Ever have a pistol you just can't shoot well?

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I'm glad I'm not the only one. I bought a Kimber 1911 a few months ago from a friend, and it's given me fits, he said he could never shoot it worth a darn but it's got an amazing trigger, match barrel etc... I figured it must just be him :)

But lo-and-behold I'm finally starting to feel like I'm making some headway with it!
 
When I first shot handguns I sucked with them...and the first and only time I shot a pocket .38 I was horrified when I looked at my target. That said, I've noticed with every handgun I've shot, after some practice, and the past year actually learning how to shoot a handgun, I can do pretty well with most any semi auto handgun or single action revolver. I think the DAO snubbies will still probably kick my butt though.

My last three gun match I was using my DA/SA CZ phantom for the first time (I had practiced with it on several range trips). I expected to miss the first DA shot and hit the following SA shot. I ended up hitting the DA shot and missing the SA shot. After that I hit every shot for that sequence. The previous range trip I forced myself to shoot balloons in DA against my friend using the same gun in SA (should of worked on the transition between the two as well!). It paid off. Practice, practice, practice.

I'm sure I'll run in to that one handgun that just refuses to shoot right for me though.
 
Indeed, yes, several times. Usually, when I carefully observed, it turned out to be a fit issue. Too large overall was a relatively easy diagnosis, but less easy is a great fit most places, with one or two spots being too big, such as the lower portion of the grip being too big for my pinkie and ring fingers to contribute enough to gripping the weapon.

Less obvious was the way my trigger finger would tend to drag along part of the frame of Glocks, during the trigger stroke, with my right hand more so than my left.

Some pistols, such as the Kahrs, fit we well in the grip area, but the trigger is positioned such that I must bend my trigger finger j-u-s-t right to get proper placement for a straight-back press. I could shoot a Kahr well only if I paid close attention to that detail, but if I used the same placement/position as either my 1911 pistols or DA revolvers, my shots would be off. Training could
have resolved that, but would it interfere with my performance with my other
duty and carry weapons? With the choice to go all-Kahr, or not carry Kahrs, I
sold or traded the Kahr. There was no level three retention duty holster in
existence that met my employer's specs, so going all-Kahr was not an option.

Certain features will tend to hinder my accuracy, with serrations on the trigger being a big one, unless the pistol is single-action-only.
 
I have found that most pistols can be shot better by adjusting my trigger finger.

My 1911s require the pad of my second carpal and it's red dot all day long.

The Sigs, S&W, and oddly the smaller CCW styles require the trigger to be right in my first knuckle joint. Taking one weapon and one box of ammo at a time reveals these things. Now it just takes a look at the weapon on deck to remember where to put my trigger finger.
 
Seems like most people have problems with a grip that's too big. For me it's always the opposite. Big, meaning big around the grip, is better.


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Yes. The kahr CW 40. Everyone else that picked it up could hit what they aimed at. I never could. Finally gave up and traded it. BUT......I also couldn't hit anything with my G 23 .40 cal. for a few hundred rounds until just a couple of weeks ago. Now it's easy. Maybe I just didn't keep the Kahr long enough.
 
All of mine. Alright, my.44 mag seville from united sporting arms. Accurate as any ruger, big enough that the recoil isn't bad. Maybe the grips. Who knows?
 
I had two. One was a S&W 459 that I really liked. But I couldn't hit with it, so I sold it and bought a WW2 GI .45. Love that one.

The other was a Llama .380 that was essentially a shrunken 1911, grip safety and all. Wanted to like that gun, it shot OK, but my natural grip on it pointed the gun to the right. Didn't feel comfortable about having to rearrange my grip on a potential carry piece.
 
Glocks.

I have a lot of friends that have them. Tried out a few different models and they're all pretty similar.

The finger grooves in the grip are uncomfortable. The grip angle is wrong for me.

With practice, I'm sure I can shoot one better.

But, a Glock isn't one of those pistols that "fit me".
 
Walther P99 first-gen (going up for sale soon :p)....40S&W...couldn't, and AFAIK, can't hit anything with it. It's barrel sits too high, the grip is too stiff/odd (despite being designed by an Italian Pistol shooting champion), and it's an upright-style (ala 1911/BHP/XD). It's a pity, because it's a narrow weapon, solidly-reliable, it's rounded corners conceal VERY easily, and she's plenty light.

My Steyr M40-A1 on the other hand? Well, we're still bonding, but after 250rnds through her so far, I can pull 3-4" groups at 25yds with moderate-speed. Love them trapezoidal sights! :)
 
I also like a thick grip, it fits my hand better. My worst handgun, as far as my ability to shoot it well, is the CZ52. I've taken a few rabbits with it, But then I tend to shoot better in hunting situations than at the range. Last time with it at the range I was putting them in a 4-6" group @ 25 yds and a fellow next to me asked if he could give it a try. Dang if he didn't put the same mil-sup ammo into a nice 2.5" group, counting a flyer. The gun is reliable, never had a problem with it, didn't cost much and is cheap to shoot. It's also the ugliest gun I've ever owned, IMO, and I can't shoot it as well as most my others. Did I say it was cheap to shoot......I guess that's why I've kept it.
 
I hear you loud and clear on this one. I had an H&K P2000 V3 9mm that was my problem gun. I loved the thing but I just couldn't shoot it very well. I switched back to my Kahr PM9, my 92FS and my 92G to convince myself my shooting fundamentals were still okay.

It was pretty bad for me when I could crank out a 2-3" group at 10 yards with my Kahr PM9 but with the H&K I'd embarrass myself on the range. I used to shoot a few "seed" holes in my target with either the Kahr or the Beretta so I wouldn't look like an amateur with the P2000.

The H&K is nicely put together and tough as nails, but I put almost 6000 rounds through mine before I decided that I was wasting my time. LOL.
 
I never got along well with my 2nd Gen Glock 17. I also thought my brother's Taurus PT22 was lame...it was lame.
 
For me, that pistol was the Glock 34. Just could not shoot well due to the spongy trigger. It's more like it squishes in suddenly than breaks.
 
Yes, the original 44 Auto-Mag back in the '70's.

Actually, it wasn't mine. It was a friends, and I couldn't handle it. Too big for my small hands and too much gun.
 
For me it was a Glock 19. I tried and tried to love that gun, and just couldn't get there. I could shoot REALLY tight groups with it, almost as tight as my 226, but they were always shifted to the left. Drove me nuts, 2-3" at 15 yards without fail, and yes I checked the sights and had others shoot it. It's just me.

Then when I started shooting for speed, I found myself hitting high, as I was so used to the 226, the natural inclination made it point high. I thought about dedicating serious time to trying to get better with it, and in the end I realized I'd rather just get another 226 or something else to play with (sold it for a Springfield Loaded 1911).
 
I am pretty poor with my Hi Power clone. I shot my XD (now sold) much better, same with my 1911 and even my LCP. I think it may end up on the sale block soon.
I unloaded my Hi Power. Between the the hammer bite, and the brass being ejected straight into my forearm (which was then nicely burned and cut), I let it go.

As I am sure you can imagine, the groups weren't great when you anticipated the pain as you pulled through the creepy trigger (thanks, mag safety). I decided it was redundant to my 1911 I use at home, and my LCP I carry. I shoot both of them much better.
 
"Ever have a pistol you just can't shoot well?"

Honestly? Pretty much all of them.
 
Was Expert pistol whole decade of service in US Army.
NRA Law Enforcement firearms Instructor.
LEO with Dept high pistol scores.
Can shoot 1911A1s, Hi Powers, Berettas, Sigs, and Glocks very well.
Can qualify 100% to Agency standards with Smith & Wesson, Colt, and Ruger revolvers of various sizes/types.
NEVER could shoot Smith & Wesson 4566 .45 ACP well though.
Embarassing scores with it!
Tried changing sights, grips, TON of practice...NEVER could get it to work for ME.
Tried same make/model and had SAME issue...gave up on it for my use.
EMBARASSING....just wouldn't work for me!!!??? LOL.
 
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