Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
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Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
Used to have a Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced. Nice gun but never did shoot straight. Always shot it left. Even had others shoot it, and it always shot left. To get it to shoot straight I damn near had the rear sight adjusted half way out of the dove tail cut in the slide. I chalked it up to the dove tail not cut square. This might be unrelated but......
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago I got my Fiance a Kimber Custom Ageis II. I have the same damn problem, I shoot it consistently to the left. I do not have this problem with any other handgun. Shot my Springfield XD40 side by side with the 1911 and I can shoot that straight. But I was consistently shooting left with that 1911. I was going to adjust the sight but my Fiance can shoot it fine, which is all that really matters its her gun for CCW.
But still, why do I shoot this platform so horribly? Literally not one other handgun I own I shoot as poorly as a 1911. What gives?
Distances were at about 10 yards.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago I got my Fiance a Kimber Custom Ageis II. I have the same damn problem, I shoot it consistently to the left. I do not have this problem with any other handgun. Shot my Springfield XD40 side by side with the 1911 and I can shoot that straight. But I was consistently shooting left with that 1911. I was going to adjust the sight but my Fiance can shoot it fine, which is all that really matters its her gun for CCW.
But still, why do I shoot this platform so horribly? Literally not one other handgun I own I shoot as poorly as a 1911. What gives?
Distances were at about 10 yards.
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
It sounds like it is a grip or trigger control problem.
Maybe watch this and see if you can get a tip or two and then practice the grip.
Here a another thread that may give you a clue also.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=358407
bob
Maybe watch this and see if you can get a tip or two and then practice the grip.
Here a another thread that may give you a clue also.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=358407
bob
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
^ good video. Proper grip, stance, using the support hand correctly, locking the wrists and where the trigger finger contacts the trigger is very important. I recently found myself shooting left of center and discovered that I was wrapping my support hand (I'm a right handed shooter) too far around the front of the grip with the left palm somewhat off the grip. That was causing me to pull the pistol to the left when I tightened my grip. Usually it's a simple correction once you discover what the actual cause is. Don't guess at the problem... Have a qualified instructor watch you shoot and then work on the solution to the problem(s). Hope that helps...
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
I agree with grip. You are used to a fatter grip. Finger placement on the trigger is also important. You may be pushing because you can get deeper into the trigger guard with the thinner grip size.
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
Lasers are great for dry fire practice, watching the dot while dry firing can give incites into what your doing wrong. Mind you the laser may not provide any clues if its its a flinch that's throwing you off your point of aim.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sightmar ... 195812.uts
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
To find out a lot more about your skills as a handgun shooter...Have another shooter place a 'snap-cap' in your magazine without you seeing where it is.
Now, with that done, load up and TAKE YOUR TIME shooting that mag. Remember - Breathe, Relax, Aim, Squeeze...
Have someone observe you shooting that mag.
If you are flinching when you shoot, the 'snap-cap' will make that blatantly obvious. This will be no denying you are not a flincher...
Solution, get comfortable with your weapon (dry-fire at home is best practice).
If you know (without a doubt) you don't have that problem, then I think your jerking the trigger, not squeezing it.
Pull the trigger as slow as possible, take your time on the revolution, evaluate your grouping.
GO SLOW, ITS NOT A RACE. SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST, FAST IS LETHAL.
Now, with that done, load up and TAKE YOUR TIME shooting that mag. Remember - Breathe, Relax, Aim, Squeeze...
Have someone observe you shooting that mag.
If you are flinching when you shoot, the 'snap-cap' will make that blatantly obvious. This will be no denying you are not a flincher...
Solution, get comfortable with your weapon (dry-fire at home is best practice).
If you know (without a doubt) you don't have that problem, then I think your jerking the trigger, not squeezing it.
Pull the trigger as slow as possible, take your time on the revolution, evaluate your grouping.
GO SLOW, ITS NOT A RACE. SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST, FAST IS LETHAL.
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
That's all good advice. And all of the things that you mention could be a factor but a lot probably has to do with the way the gun is being gripped and also if you have a long trigger or a short trigger, a flat mainspring housing or an arched mainspring housing. I would tend to agree with Thumpar that you are used to a wider double-stack grip and the way that you're holding the narrower grip you are pointing the gun to the left.Grace_Hunter07 wrote:To find out a lot more about your skills as a handgun shooter...Have another shooter place a 'snap-cap' in your magazine without you seeing where it is.
Now, with that done, load up and TAKE YOUR TIME shooting that mag. Remember - Breathe, Relax, Aim, Squeeze...
Have someone observe you shooting that mag.
If you are flinching when you shoot, the 'snap-cap' will make that blatantly obvious. This will be no denying you are not a flincher...
Solution, get comfortable with your weapon (dry-fire at home is best practice).
If you know (without a doubt) you don't have that problem, then I think your jerking the trigger, not squeezing it.
Pull the trigger as slow as possible, take your time on the revolution, evaluate your grouping.
GO SLOW, ITS NOT A RACE. SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST, FAST IS LETHAL.
Some people grip the 1911 so that the gun recoils against the thumb while other try to hold it so that the grip is more in the middle of the "web" of the hand. And a lot depends on whether you press the trigger with the pad of your index finger or if the finger is curled around the trigger and this can depend on whether it's a short trigger or a long trigger. The more the grip is in the center the more the gun will be pointed straight. but if you shift the gun to the left so that you can curl your finger around the trigger more, the more it will be pointed Left.
Get somebody to let you try thier 1911 and try gripping the gun in different ways and if you can try different guns with different length triggers, that would be my advice. I think it would also be a good Idea to let the other shooter fire the gun and see if it shoots right or left for them and pay close attention to how THEY hold the gun.
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
Practice is indeed good, but only as long as one practices with proper technique. Trying to practice your way out of a bad habit without fully understanding what you are doing wrong is an excercise in frustration as well as a waste of ammo. Dry Fire excercise can be a great learning tool. Have someone closely watch you while you aim and fire with an empty gun. This can reveal a lot.Badger wrote:Practice
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
Natural curve?
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
You mean ala slick willie?racerx wrote:Natural curve?
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7J-JNSUu4
This will explain it all.. Helped me immensely..had the SAME problem
This will explain it all.. Helped me immensely..had the SAME problem
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
bambam72 wrote:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7J-JNSUu4
This will explain it all.. Helped me immensely..had the SAME problem
I wonder what happened to the guy who posted the original question? (Only_Half_Evil_ ) ? He's missing all this good advice!
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
This is all great advice, definitely most likely me. You guys raised some points I have not even thought of yet. Looking forward to figuring this out.
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
OP, are you shooting left or right handed?
Are you using the tip of your finger or the pad of your finger?
Are you using the tip of your finger or the pad of your finger?
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Re: Why do I shoot a 1911 to the left?
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