“My pistol shoots low”

13-Apr-09 – 16:12 by ToddG

I just spent 20 minutes visiting half a dozen different popular handgun forums. Every single one of them had threads started by someone claiming that his gun shoots low. How low? 6-12″ at 21 feet. 10″ at 25 feet. Three feet at 25yd.

The threads generally begin asking if the problem is the gun or the ammo.

Cimarron 1911 Standard ($455.71) For history fans on a budget, reproduction-firearm retailer Cimarron offers a WWI-era 1911, complete with the military-style sights, vertical slide serrations at. Once confident I could successfully run my 1911 pistol, I loaded live rounds. Since this was the first time I was shooting my 1911 pistol, I shot close-in targets. As I shot, I really tried to think about how the gun felt—what it felt like when it went off, how I handled the recoil. My goal was to shoot smoothly, not quickly. The author competes in the 2010 IDPA National Championships with a Wilson Combat 1911 in.45 ACP. The 1911 can do a number of things well. The late Hal Swiggett, the first editor of The Complete Book of Handguns, shot many deer with the Colt.45 ACP that always accompanied him on his travels. And while the pistol wasn’t designed for hunting. Jul 12, 2018 This is my all-time favorite 1911, and its also my most affordable 1911. Seriously, of all the 1911s I own or have owned, or have even shot this is my favorite. Maybe because it was my first 1911, but I feel like its because this model is the closest I can get to the WW2 era 1911.

As recoil is more muffled on 1911’s in general anyway due to the extra weight, this can help aid in accuracy and particularly with follow up shots. In short, the RIA GI 1911 is an adequate.

The gun or the ammo!

Used 1911 45 For Sale

Here’s a simple professional opinion: if your handgun is shooting three feet low at twenty-five yards, it’s you. I’m sure someone will be able to come up with an exception, but any major brand handgun with standard ammo will not be shooting that low.

The response from many shooters, especially less skilled shooters, is invariably, “it doesn’t happen with any other gun I have” or “I had some friends shoot it and it did the same thing.” Sorry, it’s still you. Just because you can shoot a single action target .22 well doesn’t mean that you can shoot a double action .40 S&W well. Just because the local Rangemaster says your gun sucks doesn’t mean he knows what he’s talking about no matter how many cool stories he has about learning to shoot sixty years go.

So what to do?

1911 45 Cal For Sale

First, try shooting the pistol from a support position, like a sandbag rest. This will reduce the effect of anticipating recoil. If that doesn’t magically fix things, though, you need to work on your fundamentals. This is the approach I recommend:

1. Wall Drill. Practice this until you can press the trigger every time without the front sight moving out of alignment.
2. Ball & Dummy Drill. Practice this until you no longer flinch at the end of the trigger press.
3. 3×5 Card Drill. Take your time and get your hits.

You’ll soon be amazed when that same gun & ammo that used to shoot a foot low at 21′ now suddenly hits a little notecard at twice that distance.

Sure, it’s possible that a factory gun with certain ammo will shoot a few inches low at 25yd. Heck, you might even notice a difference of an inch at 21 feet. But if it’s low enough that it bothers you, odds are it’s the guy behind the gun.

Train hard & stay safe! ToddG