Went to range with my LCP. Shot very poorly. Have arthritis and weak hands. Picked up my 1955 High Standard 22 revolver and unloaded all shots into the head profile of the target, SAO. I know the LCP is point and shoot, but is there anything I can do at the 20 - 25' range? I consistently shot low and left with the LCP. Would practice with the 22 using DAO help? Considering getting SAO 22lr pocket carry.
poor shot with LCP
- Thread starter pappyjack
- Start date
groberts
Single-Sixer
The LCP has higher felt recoil than the LC9 because it so light. That is probably what is throwing off your shots, especially with arthritis. If low and left is less than 4 inches point and shoot at the COM, not the head. Their you've got the gall bladder and liver and hitting them would be very painful. The LCP is not meant for target shooting, it's meant for close in defense.
Welcome to the forum poppyjack. Using the tip of the finger and slowly pulling back the trigger while maintaining the sight picture may help. Different ammo may also help. My LCP loves Tula. The cheap stuff-go figger.
gramps
gramps
Thanks for the replies. Have been trying different grips while dry firing using snap caps. Using this gun gets painful fairly quick. Will keep it for awhile and practice and try to overcome these problems. Really like size and weight for ccw. Any comments on grip and accessories with be appreciated. Have mag extensions installed. Thanks again
Jim Puke
Hunter
gramps said:
Sights...Who can see the sights?
I just look down the slide....get acceptable patterns like that, 'cause, they ain't no way that I will ever be able to see those sights if I ever need that gun.
I painted my front sight glo-yellow, and back sight glo-orange!
gramps
gramps
jammer
Single-Sixer
Good idea gramps. ;) I have been teaching my girlfriend at the range and have her do a round of dry fire in between live fire. It has helped her considerably. Concentrate on your grip and stance being the same every time. Concentrate on the muzzle/front sight simultaneously with the trigger. Keeping that front sight steady at the point the trigger breaks is key. Do 6 rounds of dry fire then load a full magazine and shoot.. that trigger sucks. I had one. Got rid of it because id rather carry my sp or sr40c but if all I had was daisy dukes on I would carry another lcp .. the pistol itself is rather snappy and with that trigger it makes for a hard time on target. Try the dry fire at the range and see if it helps. Could also take ibuprohen before going . I do..
Yeah, my hands are going, too. I actually like the feel of the LCP and the long trigger, it's the big semi-autos that bother my hands. The absence of any real sights on the LCP makes me feel good putting the rounds on a piece of notebook paper at 20 feet. I've had my LCP for about 4 years now. I've given up the idea of grouping 2" @21 feet. Putting it on the paper is good enough. Keep at it.
dlay
Bearcat
Its purpose is not target shooting, I shoot a clip thru mine about twice a year just to keep the feel in mind. It is the only pistol that I have that I will carry consistently. The size and weigh are the selling points, if its home on the nightstand it will not do you any good when you need it.
Have to agree with that. The availability of 380 ammo isn't what it was when I bought my LCP 4 years ago. I put over 800 rounds through it in the first year and a half and probably 100-150 in the last 2 and a half. The LCP is an awesome last line of up close defense gun, not a tack driver.dlay said:
Let's face it, it's a "belly gun". Sights are hardly necessary on it.
pappyjack,
DO NOT practice with your .22 hoping to improve with the LCP, it will probably make things worse. Unfortunately, the only way to get better with the LCP is to shoot the LCP.
Buckeye,
I know what you mean, but there is hope. I had laser and cataract surgery on my left (dominant) eye 3 weeks ago. Yesterday I shot without my glasses for the first time in 20 years. Not only could I see the sights, but the target looked much better too.
Today I had my right eye done. Can't wait to try it.
DO NOT practice with your .22 hoping to improve with the LCP, it will probably make things worse. Unfortunately, the only way to get better with the LCP is to shoot the LCP.
Buckeye,
I know what you mean, but there is hope. I had laser and cataract surgery on my left (dominant) eye 3 weeks ago. Yesterday I shot without my glasses for the first time in 20 years. Not only could I see the sights, but the target looked much better too.
Today I had my right eye done. Can't wait to try it.
Pappyjack, I have an LCP which I hate to shoot for pretty much the same reasons that you listed. In fact, I haven't shot it in almost 2 years. I recently purchased a Sig P238 which is a single action semi, slightly larger than the LCP. It shoots like a dream, and I recommend you check it out if you want a very good, well-made .380 alternative. The grip is larger, the recoil is much less and very manageable, and it comes with a great set of sights.
Jim Puke
Hunter
aWoods said:
I do not feel much recoil from the gun, at all. It recoils much less than a 642, to me.
How much recoil can a .380 have?
Perceived recoil is highly subjective. If you're an older person, with arthritis and/or arm & shoulder problems, you can have a lot of hurt with something like an LCP. A two fingered and very narrow grip, no sights, and a "snappy" recoil, makes this a lousy range gun IMHO. If you're not caught up in all the concealment and defensive issues, it especially makes no sense to own a gun like the LCP.
Jim Puke
Hunter
Paulmj said:
For the record, I am 54yrs old and have arthritis in the fingers on both hands...so I know a little about that. Also, the LCP does not generate enough recoil to hurt even the very worst arthritic arm or shoulder.
The ONLY reason the LCP is made, is for concealed carry and defensive purposes. WHO...would buy the LCP for a range gun?
pappyjack said:
Try South Georgia Outdoors in Cairo, GA. They have the P238 with a 6 round mag, a 7 round extended mag, Hogue grips and a leather wallet-holster, all for $500. I got mine two weeks ago and they say they have a lot of stock. It is a very sweet firearm, and I think you'll enjoy shooting it a lot more than the LCP.
Jim Puke
Hunter
pappyjack said:
If you do the Sig, just make SURE if carried in the pocket, that you use a good holster as it is carried cocked and locked if you want to be in Condition 1.
FergusonTO35
Hunter
I think the .32 Auto is the perfect pocket gun round. I can shoot my Kel-Tec P32 fast and with very good accuracy. Honestly, reading what has been said here I think Pappyjack would likely be better off trying another gun. Just how small do you need to go? A snubnose .38 revolver or the new Glock 42 would probably be alot easier to shoot and offer somewhat performance on target. I have an S&W 642 and it conceals almost as easily as the Kel-Tec and just as easy to shoot.
accessbob
Bearcat
I practice with my LCP at 50 feet (that's the only distance my gun club allows so I'm stuck with it). I found that I am not real great at that range but I can get it on target. But then I was able to visit an action range with a friend from another forum and, at 21 feet, I was hitting center mass with all of my shots and could transition from target to target quickly and get good shots off. I think the practicing at 50 feet, even though it seemed somewhat fruitless, had helped.
In fact, my friend had looked at me puzzingly and asked, "How can you do that?" (meaning hit the target so well.) He said he bought a Bodyguard and got rid of his LCP as he couldn't shoot it worth beans. The only thing I could think is that the concentrating on getting a good trigger pull while trying to hit at 50 feet was the thing that did it.
In fact, my friend had looked at me puzzingly and asked, "How can you do that?" (meaning hit the target so well.) He said he bought a Bodyguard and got rid of his LCP as he couldn't shoot it worth beans. The only thing I could think is that the concentrating on getting a good trigger pull while trying to hit at 50 feet was the thing that did it.
FergusonTO35
Hunter
Now that Lee has come out with a 95 grain wide flat point mold I'm kind of tempted to buy a .380...
Hog Sniper
Bearcat
Shooting low left makes me think you have too much finger in the trigger which is easy to do with that gun Trying to maintain your grip.
I think the size, weight and profile of the LCP is excellent for carry and concealment. I added a Crimson Trace laser because I assume if needed there was a good chance I would not have the time or opportunity to even raise the gun to use for rough aiming. At my age, holding this gun steady, even with a laser, is not easy, but I feel comfortable hitting a dinner plate size target at 20 to 25 feet using the Crimson Trace and firing moderately rapidly. I think the laser could be a lifesaver if forced to fire at an attacker from 10 or 15 feet away without time to raise the gun above waist level.
Of course, buying a laser almost doubles the cost of the gun, especially if you need a new holster to accommodate the larger size and shape of the gun with the CT laser attached, but its still cheaper than most carry guns. It doesn't approach the reliability of a j-frame revolver, but is much easier to conceal.
Of course, buying a laser almost doubles the cost of the gun, especially if you need a new holster to accommodate the larger size and shape of the gun with the CT laser attached, but its still cheaper than most carry guns. It doesn't approach the reliability of a j-frame revolver, but is much easier to conceal.
