Slow start problems...

Hi Folks,

I have been fighting a problem for a while now and can't seem to move past it. When practicing, my groups are large and scattered. After about 20 to 30 rounds with the gun, everything tightens up and my scores go up to around 290 (NMC). Obviously, this is really bad for match shooting because by the time the match is over, I am finally warmed up to do something.

I would like to say that I don't practice or train enough, but I am pretty consistent. I shoot twice a week for practice/training and each time out I shoot around 300 rounds. Depending on my area of focus, slow fire I shoot less rounds, rapid fire I shoot a lot more.

I am going to try some dryfire practice before heading to the range and see if that will jump start things for me. I suspect it will but am wondering if other shooters have had to work through something similar and what worked for you.

Chris

When your first course of fire (slow fire) prep time is going on, Dry Fire until your prep time has ended. That's usually not enough for me, I'm wound up because of the start of the match, and prep time makes me feel rushed. When the command to load happens, I don't load, but I start going through my shot process, and dry fire until my shots looked like they were 10s in dry fire. Then I load and shoot my string. I only need about 4 minutes to shoot slow fire right now so I could use 6 minutes of dryfire...but when I am warmed up, I'm happy to total 270!

I agree with Rob. It sounds like your grip, and how it eventually will be correct be may not be achieved early enough in the match. Know what your correct grip feels like. Pick up your gun with your weak hand and place it in your shooting hand. Don't let go with your weak hand until you're satisfied that it's correct.

Dry fire throughout the prep time!

In shooting SF start with dry fire until you see "indicators" that the dot is settling simultaneous with your trigger break. You have plenty of time to do it right. Don't practice bad technique.

Also warm up the old body. Stretch the torso, shoulder, etc. But do not over do it.