I shot some handgun Thursday. I've been focused on rifle lately and have just shot my handguns for a quick function check. But Thursday I focused on handgun. I have always tended to shoot low/left. Not much, but consistent. Thursday, everything was way left. Maybe a touch low, but way left. At first I just thought the first gun I shot was off, and it was a small 7 yard type gun, so didn't think that much about it. But the same thing with the full size gun I shot next. Then same thing with the next 3 full size. And same with the 6" handgun. Obviously there is no way all the sights on those guns are off. I have noticed my eyesight seems to be getting worse over the past few months. So now I am blaming my eyesight and not the guns. Is it possible for eyesight to change within a few months time to the point you are clearly shooting to the left or right? I shoot with left eye closed. So it has to be my right eye that is the issue. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not sure whether to start adjusting handgun sights or get to the eye doc. It would be nice if handgun sights were as easy to adjust as rifle sights.
Handgun sights
- Thread starter JBB
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it is possible that your eyesight is rapidly deteriorating, however the fact that you are mainly shooting to the left makes me think that is not it (if you can’t see the target well I would think your groups would be opening up rather than shifting in direction).
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I’m a card carrying geezer who’s had 5 eye surgeries in the past six years, but who also shoots a lot of pistol.
The issue at hand here is very likely trigger control. Unless you simply can’t see the sights or target.
The issue at hand here is very likely trigger control. Unless you simply can’t see the sights or target.
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Low left is a trigger control issue.
This target is for left handed bullseye shooters. It does not translate directly to modern 2 handed combat pistol shooting. It is the left handed version of the US Army Marksmanship Unit Bullseye training target. For some reason it still is posted as an corrective target for modern 2 handed shooting.
To the OP I am 100% positive as others have said that you are experiencing a trigger control problem. This is a better corrective target. Louis Awerbuck used to use it in the early 2000s. It is much more applicable to modern combat style handgun shooting. If I had to guess you are jerking or snatching the trigger. Have someone watch you or even better take a video of you shooting. From there you should be able to diagnose what is happening.
This target is for left handed bullseye shooters. It does not translate directly to modern 2 handed combat pistol shooting. It is the left handed version of the US Army Marksmanship Unit Bullseye training target. For some reason it still is posted as an corrective target for modern 2 handed shooting.
To the OP I am 100% positive as others have said that you are experiencing a trigger control problem. This is a better corrective target. Louis Awerbuck used to use it in the early 2000s. It is much more applicable to modern combat style handgun shooting. If I had to guess you are jerking or snatching the trigger. Have someone watch you or even better take a video of you shooting. From there you should be able to diagnose what is happening.
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In case anyone (like me
) isn't paying attention, that's for lefties. Here's the right hand version.
In case anyone (like me
View attachment 323617
As noted above it was the target for left handed shooters but even the right handed one is wrong for modern 2 handed combat shooting. I wish that target would do away but it doesn't. It keeps coming back like a bad penny.
Grip the gun hard, take a sight picture, dry fire the gun. If the front sight wiggles, that’s bad. If it is rock steady when the trigger breaks, the bullet has no choice but to go where the sights point.
It might not be kosher for bullseye matches, but it will get you on target and making good hits in action shooting or SD.
It might not be kosher for bullseye matches, but it will get you on target and making good hits in action shooting or SD.
It has nothing to do with crappy triggers. It has everything to do with grip angle and your individual hands and how they interface with the pistol. Lots of people drift their Glock sight slightly to compensate. It has a dovetail for a reason.
Also, going to the eye doc isn’t a bad idea. I go yearly in case anything weird pops up.
I know all that stuff. Yes, I tend to be low left with my Glock too, if I forget to adjust my stance a little. Since it has been a good while since I have focused on handguns, I'll try again next trip and see what happens, really focusing on my grip. But I'm thinking something else is going on.
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If you can see the front sight post between the notch of the rear sight with the target in view, and you are shooting left on multiple guns, there’s really nothing else it can be than trigger manipulation.
As far as eyesight possibly causing your issues, here’s my experience. I have a repaired torn retina in my left eye, repaired detached retina in my right eye, after having cataract surgery in both eyes while being farsighted with somewhat of an astigmatism. I also once shot low left.
I’ve been shooting a lot more the past 8-9 years, taken a couple of classes and now make hand sized groups at 20 yards on target with full sized guns and plate sized groups with sub compacts.
I have been known to drift a rear sight or two a smidge to the right on Glocks, but only to correct a couple of inches at 20 yards. Even Vickers has mentioned doing this with his Glocks.
Just to point out what is well known for right handed shooters, and this may have been discussed up thread. Shooting low left as you mentioned is very typical for either new shooters and those who haven’t quite mastered trigger control. Shooting “way left” as you mentioned is not much different.
As Ken Hackathorn says,
“Everybody jerks the trigger.” Managing that is what makes a better shooter.
As far as eyesight possibly causing your issues, here’s my experience. I have a repaired torn retina in my left eye, repaired detached retina in my right eye, after having cataract surgery in both eyes while being farsighted with somewhat of an astigmatism. I also once shot low left.
I’ve been shooting a lot more the past 8-9 years, taken a couple of classes and now make hand sized groups at 20 yards on target with full sized guns and plate sized groups with sub compacts.
I have been known to drift a rear sight or two a smidge to the right on Glocks, but only to correct a couple of inches at 20 yards. Even Vickers has mentioned doing this with his Glocks.
Just to point out what is well known for right handed shooters, and this may have been discussed up thread. Shooting low left as you mentioned is very typical for either new shooters and those who haven’t quite mastered trigger control. Shooting “way left” as you mentioned is not much different.
As Ken Hackathorn says,
“Everybody jerks the trigger.” Managing that is what makes a better shooter.
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Like most, I have always been a little low left with the Glocks. I adjust for that with my sight picture with the Glocks. But I am not low left with any of the other pistols. Until this last trip. It has been a good while since I have had a trip and focused on pistol. Maybe too long? I was focused on the guns. I need to get back out there and focus on the grip and see if it is that or my eyes. I know it has to be one of those two things.
Changes in eyesight can definitely affect your pistol shooting but poor technique affects it more.
1) Go back to basics and practice grip, stance, trigger press, dryfire.
2) Go see the eye doctor. Talk about pistol shooting specifically and get him to write you a separate scrip for pistol shooting. If he has no idea how to do that get another doctor.
As an example of good service, my doc told me to bring an airsoft or blue-gun with me and has me hold it up while looking through the Phoropter so I can focus on the front sight. If your eyes are old enough or bad enough it will mean a separate pair of specs.
1) Go back to basics and practice grip, stance, trigger press, dryfire.
2) Go see the eye doctor. Talk about pistol shooting specifically and get him to write you a separate scrip for pistol shooting. If he has no idea how to do that get another doctor.
As an example of good service, my doc told me to bring an airsoft or blue-gun with me and has me hold it up while looking through the Phoropter so I can focus on the front sight. If your eyes are old enough or bad enough it will mean a separate pair of specs.
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I don't wear glasses or contacts. So a visit to the eye doctor would just be to check for any problems. It has been many years since I have been to get checked. He is a hunter, so he knows guns somewhat. I'm sure he can relate and if it is my eyes, can help me out. Maybe prescription shooting glasses?
Get your eyes checked but if your trigger control was solid even if you couldn’t see the target your shots would not be left. People with solid technique and draw and fire solid groups without sights at 10-15 yards.
I have seen this demonstrated in training during the day and at night in no light or low light conditions.
What distance are you shooting at?
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Almost forgot about that. Making those fist sized head shots in the Vickers / Hackathorn class at 7-10 yard in the dark was startling. Talk about an epiphany.
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During the day we taped off our sights so you could not use them. At night some people had night sights others had standard sights or fiber optic fronts. People way over estimate the value of night sights.
We shot with rail mounted lights or hand held. The groups @fieldgrade is talking about were shot in the dark with no light IIRC. The night sights did not help you see the target. They helped to a point to align the sights but that was it. Trigger control & presentation not sight picture determined where the shots went.
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No night sights in my case.
Present gun at low ready, fix eyes on the target while shining handheld light on the head of the silouhette, turn off light. Let eyes adjust to the dark, and place ten shots on a 6”x6” square “head”. I was shocked to say the least that I/we could get ten hits in near zero light conditions.
It was a heck of a class.
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Recoil anticipation.
Use dummy rounds in your mags, preferably loaded by someone else. This will show the muzzle going low left prior to firing. Also, work on support hand grip pressure. Just my opinion.
Use dummy rounds in your mags, preferably loaded by someone else. This will show the muzzle going low left prior to firing. Also, work on support hand grip pressure. Just my opinion.