SEE THE FRONT SIGHT

FRANK HIGGINSON’s Shooting Tips

(As told to Mike LaVoie)

 

Frank Higginson is a top shooter of all time. He still holds records from 1970’s. He is a nice guy, easy going, and the finest instructor I am ever met. He has a way of teaching in terms we can under stand.

Scores are the result of groups. Everything we shoot on paper was the result of what and how we performed on the firing line. We are concerned with how our shots are grouping. Obviously the smaller the group, the better shooting you are doing. I will try to put into writing the proven techniques of a National Champion.

CHAPTER ONE

          GRIPS

The body is a machine. Your body gets hot and cold. When your body gets hot you perspire, hot weather makes your hands swell. When it's cold weather your hands shrink. The point being if you are using orthopedic grips, the grips may be too big or too small, depending on the weather. I recommend stock grips.

          CARE AND CLEANING

           

           

You must use a good cleaning solvent. When you are using a good cleaning solvent, use good ventilation so you don't get poisoned.

Don't dip the brush into the solvent jar or you will contaminate the entire bottle. Use a "jag" and dip the cloth wrapped around the "jag" and then dip it into the solvent.

Use a good bronze bore brush. One good trick I use is, take a shotgun 12 gauge cleaning rod and brush and run it up and down the barrel. Of course you will have the barrel out and laying down on a table. Place your hand on top of the barrel and press down. With the other hand run the brush up and back through the barrel.

Don't use a stainless brush.

The best cleaning rod to use is a stainless steel rod with a Teflon coating.

The second best is to use a Polished one piece steel rod.

An Aluminum is good to use as long as you make sure no oxidation has occurred on the rod as aluminum oxide can form on the rod making it an abrasive.

Don't use fiberglass, plastic or wood rods as contaminates can be stuck to them.

Clean your rod every pass and run the rod straight though the barrel.

You don't want to wear the barrel because of hitting the barrel with a cleaning rod.

Don't let Hoppes soak into a stainless steel barrel as it will eat it up.

Sweets solvent is a good gun cleaner, you must use a good oil after cleaning.

Stay away from flashy gimmicks. The Lewis lead remover and the steel wool pad are good if you want to remove some lead, but you will not be able to clean the lead-copper out of the corners of the lands and groves.

Look for a gray steak in a 22 barrel, this means your barrel needs to be cleaned. 22's should be completely cleaned every 6 months.

Any perfectly clean barrel may throw off your first shot. (Not in the usual group.) if the barrel is completely dry of oil.  Make sure you run dry patches though your barrel after you clean them.

 

(under construction)

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