Conditioning to avoid flinch/blink

[kevin c]

Try this as a reconditioning drill. Bring the following to the range:

an airsoft semiauto

a .22 semiauto

a centerfire semiauto

a friend

ammo, gas, mags, good eye and double ear protection

Stand quite close to your friend as he empties the airsoft into the berm. Watch the slide cycle for every shot, looking specifically to see the slide return to battery, but not tracking the slide back and forth. If you don't see the slide return to battery, back up a bit until you do. Do this a few times.

Then shoot the AS into the berm yourself, watching the slide cycle for every shot. DON'T aim or track the sight, just see the slide movement, the same way as above. It may help to fire with the gun down in the low ready position, looking down on the slide from above to see it go back into battery. Do this a few times.

.

Repeat with the .22, several cycles worth, first your friend with you standing close, then you yourself, and then finally the same with the centerfire pistol.

It should be easier to adapt to the increased noise and recoil of each subsequent pistol if you are first conditioned to something less intimidating. It is less intimidating watching somebody else shoot than to do it yourself (especially since it's harder to anticipate the recoil shock when you aren't pulling the trigger yourself), and it's easier to start off further away from the gun.

Once you can reliably see the slide close, with the centerfire, you can work on aiming with the gun mounted in the standard aiming position.

spelling/grammar edit

Edited January 10, 2013 by kevin c