Tom,
You have several things going for you, and several things against you. You have come to the right place so we can help you improve
ALL of them and get you to becoming an excellent pistol shot.
First, you are new to pistol shooting so you should have no bad habits. It is good to start off right. Second, you have ambition that it takes to start. Third, you are probably at your worst right now so from here on out, everything gets better.
As a new shooter, it is easy to get discouraged.
DONT. This is going to be your hardest obstacle. Second, it is going to feel like it is taking too long to get where you feel you should be. Unless you are an exceptional marksman, it is going to take some time and practice. Practice at home, and at the range.
You need to find a buddy. Someone who can shoot with you. You mentioned cowboy shooting. If there is a local club that is shooting cowboy action, go down there at watch. Get the good shooters to start talking about their guns and how they shoot the stages. You will find someone to mesh with that will help you out and will take you to the range to practice, or can give you tips.
You notice that I am 4 paragraphs into this novel and I haven't even mentioned a gun or loads yet. 90% of what you need to know comes before you even fire a shot. Learning about your gun, your loads, and what to expect come first. Writing into this board and asking for help is an
EXCELLENT way to get this going.
Most of the cowboy shooters have a handgun that has some trigger work. Smoothing of surfaces, spring work, honing in the right places. Most of these types of handguns come from the factory with 4-5 lb trigger pulls. Most of those cowboy shooters probably have a trigger at 2 lbs, maybe up to 3 lbs. But it is crisp and likely without creep. As a new shooter, these may be unfamiliar terms, but this is where having an experienced shooting buddy can help.
Most of the cowboy shooters are shooting subsonic or really light loads. Because they do not have a lot of velocity, they have what is called a rainbow trajectory. The bullet leaves the barrel, comes up to the line of sight, goes above the line of sight, drops back down to the line of sight, then drops below the line of sight. At X distance from your barrel, your sights and bullet are on the same path. At Y distance further, your bullet comes back to your line of sight. Basically you can aim right on at two specific distances. Anything different, your bullet is going to be above or below your sight picture. You have to figure out what load you are going to shoot and find out what these distances are.
Most handguns shoot respectable groups with any ammo. By respectable I am talking 3-5" at 25 yards. You can tailor a handload that can do better for your gun. Lots of the Cowboy shooters have been tinkering with loads for a long time and can come up with loads for you. My 45LC load that I could use for cowboy shooting is a 245gr semi-wad cutter bullet with a mild load of Unique powder. Very accurate in my Vaquero and very mild.
I have never shot my Vaquero on paper targets with bulls eyes. In my honest opinion, bulls eyes are made to zero in scopes and to set sights only. Most of the paper target I shoot at have Silhouette animals on them. Chicken, Pig, Turkey, Ram. You can also find military silhouette targets that have human torsos on them. You have a much bigger target to aim at, and a broader area that constitutes a good hit. You should only go to smaller target once you have mastered the bigger targets.
Shooting a revolver off a bench is TOTALLY different from shooting a rifle on a bench. You have no forearm to rest on. You have a different type of recoil. You have a different type of hold. So, we have to teach you how to shoot off the bench to get you comfortable with your load. Once you know where your load is going to hit, you can get your confidence at hitting targets.
When you shoot a revolver on a bench, rest the grip frame on a sandbag. Use your dominant hand to hold the gun steady on the bag. Use your other hand to stop any shaking and help support the gun on recoil. Cock your handgun with your un-dominant hand. This allows the dominant hand to keep your grip. Align your sights even. I use a 6 o'clock hold on my targets. Once my sights are aligned, I line the sights up to my target, THEN put my finger into the trigger guard and onto the trigger. Slowly take in half a breath and hold it as you start to sloooooowllllllllyyyyyyy squeeze the trigger. Try to watch your bullet hit, right over your sight picture. Tame the recoil with your hands, but keep your eyes and head looking down those sight. This is called "follow thru". The gun will recoil out of the way, but you want to keep watching where your sights were and where that bullet is going. See where it hit? Adjust sights as necessary, and try again. Start at the very beginning and do EACH AND EVERY STEP EXACTLY THE SAME. If you alter your hand pressure, cock the gun with your dominant hand, put your finger into the trigger housing, or do anything out of order, your shot will go to a different spot. Consistency in getting your shot off is paramount to accuracy.
Every time you shoot that revolver, it becomes lighter. 245grs of bullet and 10-15 grains of powder are gone with each shot. It is not uncommon for subsequent shots to be higher, because you have less weight holding your gun down on recoil. Experience will help with this.
When you are first starting with a cowboy type gun, the best target to start shooting at is one that gives instant gratification. I have never had good results with gratification with paper targets. I took my Vacquero to a local gravel pit. I had a couple of soda cans and picked up what garbage others had left. (I took it all home when completed and threw it away.) My Vacquero and I got acquainted over the hood of my bronco, in about 5" of snow, with several soda cans. Every time I shot either snow or that soda can flew. I could see immediately where I was hitting, could adjust my aim, and fire again. I went from 1-2 hits on that can per cylinder, to either hitting the can or moving it with each shot. Within 100 rounds, I was hooked on that gun. I have had several sessions like this where it was me and the Vacquero with soda cans, or balloons, or milk jugs. Get used to hitting larger targets and work your way to smaller targets. Make the target something gratifying by having it move or fall or spin or whatever.
Take a few of these hints with you. Shoot a box of shells at fun targets and see how you do. Get some snap caps or make your own snap caps by taking 6 empty brass without primers and put pencil erasers in the primer holes. Set up a little bench at home, with the sandback and practice your hold and squeeze. My wife and daughters began to catch on every time I watched an old western movie with one of my sixguns in hand. I either had a new gun or new set of sights I was practicing with. Old Ned Pepper was shot more times with one of my revolvers than John Wayne ever fired off.
Have fun and enjoy it. If you have problems, just ask. We are here for you and really do appreciate where you are and your opportunities ahead.
Steve
