Believe us, we know better than most how easy it is to develop bad habits at the range. After all, we sell ammo, it’s literally what we do.
Speaking of that, load up on some 9mm bulk ammo while you’re here and get to the range if you suffer from any of these bad habits. You’ll need it if you’re going to break them.
Weak Grip; Limp-Wristing
Having a weak grip on the gun is one of the worst things you can do, as it can result in limp-wristing.
The telltale characteristics of a limp-wristed shooter is a gun that consistently produces stovepipe jams, even when different rounds are fired through the same gun.
Basically, it’s when you’re not holding the gun tightly enough to allow the action to cycle fully, so the empty casing gets part way extracted before the slide slams shut on it again.
The solution is to drill while establishing a firm, strong hold on the gun.
Bad/Weak Stance
Standing up straight, with knees not bent, or worse, leaning slightly backward, is a recipe for throwing you off balance.
It will also make you tired more quickly as you will have to work actively to counteract recoil. Bend your knees slightly, lean forward and into the shot - you’ll last longer.
Not Seeing the Front Sight
A lot of shooters, especially new ones, get easily confused, switching back and forth between looking at the rear sight, the front sight, and the target.
You need to focus on your front sight while having your rear sight aligned, and the front sight must be covering the target.
Failure to find the front sight will degrade your accuracy. Slow down and spend time focusing on it, it will pay off.
Flinching
Flinching occurs when some part of you moves before the trigger breaks, in anticipation of recoil. The best way to break this bad habit is at the range with dry-fire training, but you can also work with a shooting instructor to help get over it.
Jerking the Trigger
Jerking the trigger is actually fairly similar to flinching. It happens when you try to shoot too quickly and apply too much force to the trigger, making the muzzle jump or jerk a little before the bullet even leaves the barrel.
For obvious reasons, this destroys accuracy. You need to slow down, breathe, hold the gun steady, and move your trigger finger deliberately, not in a frenzy, so that the gun doesn’t move at all before the trigger breaks.
Too Much Trigger Finger
Another problem occurs when shooters place too much of their finger on the trigger, so that the tip of your finger past the first joint is in contact with the blade of the trigger.
This can result in shots that trend wide, and usually to the right of the point of aim (for right handed shooters). Only the pad of your trigger finger should be on the trigger. Any more or less and your shots will skew off to the sides.
Not Training Enough
Another bad habit is an easy one to rectify, and a simple problem: simply not putting in enough range time. If you’re serious about breaking these other bad habits, you should be at the range at minimum once per week and you should be shooting consistently.
No Follow Through
While you’re learning, you should not be quick-drawing or moving your position right after you fire. Far too many shooters lower the handgun right after firing. Don’t do it. Hold your position and locate where your shot landed with your gun still raised. Then correct and fire again if a correction is needed.
Bad Trigger and Muzzle Discipline
This one will not make you a better shooter, but it will make you a safer shooter, and that is an important prerequisite anyway.
Rule one: keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. No exceptions, ever. Lay your finger alongside the slide for a comfortable resting place.
Rule two: never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy. No exceptions, ever. This applies on and off the range, whenever you are handling the firearm.
Good practice, in fact, is not to handle your handgun at the range except when raising it to fire.
Poor Gun Maintenance
Lastly, one more bad habit you should break is the habit some have of never cleaning their firearms. Some would tell you you should clean your gun every time you fire it. While we don’t disagree, it’s acceptable not to be that extreme, since modern primers and propellants are non-corrosive.
Still, in the interest of safeguarding reliable feeding, extraction, and accuracy, it’s a good idea to disassemble and deep-clean your handgun after every 1000 rounds, if not more frequently.
Stock Up with Some 9mm Bulk Ammo and Hit the Range
The solution to most of these bad habits is more range time and training with a purpose. For that, stock up here on some 9mm bulk ammo and carve out the time you need to become a more proficient shooter. Your future self will thank you.