Author Topic: I've messed up my shooting (Read 952 times)

MarkM · « **on:** November 17, 2005, 02:59:56 AM »

I have been shooting a .338 Win Mag for the last several years and I have come to hate shooting it. I have arrived at thee conclusion that it is too much gun for me and I do not shoot it well. The bad thing is that it has affected all my shooting. I got out the .223 the other day to get ready to hunt some yotes and I was flinching bad with that gun and was all over the place.

I am going to sell the .338 and relearn how to shoot. I am going to spend the winter shooting the .223 and then in the spring sell the .338 and pick up something in the .270 30-06 range for deer and elk. Have been looking at the .270 WSM but first I need to relearn how to shoot.

Any tips on getting my shooting form back? One thing I have been wondering is if I should switch and shoot lefty. I am right handed but left eye dominate but was taught growing up to shoot right handed. I switched shooting bows to lefty several years ago with good results but have never took the time to do it with my rifle/wingshooting. Being I need to relearn how to shoot would this be a good time to switch?

Any help or ideas on improving my shooting? I am going to leave the big magnums to guys who can shoot them.

MArk

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2005, 03:20:52 AM »

Buy a .22 LF rimfire rifle and a case of 5000 rounds of ammo. Shoot them and do it slowly one shot at a time making sure each one counts. Wear hearing protection. By the time you finish that case of ammo you should have the flinch under control. That is the problem, you are flinching from the brutal recoil. Once a bad one is developed it takes some time to get rid of it.

stuffit · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2005, 03:27:24 AM »

GB has given you some good advice. I'd take it one step further and make me some "snap caps" for a favorite rifle and dry fire, dry fire, dry fire. Not sure just what the best material is to put in the primer pockets of the snap caps for home made, but there should be some ready mades available somewhere. Been contemplating making up some for a .44 Mag DE that another shooter in the household needs some practice with for "trigger control".
:wink:
stuffit

kenjs1 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2005, 03:36:26 AM »

Markm - if you start shooting lefty won't you have to sell the 223 too? The advice others have given is great. The 22 and the dry firing will certainly help. I am no expert but think you have a good head start by shooting the 223 a while. My thought was to get a new rifle and make sure it has the best possible recoil pad on it. You may want to consider a 308 if looking at a 270 \ 30-06 as the recoil is reputedly a touch less than either of those. I have and love a CZ 550 in 270 that I can shoot all day long -and I hate recoil. I love 270 for deer but think the 308 may be more in line with what you want. CZ rifles are not heavy but do weigh more than most other rifles being sold now because light weight seems to be a trend. I use the rings that come with these rifles which are solid and heavy and the scope I use weighs nearly a pound so I have a nice comparative buffer on recoil. It really is a pussycat to shoot. I have other rifles and brands and I am not trying to push a brand but the CZ's might be just the ticket in your case. They use decellerator pads which are my favorite. The CZ's have a set trigger that I would bet will help you through your flinch. They come set very light (if the set trigger is engaged) and it will pretty much fire just about the time you settle crosshairs but before you realize you started squeezing the trigger - that should resolve any flinching. The shot will surprise you like a good shot is supposed to. If you have never used anything that light it will take maybe three shots to get used to it and feel safe but once you do you won't want to do without it. Get used to it with the set trigger, then start using it on regular pull - which is also adjustable. Between the new caliber you choose, the weight, the set trigger and the accuracy of almost every CZ I have ever seen I think your groups will shrinken by a large margin. I think shrunken groups go a long way to forgetting about any recoil. Let us (me) know what you think?

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2005, 04:01:27 AM »

A .223 is loud. VERY LOUD. Noise is also a big part of flinching. Once developed a flinch is NOT easy to cure. Reducing the noise factor is an important part of it. For sure when shooting the noisy .223 use the best hearing protection you can buy. Use it even with the rimfire.

kenjs1 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2005, 04:20:57 AM »

Graybeard you speak the truth. I am quite sure I lost some hearing after a little 223 shooting a few years ago. That loud SNAP of a report they have will pierce anything. Stupid for not using adequate protection. Along those same lines, stay away from short barreled rifles. I guess we could suggest the other route not yet mentioned. That is, go shot up a couple boxes of HD 3-1/2" 12 gauge shells. After that no other recoil will ever bother you again. You will be pining for the 338 :lol:

PEPAW · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2005, 06:02:23 AM »

Sounds like great advice. I learned to use scopes effectively with bricks of 22's.
I am right handed and left eyed dominent like you. With my scopes, it is not that big of trick to shoot the other way. Also like you, I switched bows years ago and the biggest problem with that is arm strength. Guns are much easier.

Good luck. I am recoil sensitive, but I don't have any problems with anything thanks to the great Pachmayr recoil pads.

pepaw

killdeer · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2005, 07:20:01 AM »

Mark, the above is all excellent advice but you also have another choice. My question to you is does it hurt you when you fire the 338? If the answer is yes , then I would follow the advice given previously. If the answer is no, then well shooting the mag is mostly mental as is any calibre. You may not have to give it up at all once you realise this. I had the same problem and what worked for me was to carry out a mental exercise firing my firearms without necessarily even holding them. As strange as it may sound this exercise and a few hours of range time have got me shooting better than ever. Once you get over the awe factor its a piece of cake. When I hunt with my magnum i dont let myself think any kind of thoughts like this is really powerfull or this has alot of recoil because in truth its no more recoil comparatively than hunting with a 12 guage when i was a kid. If you can conquer it mentally I think you will be a better shooter all around. Good luck.

Ramrod · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2005, 11:10:04 AM »

I agree with GB. I will even go one step further. A .22 and a case of ammo is worth it's weight in gold if you want to better your shooting. Use standard target shooting positions, prone, sitting, and kneeling. Once you get shooting well from a supported position, spend at least half your time firing offhand, as that is the hardest but most usefull shot in the field. You won't find the .338 kicking too hard when fired from a sitting or standing position. Too many guys spend too much time benchrest shooting with hunting rifles. A great way to learn to flinch, and I have never seen a shooting table in the woods.

longwinters · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2005, 11:57:33 AM »

I would also agree with the .22 shooting. I might add that even in shooting the same calibers some rifles have more real, or perceived, recoil due to rifle weight and stock design. Muzzle jump can also mess with your mind. For instance, in my opinion, a rifle like the Thompson Encore lends itself to muzzle jump because of a light forend and stock design. I have had a 308 that I thought had a lot of recoil, and yet my 280 is a kitten. There are a lot of variables. But I think a 338 is going to kick hard no matter what. And so I stay away from them for my purposes.

Long

Brithunter · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2005, 10:29:30 PM »

Hi All,

As GB and others have said get a .22R/F after all it's nice easy and cheap practice no matter if you have a flinch or not :wink: and if you are set on selling the .338 and replacing it with another hunting rifle. May I suggest that you look at the 6.5x55 Swedish or the .260 Rem. Both are know for light recoil, accuracy and good performance on game.

As for switching to shooting left handed, well you can decide if you want to try that once you have finally made up your mind about changing rifles, if you do want to switch then is the time to do so as you will getting a new rifle so you could then get the left handed one. :grin:

Good luck on whatever you decide, after we can suggest things but it's you that have to make the choice and spend any money. :-)

PEPAW · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2005, 12:56:46 AM »

As a righty who is left eyed dominent, don't worry too much about getting a lefty rifle. I was thinking about recoil again. On the bench if you "lay down" too much, the recoil is much worse. Try to shoot from a more upright position with the forend of the gun rested well above the bench. Be sure the stock fits well also. I cut all mine off and add a Pachmayr Decelerator. Even my turkey shotgun.
By the way, I love my .260 that has light recoil and have plans for another .257 Roberts soon. Those are not much more than a .243 in recoil, but slightly larger bullets for deer.

pepaw

Slamfire · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2005, 02:44:24 PM »

If you want to change sides of the gun, you don't have to get a new one. You simply roll the rifle to the left, then the bolt handle is available to your left hand. Being a genuine southpaw I had to learn that method. I prefer left handed rifles because you don't have to take them off your shoulder to work the bolt, but not many people keep bolt action rifles mounted when doing that anyway. ]
I'll go along with GB on the noise part too. 12 gauge shotguns shooting the old 1 1/4 oz duck loads develop more recoil than a .338. I recommend saving the rifle money and getting a set of "shooter's plugs" from one of the big hearing aid companies. They mold them to your ear, give you some gain for your hearing, and shut off instantly when the noise level exceeds 90 dB. That's the noise level that damages hearing. Mine are so good that all I hear when shooting is the sound that comes through my bones. They cost me $600 and I'd spend it again if I lost mine.

cal sibley · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2005, 03:11:48 PM »

I think you've got something here. The range I use is 130 miles from home so I usually take 6 or 7 rifles with me and make a day of it. I start with my smallest calibers and work my way up as the day goes along. The idea being that the winds pick up as the day goes along so I don't want to be shooting the little guys when the wind is most active. This system works well for me. Formerly I would shoot the large calibers, and magnums first to get them out of the way. I never seemed to settle in well with the smaller calibers though when I did this. I find my current system is much better. A 7mm Rem. Mag. can be tough to follow accuracywise. In your case, it must be brutal. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

jro45 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2005, 03:10:00 AM »

I agree with Graybeard. His solution sounds like it would work.

targshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2005, 03:49:55 AM »

Mark M,
I would like to suggest the following. Always use hearing and eye protection.
Evaluate your flinch by:
1] Dry firing the firearm that recoils and bothers you. Do this from your most comfortable and stable shooting position. Are you jerking the trigger or just leaning into the recoil. Usually you are not jerking the trigger after a few dry firings. If you are, then get a .22 rimfire and practice with it as outlined below, gradually moving up to the .223 and then to the caliber of your choice.
If you have not lost trigger control, then do the following:
2] Take a shooting buddy with you. Shoot offhand at a distance you are comfortable with. Use the .223 so you can dry fire it with no damage to the rifle. Dry fire the rifle several times to practice trigger control. Now have your buddy hand the rifle to you, loaded or unloaded, you should not know until you pull the trigger. Concentrate on your trigger control and shoot. Call your shot. This will break you of leaning uncontrollably into the shot and also strengthen your trigger control and shooting skills.
Good luck

ScoutMan · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2005, 07:21:05 AM »

On the rifle you decide on, get snap caps for.
1-On calibers, it is not necessary to go beyond 30-06 or 308.
2-With the snap caps, practice "the open suprise break" on the trigger action.
3. Develop the ability to "call your shot" even in dry fire practic4. Follow the advise about the .22 rimfire; but "confgure" it to your main rifle in sights, action and trigger action.
4-Do not shoot long strings at the bench and be kind to yourself by using ear and eye protection and a bath towel or something to cushion the recoil at the bench.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2005, 10:42:44 AM »

Dry firing is of very limited value in curing a flinch. With it you KNOW there is no recoil and thus don't tend to flinch. What really helps if using that rifle is to have someone load it for you before each shot. Have them some times put a live round and some times not. Then you'll KNOW you flinched. Once you've determined you have a flinch to work it out a rimfire rifle, hearing and eye protection and thousands of rounds down range usually cures it.

Buckfever · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2005, 02:01:14 PM »

I developed a flinch from a 300 Win. Mag and pretty soon I was doing it on the 30-06. Got a PAST recoil sheild and I wore it when shooting the 30-06 in the summer when I had a T-shirt or light shirt on. It did cure the flinch because I could practice and not get slammed in light clothes. Next I put a limbsaver on my bigger calibers and kept shooting. I have a 17HMR and I shot at least 500 rounds per year.

Finally I sold the 300 Win Mag. I use a 30-06 for treestand and a 6.5-55 for push and stand hunts. I really think shooting in the summer in a T-shirt developed the problem. I have recently purchased a 9.3x62 CZ Mannlicher already has the limbsaver and I think I will use the PAST recoil pad also. At the first sign of a flinch it will have to just look good in the gun cabinet.

I guess the bottom line is don't develop a flinch in the summer shooting big guns in T-shirts. Buckfever

TexasNimrod · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2005, 02:46:39 AM »

The only thing I would offer is that you need to re-read Graybeard's Posts. This man knows a thing or two about shooting. His advise will get you cured.