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Flinchies
Big Sky Redneck
Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
I'm ashamed to admit this but it seems I'm gettin a case of the flinchies and I don't know why. It seems the more I shoot the worse it is getting. Even shootin the .22 off the bags I catch myself jerking my head up on each shot. I used to be able to sandbag my 760 GameBLASTER and not even so much as blink, That is the kickenist monster I have ever shot, kicks harder than my .300 WTBY Vanguard!
Is there a good way to overcome this? I don't know why I'm doing it, I have never had formal shooting instruction, like most other things I do I'm self taught. What do you bench shooters do to help with it? It's getting to the point I blink even dry firing the guns, is there a curse on me, is this supposed to happen? I thought the more you shoot the better you get, I feel as if I already peaked and now I'm falling back.
Any tips?
Is there a good way to overcome this? I don't know why I'm doing it, I have never had formal shooting instruction, like most other things I do I'm self taught. What do you bench shooters do to help with it? It's getting to the point I blink even dry firing the guns, is there a curse on me, is this supposed to happen? I thought the more you shoot the better you get, I feel as if I already peaked and now I'm falling back.
Any tips?
Comments
Another thing you might want to try, is getting out your bow and shooting that for awhile. I do not know why, but this often helps my rifle and shotgun technique.
As a last resort, and only if you can do this safely, is shooting at a target with your eyes closed. I only do this in a totally safe environment.
Aim first, get on target, close your eyes and pull the trigger.
I thought of that after seeing Michael Jordan shoot free throws with his eyes closed.
Of course, Michael did not run the risk of shooting someone, so make sure you are totally safe.
"The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal governmentare few and defined, and will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace negotiation, and foreign commerce"
-James Madison
1 Beg borrow or steal a Garand
2 Have your buddy load 1 or 2 empty cases and 6 or 7 live rounds into a clip.
3 Have your buddy load the rifle.
4 You fire the rifle.
5 Your buddy wacks you on the head with a stick if you move when the rifle only goes 'click'.
6 Repeat until the flinch goes away.
Seriously, stick with the dry fire drill until your comfortable again than move up to the 22. Stay away from the kickers for as long as possiable. A light chrisp trigger helps if the flinch isn't to bad.
Working with your bow / release trigger is also a good idea, not to mention getting in some good archery practice on the side.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
And I wouldnt suggest hitting me in the back of the head while I'm holding a loaded rifle!
Oh yeah, my last reply to your last email to me was returned undeliverable, but I got your message about the ISP, and I have the email saved. I gotcha covered.
SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
Edited by - robsguns on 06/08/2002 10:24:11
Rembrant mentioned noise, that could be what the problem is. I did some dry firing this morning using a mock gun rest on the kitchen table and noticed that I'm blinkin and jerking after the click. Caffine making me jumpy?
I aint leaving till 1800 this evening so I got to see it and reply!
I don't know what is up with my email, it has been acting up the last few days and I don't have a clue as to why. The IP address deal is over I think, the thread was poofed and EX_SF says that Zuider Zee was his son misbehaving and posting under two names. We'll see how this turns out.
Now, as far as that bus, here is the deal. I have two cans of CAP STUN that I got from a cop friend, they are going on the bus with me. And the first idiot that sits next to me and makes me misserable is gettin blasted in the face with with it!
Salzo, don't tell anyone but thats how I shoot my muzzle loader! close eyes and squeeze!
Doh! Ya got me! I have a gun that you would be afraid to shoot after about one time at the bench with it, at least thats how I feel about it! The Whitworth 458 Win Mag I have is too much unless you have it pointed at something thats going to kill you.
SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
beers, but...
Load one to five cylinders (don't tell how many) and let your partner shoot. Then let him/her do the same for you. Really helps you concentrate on your technique.
I'm not afraid of the dark...the dark is afraid of me!
Mudge the unflinching
I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
But needless to say flinching is,....a symptom or a response action. Not the cause.
A few sources are:
1. Eye problems cause poor, hurried shots, and squinting. That can cause a * squeeze that also extends to the arm & hand. Glasses, protective eye wear, scope adjustments will all help.
2. Fear of 'scope eye', or being 'bit'. Proper fit fixes that.
3. Noise. A very big cause. When shooting big bores, or ultra high velocity rounds, I always use ear muffs minimum 28 NRR, AND wax ear plugs. You get used to hearing your heart beat.
4. Noise.Again. Especially from other shooters.
5. Muzzle blast. Especially from other shooters. Have knocked off a few hats, and watched shooter's move who AFTER being advised to choose another spot, still set up aside of me. Muzzle braked 50 cals, and 30-378's seem to speed up their move.
6. Drugs. Caffine especially. It doesn't really increase blood pressure, but it does heighten senses. That's why you feel/hear your heart/blood flow. You are more aware of what's going on. Combine a caffine over load, with the excitement, anticipation, and noise of shooting, and it's easy to see why flinching can happen.
#2 & #3 even when steps taken to fix them are done, can still leave a
"learned/developed" flinch.
A simple solution that can work. Glue a tack head to the trigger(pointed end out), or file down finger tip skin to 'the pink'
Dry fire. Vary targets.
Takes focus off flinch response, and adds variety.
Tack is the best because it only affects shooting. Hurts less.
Happy Bullet Holes!
Edited by - Guns & Glass on 06/11/2002 22:51:11
you can be king or street sweeper but everyone is going to dance with the reaper
Edited by - n4thethrill on 06/11/2002 14:22:54
some pro athletes sometimes. Totally normal things, things
they can normally do right 99.9999999% of the time, suddenly
become damn near impossible. Several catchers have been undone
by the simple act of throwing the ball back to the pitcher.
They can catch 95 mph fast balls all day, can block the plate
on wild pitches, can gun out base stealers. But something happens
and suddenly a minor little task becomes impossible. I believe
Chuck Knoblach got it last year with the Yankees. Couldn't
throw the ball to first base, something he'd been doing all his
life.
Nobody really understands why it happens, but from what I've
read it's something that just doesn't go away all of the sudden.
You've got to slowly work your way out of it, doing various drills
and building your confidence back up. As for why a fellow could
do it perfectly for years and then suddenly fall apart, nobody really
knows. Like they say, if the mind was simple enough for us to understand, we wouldn't be able to.
It also helps me, when using a bolt action, to load 2 dummy rounds (at random) in the mag. along with 3 live rounds. Don't know if the gun is going to fire or not and can see my reaction when it doesn't. I then act as though every round is a dummy and become relaxed and don't jerk.
Sounds weird, but it works!