Improving aim

[rob700]

I see talk about paper plate consistency and such, so is that the best one can expect?

When I take my time, out to ten yards I'm pretty consistent but they tend to get wider and wider. At 20+ still getting lead to paper but it's woeful.

Do you have any drills or tips on tightening up my groups with my 442 at distance? I practice, but I worry I'm reinforcing bad habits.

[sphillips45]

I practice at 7 yards and closer with my 642, long shots are better left to the bigger guns.. Also i dry fire mine everyday , that has helped a lot .

[xtimberman]

If you're not already doing this, then try firing DA with the pad of the first joint of your finger on the trigger instead of the crease of the first joint on the trigger. IMO, having too much "finger" on the trigger is the #1 cause of erratic pattern spreads when firing these small revolvers DA. When my DA shots start heading left and low, I know that my hand is getting fatigued and my trigger finger is improperly positioned.

This is just my opinion, but I think dry fire practice can reinforce bad habits you are unaware of. If the gun isn't loaded and bullets aren't flying, how do you know exactly where they'd be hitting with live rounds? It may strengthen the hand muscles and smooth up the action, but there are other exercises to do that. Besides, one of my closest friends would practice DA dry firing his "unloaded" carry snub on a long rural commute to work...... and he put a round through the heater core, firewall, and R. front tire - and sent his eardrums on vacation for several weeks.

Learning how to shoot DA with precision can get expensive with CF calibers. Here is a good excuse to buy another gun. Why not get a .22LR similar in size and weight to your 642 - something like a M-317 - and shoot it frequently in DA mode? Pull through smoothly without "staging" and try to call each shot. Do this regularly for a few months and I guarantee your shooting with the 642 will improve.

xtm

[CowboyKen]

Why did you select this model revolver?

It is a small, light weight revolver designed to be very reliable. Most folks use this type of gun for personal self defense either as a concealed carry or home defense gun. It works very well for these purposes and, as such, one should be able to hit about an 8" target at up to 15 - 20 feet.

It is good to practice and to improve, but this is not a target pistol (I have one of those and with it I can shoot one inch groups at 25 yards).

IMHO you choose a tool for the job you intend to use it for and become proficient at that task with it.

YMMV.

Ken

[Berto]

Focus on perfect sight picture, less on the target.

It just takes practice.


25yrds.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1566/stuff116ci0.jpg