Posted by ABAS on July 23, 2001 at 20:17:32:
Hi,
I'm a beginner AP
shooter and I'm noticing that I can do very tight groups in blank target.
However, when I shoot to 'normal' targets, the results aren't so good and some
groups are very bad.
When I shoot to blank target, usually the groups are up
and right but, again, very tight. When I shoot to a 'normal' target the groups
are usually right and down (sometimes we cannot call it a group).
Is this
normal? Your tips about this will be welcome.
ABAS.
Posted by Matt Summers on July 23, 2001 at 21:12:58:
ABAS,
When you
shoot a blank target, you are probably aiming to put your shots through the
4.5mm hole left by your first shot.
This is a somewhat more precise aiming
point than the 10 ring of a standard bullseye (for pistol).
When shooting at
a "regular" target, that big (fuzzy, hopefully, from focusing on the front
sight) black circle presents a larger area in which to place a shot. It is in
this situation that you must aim to hit not just in the middle of the black, but
the point at the "center of the center".
This is my own understanding, and
seems to work for me. (I'm not a coach, just a shooter).
-Matt
Posted by JP O'Connor on July 23, 2001 at 21:16:52:
The target is a
distraction! ...or at least it can become one!
When we shoot on a blank card,
there is little or no aiming reference. We end up looking at the front sight
more because there isn't much else to look at. We also end up holding our arm
and wrist almost the same each time because we have developed a feel for the
"normal" position. Finally, our trigger control is usually better because we are
more relaxed without "trying to hit" that dancing bull.
With a bull, we are
often tempted to look at the target rather than the front sight. Not what we
want! Watch the front sight, maintain excellent sight alignment, and deliver the
shot from within the steadier parts of the hold movement. The steadiest time is
right as we arrive on the area of aim.
Because of the visual input of the
bull, we are more aware of the movement and thus tempted to over hold and/or be
less smooth with the trigger. We also pay less attention to the feel of the
position so can be less consistent in that regard as well.
There was/is an
older thread below on using the center, six, or sub-six hold for air pistol.
(Not the newer thread about center fire hold.) One of the advantages of the
sub-six hold is the target is less of a factor in drawing our eye from the front
sight to the bull and it doesn't make the movement appear quite as frenetic. Of
course, different folks have different preferences on this.
Good luck, have
fun, and...
"Feel Center!"
-JP
Posted by David M on July 24, 2001 at 07:54:22:
On a blank Target your eye
will focus on the foresight, but when you have a target your eye will focus on
the black bull.
To stop this you should use a weak positive lens to help
bring the focus back to the foresight.
On a blank card you should not see a
pellet hole, the de-focused blur of the will not permit it. Hence the shot
pattern should be slightly vertical grouping as a exact lateral alignment is
achieved on the sights but the vertical has no reference area.
When you add
the black target to the picture it then gives a blurred aiming reference that
helps bring the group back to circular.
The critical thing is sight alignment
not target alignment.
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