PERFORMANCE
PROBLEMS: FLINCHING AND JERKING
by Dave France
INTRODUCTION
Involuntary body movements may
occur while shooting firearms, either while the competitor is pulling the
trigger (jerking) or after the hammer fall begins (flinching). Flinching may occur when we feel the trigger
move (after it is pulled out of the full cock notch in the tumbler or
hammer). Flinching may also start after
we hear the sound of the round being fired.
These involuntary movements are the biggest obstacles to accurate shooting
in both individual or team competition for some skirmishers (including
me).
In any type of firearm
competition we may aim carefully, hold well on the target, and practice good
trigger control; but cause the shot to miss because of an involuntary movement
that starts after the trigger is released.
In my experience, if I see the barrel move to one side during recoil or
rise higher or lower than normal during recoil, the shot will strike far from
the point of aim.
The effects of involuntary
movements are much more detrimental to accurate shooting with Civil War era
firearms, due to long lock times and barrel times, as compared with modern
firearms.
When we miss targets in the team
events or shoot eights and sevens on paper targets, we are hesitant to blame
involuntary movements as a major source of shooting problems. We tend to reject flinching or jerking as a
problem, and blame the light, poor trigger control, poor ammunition, or the
firearm itself. We may dismiss
involuntary movements as a problem for several reasons:
·
There are several types of flinches resulting in
errant shots that are not recognized as being caused by flinching.
·
If the problem is flinching or jerking, we must
admit the solution must be something within ourselves.
·
We cannot always detect the involuntary movement
or see the barrel move incorrectly during recoil.
If we practice good “follow
through,” we continue to maintain concentration during the recoil of the
firearm and may be able to see the barrel move incorrectly when flinching or
jerking. Severe flinches are easily
seen, but a smaller movement may not be noticed.
If we want to shoot our best, it is important to reduce the frequency of
involuntary movements. We can reduce
the adverse effects of involuntary movements to a very limited extent by using
firearms and ammunition that reduce barrel time and lock time. However, significant improvement can only be
affected by making an effort in training, in practice, and while actually
competing.
SOME COMMON TYPES OF INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS
As noted earlier, the most common
definition of flinching is an involuntary movement made after the hammer or
firing pin is released (i.e.) after the trigger pull is complete. On the other hand, jerking is generally
considered as an unintentionally rapid movement of the trigger during the
trigger pull. Jerking has been described
as a total loss of trigger control during which the finger seems to move on its
own. The jerk can occur during a slow
squeeze of the trigger, or it may occur when the competitor is trying to
“snatch a 10, jump on the trigger, or take a picture.”
In Competitive Shooting, (published by the NRA), the Russian author
Yur’Yev refers to jerking when he describes problems that many would call
flinches. Perhaps, it is not important
to distinguish between a flinch or jerk, since they both result from the same
problems; and both can be controlled in the same way. Also, they may both occur at the same
time. Yur’Yev theorizes that the
competitor may jerk the trigger at the same time he flinches with his shoulder
(Competitive Shooting, page
235). Some skirmishers believe trigger
jerking can occur, but deny that flinching ever occurs, or believe that
flinching is a large movement that can be detected easily by the shooter.
Flinching and jerking both occur,
and while some flinches are large movements, others are small and difficult to
detect. The small flinches result in
many of the nines or eights as well as missed pigeons and pots in the team
events. During the musket or carbine
team events, we have all heard (or said) something like, “I had a good hold,
and it seemed like a perfect shot, but I missed.” Many of those misses are due to jerks or
flinching.
A personal anecdote may
illustrate how small flinches can create problems for the skirmisher. At one of the national skirmishes, I shot a
very small five shot group on one of the 50-yard carbine target bulls. I could not see any sideways movement of the
barrel during recoil, but the group was located about three inches from the
center of the bull. After I realized the
target was going to have a very low score, I became less nervous and shot a
good target with my last five shots (a forty-eight). I did not alter my point of aim, and the
light did not change.
Many times we blame a change in
the light for a shift in impact point during a musket or carbine team match
(sometimes even during one event). Some blame a change in the light even when
no change in the light can be detected by eye. A more likely cause is flinching that is not
severe enough to be detected during follow through. Flinching may be caused when we become tired,
nervous, or fail to concentrate.
Consider Figure 1, an N-SSA
musket or carbine target into which five shots have been fired. Of course, we may fire five inaccurate shots
into the target for reasons that have nothing to do with involuntary movements
if the firearm and ammunition combination used is inaccurate or if we have
problems with basic skills. On the other
hand, the poor shots may all be the results of involuntary movements. However, it is uncommon to flinch or jerk so
as to place the shots at different areas of the target during the course of
shooting one target. Refer to each shot
numbered in Figure 1:
1) The most common type of trigger jerk or
flinch results in a shot at
2) The same trigger jerk or flinch which results
in a three o’clock strike on the target will result in a shot placement in the
four or five o’clock area if the jerk is accompanied by a movement of the
shoulder.
3) The writer Yur’Yev (Competitive Shooting, page 234) states that this type of flinch is
actually a relaxation of the muscles supporting the firearm. This occurs after the trigger is released
(when the we feel the trigger move), or when we hear the shot, or even before
the trigger is released. I frequently
have this problem, and can see the barrrel drop before the muzzle rises during
recoil. Others, including Denny Coleman
(DSSA winner and expert carbine and musket competitor), have told me they can
occasionally see the same type of movement, always resulting in a low impact
point on the target.
Similarly, several skirmishers
tell me that when they hold the firearm too long, they will relax their hold as
they squeeze the trigger (before firing), resulting in a discernable barrel
drop and a low bullet strike.
4) For some skirmishers, a shot at the
5) A high shot can be caused by pulling the
shoulder rearward after the competitor feels the trigger release in
anticipation of the recoil. I have this
problem at times, and when I see the muzzle rise higher than normal, the shot
always goes high. The same problem can
result in a hit at about
The discussion of Figure 1 should illustrate that many misses
(some at locations not normally considered to result from flinches or jerks)
can be caused by various involuntary movements.
Misses at any location may result from this problem. And they all arise from the same basic
source, and can be eliminated (or reduced in frequency) by the same corrective
measures.
TRIGGER CONTROL
Many believe trigger control is the key to preventing flinching. Trigger control is important for accurate
shooting, but it is not the key to avoiding flinching. Many sources discuss trigger control in great
detail; a briefer summary follows.
We should concentrate on sight
alignment primarily, not on the trigger control. If concentration is primarily upon trigger
control, accuracy will suffer. However,
concentration on sighting is not automatic, and failing to concentrate can
cause poor accuracy. We should not think
of anything during the aiming and firing process except aiming and follow
through, although we should be aware of trigger control.
Trigger control must be largely
automatic. We should practice enough,
and spend enough time in dry firing to develop an automatic trigger
control. In driving a car, we make decisions,
(turn right, stop, start, slow down) without agonizing over the decisions and
without requiring our full attention.
Trigger control is not absolutely automatic, but pulling the trigger
should become as automatic as driving an automobile.
It is possible to shoot well with
a quick trigger pull at the moment the sights are aligned on the target or by
using a slower pull (or squeeze). The
slower trigger pull is appropriate for beginners, and may help in obtaining the
best accuracy since a too heavy pull can move the sights out of alignment. Furthermore, many skirmishers cannot
consistently pull the trigger quickly without flinching after the trigger is
released.
Some authorities have written
that if the slower trigger pull is used, the rifle competitor will not know
when the shot will be fired, and he/she is unlikely to flinch. In my experience this is not generally true,
and has caused some skirmishers to believe if they concentrate and use a slow
trigger squeeze that success in shooting will follow. However, as noted earlier, we can have good
trigger control but flinch after we feel the trigger release or when we hear
the sound of ignition. The tendency to
flinch when using a slow trigger pull is aggravated if we do not concentrate
well and if we are not ready for the shot.
If the shot occurs when we are not expecting it, we may be surprised
slightly and fire an errant shot.
Some competitors find that if the
trigger pull interval is too long, the tendency to jerk is more
pronounced. After the trigger pull
begins, the time to pull the trigger should be limited to a few seconds. Exactly how long depends upon the
individual. Practice and dry firing
should be used to develop a consistent trigger pull.
REDUCING THE FREQUENCY OF INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS
A number of precautions can be
taken by the skirmisher to reduce the frequency of involuntary movements. Unfortunately there is no “silver bullet,” no
one solution that will completely eliminate involuntary movements.
1
Develop a good holding
ability. Some skirmishers can hold
their firearms very steady; they demonstrate that ability by placing all of
their shots within or very close to the ten ring. Holding very well is helpful in two
ways. It reduces the group size we are
capable of. And, it helps us alleviate
flinching or jerking because we are more likely to squeeze off our shots
carefully rather than hurrying a shot when the sights are on the target.
Good physical conditioning aids
in holding the firearm well. Both
strengthening exercises and aerobic exercises are helpful. All works I have read on shooting sports
recommend exercising for shooting sports, including Steve Light’s article
“Steps To Good Shooting” in The Skirmish
Line, March/April 1983.
The choice of firearm for use in
musket and carbine competition can strongly affect the ability to hold the
firearm well. Many skirmishers prefer
muskets with long barrels or rifles with heavy barrels as do many participants
in NMLRA and modern rifle competition.
However, some skirmishers cannot hold the a heavy firearm steady since
the excessive weight may cause excessive muscle strain that contributes to
flinching or jerking. A shorter, or shorter and lighter, longarm can be a help
in holding well.
I can hold my very heavy Jaeger
rifle very steady. Yet, I flinch with
this firearm more frequently than with the lighter rifles and carbines I use in
N-SSA competition. Other skirmishers
shoot best with heavier firearms. The
important point is shoot a firearm that
best fits your personal requirements.
Try different firearms, and you may find there is a firearm with a
combination of length and weight that will prove easier for you to use than any
other.
Many competitors prefer to extend
the left arm from the body to support the forearm of the musket, rifle, or
carbine. And many shoot very well that
way. However, every work on rifle
shooting I have read suggests that the best hold for the rifle can be achieved
by supporting the left arm against the ribcage.
All the authorities, of whom
I am aware, outside of blackpowder shooting sports, recommend the use of bone
support for the rifle to reduce muscular effort. Bone support refers to supporting the bones
of the upper arm against the ribs.
Many authorities recommend using
the natural point of aim for competition with rifles to lessen muscle strain
and reduce the frequency of flinches and jerks.
To find the natural point of aim, we should begin before the actual
sighting process.
·
Start by bringing the firearm to the normal
shooting position, and look through the sights at the target.
·
Close both eyes while continuing to hold the
firearm in position.
·
Relax the muscles holding the firearm as much as
possible while maintaining the hold.
·
Open the eyes to check if the point of aim has
moved from the target.
·
If the sights are positioned to one side of the
target, move the right foot (or left foot for the left-handed skirmisher) to
reposition the sights. Repeat the
process until the sights are positioned on the target with the minimum amount
of muscle strain.
After practicing this procedure
several times, the skirmisher will be able to locate his/her feet into the
correct position without closing the eyes.
2
Make dry firing part of the training routine. Authorities strongly recommend dry firing as
an essential part of training for any shooting sport. Dry firing should be used to train oneself to
perfect the hold, sighting, and trigger control, and to make trigger control an automatic process. In dry firing the absence of the sound and
recoil provides the competitor with an opportunity
to train the mind not to react to the trigger movement and recoil with a flinch. It also provides the opportunity to detect
any errors that would not be detected because of the recoil. Dry firing is boring, but the emphasis on
this practice indicated by competitive shooting authorities suggest that it
should not be completely replaced by practice.
Each skirmisher requires a few
seconds (perhaps only two or three) to bring the firearm to the shoulder and
align the sights. There may also be some
additional time needed for the initial shaking or unsteadiness in the hold to
dissipate. After the skirmisher begins to pull the trigger, there should only be a
short interval before the shot is fired.
One skirmisher told me that after
many years of skirmishing he started counting to himself during the trigger
pull in dry firing, and was able to develop the ability to fire most of his
shots in one to three seconds after beginning the trigger pull. He credited the shorter, more consistent
trigger pull for improving his musket and carbine team performance because it
reduced the tendency to flinch.
A useful addition or partial
substitute for dry firing is practice with air rifles or pistols and with 22
caliber firearms.
Yur’Yev in Competitive Shooting suggests that dry firing before a match is
helpful and during a match after a bad shot.
Many skirmishers use the snapping of caps as a chance to prepare
themselves for the team events.
3 Practice regularly. A
schedule of regular practice is essential for top performance in any sport.
Frequent (at least once per week) short practices are better than longer
less frequent practices. Plan ahead for
practices and try to practice while rested and not rushed for time. Take breaks during practice if you begin to
feel fatigued; you want to shoot well, not practice flinching or otherwise
shooting poorly. Approach practices seriously and try very hard to shoot well
and to learn from the practice. Varying the practice routine will help to keep
it fun. I usually practice with friends,
sometimes by myself, sometimes using the N-SSA musket and carbine paper
targets, sometimes using breakable targets while timing each event, and sometimes
at silhouettes of the targets used in the team events.
4
Don’t hold the rifle or carbine
long enough to cause trembling or blurred vision. After holding a few seconds (how long
depends upon the individual’s physical condition) vision begins to blur. At this point the tendency to flinch is also
increased. A skirmisher should learn
how long he/she can hold without increasing the tendency to flinch. When competing in individual matches with
longarms, it may be helpful to rest a few extra seconds between shots even
beyond the time required to reload. The
extra time gives the body longer to recover before starting the next shot. I found resting between shots to be
particularly helpful when I used heavy or long muskets.
5
Reduce the recoil and noise of
firing. Recoil is reduced by using
a lighter bullet and/or a lighter powder charge. The powder charge and bullet used by a large,
strong skirmisher without a flinching problem may cause a severe flinching
problem for the smaller skirmisher.
Reducing the bullet weight generally lessens recoil more than reducing
the powder charge. Some skirmishers use
padding in the shirt or jacket or a pad under the shirt to reduce the recoil
sensation.
However, reduced recoil alone
will not solve all flinching problems.
Many competitors find they flinch occasionally while shooting a 22
caliber firearm or air rifle.
Furthermore, efforts to reduce recoil can be overdone; using a very
light bullet and light powder charge can create other problems.
Effective earplugs reduce the
sound heard by the skirmisher, and are helpful for some in reducing flinching.
If FFFg is used to replace FFg in
a musket or carbine to achieve the same muzzle velocity, noise and recoil will
be reduced slightly. A complete
explanation of the reason for this difference is outside the scope of this
study. Briefly, the difference is caused
by the faster burning rate of FFFg. The
faster burning reduces the pressure at the muzzle resulting in less recoil and
noise. Faster burning also makes better
use of the energy in the powder, so that less powder is required with an
equivalent charge of FFFg. A lower
weight of powder also reduces recoil.
6
Avoid being overtired while
shooting. If a competitor is tired,
the tendency to flinch is increased.
Starting the skirmish after a good night’s sleep is helpful. Other things a skirmisher can do to avoid
being tired are a matter of common sense.
7
Nervousness is a significant cause
of flinching. We have all heard of,
or experienced, the target that is only one shot short of having an outstanding
score, and is ruined by the last shot that is flinched out of the scoring
rings. Many sources provide information
on how to control nervousness, including Competitive
Shooting by A.A. Yur’Yev. The short
summary of some points that follows may help:
·
Build confidence by practicing regularly and
competing frequently.
·
Concentrate solely on each shot. Do not think about the next shot, the
previous shot or the score.
·
It may be helpful to take all the time allowed
for the individual event to help alleviate nervousness. The best skirmisher I have known for
remaining cool while shooting was Fred Andrews.
He seemed to work hard at shooting each target, and he frequently took
nearly the full time allowed for each individual target, usually with excellent
results. In his prime Fred was one of
the best individual competitors in the N-SSA.
·
On the other hand, at times some may find they
can shoot individual targets best if they fire at the same pace or nearly the
same pace they use in the team matches.
·
Remember to have fun. Remind yourself you are shooting for
enjoyment, and shooting well increases the fun.
If a competitor allows anything to make him/her irritated or tense, he/she
is more likely to flinch. I find it
relieves stress to talk with the other skirmishers on the line before the event
or individual relay.
·
If scoping all the shots makes you nervous, try
shooting without looking at the target after firing enough shots to adjust the
point of aim for range conditions. This
has worked well for me at times. But one
must be careful to avoid the tendency to not concentrate well when shooting
without a scope.
8
Follow through for each shot. It may be helpful for the skirmisher to remind
himself/herself to follow through during the aiming and trigger pull
process. Following through helps the
skirmisher to see if he/she has a problem with involuntary movements. It also helps to train the mind to continue
to control the firearm during recoil.
9 Use firearms with a trigger pull that is
crisp (no creep, no feeling of motion), light, and short. Eliminating creep or the mushy feeling detected
with some locks removes the sense that the trigger is moving. If the skirmisher cannot feel the trigger
move, the tendency to flinch is reduced.
A light trigger pull permits the skirmisher to apply less force when
squeezing the trigger; as a result it is easier to keep the sights aligned on
the target. A short trigger pull reduces
the time required to squeeze the trigger.
The reduced time spent squeezing reduces the tendency to jerk or flinch.
10 Using firearms with a faster lock time and short barrel time reduces
the effect of involuntary movements on the impact point at the target. The
benefit of a shorter lock and barrel time is very noticeable to skirmishers who
shoot modern rifles. We find a flinch or
jerk is much less harmful to good accuracy with a modern rifle than with a
black powder firearm. Unfortunately we
cannot make our firearms duplicate the shorter lock and barrel times of modern
firearms. Only small improvements are
possible. Some things that can help:
To reduce barrel time
·
A shorter barrel
·
An increased powder charge
·
A lighter bullet (probably more effect than
increasing the powder charge)
To reduce lock time
·
A lighter hammer
·
A stronger main spring
·
A reduced hammer throw (distance the hammer must
travel)
Some unaltered, original or
reproduction N-SSA long arms have only half the hammer throw of others. Some skirmishers have their modified muskets
and carbines to create a shorter hammer throw by making a new hammer or tumbler
or by altering the existing tumbler.
CONCLUSION
Jerking, flinching, trigger
control, and follow through are related.
Several authorities have written about subjects that relate to this
article. The most complete treatment is
in Competitive Shooting by A.A. Yur’Yev (published by the NRA). Another
good treatment is in the excellent
articles “Steps To Good Shooting” by Steve Light in The Skirmish Line in the January-February, March-April, and
November-December 1983 issues. Both of
the referenced works are well worth the time to read for skirmishers who wish
to do their best.