Practice, practice, practice, practice, and more practice.

Get familiar with the trigger reset, and practice some more.



--Mark

 

You didn't mention what type of handgun you're shooting. Double taps are used in smaller caliber pistols (9mm or less) were one hit was not expected to stop an attacker.

I was trained by starting out with one shot - holding the trigger to the rear after the shot. You then release the trigger ONLY to the point were it resets. You then fire a second round.

After a zillion reps the speed comes naturally.

 

Shoot your first shot
Watch the front sight lift and start to travel back down
As this is happening release the trigger far enough to reset and start prepping/stacking it
As the front sight drops back on target break the trigger.

If you aren't prepping the trigger until the sights drop back on target they are going to be slow...

 

the gun i'm using is the glock 19

i'm using the g19 and shoot pretty well up to 10 yrds without rapid repeatitive shooting; i'm ok when i take my time to shoot the target. i do, however, want to improve my speed and technique, epecially the draw. I know that if i practice the draw at my own pace enough, my speed and ease will improve over time; that's no problem. i find double-taps to be a bit challenging because i don't fully understand the mechanics and technique behind it. PRACTICE I SHALL!

i'll practice reseting the trigger as my front sight drops as "ChrisKinsaman" suggested and i'll try to memorize my trigger more as "Mark A. Downing" suggested also.

thanx everyone
-dave

 

Follow up. You should start resetting the trigger as soon as the first shot breaks. You don't have to wait until the sight starts traveling back down...

I was trying to indicate that those two things happen simultaneously and clearly didn't express it well.

Thanks,

Chris

 

There are many shooting terms around, but "double tap" has to be one of the most improperly used. In terms of aimed fire:

1) Single shot: Sight picture, squeeze, break, reset, sight picture. Getting back on the trigger or "resetting" the trigger should be learned and practiced. How much you "prep" the trigger should be adjusted to your skill level to avoid an accidental discharge. Notice one shot, two sight pictures. Following through with the sights is very important. You will know you are doing this correctly if you see the front sight lift out of the notch and you can see muzzle flash (if it exists with your pistol/load/lighting conditions). If you are not seeing the sight lift then you are probably blinking at the moment the shot breaks. This is a very common issue and it can be overcome with practice and concentration (extra ear protection is the solution for many).

2) Controlled pair: Sight picture, squeeze, break, reset, sight picture, squeeze, break, reset, sight picture. Two shots, three sight pictures. The middle sight picture is often a "flash" sight picture where the process is working at a subconcious level. This is learned and reduced through practice. When done properly both shots are centered.

3) Accelerated pair: Sight picture, squeeze, break, reset, squeeze, break, reset, sight picture. Two shots, two sight pictures. Since two shots are broken with one sight picture this usually results in vertical stringing of the shots. There really isn't a great need for accelerated pairs, since with practice controlled pairs can be fired with great speed AND accuracy.

Also the term sight picture can vary with the difficulty of the shot. The examples above assume medium to long range where the shooter is actually using a classic sight picture. Every shooter interested in speed should investigate what "sight picture" is needed for them to make a good hit at various distances. At very close distances this may be simply pointing at the target, it may be seeing the rear outline of the pistol or side of the slide. At slightly farther distances it may be just the front sight. It takes experimentation and practice to determine what "alternative sight pictures" work for you. By reducing the amount of sighting information required it becomes faster to get a "sight picture" and therefore faster to make the shot(s).


Also check out Matt Burkett's "Timing Drill" at:
http://www.mattburkett.com/10.html

 

Uh...double-taps are for ALL calibers, not just 9mm and less.

 

Where are you missing,,,,what distance are you shooting.

A true double tap for anything longer than a couple yards is very questionable in terms of accuracy.

I have no idea what level of proficency you have with a pistol, please don't take this the wrong way,,,,,when the first shot fires are you perhaps closing your eyes with the firing of the pistol???


Beyond just a couple yards you should have one sight picture per shot....once you get accustomed to following the front sight, you'd be surprised how fast you can fire shots and get a good quick flash sight picture.

Ever shoot USPSA or IDPA.....Listen to the good shooters pistols when they shoot arrays of targets, the really fast guys have a steady/smooth rythmn like a sewing maching,,,,,,,,Smooth beats choppy speed and accuracy-wise.

You'll hear bang,,bang,,bang,,bang rather than bang,bang,,,,,bang,bang,,,,,bang,bang

Check out: http://64.62.172.100/~brianeno/index.php

for lots of pointers....This is Brian Enos' forum. Brian is a Grand Master USPSA shooter and there is loads of good information on his site. It is geared mostly toward USPSA and IDPA with of course the majority of time devoted to USPSA, but there are lots of good tips applicable to whatever type of pistol shooting you're into.

Brian along with several other very good shooters post regularly and are very willing to help.


H4444

 

I agree with Vincent. IMO, there is no such thing as "double taps", only individual, AIMED shots fired in rapid succession. These are accomplished with proper shooting technique, grip and trigger control. Each and every shot must be aimed. If your not aiming, how can you account for each and every shot? A proper grip must be used as to control muzzle flip during recoil. A somewhat locked wrist along with a tight grip will help the recoil to push rather than flip up. Controlling this muzzle flip will allow faster front sight and target acquistion. The trigger must be preped for each shot so you don't "pull" the shot. Don't slap the trigger. And did I mention practice, practice and more practice.

 

Here's something for you to try:

1). Strive to keep visual focus on your sights DURING recoil.
2). Learn to keep the trigger held back during recoil as well as reset the trigger as soon as you have a second sight picture.
3). Don't stop at pairs.


Thanks,
--
Gabriel Suarez
Suarez International, Inc.
303 E. Gurley St., Ste. 461 - Prescott, AZ 86301 USA
(Office) 928-776-4492
(Fax) 928-776-8218
(Mobile) 805-796-1123
http://www.suarezinternational.com
Student-Focused, Concepts-Based, Combat-Proven

 

Vincent has an excellent description of the various types of sighted shots (all rounds fired should be "aimed", but some are not indexed by using the sights).

However a 4th category should be added. A very useful and necessary way to shoot multiple shots (we have been discussing 2 but more are often desired) is the "Hammer". In this case one uses the flash sight picture to direct the first shot and then simply depends upon his shooting platform (I dislike the word "stance") to bring the weapon instantly back on target and presses the trigger without even waiting for the confirming sight picture. A 5th category is the "Split Hammer" in which two close targets are engaged with one shot ea - the split time being about .17 to .20 seconds.

As regards the controlled or accelerated pair, I differ from a lot of instructors in that I don't think it is productive to follow the front sight in recoil - the eye tends to overtravel. I have found that, just as on the draw or presentation, the front sight will always be on a straight line between the eye and the intended target... just keep your eye there with the focus at a distance of about 24" (it was there for the first shot, don't move it) and when the sight appears there again press the trigger. This does not make the folks who suggest following the sight wrong - it is just a different method one might try.

The main thing is to practice - don't forget the timer. Keep working at various ranges because you will be building that subconcious reflex to shoot at the right speed for the range.

Good luck,
Jim Higginbotham

 

As regards the controlled or accelerated pair, I differ from a lot of instructors in that I don't think it is productive to follow the front sight in recoil - the eye tends to overtravel.

I agree with Jim on this one. I picked this technique up from him. I may not make it work as quickly as some, but I'm satisfied with my results.

Andy

 

try to look at brianenos.com and click on the forums. TGO Jarret, barnhart, jetro, grauffel,etc are the greatest shooters in the world and they never do the double tap, they shoot 2 sight pictures. So its 2 aimed shots instead of 1 aimed and another "hopeful" hit


After a lot of practice you will see what you need to see to make an accurate shot and get 2 alphas.

Brian stresses that you should see everything including the sight picture of the second shot.

Splits of .16 to .25 are very common and hits are usually 2 alphas no matter what the range is. You should be patient and briane calls it visual patience to make accurate shots.

By the way TGO only lets Briane teach or talk to his students so he knows what he is talking about. And buy his book to find out what Im talking about

Hope to be of help

 

try to look at brianenos.com and click on the forums. TGO Jarret, barnhart, jetro, grauffel,etc are the greatest shooters in the world and they never do the double tap, they shoot 2 sight pictures. So its 2 aimed shots instead of 1 aimed and another "hopeful" hit

No doubt they are great shots, but participation in a particular shooting game does not automatically qualify one a the greatest shot in the world. Nor does the technique refined in those shooting games automatically transfer to the real world. To be sure some do and we must always be willing to try new techniques - or old ones that come around again - I haven't seen any of the new guys put 5 shots in a 50 cent piece in less than half a second as a 62 year old sign painter from Montanna did

I had the good fortune to be standing beside Ross Seyfried when someone asked him how it felt to be the greatest shot in the world. His response was - "I have no idea, the greatest shot in the world is probably some farmer we have never heard of". Ross was indeed one of the best I have ever seen (especially since he shot real guns with real loads) but he had a great point.

Food for thought,
Cordially,
Jim Higginbotham

 

I do a lot of work at 7 yds. shooting pairs and getting them into a three-inch circle. I shoot pairs from both a ready position and drawing from the holster. I also do some weak hand work. Once you consistently get the rounds grouping within the circle, try to increase your speed.

Most of it comes down to focusing on the front sight and mastering trigger release. Grip consistency also plays a major role particularly when you start working for increased speed. You need to get your shooting hand on the same place on the backstrap on each presentation.

I break it up too so I don't get into a rut. Sometimes you may need to fire more than a pair or only one round. I move back to 15 yds. I'll set up multiple targets. And I'll do some ball and dummy exercises. It is a good way to eliminate flinch (you'll catch yourself anticipating recoil when the hammer falls on the dummy round). Then you can get in some malfunction drill time.

 

Jim your probably right.

In self defense use like the idpa competitions, wherein it is imperitive to shoot "tactically" correct, TGO(Rob Leatham) dominates the field.

All he did was shoot ipsc style following idpa rules like shooting on a barricade exposing only ___ percent of your body, changing mags without dropping the mag on the floor.

he shoots 5- 10 seconds faster than idpa "martial artists" and gets a 98% -0 hits.

This has turned off a lot of idpa shooters who critisizes all ipsc shooters since they shoot with bad tactictics.

 

its bad tactics sorry about that

 

Jim your probably right.

In self defense use like the idpa competitions, wherein it is imperitive to shoot "tactically" correct, TGO(Rob Leatham) dominates the field.

he shoots 5- 10 seconds faster than idpa "martial artists" and gets a 98% -0 hits.
<snippage>

Jason;
Please do not think this is a criticism of the gentlemen you mentioned - they are all great guys - nor even a critique of the disciplines under discussion, but - as you may be indicating by the quotes around "tactical" - even IDPA is a shotting sport not necessarilly a true test of either tactics are truly relevant marksmanship (after all, about half the targets are at 7 yards or greater and shooting at longer than realistic ranges is not "harder" it is just different).

Aside from that, I never met one of the top shooter who disagreed with the estimate that winning a match is about 10% marksmanship and the other 90% a combination of mental prep/ correography.

That aside, I would not only agree with your estimate that Rob beats so called "Martial Artists" but by a whole lot more that 10 seconds - the guys he beats by 10 seconds are probably trying the same techniques but just aren't quite as good

I guess what I am trying to say is that it is dangerous to make real self defense decisions based on someones performance at a truly difficult and complex task like that involved in shooting competition. That and the fact that the technique that works for one person might not work as well for the next (though there are some generalities we might suggest). It remains the ultimate responsibility of the actual user to take the equipment the timer and the targets to the range and measure his own skill - that means *work* and unfortunately, most of us sort of balk at that (which is another reason the above mentioned people do so well - they actually work at it).

Very best regards,
Jim Higginbotham

 

amen you are right, we shoot the stages after we check it out and think about how to shoot it and where to shoot.

:lol: :lol:

 

Jim

I have to concur with your comments about Ross Seyfried. I knew him fairly well in the late 70's and early '80's, when he was still married to Judy.

He did it with a pretty much box gun, full power loads and was one of the most unassuming guys I've ever met. Very approachable, humble and a great shooter.

Judy did some great scrimshaw stuff as well. I am lucky to have a pair or ivory 1911 slabs she did for me back when.

Regards.