Help with "The Flinch"

[Ziabeam]

I have problem with flinching just before the round goes off, and I end up
Pulling my shot. Any help would be greatly appreciated if you have a suggestion
to help me out

I lie to myself. I swear I’m always dry firing.

Next my trigger finger has two masters;

• One screaming “ALIGN ALIGN ALIGN!!!” (the sights).
• The other whispers “tighter, tighter, tighter”.

If that sounds mental, it is. So is flinching. Dominate the flinch by vowing there’s no reason to flinch. Ever see someone shoot a BMG and not blink? Part of that mind has tuned out the obvious, and deemed it irrelevant.

Hope this helps.

 

[Steve morgan]

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.

Release trigger

 

[ebb]

Flinching with a bow is even worse, you can't dry fire a bow. I had a coach that got me a release aid the made you use back tension to release the arrow. When i asked what to order he quoted me a model number, and snickered. "Whats the matter" I asked he says its an ER 300, and yes the ER stands for emergency room. i soon found out that a half hearted effort would get you a bloody lip in a hurry. After a few months I mastered the release and had no more flinch. But at the cost of at least a half dozen bloody lips. be glad its a rifle .

 

[mac86951]

Probably already mentioned, but if you're shooting from a magazine; load in some dummies, or zoomies to help break that routine. Dry fire first until you've no flinch, then practice using dummies and an occasional "live". And work your way to a full mag.

I see the pros still dry firing now and again. Lots to learn from doing so.

Edit:. Alternate procedure; shoot a bolt action 50 BMG.

All sub-calibers / cartridges flinch is solved.


-Mac

 

[jk80]

I shoot trap and flinching is very common. I hear a lot said about recoil causing issues but I think target anxiety is a cause as much as anything. You get to a point where you're trying to be to perfect. A release trigger is common in trap but I know some shooters who eventually flinch with them. They have to set the trigger and then close the action. I've see many different approaches to solve this but it seems like once you flinch you flinch. It can become somewhat manageable but when under pressure in shoot offs or tired it can come creeping back. I think almost all trapshooters that shoot a lot have had a time or two they flinched.. I've never had enough issues with it I needed to worry. I do wish I could come up with a reliable cure. I'd be a wealthy man!

 

[Steve K]

I also developed a flinch shooting hand guns. I shoot NRA Outdoor Action Pistol use a 9MM with a low charge. But, I still started to flinch; scores went way down. In order to "cure" the problem I started using a .22 rimfire, BuckMark and S&W 41. Flinching stopped for the most part after a few matches. I think doing the same with a rifle, perhaps using rimfire as similar as you can find to your centerfire may help recover the steadiness you need.

 

[jelenko]

I also developed a flinch shooting hand guns. I shoot NRA Outdoor Action Pistol use a 9MM with a low charge. But, I still started to flinch; scores went way down. In order to "cure" the problem I started using a .22 rimfire, BuckMark and S&W 41. Flinching stopped for the most part after a few matches. I think doing the same with a rifle, perhaps using rimfire as similar as you can find to your centerfire may help recover the steadiness you need.

What would you think of dry firing instead of using a 22lr?

 

[Djfergus]

If it's a large Magnum, stepping down in cartridge size for a while will be most helpful. Dry fire at least three times before each shooting session. Ear protection is a no brainer. Some people don't realize that many times, it may not be the noise (cause surly you have ear protection anyway) or the actual recoil that may be causing the flinch but the muzzle blast impulse is the culprit. This is especially the situation with a muzzle brake on a magnum cartridge around 6.5 cal & larger. It is 100% mental, but removing whatever is mentally influencing you for a while or all together will help.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Try dryfiring a revolver in double action. It takes a lot of practice to not flinch. You have a very long trigger pull. When you learn to control the front sight through the time it takes to release the trigger, you have accomplished most of the flinch problem. And you can practice this endlessly sitting in your recloiner at home.

Get a good rimfire rifle and practice at 25 yards. When you have gained some confidence, extend the range and practice some more.

Trigger is most important. For a range rifle, a light trigger pull. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't control a 1.5 oz trigger. You will learn pretty fast that simply laying your finger on it with no pressure and concentrating on the target will cause your finger to exert the necessary force to do the job. You don't really have to think about the trigger very much.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

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.

Don't be giving my wire any ideas!
I've struggled with a bad flinch since the 90's, both rifle and pistol. If I can breathe through a smooth pull, all is fine, but after 20 or so rounds I start grabbing at the trigger. Yesterday I took my Springfield Ronin 1911 in .45 to the range for the second time. It is my first 1911 and only .45 ACP. Love this firearm! If I do my part it will punch the center out of whatever it's pointed at. Started with rimfire bullseyes at seven yards and it punched center or black for a few rounds then I would throw a shot or three. When flinching with a snap cap it is so humiliating.
So, dry fire? Yes...
Use snap caps? Yes...
Still flinch after 20 rounds? *sigh* yes...

 

[Dave M.]

Please define, is this with all guns? Only rifles? Targets and animals both? I know a lot of great shooters that when you drop an animal in front of them they forget how to shoot. Dry firing lots. Hidden snap caps are fun to test yourself. Think slow and steady trigger pressure and then follow through.

 

[bsekf]

IMHO: A "flinch" is when you can't pull the trigger and a "jerk" is just that. I think a true flinch is mostly among trap shooters where you "slap" the trigger. It is mental. A release trigger helps. I've watched trap shooters ride a bird to the ground and just can't pull the trigger, they may tense several times. Rifle and pistol shooters "jerk". Usually caused by noise and anticipated recoil.

Bill

 

[Bocephus]

I have problem with flinching just before the round goes off, and I end up
Pulling my shot. Any help would be greatly appreciated if you have a suggestion
to help me out

99% mental...the rest is in your mind.
Seriously, stay away, far away from anything that hurts!
That is were you’ll find the cure.

 

[Big Mc]

I have problem with flinching just before the round goes off, and I end up
Pulling my shot. Any help would be greatly appreciated if you have a suggestion
to help me out

Put a brake on it. Practice Practice Practice. Tommy Mc

 

[6MMsteve]

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..

yep waiting for the rifle to fire with a heavy trigger can cause flinchmansitis

 

[shoobe01]

As all others have said: Practice with something low-recoiling and LOW NOISE. A lot forget that, perceived recoil is very different from actual recoil. Loud things are scary and yeah, our brains are wired to be scared of stuff, it's okay to know that and work past it.

Suppressors are the cool guy answer. Same gun, suppressed and it will brake a little but mostly the reduced noise makes it /seem/ like less recoil.

Till then, on the other hand:

• Air guns, or airsoft. Esp airsoft you can shoot in your basement with a cheap trap. Yes, they make gas operated self loaders (like AR15s) that work exactly the same, and bolt actions even. I like the "gas blowback" as they simulate recoil, enough I find they are good enough to teach people how to shoot on them, then we go to the range and straight to centerfire rifle/pistol. NO need for .22 transition.
• Dry fire. First, to get very very very used to the trigger action. Then, make sure you are not moving or flinching. Balance something on top of the gun (usually need a partner to help) a penny, an empty pistol case etc. Your trigger press should be so straight and smooth that doesn't move.
• Easier but similar, SIRT or other laser trainers. Yes, these are bolts for AR-15s or entire pistols, but still may be valid. You get a laser dot either (depending how you set it up) as you pull the trigger to see it moving, OR at the moment the shot would break, see if you are moving. The feedback helps, a lot.
• Sub-caliber trainer. Buy and set up something more calm. Doesn't have to be .22, but can be pistol caliber, or even .223 if you are shooting a bigger caliber.

Remember a lot is just the general concept of trigger control so this likely works on anything. Don't over-do making the trainer or practice on your specific rifle.

But also: try to get someone to look at you. MAYBE (and on the rifle in question) you are in a weird position and the recoil is unpleasant so your body is reacting properly, and you need someone to tell you to adjust the shoulder, arm, finger, cheek, stance, to be more comfortable behind the gun when it goes off.

 

[diyj98]

When working with "flinchers", I remember my dad would load whatever they were shooting one round at a time. At random intervals, he would slip a dummy round or no round at all in the gun. All the shooter would get is a click, but it was obvious to all watching if they flinched or not. Dry fry is great, but knowing you may or may not get a boom and recoil makes the training more realistic.

 

[jds holler]

Lots of dry fire practice with a rifle that has a horrible trigger. jd

 

[603Country]

Strange as it might sound, if it’s a rifle, try using the next finger - the one you use for traffic signaling. Very tough to anticipate when the rifle will fire.