Getting good circular orbits?

[Anomalous_Matter]

This is probably a really stupid question, but whenever I go for a circular orbit, firing at the prograde icon ends up increasing the apogee as well as the perigee, making it so that by the time the perigee is up where I want it the apogee is ~500km. This means I have to wait until I get to my perigee and burn retrograde, but when I do that the perigee decreases as well, on and on until by the time I\'ve got a satisfying orbit I\'ve used up more than double the fuel it would take if I got it circularized on the first try.

So, what am I doing wrong? Mechjeb and the like make circularization look so much easier than it is, and even when I mimic it perfectly this happens. Can anyone give me some tips on how to circularize more effectively? I\'m trying to break out of my habit of using Mechjeb for everything; I can get to the Mun, land and get back without it, but this simple orbit has me puzzled.

[ferram4]

Go to the map view and bring up the navball there so you can control the ship from the map.

Then during launch, do your gravity turn normally but watch your apoapsis on the map view; cut your engine when apoapsis reaches the altitude you want. At that point, wait until you get to apoapsis and start your circularization burn facing prograde a few seconds before you reach it. If the apoapsis starts to run away from you, stop the burn, warp to catch up to apoapsis, and burn again. Repeat until the orbit is as circular as you desire.

Remember to look at the map view religiously, it tells you everything you really need to know about your orbit.

[Anomalous_Matter]

Go to the map view and bring up the navball there so you can control the ship from the map.

Then during launch, do your gravity turn normally but watch your apoapsis on the map view; cut your engine when apoapsis reaches the altitude you want. At that point, wait until you get to apoapsis and start your circularization burn facing prograde a few seconds before you reach it. If the apoapsis starts to run away from you, stop the burn, warp to catch up to apoapsis, and burn again. Repeat until the orbit is as circular as you desire.

Remember to look at the map view religiously, it tells you everything you really need to know about your orbit.

I already know how to use the map view, but thanks for the advice. I\'ll try it out

EDIT: Your method works, thanks! I got myself into a circular orbit on the first try with only minor RCS adjustments needed

[Endeavour]

When you are in orbit and want to make it circular, burn at either the periapsis or apoapsis. Make sure you are in the map view. If it starts to move away, angle either up or down in the same plane as your orbit until it is right on top of you. Keep burning and turning until the orbit is nice and circular. You never need to cut the engines or even reduce the throttle if you are careful enough.