Help with "The Flinch"
- Thread starter Totosdad
- Start date
paperpuncher
Gold $$ Contributor
Rifle or handgun? Practice dryfiring.
divingin
Gold $$ Contributor
It's largely a mental thing. What I find helps is to concentrate on something other than the shot going off. Get your mind off figuring out when the shot is going to go. Dryfiring, as paperpuncher noted, will help drill that in so it becomes ingrained.
For pistol, I concentrate on keeping the sights lined up. Focus on the front sight and when things start looking aligned, build pressure on the trigger. Once trigger pressure starts building, aloow it to increase slowly and smoothly, and shift your focus back to sights and work on maintaining the sight alignment. If you concentrate on the alignment, you won't worry about, or react prior to, the shot going off. Follow through (i.e. try to hold sight alignment, trigger squeeze and everything else for a half to a full second after the hammer or striker falls. Get out of the "Bang, done" mentality.
If you are able to do this most of the time, the recoil impulse will allow you to verify that you did it correctly: A single short, sharp impulse (like someone smacking the muzzle with a hammer) means you didn't change anything. A muddy, drawn out recoil impulse means you did.
With rifle, the same thing, but concentrate on keeping the reticle centered on your point of aim. Concentrating on something other than trigger pressure will keep you from reacting just before the shot goes. Note that the recoil feeling thing doesn't work as well with rifle, likely due to the greater firearm weight and more contact points than pistol.
For pistol, I concentrate on keeping the sights lined up. Focus on the front sight and when things start looking aligned, build pressure on the trigger. Once trigger pressure starts building, aloow it to increase slowly and smoothly, and shift your focus back to sights and work on maintaining the sight alignment. If you concentrate on the alignment, you won't worry about, or react prior to, the shot going off. Follow through (i.e. try to hold sight alignment, trigger squeeze and everything else for a half to a full second after the hammer or striker falls. Get out of the "Bang, done" mentality.
If you are able to do this most of the time, the recoil impulse will allow you to verify that you did it correctly: A single short, sharp impulse (like someone smacking the muzzle with a hammer) means you didn't change anything. A muddy, drawn out recoil impulse means you did.
With rifle, the same thing, but concentrate on keeping the reticle centered on your point of aim. Concentrating on something other than trigger pressure will keep you from reacting just before the shot goes. Note that the recoil feeling thing doesn't work as well with rifle, likely due to the greater firearm weight and more contact points than pistol.
A light recoiling rifle, good hearing protection and lots of practice will get rid of a flinch. Now whatever other bad habits this reveals may take different actions.
As a kid I flinched bad, and my dad had a unique way of solving my problem. He would stand behind me with a stick and every time I flinched. he would whack me with the stick. It didn't take long for me to quit flinching.
Rifle
Turn your head away and have someone load your rifle. It may contain a live round or not. Get in position and fire. At the same time your buddy is watching you for a flinch. Repeat several times, and repeat the exercise over a few days.
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
If you are shooting from the bench, or with any other setup where the rifle is supported, stop trying to make the rifle go off at a particular instant. Take some time to increase pressure until the rifle fires. Let the exact instant be a surprise. The other advice that you have gotten about hearing protection is also important. There is also the macho/stupid factor where guys will actually continue to shoot a rifle that is borderline painful to shoot because of recoil. That is a non starter. At the bench you do not need to see the full field of view of your scope, so you can easily use additional padding to reduce felt recoil to the point where it is no longer an issue.
MikeMcCasland
Team Texas F-T/R
Probably 15 years ago at this point, but when I was a young man (i.e. dumber than I am today), I really wanted the biggest and baddest rifle that could "do it all", and the 300 RUM had just come out. I somehow managed to find a Remington 700 Sendero chambered in it on the shelf, and immediately grabbed it.
I also thought it "unmanly" to put a brake on the gun; I should be able to handle it as is. What a horrible mistake that was. Shooting those 'no recoil pad having' HS stocks of the era with an ubraked 300 RUM off a bipod was profoundly stupid. That thing gave me a flinch that I'm still not entirely over. Even with my F-Class guns, and little 6mms I'll occasionally catch myself flinching.
My advice:
Double up on hearing protection. It works wonders.
Avoid caffeine before shooting; I don't follow this advice, but when I don't have any, I'm WAY less jumpy.
Go shoot a lot of .223
Dryfire.
This will sound crazy, but it actually worked the best for me....When I still shot at public ranges I would get next to someone who was shooting with the nastiest brake. Get on your rifle and start dryfiring/concentrating like you're going to shoot, and just get peppered with blast...the more the better. After 10-15 minutes of this, it was like you acclimated to the noise/blast and follow-through was much better.
Good luck!
I also thought it "unmanly" to put a brake on the gun; I should be able to handle it as is. What a horrible mistake that was. Shooting those 'no recoil pad having' HS stocks of the era with an ubraked 300 RUM off a bipod was profoundly stupid. That thing gave me a flinch that I'm still not entirely over. Even with my F-Class guns, and little 6mms I'll occasionally catch myself flinching.
My advice:
Double up on hearing protection. It works wonders.
Avoid caffeine before shooting; I don't follow this advice, but when I don't have any, I'm WAY less jumpy.
Go shoot a lot of .223
Dryfire.
This will sound crazy, but it actually worked the best for me....When I still shot at public ranges I would get next to someone who was shooting with the nastiest brake. Get on your rifle and start dryfiring/concentrating like you're going to shoot, and just get peppered with blast...the more the better. After 10-15 minutes of this, it was like you acclimated to the noise/blast and follow-through was much better.
Good luck!
My own steps:
1. Doubling-up on hearing protection, with good foam ear plugs and decent muffs over them (electronic muffs, if you need to hear others speak);
2. A great trigger that's crisp, with clean break, with a low(er) trigger pull weight; and
3. Practice, practice, practice.
In my case, some years ago I had some minor flinching with a Rem700 .243. 4lb trigger pull weight wasn't for me. Still isn't. Swapped in a Jewell HVR trigger to replace the factory unit, for purposes of improved trigger control and reduced pull weight. Flinching pretty much disappeared, just from that change. Increased practice and working on a slow/smooth trigger pull eliminated the rest. (Easier, with the fabulous Jewell trigger.)
1. Doubling-up on hearing protection, with good foam ear plugs and decent muffs over them (electronic muffs, if you need to hear others speak);
2. A great trigger that's crisp, with clean break, with a low(er) trigger pull weight; and
3. Practice, practice, practice.
In my case, some years ago I had some minor flinching with a Rem700 .243. 4lb trigger pull weight wasn't for me. Still isn't. Swapped in a Jewell HVR trigger to replace the factory unit, for purposes of improved trigger control and reduced pull weight. Flinching pretty much disappeared, just from that change. Increased practice and working on a slow/smooth trigger pull eliminated the rest. (Easier, with the fabulous Jewell trigger.)
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Lots of excellent advice given. I’ll add, if possible,
-Increase weight of rifle (if cavity under recoil pad, add lead shot.
-Use old mousepad or strap on recoil pad between rifle and your shoulder
-make sure cheek to stock position is tight and repeatable. If not, tape on something to build it up
-shoot lying down as much as possible
-switch load, at least for now, to lightest charge of fastest burning powder and lightest bullet you can get away with. Google H4895 reduced recoil, Hodgdon has a single page PDF publication that’s a great start. Also, Nosler data tends to explore faster powders than others. Their 4064, 139 gr 7mm mag load is very very sedate and their H322, 155 gr 308 load is a game changer.
Best of luck
-Increase weight of rifle (if cavity under recoil pad, add lead shot.
-Use old mousepad or strap on recoil pad between rifle and your shoulder
-make sure cheek to stock position is tight and repeatable. If not, tape on something to build it up
-shoot lying down as much as possible
-switch load, at least for now, to lightest charge of fastest burning powder and lightest bullet you can get away with. Google H4895 reduced recoil, Hodgdon has a single page PDF publication that’s a great start. Also, Nosler data tends to explore faster powders than others. Their 4064, 139 gr 7mm mag load is very very sedate and their H322, 155 gr 308 load is a game changer.
Best of luck
tmwinds
Gold $$ Contributor
Now the only flinch you have is when someone is standing behind you with a stick.
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As a young boy I learned to shoot using adult-sized calibers (rifle & pistol). It was a different time when fathers worried less about hearing protection or going slow... As a result I have an ingrained flinch ... when shooting offhand (rifle or pistol) I nose dive the firearm in anticipation of recoil. If I am shooting a lot then it is not prevalent, and worst case being the first mag or 2 being iffy looking like a new shooter. When I shoot prone and really need to focus my mind does this great "gray out" as I get ready to pull the trigger. Again this is the same flinch shielding me from the coming blast and recoil. I force myself to stay calm and focus on the target, ignoring the trigger. It also helps doing a few dry firings to calm nerves and get brain reset to when trigger clicks nothing bad will happen.
Anyone else ever get that voice in you head as you get ready to fire...just like a Drill Sargent screaming "Go, Go, Go" and a massive adrenaline spike. This forceful voice usually coincides with the aggressive nosing of the barrel on the first stage of shooting (IDPA or 3-Gun). I flirted with listening to Metallica while training to subdue the adrenaline amp-up and learn to override this response by being calm. I guess its the result of too many year participating in contact sports... Mostly Fight and not so much flight..
It takes repetitive practice, dry fire or even light caliber (22lr). A suppressor also helps make things more enjoyable.
Anyone else ever get that voice in you head as you get ready to fire...just like a Drill Sargent screaming "Go, Go, Go" and a massive adrenaline spike. This forceful voice usually coincides with the aggressive nosing of the barrel on the first stage of shooting (IDPA or 3-Gun). I flirted with listening to Metallica while training to subdue the adrenaline amp-up and learn to override this response by being calm. I guess its the result of too many year participating in contact sports... Mostly Fight and not so much flight..
It takes repetitive practice, dry fire or even light caliber (22lr). A suppressor also helps make things more enjoyable.
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KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
You haven't given any information about the trigger on your rifle. So, if you have a 6-7# trigger that has what seems like an inch of travel on a Super Nitro Mag, you have problems. If you have a a heavy trigger with a nice quick/clean break, that is manageable. If your trigger isn't playing nice, you need to get that fixed first.
Is your rifle a hunting or competition rifle?
I am going to get flamed here but here goes. Stop using your index finger to pull the trigger. Start pulling the trigger with your social finger. Laugh if you want, it works.
If you watch the Swedish shooters running and gunning with a 96 Mauser, you will see that their thumb and forefinger stays on the bolt. They pull the trigger with their social finger..
We teach about flinch wrong.
Your body is just trying to protect yourself from the whop and boom. Your body is anticipating the felt recoil because your senses have been exposed to the boom and the push of recoil. Body is actually anticipating the loud.
Start with a 22 or something that is loud.......then start target shooting.
Better ear MUFFS help. Close your mouth, almost completely, and breathe out as you squeeze.
Your body is just trying to protect yourself from the whop and boom. Your body is anticipating the felt recoil because your senses have been exposed to the boom and the push of recoil. Body is actually anticipating the loud.
Start with a 22 or something that is loud.......then start target shooting.
Better ear MUFFS help. Close your mouth, almost completely, and breathe out as you squeeze.
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