Ruger SR1911: Starting to Get It

[WinterWizard]

So, went to the range today for the 11th time in my life, just to give you a sense of my experience level.

I have been struggling lately, applying every aspect of good target shooting I've been able to pick up, but still consistently shooting low and/or left. Of course, one picks up certain epiphanies along the way. Besides a good stance and grip, here are the things I have learned that are important to me:

1. Let the grip pinky finger float. Squeezing the pinky when firing causes low shots, of course.
2. Don't grip too tight with the support hand. This will also cause you to shoot low and/or left.
3. Pull the trigger straight back and let the trigger break surprise you. (Not really surprise you, but you know what I mean...)
4. Don't squeeze too hard with grip hand. Grip the gun hard enough to manage recoil but not so hard that the muzzle is shaking.

But what I found out today came simply from trial and error. The correct and accepted way to pull the trigger is straight back with the pad of the grip index finger. For me, this is wrong. I guess I have bigger hands and longer fingers than I thought because using the pad of my index finger was causing me to push the gun left.

5. I have big enough hands that I have to use the first joint when pulling the trigger. I've found that I have way more control and I don't push the muzzle left when I fire. I guess Massad Ayoob was on to something there.

Does anyone else have any secrets – tricks that help accuracy that you won't really find in a shooting article or book?

Here is my target from today. 40 rounds in the center mass and 10 in the head. A few low shots from rushing and jerking the trigger, but pretty decent otherwise. I wish I had the money to shoot much more...

Gun: Ruger SR1911
Ammo: Federal Champion 230 gr. FMJ
Distance: 7 yards



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[Hifever004]

Sorry no secrets to give. All I can say is, i really want this gun bad, but I can't find it anywhere. I envy you!

[WinterWizard]

Thanks, Hifever. I have about 400 rounds through her so far. It's been an excellent gun. I had one failure to feed in the first 150 rounds, and that was on a weird-shaped +P 185 gr. Corbon JHP (not DPX). The gun was also really dirty from shooting over 100 rounds of dirty range ammo beforehand. Not a hiccup since, with different types of rounds. The polished feed ramp and barrel throating is really nice on this gun. Trigger has broken in nicely – smooth pull and crisp break. Kicks my XD-9's trigger's a$$ all over the place. I officially shoot this way better than my XD-9. At first, I shot them about the same. After getting used to the 1911 grip, trigger and single-action, I have far surpassed the mushy, long trigger travel capabilities of a polymer striker-fire. Still love my XD-9, though. I have 1100 rounds through my SA with not a single malfunction.

[WinterWizard]

80 views and no shooting tips. Weak. I guess I should have titled the thread "SHOT MY FINGER OFF TODAY WITH MY BRAND NEW XDm .40!!!"

[GojuBrian]

That's pretty good shooting!
To get better you just need more range time or a rest.

[Croesius]

Originally Posted by WinterWizard

80 views and no shooting tips. Weak. I guess I should have titled the thread "SHOT MY FINGER OFF TODAY WITH MY BRAND NEW XDm .40!!!"

Well, I re-read the 4 tidbits you picked up, and to be honest, I think you nailed it! Something I saw mentioned lately was with regard to shooting stance. It has been said to put the non-dominant foot ahead of your dominant foot (i.e. - left foot forward for a right-hander). I'd always stood square to the target, feet shoulder width apart, but this new way has allowed me to lean into the stance better than squared, which generally ended up with me leaning back slightly to counteract the weight of the gun. I might not be explaining it correctly, but it has helped me.
Another tip that has helped me was to keep my arms extended fully, not slightly bent. It sends the recoil evenly back through my arms, which noticeably reduces the feeling of recoil. It felt like before, my elbows were trying to take the recoil, and it made "snap-back". Whereas after, the vector of force evenly transferred through my arms, with no obvious "collection spots" like the elbow.

And, as a warning, I might be totally bass-ackwards, but it helped me, figured I'd pass it along!

[crossroads]

Looks like you figured it out yourself, I would have guessed there was a flinch.I want a ruger 1911 to, but mamma says I gotta take her to Vegas for a week.shoot alot and make it all second nature.

[WinterWizard]

Thanks, dudes.

I'd say I am slightly above average right now. Not too hard to hit center target at 7 yards. When I can put some lead on center target at 25 yards, then I'll say I'm getting somewhere...

[CdnInAz]

Originally Posted by WinterWizard

80 views and no shooting tips. Weak. I guess I should have titled the thread "SHOT MY FINGER OFF TODAY WITH MY BRAND NEW XDm .40!!!"

one thing I like to do, not sure where or even when I learned it: push/pull - pushing forward with the strong hand, pulling back with the weak hand - of course gotta create a balance, and this is not an over exertion, just a nice balance. Let's the trigger finger float against the trigger without shifting. Works against a tendency to anticipate recoil which otherwise can cause a push over giving low shots. Man, this is hard to explain in text. Works really well on my six week old SR1911

[WinterWizard]

Thanks, Croesius. I too could not decide for a while whether a squared stance or a staggered stance was better. I have concluded that, for me, a slightly staggered stance is the best.