Is your 1911 the most accurate gun you have? You need more practice.

[Kendoka]

I am always curious when people comment about a specific gun and how well they shoot it. I think generally they are referring to marksmanship. Since folks are posting pictures of well shot groups presumably fired with no time pressure, I assume marksmanship is the criterion being used for determining which gun is "shot well." How would everyone's rating change if gun handling, engaging multiple targets at varying distances, and time pressure were also considered as criteria?

For myself, I have spent the last year focused on ICORE and revolvers. Because of that, I am probably shooting my S&W 627 about as well as anything else.

ZX-10R, Randy Lee from Apex did a front to back job on my 627 (including his low mass trigger). He is an artist. I am sure you will really dig your M&P.

[Snoopy47]

.....How would everyone's rating change if gun handling, engaging multiple targets at varying distances, and time pressure were also considered as criteria?.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwcdv7XbwM

[beerman]

So you're suggesting we should all train to the lowest common denominator of handguns with lousy ergonomics and poor triggers? Whats next, only having sex with ugly girls?

I'll stick with the prom queens and 1911's.

This

[fennecfrank]

So you're suggesting we should all train to the lowest common denominator of handguns with lousy ergonomics and poor triggers? Whats next, only having sex with ugly girls?

I'll stick with the prom queens and 1911's.

+1
haven't seen a good response like this for a long long time.



to OP:

with your logic, you need to protest to auto races to make everyone stop using nice f-1 cars, tour cars, off road cars and race "stock cars"

dude, 1911 is not the magic gun that you just point and bullet will hit targets..... you still need practice and skills.

and i would love to see you sell all your $450+ plastic guns to buy lowest end $100 guns....those should be your ideal guns.....

[deadhawg]

Shooting a $3,000 Les Baer 1911 won't turn a crappy shot into an expert, and an expert will shoot a loose tolerance GI 1911 better than the crappy shot too.

Most decent quality handguns are capable of better accuracy than the average shooter is able to demonstrate anyway.

[well206]

Thread has gone off topic a bit it seems. Thread definitely not started as a criticism of the capability of 1911s.

My 2 cents, I shoot tighter groups with 1911s than with polymer guns, but I am still the same shooter - same overall skill level and same fundamentals across all platforms. And the bigger groups with the polymer guns shows me that I have room for improvement.

If a person only saw his or her groups shot with a 1911 and they were already pretty tight, one may not notice some of the improvement one can still make when it comes to some fundamentals, that apply to all handguns.

[jakuda]

........

If a person only saw his or her groups shot with a 1911 and they were already pretty tight, one may not notice some of the improvement one can still make when it comes to some fundamentals, that apply to all handguns.

One only needs to shoot at longer distances to realize how much improvement in marksmanship one can still make. Unfortunately, people are unwilling or rationalize away the need to practice at 25 yards or further.

[nickbackouris]

I have an idea. Everyone arguing gets to pick a gun, pace off 25 yards, turn, then shoot. Last one standing wins the argument.

The rest of us will enjoy shooting whatever we please, when we please.

If you're a bullseye shooter, shoot whatever makes you hit bullseyes.
If you're the weekend plinker, shoot whatever makes you smile.
If you're the lots-of-gun owning guy that can't really shoot any of them well, at least start shooting something.
1911 guys are always going to shoot 1911's, and swear by them.
Glock guys have a similar club.
Then there is the generic "it has to be all metal" club. Fun guys, lots of variety.

Meanwhile, I'm going to ave a bbq, shoot some guns, then a beer, and begin waving my American flag like it's my job. It's America, you shouldn't own more than one handgun anyway.

[KDTS]

What if I suck with my 1911? I'm a much better shot with my Glock (for better or worse), I always tend to break the muzzle down on my SA Mil-spec. Can't hit the broad side of a barn. Sure is pretty, though. LOL

[jonzer77]

What if I suck with my 1911? I'm a much better shot with my Glock (for better or worse), I always tend to break the muzzle down on my SA Mil-spec. Can't hit the broad side of a barn. Sure is pretty, though. LOL

Shoot with whatever you are comfortable with and that's all that matters.

[Neptune]

Sound like you would enjoy upgrading to a sti 2011
Get the best of both worlds a high cap & 1911.. 8D

STI's are pretty sweet. I've had a chance to lust after a few. My brother has a bunch of double stack Para's which are really nice too, but I'm a single stack kind of guy, I love the narrow profile. I'd keep the STI double stacks around as safe queens, but I'm more of a shooter who doesn't keep anything around that isn't something I would tend to carry.

By the way is your avatar a trp operator?
I have that same gun in my safe

Sure is. It's my daily carry. Heavy? Maybe a bit, but I hardly notice. I'm in tune with that piece, and it shoots instinctively for me. You can load the magazine randomly and I can tell you how many rounds it has in it from feel, and it's something that gets a lot of range time. When the finish wears off completely from continual use, I'll just have it refinished and do it some more. It's a great carry piece, low recoil, low rise and fast recovery, well balanced, more accurate than most pieces, and plenty reliable. Since you own a TRP Operator, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean, it's an awesome tool to use. It's also solid enough to use as a club if all else fails.

Shoot with whatever you are comfortable with and that's all that matters.

I agree. I know a lot of guys who buy guns based on reputation, or because they look cool. They end up unhappy with them, can't hit a barn, or the gun is just plain impractical. Try out a bunch, rent a few, shoot with a friend, whatever, and find out what feels good. Some guys will never like 1911's or the amount of training it takes to get proficient, some guys won't ever get used to the Glock's wonky grip profile and feel, and some guys won't ever shoot anything outside of revolvers.

To the young or new guys out there, I'd recommend getting proficient in whatever your carry pieces are, then move out from there. Try single actions, they're a ton of fun. Double action revolvers are cool too. Try a Browning Hi Power, an HK P7, and everything CZ offers. The more familiar you are with different weapons, the more proficient you'll grow as your technique improves. Improve the breadth of your knowledge and your overall skill will improve.

Most importantly, you've got to shoot...a lot! Practice makes perfect, or at least gets you in the rings...



__

[KDTS]

I agree. I know a lot of guys who buy guns based on reputation, or because they look cool. They end up unhappy with them, can't hit a barn, or the gun is just plain impractical. Try out a bunch, rent a few, shoot with a friend, whatever, and find out what feels good. Some guys will never like 1911's or the amount of training it takes to get proficient, some guys won't ever get used to the Glock's wonky grip profile and feel, and some guys won't ever shoot anything outside of revolvers.

To the young or new guys out there, I'd recommend getting proficient in whatever your carry pieces are, then move out from there. Try single actions, they're a ton of fun. Double action revolvers are cool too. Try a Browning Hi Power, an HK P7, and everything CZ offers. The more familiar you are with different weapons, the more proficient you'll grow as your technique improves. Improve the breadth of your knowledge and your overall skill will improve.

Most importantly, you've got to shoot...a lot! Practice makes perfect, or at least gets you in the rings...

I think you're totally right... I'm new to shooting (been shooting for almost exactly a year now), and it's hard to say what I really like, without shooting everything. I've owned a couple of Glocks and a SA 1911, and shot XDs, USPs, Kimbers, Rugers, S&W and even a Taurus, and I'm still really trying to figure out what I'm most comfortable with. I like how my 1911 looks and that it's an homage to our firearm history, but since I'm so poor at shooting it (I have gotten a bit better, but the last 500 rounds I've put through haven't felt like they've improved much), I'm almost considering selling it. Right now I don't need any safe queens, and I can't really afford them anyhow. I'd definitely prefer to just focus on learning one first, but I know there are things I like and don't like about each and I want to find something I REALLY like. Ironically (?) I felt the best shooting my friend's Taurus PT92, but I can't bring myself to sell either my Gen4 Glock (not a LEO) or my 1911... because I feel like I should just have one for some reason... haha.

/rant

[joelberg]

If you want to learn good trigger control, get an 1895 Nagant revolver and shoot it double action. Then when you go to the 1911 you'll be a pro. Seriously, if you can master a hardcore heavy long gnarly double action trigger, you will be an awesome shooter with any gun.

But if you train primarily with your high end 1911 you might be a good shot with that gun, but you won't be able to move back over and carry those skills to the double action system. It's a lot like the 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke dirt bike debate. Learn to ride fast on a 125 smoker and you will be a badass on a 250 4t or 450 4t. Learn to ride fast on a 250 4t you will still suck at riding the 125 2t.

At least that's been my experience.

[CaffeinFeign]

for what it is worth...I am a 1911 guy. I like the gun! It's what I love to shoot.. I have shot other platforms...but I always go back to 1911. I also like 45's.. this is not a size that I believe a person can pick up once or twice a year and be good with. It takes lots of range time, lots of home time.
I study classical guitar...I take the same approch to shooting... S L O W practice. It all comes down to movement memory. I practice reloading and sight picture at home (with snap caps). I try and do a lot of dry fire practice... I have started to see improvment at the range. I have gotten into reloading and found a powder weight that fits my shooting style and that my 1911 really likes. I would think...what ever weapon you fall in love with...you will probably be good with, and if you use it a lot...I don't think it would matter what weapon system you pick up... basic techniques will carry over..

[Brian1979]

I have five 1911's all high end, glocks, HK, J frame. I love my 1911 the most but I can shoot anything now accurately even guns of my friends which I have never held. In the end I think when you learn the fundamentals it wont matter what you shoot. My issue is flinching when I shoot a new gun. Its hard to break that and it seems with new guns comes newbie habits.