconeedan]

Good practice.  And if anyone here has a powder burner with a laser, unload that gun and point the laser at a spot on the wall, and try to keep it there while pulling the trigger.  What you are talking about, is made obvious with a laser.  It may be a good practice to buy a cheap laser and attach to the barrel , just for the sake of trigger practice.

[palonej]

Not old news for me either Stefan.
Thanks!!

[Pellgunfun]

It's called "anticipating recoil".

It's something that happens to most shooters when they begin having issues with heavy recoiling rifles.  Any sort of discomfort or pain can cause this problem to set in on ya.  The best method I've seen to overcome it is to spend time firing low or no recoiling weapons.  Even an expert shooter can be affected by this if they spend all their time ONLY on heavy recoiling rifles without going back to low/no recoiling rifles to buff up their skills, and erase bad habits before they even start.  Of course recoil is just something you have to get used to.

You can also test yourself with the "dime washer" method.  Google it and see if ya like it.  Basically you lay a dime or a washer on your barrel and dry fire.  Helps if ya have a buddy to place it on the barrel for ya.  I'm not sure how it would work with a Springer since it not a good idea to 'dry fire' them.

[Springrrrr]

After more years of shooting a lot of different stuff, my head and body have learned to laugh at recoil.

Even with the big boys, thousands of round later, flinching from recoil is a non-entity, EXCEPT when I shoot a slug through my 12 gauge shotgun.  I know it is going to hurt my cheek and take me for a bit of a ride.  Even so, I have convinced myself not to come off target and simply go along for the ride, but I do think about what is to come.  OUCH. (Been married 45 years so I learned to live with pain  ).

 The results are so cool I find myself looking forward to the next time.

If you have ever seen a slug hit a gallon jug of water, you know what I mean.  Talk about a reactive target.

I know that, in time, I will accept that blast like I have learned to accept the blast from a 44 mag pistol, it just takes time and repetition.

So after all the above gobbly gook, what I am attempting to say is repetition is the key to letting recoil just roll off your shoulder and not effect the trigger pull.  It is not natural for the body to take a hit without some form of nervous reaction.

Coming off target is often not from recoil flinch, it is sometimes from being on target and pulling the trigger to get the on target shot.  That leads to an absolute yanked shot.

IMHO your best shot is mostly when the gun fires without you knowing when it will go off.  It is generally better to be slightly skewed with no yank and a clean let off, than to be on target and yank the trigger.

[BenjiHunter]

It's called "anticipating recoil".

It's something that happens to most shooters when they begin having issues with heavy recoiling rifles.  Any sort of discomfort or pain can cause this problem to set in on ya.  The best method I've seen to overcome it is to spend time firing low or no recoiling weapons.  Even an expert shooter can be affected by this if they spend all their time ONLY on heavy recoiling rifles without going back to low/no recoiling rifles to buff up their skills, and erase bad habits before they even start.  Of course recoil is just something you have to get used to.

You can also test yourself with the "dime washer" method.  Google it and see if ya like it.  Basically you lay a dime or a washer on your barrel and dry fire.  Helps if ya have a buddy to place it on the barrel for ya.  I'm not sure how it would work with a Springer since it not a good idea to 'dry fire' them.

So it's got a name even.
Didn't know that.
The dime washer method can be difficult when you're  alone.

[BenjiHunter]

After more years of shooting a lot of different stuff, my head and body have learned to laugh at recoil.

Even with the big boys, thousands of round later, flinching from recoil is a non-entity, EXCEPT when I shoot a slug through my 12 gauge shotgun.  I know it is going to hurt my cheek and take me for a bit of a ride.  Even so, I have convinced myself not to come off target and simply go along for the ride, but I do think about what is to come.  OUCH. (Been married 45 years so I learned to live with pain  ).

 The results are so cool I find myself looking forward to the next time.

If you have ever seen a slug hit a gallon jug of water, you know what I mean.  Talk about a reactive target.

I know that, in time, I will accept that blast like I have learned to accept the blast from a 44 mag pistol, it just takes time and repetition.

So after all the above gobbly gook, what I am attempting to say is repetition is the key to letting recoil just roll off your shoulder and not effect the trigger pull.  It is not natural for the body to take a hit without some form of nervous reaction.

Coming off target is often not from recoil flinch, it is sometimes from being on target and pulling the trigger to get the on target shot.  That leads to an absolute yanked shot.

IMHO your best shot is mostly when the gun fires without you knowing when it will go off.  It is generally better to be slightly skewed with no yank and a clean let off, than to be on target and yank the trigger.

Right, the shot should come as a surprise.
I learned that when I started shooting PB's.

[Duckfish]

It's also called target panic, and in the old days buckfever,

Duck

[Pellgunfun]

It's also called target panic, and in the old days buckfever,

Duck

LOL.  Not so much 'panic' when it's a paper target.

I don't know though, some of those paper targets can look pretty scary.  Like the one of the Zombie rabbit, that thing is pretty scary.

[Mrkswords]

I've been using Troy Lawton's hold drill in combination with trigger control practice to help me with my off-hand shooting. I am happy with the results so far. Google "Troy Lawton Hold Drill" for an explanation. Sorry, I don't know how to post a link that will lead you to the document.

[BenjiHunter]

I've been using Troy Lawton's hold drill in combination with trigger control practice to help me with my off-hand shooting. I am happy with the results so far. Google "Troy Lawton Hold Drill" for an explanation. Sorry, I don't know how to post a link that will lead you to the document.

I found the PDF file.
Thanks for the tip!

[Bwalton]

You mean that I can get better! Going to have to start using that

[BenjiHunter]

You mean that I can get better! Going to have to start using that

Says the guy who shoots squirrels in the head from 100 yards.

[Bwalton]

lol

[Yarp]

PDF:
http://www.zediker.com/articles/zcomlawt.pdf

[dWood]

Thanks for this thread. I will try using this practice and see how it goes. I have noticed the feeling of zeroing in on the intended target. When i try to reach for it it's always a pulled shot. But as the shot is settling into the zone and I trust the gentle squeeze, I am often surprised at the outcome.

I like doing this dry fire practice with my 2300 with no CO2. I can feel the hammer move and how it affects my hold. I will add the scope and try it again.

[.20cal fan]

new news to me.  thats on my list tomorrow