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Post by hunter01 on Nov 29, 2023 17:43:24 GMT -5
This is really hard for me to say, but I’ve developed a TERRIBLE case of target panic lately. I’m not at all recoil sensitive. Hell, my old 454 load was a 335 at 1700 out of a 5 shot BFR and I could SQUEEZE to my hearts content fur or paper no matter. I noticed late this summer that I was starting to jerk the trigger when shooting steel. I slowed down, made a very hard conscious effort to squeeze and was able to come back around in short order even when unsupported. Now the last two animals I’ve shot at (both hogs) got the worst of me. One was a few days ago and one was a few MINUTES ago. I would begin my trigger squeeze and at a couple pounds of pressure, I’d just JERK the rest of the way through! Both shots were with an OM super so not a heavy kicker at all. I know this is a mental issue and probably derives from a fear of failure or missing. Someone PLEASE give me some pointers to get back on track before I just quit!
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Post by hunter01 on Nov 29, 2023 17:45:18 GMT -5
Double tap
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,566
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Post by Fowler on Nov 29, 2023 18:00:13 GMT -5
Practice, practice, practice.
Mild loads, empty brass mixed with live brass, dry firing, all basic but fundamental things to go back to when the flinches start to get ahold of you. I know a 335gr at 1700fps would make me flinch like crazy.
Good luck with getting over it...
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Post by hunter01 on Nov 29, 2023 18:13:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I do mix empty chambers often when practicing and it definitely helps. I’m wondering if getting a couple animals under my belt from a well supported rest would help get my confidence back and kick this JERK?
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shorty500
.327 Meteor
too many dirty harry movies created me!
Posts: 912
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Post by shorty500 on Nov 29, 2023 18:48:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I do mix empty chambers often when practicing and it definitely helps. I’m wondering if getting a couple animals under my belt from a well supported rest would help get my confidence back and kick this JERK? It could possibly help- stranger things have helped others. Many eons ago flintlock firearms helped remove my flinching issues! Lower the recoil impulse, focus on the target as well as sight alignment and remain calm, never ever rush the shot. Currently the vast bulk of my shooting is clay pigeons on a trap field as that old competitive bug reared its head a few years back. My “flinches” are rare but still there sometimes and it’s always a jerking movement caused by visual issue between my eye/hand coordination and the moving target. I have what appears to be a flinch but is actually an overzealous movement of gun trying to correct a failed movement that stemmed from poor visual preparedness on my part resulting in false reading and move to target that my subconscious tries to correct
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Post by Lee Martin on Nov 29, 2023 19:36:30 GMT -5
Pulling shots is the combination of mental and physical disturbances. The mind anticipates recoil. Your muscles and nerves then respond...leading to the dreaded flinch. Great advice given in the previous posts. Especially Fowler's suggestion of practicing with lower recoiling guns. It's something we've all had to overcome. Now here's mental trick I use. And it'll probably get me laughed off the forum, but here it goes. Convince yourself the act of pulling the trigger is what steadies the front sight on the target. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Give it a try though. Start with something like a .22, .32, or .38 Spl. Slowly squeeze and get your mind to CONNECT the trigger pull to the front sight staying on target. Really hard to describe this in words. My brain took to it however. May just be this mind game gets in the way of anticipating recoil (or lessens it). I started doing this in the early 90's when I began shooting the heavyweights. I still do it to this day. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"
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Post by seminolewind on Nov 29, 2023 19:39:56 GMT -5
In addition to practice shooting at targets, practice killing. Target panic increases if the target is alive. Get your.22 pistol out and shoot as many squirrels, birds, rabbits, etc as you can legally. Shoot does with your hunting pistol until you are comfortable squeezing with a live target in your sights. It gets easier the more you do it.
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Post by hunter01 on Nov 29, 2023 19:53:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the insight guys. I’ll try to shoot some tomorrow. I think getting out my single six and shooting some birds may be great advice.
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 29, 2023 20:20:40 GMT -5
It takes more than just a few birds. Add in the tougher game too. Groundhog hog, coyotes, beaver, whatever you have in your area. These build real field shooting skills on harder to get in range game.
I've worked much harder stalking fields to get in handgun range of ground hogs than even pronghorn. It really does build up some of the excitement that affects aim, as well as conditioning yourself to stalk larger game
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Post by cas on Nov 29, 2023 20:29:22 GMT -5
Practice and give it time?
Your brain is a funny thing. I have have told this before... generally I don't have any target panic or buck fever issues, if anything I had just the opposite in my early hunting days, too relaxed, taking too much time, missing oppertunities. Anyway, twenty plus years ago, I was deer hunting, sitting in the snow on the edge of a field, freezing half to death, trying to hold out. "Just another half hour", "just another fifteen minutes", "just another five minutes" till last light. At about last light a shot did present itself, by which time I was shivering and violently shaking so bad from the cold I couldn't get a sight picture. (shooting a Contender off a rest) I was a afraid to shoot I was shaking so bad. It took several minutes to steady enough to shoot.
Skip about 7 months, mid June. 80 degrees, blue sky. Same field, same gun (different barrel). A shot at a woodchuck presents itself and I start shaking violently like I was freezing to death! That was freaky, it was damn scary really. Shaking uncontrollably, so bad I didn't shoot. And this happened to me a few more times over the next six-eight months, luckily to a lesser degree each time. Eventually it worked its way out, but it was frightening in a way, not being able to control it, even though I knew what it was related to. The brain is a scary thing.
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Post by hunter01 on Nov 29, 2023 20:50:11 GMT -5
Practice and give it time? Your brain is a funny thing. I have have told this before... generally I don't have any target panic or buck fever issues, if anything I had just the opposite in my early hunting days, too relaxed, taking too much time, missing oppertunities. Anyway, twenty plus years ago, I was deer hunting, sitting in the snow on the edge of a field, freezing half to death, trying to hold out. "Just another half hour", "just another fifteen minutes", "just another five minutes" till last light. At about last light a shot did present itself, by which time I was shivering and violently shaking so bad from the cold I couldn't get a sight picture. (shooting a Contender off a rest) I was a afraid to shoot I was shaking so bad. It took several minutes to steady enough to shoot. Skip about 7 months, mid June. 80 degrees, blue sky. Same field, same gun (different barrel). A shot at a woodchuck presents itself and I start shaking violently like I was freezing to death! That was freaky, it was damn scary really. Shaking uncontrollably, so bad I didn't shoot. And this happened to me a few more times over the next six-eight months, luckily to a lesser degree each time. Eventually it worked its way out, but it was frightening in a way, not being able to control it, even though I knew what it was related to. The brain is a scary thing. Yes sir, I hear that. I know my issue is 100% mental I just need to find the best approach for MY brain to get out of my way! That’s normally not a problem. 😂
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 29, 2023 20:52:20 GMT -5
Start aiming at even the ones you don't want to shoot. Visualize taking the shot anyway. That will help with buck fever.
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Post by 45MAN on Nov 29, 2023 20:52:35 GMT -5
GET A 22lr SA REVOLVER AND SHOOT A FEW HUNDRED ROUNDS. PERSONALLY, I DO NOT CARE FOR TRYING TO ELIMINATE FLINCH/TRIGER PULL ISSUES SHOOTING REPEATED ROUNDS OF HEAVY KICKERS. I HAD GOT TO WHERE I COULD SHOOT RUGER BISLEYS AND FA MODEL 83's WELL BUT WAS A BIG FLINCHER/TRIGGER JERKER USING THE REGULAR BLACKHAWK GRIP FRAME. I BOUGTH A 5.5" 22lr SINGLE SIX AND SHOT IT A LOT AND I GOT WELL.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2023 21:02:53 GMT -5
Relax. Dont beat yourself up. I think the dry fire practice helps. Maybe try some lighter loads to just become aquainted with the trigger break. I like to get shots off quickly once the hammer is back so I dont anticipate the trigger break.
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 29, 2023 21:08:16 GMT -5
Get in your mind like they said at sniper school, "It's just a target." Of course back then the RI would then proceed to tell you to shoot the commie SOB, NOW! But it worked.
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