Correlation between technique and caliber?

[echang86]

Does anyone know if theres a correlation between proper handgun technique and caliber? If so why and/or how?

I realized I shoot drastically better with .45 than I do with 9mm. With .45 I also notice when I'm jerking the trigger, anticipating recoil, and other misc. poor habits.

[redcliff]

What 9mm versus what .45? I think theres a lot more to your conclusion than just calibre, but I could be wrong.

Most people will shoot smaller calibres better due to less recoil and muzzleblast if the platform is similar. Larger calibres make bigger holes in paper though so it sometimes appears you're shooting better

When I shot competitively years ago I think I improved my shooting more from shooting my Colt Service Ace than from my racegun, primarily because I mentally learned not to flinch, was able to recover faster after each shot and learned to pick up the front sight focus faster. Plus putting more rounds downrange with the .22lr improved my trigger control. YMMV

[M47_Dragon]

I think technique and platform familiarity are what makes for better shooting. The reason I don't think caliber has much to do with it is because you can take any Master class shooter, and they will probably shoot just about any gun well. Caliber is not an issue (Unless we are talking extremes), but technique -- and being experienced enough to know when to use the proper technique for the weapon being fired -- that is what seems to count.

I am by no means a master class shooter, far from it... but I used to shoot .45 much better than 9mm. Then I started putting equal time in on my 9mm practice, and now I shoot both with about the same results.

[echang86]

What 9mm versus what .45? I think theres a lot more to your conclusion than just calibre, but I could be wrong.

For example, from my last range trip: Beretta 92fs or Sig P228 vs Springfield 1911 or HK USP. I don't expect to preform as well with the Sig because of the shorter length. However I was still outshooting the Beretta with the 1911 and USP. I felt like it was easier to notice the flinch in .45

I always assumed practicing with smaller sizes like 22lr was best to improve technique. Given the fact of the smaller recoil.

Larger calibres make bigger holes in paper though so it sometimes appears you're shooting better

Haha smart, that could be it too. The thought never crossed my midn. But I was going from 5-6" "groups" on the 9mm to 1.5" groups with the .45. The target looked like I was shooting slugs or something.

[walter]

The sig has a short what? Grip or barrel. You shoot the 1911 better than the usp. It's the 1911 and it's crisp trigger, not the caliber

[sevensix2x51]

i think there's a lot more to it. a lot of guns are just waaay more natural to the hand, and are conducive to good shooting. i could shoot my glock 21 really well, but my gi springfield 1911? horrible. i traded the 1911 for my hk uspc in .40sw, and my shooting was twice as good as the glock.. cant wait to get my sig 9mm, and see what it does! the second tap is a lot more important to me than slow-fire groups. so from my limited (20yrs, nothing like a lot of the old coots on this board ) shooting experience, it has nothing to do with caliber. it has everything to do with how the gun fits in your hand, and how used to the pull you are. thats how all those idpa dudes can destroy stuff with glocks, even with that heavy trigger pull. i dont even aim my hk, but my rhodesians are 99% effective on paper...

[Rob454]

I have a Ruger P85 9 mm and a P90 .45. Both guns are the same frame identical in size and overall condition looks etc. I shoot both with equal accuracy. The thing is that the 9mm can be shot longer cause it doesn't fatigue you as bad. the .45 after a while gets annoying.

[TKM]

.45 does not get annoying.

It makes you want to reflect on what you've done. Preferably with a cold beverage, and sooner rather than later so you can remember all of the wonderful things that you've done and look forward to the wonderful things you will do in the future.

I really look forward to things after the .454 but maybe that's just me.

[sevensix2x51]

.45 does not get annoying.

It makes you want to reflect on what you've done. Preferably with a cold beverage, and sooner rather than later so you can remember all of the wonderful things that you've done and look forward to the wonderful things you will do in the future.

I really look forward to things after the .454 but maybe that's just me.

i think it depends on the weapon. i could shoot my glock 21 all afternoon, but i would have blood streaming down my hand after 15 minutes with my milspec 1911. definitely annoying. looks like a snakebite in the web of my hand now. but i like to ride high on the backstrap.