I could shoot a pistol fairly well when I last shot one seriously... 30 years ago.... but I'm now 65 years old, my eyes ain't much, my hands aren't steady and I ain't nearly as strong as I once was - but excuses aside, the 1911 appears to take a bit more practice than most lesser caliber and lighter weight pistols...... and judging by today's trip to the indoor range, I sure need some practice before I carry this one.

I installed a new recoil spring for insurance and shot some rounds of free 230gr target loads, courtesy of the local police department - first at 15 yards, then at 7 yards. I must have been nuts thinking I would start at 15 yards and work to 25 yards. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Here are the poor results - not of the pistol, but my jiggling, waving and jerking the pistol all over the target:

15 yards - 2 hands - target loads

15 yards - offhand - target loads


Those were so disgusting, I shot the rest at 7 yards. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

7 yards - 2 hands - target loads

7 yards - 2 hands - target loads

7 yards - offhand - target loads - one round jerked wild


After shooting up the free target rounds, I switched to Remington 230gr Golden Saber JHPs to see if the pistol would feed those rounds - it did so perfectly well. I slowed down some more and got better results:

7 yards - 2 hands - Rem. G/S


On my last target, I finally began to find the groove:

7 yards - offhand - Rem. G/S


I'm almost satisfied with the last group, but I'm really rusty and need a lot of practice. I should be able to get the results of the last target at 15 yards or I'll need to shoot a lighter weight pistol. I guess I can still scare 'em, though. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I need to start squeezing a rubber ball for exercise and do some daily dry-fire for a while..... anybody got any other suggestions for improvement?

Frank

Is that pistol as clean as your engine?

Yessir, Lieutenant!

Frank

Frank,

Go get an Airsoft that is a duplicate of your 1911. Just a cheap $20 one will do. Use it for target practice at home and do a whole lot of it. The extreme lightness of the cheap airsoft gun will really bring out any poor shooting habits.

I'm not certain, but as much as I hate to admit it, I think it's the weight of the pistol relative to my age/physical condition that's causing the problem more than anything else. I can't hold the sight picture steady like I should...... which seems more like a conditioning issue. I really don't think I've "unlearned" good shooting basics.

Frank

Frank, quit whining!! As long as you are attacked by a weight challenged individual, you will do just fine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Seriously, if you have not shot a handgun in that many years then you did very well, as improvement came with every target. Sit down at a bench and use sandbags to steady the gun. How does that gun fit your hand? Would a different set of stocks, a longer or shorter trigger, or another type backstrap help your grasp on the Colt? Your eyes are older than they used to be, and those sights are pretty dang small. You can change them out for larger sights, pretty sure some are made that will not require altering the slide; or paint the front sight white to make it stand out.

Kimber and Ceiner and a few other companies make .22 conversion kits for 1911 frames, they run $300.00 or so. Cheaper to shoot, larger sights, etc. Look into that if you would like to keep shooting it.

Did Vance Hinch show any interest in your gun? Did you ever take the Colt to that match near your home? Do not get discouraged, just keep practicing.

Yep. All of the above is correct. Best thing I can tell you to do it Lots of dry fireing practice. Unload it. (make sure.... duh) and put a dime on the slide up front. dry fire it, and try to keep the dime on it. This is how I perfected my pistol shooting.

Just takes practice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I did not find time to go to the match - had too much going on.

The pistol fits my hand fine. On the first or second target, I got a hammer bite, but once I was aware of it and adjusted my grip, that wasn't an issue. Yes, the sights are small and narrow - a design flaw if the pistol is used only for target shooting, but since I could see the sight picture, that's still not the issue. The main issue was the trembling of the barrel in the firing position once I put any pressure on the trigger..... and that seems to me to be a muscle tone issue.

Last night, I began to experience a lot of pain in the left side of my lower back - in the hip area of my spine. I don't know if it was already strained from tearing down an engine and lifting stuff.... or if the strain was the result of shooting the pistol.

I'm not concerned about my ability to hit a target as large as a human at close range, but it's a shock to me to see those results when I know what I once could do. There are some things about aging that are difficult to accept.

I'll quit whining and practice more. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Frank

A shotgun will solve that problem Frank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

or the Taurus Judge with .410 gobblin repellent. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />