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Questions and Answers for week ending:
September 29th, 2005
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| Submitted By: |
John Santry of Camden, New Jersey |
| Category: |
Shooting Mechanics |
| Question: |
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OK, you always talk about trigger pull... I am a
good shot compared with most officers in the area, when I take my
time! As soon as I speed up, I'm all over the target.
Any suggestions? |
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Rob's Answer: |
This is the most common problem associated with fast
shooting and one that will never be mastered completely. The
problem comes from simultaneously performing two tasks that should be
done one before the other. In a nut shell, here is how it goes ...
or should go ...
You pull the trigger far enough to cause the ignition process of the gun
to be initiated. When the gun fires, it moves rearward as a
reaction to the bullet being propelled forward. Your resistance to
the gun's movement, because it is not on the centerline of force caused
by the slide's resistance to movement and the line of the bore, causes
the gun to rotate upwards. To quickly fire the next shot, you
first must return the gun to alignment with the target. As gravity
works too slowly and is of insufficient strength to cause this to happen
fast enough, you must "pull" or "push" the gun back down. What
actually keys this is another lesson. When the gun is again aligned, you
start the whole sequence again.
The problem happens when you compress the returning of the gun into the
firing of the gun. If the bullet has not yet left the barrel when
you push, the shot can go anywhere. If you pull the trigger and
push or pull to control recoil at the same time, the shot can go
anywhere. Generally these shots are low and right for a
right-handed shooter. Jerking the trigger is really not the problem, as
long as the accuracy requirement can be met with a sudden trigger pull
action. On most close shots on big targets this is O.K.
What has to be done is completely separating the returning of the gun to
alignment from the firing of the gun. It is that simple, but not
easy. To shoot really fast, you develop very quick reactions and
timed actions to combat flip. It takes many thousands of rounds to
even begin to get this programmed to happen automatically.
Now the problem is identified. To overcome a problem in this area
requires you to develop timing, causing a series of events to occur
initiated by a single incident, in this case the pulling of the trigger.
This is where your training and practice comes in. If you are
practicing the right things and fixing the problems, you will see
improvement. I feel this issue significant enough that its study
is the basis for my general shooting skills development.
Quit worrying about jerking the trigger and focusing on the front sight.
That will not help you beat this problem by itself. You have to
reprogram your computer. Good luck!
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Aaron Lonergan of Houston, Texas |
| Category: |
Shooting Mechanics |
| Question: |
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Good afternoon Mr. Leatham. First, I must say that
I really enjoy seeing you in action on Shooting USA every week.
You are a true professional and some day I hope I aspire to be as good
as you. But anyway, I'll get to my question. I don't own a
Springfield 1911, unfortunately, but I do own a Sig P220ST. It's
an accurate gun and it's a real pleasure to shoot. My problem is,
I cannot seem to get multiple shots to go where I'm aiming.
If it's a single shot with 1 to 2 seconds in between I can nail the B/E
anytime. But in rapid fire, I just can't get it. I've
practiced countless hours dry firing Semi Automatic and Double Action
pulls making sure that when the trigger is snapped there's absolutely NO
movement or shake in the barrel (or the whole gun for that matter).
Everyone that I go to range with agrees that my hand position, stance
and trigger pull are 100% perfect, but for some reason on more than two
rapid shots I can't get them within a 6-inch group. Standing slow
firing I punch 2-2.2" groups all day long, right at point of aim.
Do you have any tips for me? I'm at the range every weekend with
500-850 rounds at a time. Open to close all day. I clean the
weapon every 200 rounds. I'm out of things to do. My ex Army
Ranger step father can put all 9 rounds in 3 inches in 4 seconds all
day. I just can't figure out what the heck I'm doing wrong.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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Rob's Answer: |
Without actually seeing you shoot, I would assume a
timing problem exists. Please read the answer to the above
questions first!
All the grip and stance work in the world will not help with this.
I can tell you that the problem you must overcome is firing the gun when
it is out of alignment or more probably, pushing the gun out of
acceptable alignment when firing the gun. You must separate recoil
control from the firing of the gun.
This is difficult to explain and impossible to fix without hands-on
range time. Try to find someone who can do it and spend a day with
them. You'll probably be able to learn what you need from them.
I know, it's my standard response. I am doing a two-day
Competition Class & a Match October 13 - 15, 2005! Best of Luck!
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Mitch Lum of Seattle, Washington |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
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I've been shooting an XD-9 Service for the last 3 years.
It was my first handgun. I've recently acquired an XD-9 Tactical
and want to make it my IPSC Production gun. With Glocks there are
so many aftermarket parts to shorten reset, lighten the trigger pull
etc. My stock trigger pull is about 5.5 pounds, and I heard you
can get it lighter - the trigger pull without the sear/striker engaged
(so just pulling on the trigger w/ slide off) comes in around 3.5 lbs.
I polished the sear, and removed a few thousands off the striker at the
sear/striker interface (the latter was probably a bad idea). On your
competition guns what's your standard treatment as far as places to
stone/polish, lighten springs etc.? |
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Rob's Answer: |
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The Custom Shop at Springfield Armory recently did
trigger work on an XD for me and the results are astounding. While
not in the same category as a full house 1911 trigger, it is much
shorter in movement and around 3 lbs. in weight. I can shoot the
thing pretty well and I recommend this for anyone using the XD for
competition. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Fred Corbett of Coos Bay, Oregon |
| Category: |
Ammunition |
| Question: |
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In previous interviews you stated that you preferred 230
grain bullets for .45. In a recent "ask" answer you said that
you are now using Winchester white box 185 grain. Why the
switchover? Inquiring minds want to know... |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I prefer the feel of slower, softer kicking loads to
faster snappier ones. I do not necessarily shoot them better, but
just like the feel. I am now Sponsored by Winchester Ammunition,
and the softest kicking load they make is the 185 white box, but it will
only make major in my 6" gun. I use the 230 white box for all
other uses except practicing and when shooting L-10. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Lukas Vomela of Polna, Czech Republic |
| Category: |
Equipment |
| Question: |
I would like to congratulate you on your World Title win.
I saw some of your shooting performances. Some were very good,
some not. It is life. :)
So I would like to ask you about ammo and springs.
I am shooting with an STI Edge and I have a 14 pound recoil spring, ammo
with 172 PF and 185 grain bullets. I feel like it works good for
me, but I am interested about your gun. What ammo did you use
at the World Shoot XIV (your loading data please)? :) And,
which springs do you have in your gun for Standard Class and how many
rounds can you hold in your magazines?
Many thanks for your answer. I know that your title is not in your
gun but in your hand, and with what I have read here, we prefer the same
feeling of our guns (softer).
Thanks for your answer and let me again congratulate to you. |
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Rob's Answer: |
Lukas,
Thank you for the kind words.
I shot Winchester 165 grain white box in .40 S&W. It is Winchester
ammo USA40SW.
I have 12-14 pound springs in my guns and my SPS magazines hold 19
rounds with the SVI spring and followers and CR speed magazine base
pads. Hope this is helpful. We'll see you in Bali if not
sooner! Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Mark Zeilenga of Watkinsville, Georgia |
| Category: |
Equipment |
| Question: |
Rob, I'm shooting an XD-9 Tactical in the Production
division. My question is, what spring weight would you
recommend? If you had to use off-the-shelf ammo what would
you use and what made you choose that brand?
I went with a 22 lb. spring, but am wondering if I should have gone down
instead of up. I'm shooting a 115 gr. bullet, but wonder if I
should be using a 147 gr. I'm hoping you can shorten my
experimentation cycle a little. |
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Rob's Answer: |
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I am currently using a spring guide from Bar-Sto with
16-18 lb. springs, but I'm not done testing. I think the best
off-the-shelf ammo is what I just started using; Winchester white box
115 grain Winclean. That and the good old 115 FMJ are hard to
beat. The Winclean shoots more accurately but the difference would
be negligible for most applications. The 147s I have tested all kicked
more than the two mentioned 115 grain loads. Best of luck.
Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Peter Lawson of Elmhurst, New York |
| Category: |
Competition |
| Question: |
|
Rob, how are you? Your web site states that you are
the ISPC Standard Class Champion. Is that the same as USPSA
Limited Class? |
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Rob's Answer: |
The two classes are very similar. IPSC requires the
holster and magazine pouches to be placed behind the hip bones.
The gun, with magazine in place, must fit in a box they use to insure
the external size of the guns do not grow too large. Major caliber for
USPSA is 165,000 and IPSC is 170,000.
I think that is about it in terms of the differences. Generally,
for IPSC Standard Class, we just use our Limited guns with a mag well
that fits in the box and shorter mags.
Thanks for your question. Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Banks Pressley of Rockhill, South Carolina |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
I'm planning to give USPSA Limited 10 a try next month
with a XD-40 tactical and I had a few questions regarding gun set-up.
My current set-up:
16.5 lbs wolf recoil spring
Don's recoil rod
Dawson's fiber-optic front sight
Bar-sto magwell
Shipping gun today for a Canyon Creek trigger job
1. What weight recoil spring and bullet do you use in your XD-40 for
USPSA?
2. Is it worth milling the slide to reduce weight, and increase slide
speed?
Thanks for your time! |
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Rob's Answer: |
Sorry for such a late reply, I am just now going through
saved questions as yours is a good one!
Sounds to me like you have a pretty good handle on the gun setup
already. I have modified my own XD-9 for the IDPA Nationals in
very similar fashion. The only major difference between yours and
mine is I am shooting a 9 x 19 for ESP class as there is no major power
factor to make. Other than that. you are describing one of my
guns. I may shoot the one I have with Bo-Mars lo-mounted by
Springfield's Custom Shop and a Bar-Sto barrel, but the rest is pretty
much the same.
I am lucky in that I am Sponsored by Winchester Ammunition and do not
have to hand load. The lightest recoiling load they produce in .40
that makes major is 165 grain, so that is what I shoot. Shooters
are very different in what they want. Some like fast and snappy
recoil, others slower and soft. I do not seem to care too much one
way or the other. What I think "feels good" may not give me the
best results anyway and the only way to know what actually works best
for you is to try everything.
Lightening the slide is probably a good idea if you go the snappy
feeling route. It will give you a little more latitude in your
spring choices if you should ever want to load down to a lower power
factor. It is permanent though so keep that in mind. If you
like the slow and soft recoil you will probably want to pass this
modification by.
I think you are going to have a pretty neat L-10 gun when you are done.
I have a pair in .40 done just like you describe; one with a
lightened slide and one without. On top of your mods, I have
re-contoured the top portion of the grip frame to fit my hands better.
I have found the best way to mount the Bar-Sto magwell is to epoxy it on
to the frame and then re-cut the back opening to enlarge the magwell
entry. This may require a little filler to get it all matched up,
but you are left with a gun that is as easy to reload as anything I have
seen. Good Luck! Rob |
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| Submitted By: |
Mike Collins of Mobile, Alabama |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
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Let me just say that it's a pleasure to be speaking with
you; as you and others shooters of your caliber are my current
inspiration to excel beyond my current skills (which at the moment leave
something to be desired). I currently have a new Springfield
Armory 1911-A1 (Mil-Spec) that I plan to send off to their Custom Shop
to have some work done. I would like your opinion on the
following: What are the necessary or useful modifications that I
should have done? I unfortunately do not have a very large
budget due to school and other expenses, so I was just wondering what
are some the essentials that you would recommend for my "plain-Jane"
government model. The primary purpose of this pistol will be for
competition. Thanks again for your time; and I would appreciate
any assistance that you give :-) |
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Rob's Answer: |
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For competition, modifications that I feel are essential
are the mag well, a good trigger pull and easy to use sights. We
are assuming the gun is reliable already. There are many options,
but pick a setup you like and then spend the money on ammo. If the
gun works, the next thing is practice. You can shoot a basic gun
and do fine but you have to build skill. That only comes from the range
time and expended rounds. Good luck and we'll see you soon at a match!
Rob |
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