AN ACR B757 CAPT RPTS MAKING A FIRM LNDG AT SNA. HE WAS NEW TO THE ACFT AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHORT RWY AND UNUSED TO USING AUTOBRAKES.

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DURING CHKOUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY FOR CERTAIN MY IOE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY FROM AN EXPERIENCE STANDPOINT IF THE LNDG WAS FIRM OR NOT. I CAN SAY THAT IN VIEW OF THE SHORT; VERY SHORT RWY AVAILABLE THAT I WAS CONCERNED TO FOLLOW ACR PROCS. THE ACFT WAS STABILIZED IN THE SLOT AND ON SPD AND OFF AUTOPLT AS SOON AS THE RWY WAS VISIBLE BELOW THE OVCST; ABOUT 1000 FT. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNUSUALLY SHORT RWY ABOUT 4800 FT BEYOND GS AND THEREFORE USED AUTOBRAKES #4 AND WAS DETERMINED TO NOT FLOAT WHILE LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT LNDG. IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PRACTICE IN A SHORT FIELD SIT I BROKE THE DSCNT AND TOUCHED DOWN FINE; BUT LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE AUTOBRAKES #4 COUPLED WITH THE CONCERN OVER A TAILSTRIKE; CAUSED THE NOSE TO COME DOWN TO THE RWY FASTER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED. WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE SUDDEN NOSE PITCH-DOWN; I APPLIED ADDITIONAL BACK PRESSURE CAUSING THE NOSEWHEEL TO POSSIBLY BOUNCE ONCE THEREBY CAUSING A ROCKING SENSATION IN THE ACFT. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE BRIEFED THE PAX OF THE DIFFERENT LNDG TECHNIQUE REQUIRED FOR THE LNDG JUST AS WE DO FOR THE TKOF FROM SNA. ALSO I NOW HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH AUTOBRAKES POS #4 AND WILL BETTER ANTICIPATE THE PITCHDOWN CHARACTERISTIC CAUSED BY THE BRAKE APPLICATION IN ORDER TO PREVENT NOSE BOUNCE.