Author Topic: shooting technique with a 1911  (Read 3774 times)

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Offline WThanel

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shooting technique with a 1911
« on: February 23, 2009, 11:23:39 AM »
Hi all,

We recently had a big bore pistol match at our local club.  I used a Colt pre model 70 1911 National Match built by Shockley that I borrowed from my father.  He bought it used and did not know the history on it so I had it checked out by a local bulls eye shooter who said it was right on the money. My scores with it are poor however, even at 15 yards.  I can shoot a Ruger MK II pretty good so it must have something to do with the .45 or recoil.

I need some tips on how to shoot a 1911 accurately. Is there a good book on technique for 1911 shooting?

Thanks,

Bill T.

Offline Mikey

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2009, 02:43:24 PM »
Bill: you didn't happen to mention anything about familiarizing yourself with the 1911 or firing or handling it before attempting bulls eye shooting.  You also didn't say anything about the ammo you were using.  Did the local bulls eye shooter fire the pistol and provide you with a target or did he give you his personal opinion based on his knowledge of the builder?? 

A Ruger MkII, even a Govn't Model with a bull barrel, is good practice but it is in an entirely different class of pistol than the 1911 even though both may be used for the same purpose - target. 

I would bench it and see if it shoots accurately with the ammo you are using.  And I would shoot it a bunch, and from different positions and get familiar with the pistol before reapproaching a target stance.  If it's not accurate with established match loads then it may be in need of a tuning.  If this is/was a well used match pistol it could easily have tens of thousands of rounds through it and still look great but not shoot all that great.  Most guys I know don't let go of a match piece unless it doesn't match their expectations any more. 

Recoil - might have a light match recoil spring in it.  I don't know that builder, when it was built, what weight recoil spring it employed when built or how many rounds are on it.  Lots of possibilities.  Again, the more you can familiarize yourself with this particular pistol the better you should be able to shoot it.  And you might need a new recoil spring when you tune it.

And, of course, we are always here to help you..........

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Offline SAA

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2009, 01:45:57 AM »
I can shoot a Ruger MK II pretty good so it must have something to do with the .45 or recoil.
If you usually only shoot a light recoiling .22 your going to have to get used to the recoil of the .45 and you have to hold the .45 in a firmer, very consistent grip because of the recoil, not excessivly hard, but a good consistent grip, especially important when shooting one-handed.

Offline Cottonwood

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2009, 02:24:50 AM »
Bill

Here are some things that might help you:

http://www.m1911.org/m1911dt.htm

http://www.1911pistols.com/

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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2009, 01:52:19 AM »
like was said. Find someone that shoots in that league that reloads that will let you try some downloaded target ammo. I shoot 1911s about exclusivley but would never shoot a match with full power loads
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Offline 1911crazy

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2009, 08:54:54 AM »
I found out a while back in shooting many different handguns all the time we really can't master them all.  I was shooting auto pistols and revolvers in magnums.  Then i caught on to something with the shorter barrels that helped me out alot.  I would just cover where i wanted the bullet to hit and squeeze it off.  This worked great for my 2 3/4" barrel on my 357mag and my 1911 in 45acp too. On my longer barrels on my magnums i'd use the sights.

Lately i been practicing at 25yds with my 1911a1 using the sights and aiming at the 6 oclock position on the target with this gun only to get better with it.  Thats the only way to improve is to shoot one gun and practice, practice and more practice using the same ammo all the time too. Then in time you will master it.

I have found out with using the full length guide rod and the 18# recoil spring it did cut down the recoil using wolf 45acp ball ammo.  We have to match the recoil spring to the ammo were shooting too it does help. Like Mikey said he told me too.

I'm no where's near the shot my brother was.  He could shoot one round to see where it hits and then put the rest in the ten ring.  He did this with any gun he shot.  I guess i came up short on the natural shooter ability in my family. I'm not bad but no where's near as good as he was with handguns.

Offline Jim_Ole_Timer

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2009, 11:02:18 AM »
I've got a long way to go with my new 1911 (Kimber) its just been too darned cold to shoot.

One thing I used to do when I shot in .22 competition was I learned to squeeze off the trigger as I was waiving the sights over the bull. This doesn't sound right but it really works. I used to shoot a consistant score of 96-98 with quite a few perfect scores. The idea is that this prevents you from pulling the trigger and jerking.

I have a question as to the recoil spring. How do you know if yer spring is just right, er too light or too heavy? And what is the rule of thumb if you go up or down in loads?

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Offline c1skout

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Re: shooting technique with a 1911
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2009, 12:07:19 PM »