I just recently made a trip to the range to try out my new xds with a 3.3 inch barrel. I could keep decent groups at 7 yards but nothing to brag about. They were maybe 5-6 inches. I was wondering what are good ways to improve with such a short barreled handgun?
Thanks guys!
Practice practice practice to the point of muscle memory.
Trigger pull is absolutely critical with such a short barrel. The tiniest movement induced during the trigger pull will translate to inches of movement at the POI.
Overall, there are limitations to a handgun with that short of a barrel that will be tough to get past. A gun like that is not so much designed to hit something as it is to be used at distances where it is hard to miss. A 5 to 6 inch group is well within the design parameters, as they say.
Grouse
With my LCR, I’ve learned that at 5 yds or less to focus on the target and squeeze the trigger. The 1 3/4″ bbl doesn’t leave a lot of sight to look down. Dear old dad taught me to sight a handgun like pointing your finger. Focus, point and squeeze- – jerr
I just recently made a trip to the range to try out my new xds with a 3.3 inch barrel. I could keep decent groups at 7 yards but nothing to brag about. They were maybe 5-6 inches. I was wondering what are good ways to improve with such a short barreled handgun?
Thanks guys!
Three inch barrel or 9 inch barrel,,,,,,,,,,it really doesn’t matter. Ya right, you are saying, but it is/can be true.
Shooting a short barrel gun is much the same as throwing a ball or as has been mentioned, pointing your finger. Shooting a short barrel gun should be “instinctive aiming” in the same way an instinctive shooter aims a bow with out any sights at all.
Good hand position and practice practice practice. A word about hand position; Find the grip/hold on your firearm which allows the gun to be naturally pointed at your target when you extend you hand to a shooting stance. By this I mean you should be able to WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED raise your gun in the direction of your target, open your eyes and the gun should indeed be pointing at the target. If not, if you have to move your wrist to get the gun on target, then you need to retrain yourself in just how/where your hand placement is in relation to your gun. It needs to be consistent with “what
FEELS on target”, IS “on target”.
I hope I’ve explained this well and remember, this is just one man’s opinion. It works for me shooting a bow and it works for me shooting guns.
One thing to practice is to shoot with both eyes open. I’ve learned to do that with either open sights or scope. After a bit of practice it comes naturally and is perfect for adapting to a short barreled hand gun. Because of tired eyes, I can’t do it any more but as kids, starting with bb guns, and shooting with both eyes open, on sunny days we used to be able to track a bullet as it left the barrel. Strange, but true 
jerr
When I bought my Ruger LCR in 38 Special with crimson grips it was interesting at first until I practiced my trigger pull with just the laser, I was pulling high and left after dry fiting for 20 minutes I had no problem hitting a pop can at 15 yards. I will take it out and dry fire just to stay consistent.
If you have a laser pointer around I would tape it to the barrel and practice the trigger pull it helps tremendously. You will learn a lot.
If you have a laser pointer around I would tape it to the barrel and practice the trigger pull it helps tremendously.
Good advice above. I got the same from an instructor the other week. Laserlyte was an option he gave for a gun that didn’t have one mounted.
All of this assumes the fundamental of a proper grip is in place.
I took a couple classes and getting that straight was the number one thing that is helping my shooting. Still practicing this myself. Something else to consider.
My first carry was a DAO Smith snubby. No rear sight. Talk about finger control. I renamed that a belly gun because you would have to be touching someones belly with the barrel to hit them.
My first carry was a DAO Smith snubby. No rear sight. Talk about finger control. I renamed that a belly gun because you would have to be touching someones belly with the barrel to hit them.
At least with that gun you did not have to worry about taking it out of battery when putting it against the perps belly. I am always concerned about people who buy an auto and don`t realize what can happen if the occasion arises and the perp is on you at close quarters can take it out of battery.
Question to Carter Johnson.
What do you want to use your weapon for?
Plinking?
Target practice
Or
Personal Protection.
If your answer is one or more of the first two, get a longer barrel weapon.
If your answer is the last one, are your groups tight enough to be considered to hit a body mass at 7 feet? I would be practicing at 12′ personally.
I tried to make my Glock 26 (3″ barrel) a target gun. It just isn’t made for that. It’s personal protection only and if you’re confident you can hit center mass with more then one shot (and in a hurry), it’s doing it’s job. 
Yes it is a personal protection piece. I suppose I am able to do that with it so far but I will try the other tips given. Thanks guys!
I think the thing that is being overlooked here is are you using a proper gangsta grip?
I think the thing that is being overlooked here is are you using a proper gangsta grip?
You also have to use your other hand for support.
Like this:
Two-Handed-Grip.jpg
you guys should teach some of the ispc teams might improve their times.
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