Flinch-ing how to stop?

DENWA

Developed s slight problem while shooting the 8mm Mauser in Texas.

I've now noticed that I'm still doing it even when I shoot the 10-22 at the camp.


Its not bad but really gets noticeable while shooting on the bench and looking at the targets on higher power.


Anyone had this before?

perry shooter

EVERYONE will have this happen from time to time . I train and instruct Bulls-eye pistol shooters but might work for rifle also , I have dummy rounds and mix with live rounds You know you are "cured" when the firing pin goes click and the sights don't move.

Fatstrat

I assume your "flinching" = jerking the trigger. My Dad taught me years ago to mentally say "SQueeeeeeeze" when pulling the trigger to remind myself not to jerk it.

sandwarrior

along with the trigger work you might try putting a pad on your shoulder such as a Past pad. The pad reduces recoil considerably and you get to where you don't flinch in anticipation.

A test I give myself is to put a penny on the barrel while dry firing, laying perfectly flat. If you flinch it will either fall of or shift slightly to an uneven position.

CapnMidnight

What Perry Shooter said is what I've used for years, make up a dummyround, have someone else load your rifle, you'll see what your doing and inturn will overcome it. Good luck.
W.D.

Wolf.

DENWA,
Both Fatstrat's and perryshooter's advice is right about this.

Once in a while I find I have this flinching problem or that I am closing one eye to shoot (I shoot with both eyes open). I believe that when you flinch, you are also jerking the trigger rather than squeezing it. I'll bet your accuracy is off right now, too.

When you practice with snap caps at home or at the range with mixed loadings of live and dummy rounds, make every shot a calculated one. Go through your mental checklist of: both eyes open, relax, breath deeply in and out a couple times slowly, breath in again, release half the air and begin your aim, hold that breath now, gently sueeze the trigger, bang. When you go into your mental checklist and before you squeeze the trigger, set your mind wandering. Imagine something else entirely that you enjoy as you squeeze the trigger. This will help avoid jerking the trigger and add to the surprise of the hammer dropping on the cartridge.

chaoslodge

wow,

Cool and useful post.

dcs shooters

Get some snap caps or make dummy rounds with pencil eracers in primer hole and dry fire a while when you have the time. Mabe pick up a slip-on recoil pad when you are shooting and see if that helps.

westkybanded

The dummy round thing works. Also, if you're shooting from a bench, have a friend sit beside you and pull the trigger. You won't know when it's going to happen, and it'll eventually numb you to the sound.

p_jackson

All great suggestions. Try ear plugs under sound suppressors. Makes you not notice the loud bang as much. These were word of advice from my father.
Pete

mrbruce

All you really need to do to prevent flinching is to 100% concentrate on saying
(do not flinch, do not flinch, all the while your squeezing the trigger)
A different pad will not cure it any more than snap caps will.
Your subconscious knows the guns not loaded and will be of no help at all curing the problem...
Just remember---
DO NOT FLINCH-- DO NOT FLINCH all the while your pulling on the trigger...
Do this each and every time, and the problem WILL go away....