Sit, kneel or stand

[Pea]

Hello, being a newbie, I want to start off in a way that means I can get going and improve over time. I have a HW40 and use it in my back garden, shooting at atarget about 10 metres away. I tend to stand and hold the pistol in both hands but my question is: should I be seated, kneel or stand in order to progressively improve my aim? Sorry if this is a stupid question - there's so much to take on board but since it's all new, I want to start right so I don't have to unlearn bad habits later! I have a handy picnic bench on which I can sit if this is better than standing.

 

[Chewy]

It depends on what you want to do long term really. If you’re just shooting for fun, you can do what you want. If you’re looking to start 10 metre target pistol shooting properly you should be standing and shooting 1 handed.

 

[jev]

Anything goes if you're in it just for fun. Sitting, supported, whatever. The best position is probably where you feel most comfortable. Sitting on a picnic table with something to prop the pistol up might get you the best results in short time.

Olympic style competition pistol shooting is always standing up, single handed. In some competitions, supported and sometimes even double handed.

Me, my best target shooting position is single handed standing up. That has to do with eyesight more than anything else though. When shooting in the dynamic competitions (firearms) double handed wins. But I also have a guy in my team who prefers and is better single handed. In one of the disciplines we also shoot prone (laying belly-down), sitting (as in: on the floor) and kneeling. These positions by far score worse than the standup positions, even in rapid fire.

 

[Gym.Hodgson]

Pistol training - you could put a mark on a plain background, pinned to a wall and practice dry firing the ‘40 (half cocking till the trigger ‘clicks’) paying attention to handgrip/grip pressure/stance. One good drill is to position yourself facing the target, close your eyes then raise the (unloaded) pistol to target - open your eyes and notice where you’re actually pointing the gun. Adjust stance to ‘on target’ and repeat. Remember you are not trying to hold the sights dead on for eternity, rather try to be centred, having pulled through the first trigger stage, and whilst at the bottom of an out-breath, squeeze through the second stage; following through the ‘shot’ staying on target, so that you don’t pull the pellet off target, when shooting for real. Some say you should drop your sight line onto target, others raise up to target - do whatever suits you!
ChatGPT will give you a good training plan, if you give it the correct prompts/ask the right questions It’ll even analyse your paper targets!
Above all enjoy your shooting.

 

[Pea]

Pistol training - you could put a mark on a plain background, pinned to a wall and practice dry firing the ‘40 (half cocking till the trigger ‘clicks’) paying attention to handgrip/grip pressure/stance. One good drill is to position yourself facing the target, close your eyes then raise the (unloaded) pistol to target - open your eyes and notice where you’re actually pointing the gun. Adjust stance to ‘on target’ and repeat. Remember you are not trying to hold the sights dead on for eternity, rather try to be centred, having pulled through the first trigger stage, and whilst at the bottom of an out-breath, squeeze through the second stage; following through the ‘shot’ staying on target, so that you don’t pull the pellet off target, when shooting for real. Some say you should drop your sight line onto target, others raise up to target - do whatever suits you!
ChatGPT will give you a good training plan, if you give it the correct prompts/ask the right questions It’ll even analyse your paper targets!
Above all enjoy your shooting.

Thanks - the dry firing eyes closed thing is great!