1911 Troubleshooting

[ltorlo64]

So I have decided not to get rid of my 1911. I bought a couple of tell-tale targets to see if I could figure out why my shots are off. I shot at 15 yards, 40 rounds to see what I could figure out. Here is the first target.
http://www.gunsnet.net/photopost/data/531/medium/1911_TEST_6_JAN_2013.JPG

What I saw was sort of disappointing. For the most part I am flinching. I started to focus on the basics of just squeezing the trigger. The second target is 10 rounds. My grouping is a little better, though, as you can see I still have work to do. But I am seeing improvement.
http://www.gunsnet.net/photopost/data/531/medium/1911_FINAL_6_JAN_2013.JPG

[old Grump]

It's consistent and trigger time will make it better. Have you had somebody you know is a good shooter try your gun. I suspect to much time behind your desk and not being able to swing a wrench or hammer may be part of your problem. Not insinuating you are out of shape but just not used to hanging on tight to something that bucks and jumps and moves around in your fist like a 45 does. Only time on the range can fix that. I don't suppose the CO or the Chief Bosun would let you join the crew for a couple of hours when they are chipping paint.

:coffee: Seriously you aren't that far off and I'm glad you decided to stick with the 45.

[Schuetzenman]

Yes you did get better on the 2nd target. That alone tells me it isn't the weapon. If the weapon was in accurate no amount of extra concentration would of made a difference but clearly you did improve. I'm kind of where Old Grump is in saying you just need a crap load more practice to get use to it. If you recall back I mentioned that a .45 auto is going to recoil a lot more than a 9 mm and this alone could acount for the difference in your results. That hand roll in to tighten your fleshy web between thumb and trigger finger will help give you better control of any handgun. You might also want to get yourself a grip exerciser thing to squeeze, build up those grip muscles.

Oh, one last thing, rotate the images before uploading. It took me a while to figure out you have images rotated 90° left.

[Helen Keller]

how are you holding it exactly??

death grip like it's gonna fly out of your hands?

Maybe like a revolver?





I cradle mine and with just enough force to hang on.. kinda like pretend you're holding a hot dog bun and you don't want to smash it up.

[ltorlo64]

I have been working on wrist, grip and lower arm strength to get rid of the symptoms of "tennis elbow". That should help. I have also changed my grip position. I was holding the pistol with one hand and then cupping my other and to support the weight of the pistol. Made a steady rest but when I fired I was only fighting the recoil with one hand. I am now using a grip where my weak hand wraps around my strong hand on the grip. It didn't feel write at first but has gotten much better.