by B.B. Pelletier
Let’s get right to it.
Tip 3. Follow-through
Follow-through means to continue to aim at the target after the shot has been fired. The opposite of follow-through is to lower your gun the instant you know the shot is off. Follow-through forces you to observe what happens AFTER the shot has been taken. After you practice it for awhile, you will start seeing what takes place at the instant the shot is taken. This is the benefit of follow-through. The things you see will astonish you.
You will see your sights suddenly jump off the target just as the shot is fired! If you are shooting right-handed, they will jump to the left; if left-handed, vice-versa. Seeing this will make you concentrate on relaxing to the point that the sights no longer jump.
You will see the shot taken with the sights not properly aligned. Non-shooters have a fantasy that sights remain steady on a target the way they are shown in movies. Shooters know they don’t. The sights almost never stop moving, and follow-through forces you to watch in horror as the gun fires at the least opportune moment.
You may see yourself start dismounting the gun before the shot is fired! This is a REAL shock the first time you see it. I have run pistol ranges where the shooters were kicking up dust six feet in front of themselves while shooting at a chest-high bullseye 25 yards away. This happened during rapid-fire exercises, and the bullets weren’t lying. Those shooters really were pointing their pistols at the ground shot after shot, all the while thinking they were aiming at a distant bullseye! What they really did was dip the muzzle of the pistol the moment before they jerked off the shot. It is so unbelievable that you often have to see another person do it before you can believe that you do it yourself.
Follow-through forces you to evaluate each shot, and your own self-esteem takes it from there. Either that or you get out of the shooting sports altogether.
Tip 4. Measure your groups
I was once surprised when a shooter told me he had just shot a half-inch group from 100 yards. I was looking at his target and though I didn’t have a ruler, I could clearly see his group was larger than two inches! That’s because, after many years of shooting and measuring groups, I’ve developed a sense of scale.
Here is how to measure a group. Measure across the widest dimension of the two shots farthest apart. If there is any doubt about which ones are farthest apart, measure all of them. If you shoot anything but wadcutter pellets, don’t forget to include the torn margin around the bullet hole that is also where the bullet passed through the paper. You can measure this with a ruler, but a dial caliper is much easier to use.
You can measure with a ruler. I’ve placed the ruler below the bull so you can see the markings on it, but you should place it across the widest spot in the group.
An inexpensive dial caliper makes group measurement easier.
After measuring across the group, subtract one pellet diameter from the measurement. That eliminates half a pellet from each side of the group – resulting in a center-to-center measurement!
What you learn from measuring is how large a half-inch group can be and how small a one-inch group really is. With practice, you’ll be able to estimate sizes more easily.
Good article. Another point to make is to be sure of your distances you shoot. Its amazing to me just how many people cannot accurately judge distances. Before I got my rangefinder, I was just as guilty as anyone. I’d swear a shot was 50 yards when it was closer to 35.
way to go, B.B.! this is the type of information that i crave. thank you.
Do you have any additional advice to address the issue of muzzle flip on air pistols? I have read all your blogs on accuracy over the months and tried to put them into practice, but I have not been able to overcome this particular problem with some of my stronger guns. I don’t like to think how bad I would be about this if I shot firearms.
Dear Mr. BB
I am a informal pistol targer shooter from Indonesia, Crazy enough to buy anshutz LP@. I want you to know I realy enjoy your all tour Blog article.
On your next accuracy tips can you cover about good trigger control ?
Thank you
asgog
With so much tips gaining a higher level of marksmanship my question is if a rifle does not have a trus 2 stage trigger can I eventually with tons of practice still be able to hit what I want regardless of distance? I understand that if I’m not naturally a good shot it may never happen, but what if I am? Most will say get something that is of better quality but if I’m not made of gold can I amaze myself with something alittle down the money tree?
Robert “1250”
CFX Guy
I was reading an old post and saw you were confused by some currency € is Euro is about $1.20 and £ pound sterling is $1.80
am still waiting on that report on the sheridan legacy before I buy it,but I am pacient,although I hope it will be done soon.
jed,
I’m working on it.
B.B.
k good to know that you are here
Muzzle flip and trigger control,
I’ll get you both on the next go-’round.
B.B.
BB,
Glad to know your here again.We miised you a lot.
CF-X guy
BB,
What is the difference in the hw77k and hw77 other than the shorter barrel.I mean,does anything change like fps,foot pounds,recoil,balance.
Thanks
Eric
Eric,
The power is the same for both guns, so the energy is also identical. There is no noticeable difference in recoil, but the felt recoil is so small that there may actually be a miniscule difference we cannot detect.
The balance of the K model is more centered and the rifle is a bit forward-weighted. And that’s about it.
B.B.
BB,
Does the carbine version of the hw77 come in .22 cal?
Eric
Eric,
It does, but Pyramyd AIR seems to be out at the present. Call them to see when (or if) they will have it in stock.
B.B.
BB,
Thanks,ill ask them.
My last question is:
If the hw77 and hw77k perform the same.And the only thing different is the balance,
wich one will balance better?
Eric
hi,
sorry for off topic question. Are the BENJAMIN SHERIDAN DIABOLO the same as crosman premier? Anybody knows? Thanks.
BB,
If the hw77 and hw77k perform the same.And the only thing different is the balance,
wich one will balance better?
Eric
Eric,
Balance is subjective. You and I may not like the same things. For my money, the carbine handles best.
B.B.
B.B.
I can not seem to find a dial caliber. Do you know of any places where I can get a hold of one?
Thanks,
Rick
Rick,
And you never WILL find it until you spell it correctly!
It’s dial caliper, not caliber.
Check http://www.midwayusa.com
B.B.