Can't shoot 1911 straight. Help!

Years ago I noticed I was flinching with a .44 Magnum and cured it by just concentrating on sight picture and trigger pull, and whatever happened when the hammer dropped I didn't worry about.

Everybody is a bit different but that worked for me, cured it right away.
 
mrakimbo said:
So this is kind of maddening for me. I shoot my Ruger MK III pretty OK. I mean I'm not Annie Oakley or whatever but I can put 'em in the 9 and 10 ring from 25m on an ISSF target one-handed.

But as soon as I switch to my Ruger SR 1911 I'm hitting wind. I can either put them in the 9 and 10 ring... or I throw them left into the 3 ring. Or lower.

I dry fire a bunch to practice, and I can see the front sight twitch left-wards sometimes. I can't figure out what the hell I'm doing wrong. Like I said I can pop the Mk III without any of this twitchy BS. Sometimes I can get dead-on shots with the 1911. But most of the time I might as well just fart at the target.

Any idea what the heck I'm doing wrong?
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It is actually impressive that you can maintain your shots in 9 and 10 ring on a standard ISSF target at 25m, one handed. I've shot ISSF standard pistol for 4 years and experienced first hand that it is not easy.

Couple questions to give you some ideas to work on.

1. Are you getting a group anywhere on the target, if so what size?
2. Did you try shooting two hands?
3. Did you try 10-15 meters?
4. Are you shooting light target loads or factory ammo?

If you are not getting 2-3" group, you are flinching. If you are flinching, it doesn't matter how your finger is placed on the trigger.

Shooting two handed with light target loads and target at 10-15m may help you build some confidence (all in the brain you see). My .45 target loads are RCBS mold 185 gr SWC cast bullet on top of 5.5 grains 321.

Putting a .22 conversion kit on that gun will help as well...
 
The groups are sloppy. I do think if I got some lighter loads, I'd be able to get a bit more control out of it. Right now I'm just using Wolf SWC or 230gr ball ammo, so it's a bit rough. Practicing beats up my hand haha. I've tried two handed and it's a bit better. But yeah, my groups are not 2-3". The unpatched holes are from one relay:




I can't hold the 9 - 10 ring consistently, but when I'm having a good day I can score in the high-80 to mid-90 on precision fire. It's hard. I think if it wasn't for the ISSF stuff I do, my 45ACP shooting would be even worse. You are so right about this all being in the brain. If I start thinking negatively or focus too much on the lousy shooting I've already done, I just eff it up more. The last shot already happened. Focus on the next one!

After running 50 rounds of 45 ACP I was kind of all over the place. Switched to 22 and did this at 25m on an NRA target. I think it's the 50yrd one. Not important, I was working on grouping.



Go figure.

And this is what I can do if I'm having a good day. The ones with the II marks on the circle are from same relay (precision). The ones with the I and red X are from a different relay (10s rapid fire practice).



aakoksal said:
It is actually impressive that you can maintain your shots in 9 and 10 ring on a standard ISSF target at 25m, one handed. I've shot ISSF standard pistol for 4 years and experienced first hand that it is not easy.

Couple questions to give you some ideas to work on.

1. Are you getting a group anywhere on the target, if so what size?
2. Did you try shooting two hands?
3. Did you try 10-15 meters?
4. Are you shooting light target loads or factory ammo?

If you are not getting 2-3" group, you are flinching. If you are flinching, it doesn't matter how your finger is placed on the trigger.

Shooting two handed with light target loads and target at 10-15m may help you build some confidence (all in the brain you see). My .45 target loads are RCBS mold 185 gr SWC cast bullet on top of 5.5 grains 321.

Putting a .22 conversion kit on that gun will help as well...
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mrakimbo said:
Some can. I didn't. I work on this with a fellow bullseye shooter. His instruction has been invaluable. Used to be I could not hit largest side of barn.
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No you can't. You don't know what you don't know, which equates to simply wasting time and ammo. If bullseye shooting is your thing then seek advice from the bullseye shooter, if you're into action shooting events or defensive shooting then seek training.

TDC
 
TDC...just change your sign line to "seek training, Glock is perfect...your wrong, shut up" and you won't ever have to post on CGN anymore!!!
 
TDC said:
No you can't. You don't know what you don't know, which equates to simply wasting time and ammo. If bullseye shooting is your thing then seek advice from the bullseye shooter, if you're into action shooting events or defensive shooting then seek training.

TDC
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Uh. I... I just said that's what I was doing.
 
BCRider said:
Anon and crackerbarrel and anyone else. Here's another superb video on the proper grip for a handgun;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZDttBfock

Between the stuff in the Todd Jarret video and this one I can't think of much to add. And for those that know me that is saying a LOT :D

Mrakimbo, back when I was fighting my own flinch issues I used my .22 as a training aid. I'd shoot a mag or two of .22 with particular attention and focus on doing all the right stuff with the follow through and all. When I had almost a sense of detachment I'd switch to the center fire. As soon as that broke and I noticed I was flinching I'd switch back to the .22 and re-gain my "zen like" composure before switching back over to the center fire gun. For me this sure did speed up losing my flinch.

Even for two or three years after I'd feel the flinch returning and I'd take my trusty .22 along with the center fire together and do this back and forth to push that flinch back down into the dungeon.
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Nice vid thanks and makes sense..
 
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