--- title: How to Stop Flinching description: "Flinching or \"anticipation\" of explosion can plague any deer hunter." image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/how%20to%20stop%20flinching.jpg --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - How to Stop Flinching [Videos](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/videos) [How-To's](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/how-tos) # How to Stop Flinching 2 Min Read By [Jason Cruise](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/jason-cruise) ![How to Stop Flinching](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/how%20to%20stop%20flinching.jpg) Flinching or "anticipation" of explosion can plague any deer hunter.  Every deer hunter knows the moment. You’ve done the work. You found the animal, settled into your position, and waited. Then the shot is there, and something in you pulls away before the rifle ever fires.    That’s flinching. It isn’t a character flaw. Your body is trying to protect you from a loud noise and a kick you already expect. The rifle matters. But a great rifle won’t help you much if you flinch when it counts. In this video, Jason Cruise talks about how he stopped missing deer at the moment of truth. He explains what he learned about the trigger and what he learned about his own reactions, and why the two are connected. Learn how professional trigger work and proper shooting mechanics can transform your precision rifle shooting accuracy. Heavy factory trigger pull weights ranging from five to eight pounds introduce hand flex, reticle movement, and severe trigger jerk right before ignition. In this video, we break down how tuning your trigger pull weight down to a crisp two to three pounds eliminates creep and over-travel, creating a clean surprise break that keeps your crosshairs rock-steady on target. We also examine the mechanics behind recoil anticipation—commonly known as flinching—and how subconscious self-preservation reactions cause muzzle dipping, sight picture disruption, and off-target shots downrange. The clear performance gap between a stock heavy trigger and a tuned custom aftermarket trigger is real, showing you how reduced pull weight improves follow-through and delivers tighter MOA shot groupings at extended distances. What You'll Learn in This Video: 3 Proven Fixes to Stop Flinching: How to leverage surprise breaks and other mechanics in the moment of truth.  Whether you are a long-range competitor aiming for sub-MOA precision, a hunter seeking clean shot placement in the field, or a firearm enthusiast wanting to eliminate recoil flinching, mastering your trigger dynamics is the single highest-yield upgrade for your shooting skills and rifle setup. If you enjoyed this read, check out [**Long-Range Shooting Tips in a Nutshell**](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/long-range-shooting-tips-in-a-nutshell). [![Share on Facebook](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-facebook.png?width=24&name=share-facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-linkedin.png?width=24&name=share-linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-twitter.png?width=24&name=share-twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=How%20to%20Stop%20Flinching) [![Share on Email](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-email.png?width=24&name=share-email.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fhow-to-stop-flinching%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### About the Author ![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/jason.png) ### Jason Cruise Jason Cruise is a published author and the host of Mossberg’s Rugged American Hunter series. 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