first time 1911 owner

[drstevens85]

I have a Springfield 1911 loaded stainless that I bought a few months ago only because I ran into a very good deal. I since have only had one chance to take it to the range. When I was firing I found myself very uncomfortable and inaccurate with this firearm. I have quite a bit of experience with handguns from military training, and personal. Other than just running a lot of rounds through it and becoming more comfortable with it, is there anything I should try to improve the feel and accuracy, or should I just sell and stick to what I know?

[Mike1951]

A while back, I had laid off my 1911's long enough that I wanted to make sure I hadn't picked up any bad habits.

I paid a very nice instructor, also in Galveston County, for two hours of instruction at PSC, where she is a member.

Although my worries were unfounded, I considered the time and money well spent.

Now, there are probably folks here who will do the same for free, but if you're interested, PM me for her name and number.

If you have problems with grip or technique, she can get you started right.

[bridge]

Stick with it and put another couple hundred rounds through it to see if it grows on you. They're bigger and less ergonomic than most modern handguns. If you're still not comfortable and not hitting your marks after a few hundred rounds (compared to your more familiar firearm) no sense and keeping it. You can always post it up for sale in the firearms section 1911's get scooped up pretty quickly 'round here...some of us have addictions to feed

[Mike1951]

As they say, practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

If someone is doing something wrong, continuing to reinforce the incorrect won't improve anything.

Get some help from someone good with 1911's. I'm sure there will be volunteers.

[drstevens85]

thanks for the advice i think i will try the range a few more times before calling it a day on the 1911. other then the military firearms my experience has been mostly large single action revolvers. also what should i consider proficient for carry? last time i shot to qualify for the military it was at 25 yards i forget the score. so that's what i have been practicing at. to far? not far enough? what size of groupings?

[gemini]

If you're planning to try a few more rounds before you give up.... I suggest you move your 1st series of
targets to 7yards. 2nd series to 10yards, 3rd series to 15 yards. Practice at these distances, using a proper
grip and stance. 25yards is great for Bulls-Eye. You're not shooting Bulls-Eye, you're trying to get familiar with
your new 1911. I'm one of the 1911 addicts, and I believe once you catch the sickness ........ you'll wonder how
you ever did without!

[Liberty]

I never could understand the mystique of the 1911. They are to heavy, point wrong, complicated. and the safety is backwards. Sell it 1911s go for pretty quick around here. If you have an affinity for military guns, I find the Beretta is a more natural pointer.

Don't believe all you read in the forums:

Owning a 1911 doesn't make you a better person.
JMB was a really just a man, not God. He designed good guns but not perfect.
A 1911 is just one of many choices.
Quality comes in many styles, and price typically doesn't have much to do with it.

[AEA]

HUH?

[CompVest]

You could try different grips. There are thin grips, fancy grips, thick grips...

[The Annoyed Man]

I never could understand the mystique of the 1911. They are to heavy, point wrong, complicated. and the safety is backwards. Sell it 1911s go for pretty quick around here. If you have an affinity for military guns, I find the Beretta is a more natural pointer.

Don't believe all you read in the forums:

Owning a 1911 doesn't make you a better person.
JMB was a really just a man, not God. He designed good guns but not perfect.
A 1911 is just one of many choices.
Quality comes in many styles, and price typically doesn't have much to do with it.

OH NO YOU DINT!!!

Seriously though, my 1911s are the most naturally pointing guns I have. Better than our H&Ks, better than our glock, better than any of our revolvers. Is it just possible that different guns fit different hands differently? And so for some people a Glock will point more naturally than a 1911; and for others a 1911 will point more naturally than a Beretta?

If you think that quality has nothing to do with price, then why don't you stock up on Jennings Explodamatics?

[gemini]

I never could understand the mystique of the 1911. They are to heavy, point wrong, complicated. and the safety is backwards. Sell it 1911s go for pretty quick around here. If you have an affinity for military guns, I find the Beretta is a more natural pointer.

Don't believe all you read in the forums:

Owning a 1911 doesn't make you a better person.
JMB was a really just a man, not God. He designed good guns but not perfect.
A 1911 is just one of many choices.
Quality comes in many styles, and price typically doesn't have much to do with it.

Ouch. You're so mean. Geez. Learn the weapon and the mystique will become clear, Grasshopper. They come in various weights, lengths and almost endless configurations. The end with the big hole in it points AWAY from the user. Complicated? or probably the safest pistol design ever created in a semi-auto? Single action with mutiple safetys. They sell quickly because they're nice weapons. If you have an affinity for US military guns, no pistol has the history or service record to match the 1911. Not a knock on Berettas, but I believe they were introduced into our military in the mid '80's..... 9mm.... NATO reasoning or whatever....
many of our current deployed troops are carrying 1911's. Why? Obvious.

I agree with "Don't believe all you read in forums:" Do believe the following................

Owning a 1911 does in fact make you a better person. (ask anyone that owns one)
JMB was God-like to those in the firearm community, not God. He created 80 firearm designs and held 128 individual patents,
he sold designs to Winchester, Stevens, Remington and Colt. You'll think "perfect" when you pull a 4lb trigger with a nice crisp break on a single action 1911.
There are many choices of carry and protection in hand guns. I admit to carrying a 642 or .380 on occassion..... but whenever possible (90% of the time) I carry one of several 1911's. Why? because I like the .45acp caliber, I train with the 1911, I trust the 1911, my 1911's are very accurate and they are IMHO the safest pistol design ever conceived.
Price usually does have a direct relationship with quality. Buy the higest quality firearm you can afford. Your life may depend on it.

[Purplehood]

My "fondest" memory of M1911's is back at Camp Pendleton in the late 70's. I was qualifying with one and it kept impacting low and to the right. My coach insisted that it was some error in my stance/grip or whatever as "all 1911's are dead-on". I handed it to him and told him to take some shots. Sure enough, low and to the right. Even got the RSO to fire it with the same results.
I was then solemnly informed by the Armorer that I had the only defective 1911 that he had ever seen.
Now where is my Glock? Oh, right here! What a relief.

Note: Had to inject some reality into this forums 1911 love-fest.

[gemini]

My "fondest" memory of M1911's is back at Camp Pendleton in the late 70's. I was qualifying with one and it kept impacting low and to the right. My coach insisted that it was some error in my stance/grip or whatever as "all 1911's are dead-on". I handed it to him and told him to take some shots. Sure enough, low and to the right. Even got the RSO to fire it with the same results.
I was then solemnly informed by the Armorer that I had the only defective 1911 that he had ever seen.
Now where is my Glock? Oh, right here! What a relief.

Note: Had to inject some reality into this forums 1911 love-fest.

Sounds like the Armorer was slacking off on the job! Easy fix, file the front down a bit, bump the rear sight, back on target!
Put the Glock into your ankle holster for a BUG and you're good to go.............

[android]

also what should i consider proficient for carry? last time i shot to qualify for the military it was at 25 yards i forget the score. so that's what i have been practicing at. to far? not far enough? what size of groupings?

Shootin' somebody at 25 yard for "self defense" and you gonna have a lot of splaining to do.

Work at getting 3-4" groups at 7-15 yards for now. Quite easy with a 1911. I don't even own one and I can pick one up and do it and I'm not that great a shot.

[isa268]

Blasphemy!!!!!

j/k

I never could understand the mystique of the 1911. They are to heavy, point wrong, complicated. and the safety is backwards. Sell it 1911s go for pretty quick around here. If you have an affinity for military guns, I find the Beretta is a more natural pointer.

Don't believe all you read in the forums:

Owning a 1911 doesn't make you a better person.
JMB was a really just a man, not God. He designed good guns but not perfect.
A 1911 is just one of many choices.
Quality comes in many styles, and price typically doesn't have much to do with it.