Springfield 1911--shooting low

[The Freeholder]

I throw myself on the mercy of the board...

I have a Springfield 1911 Stainless Loaded. I've ran about 400 rounds through it so far. My problem is that, I shoot consistently low, 8+" at just about every range from 10-25 yards (targets are 8" steel knockdowns). I've tried the standard 6 o'clock hold and a center of target hold with no real difference. Highly frustrating when you're just trying to learn the gun.

I keep thinking the problem is the Novak sights--I seem to have a hard time getting the picture right. I just can't seem to get the sights to focus. First try was new glasses (needed them anyway). Helped a bit, maybe. I've added red (Testor's model paint, if it matters) to the front sight in an attempt to improve the contrast. Didn't help.

I had a friend who is a pretty good pistol shot try it this weekend, and on the first magazine he went 6 of 7. I also had him watch me for flinch or other issues; he didn't see anything. He hypothesized that maybe I was having some issue with the weight of the pistol casuing me to "droop".

I have 3 other pistols, 2 .22s and a 9mm with 3 dot sights. Shooting them, I'm usually hitting the same targets 80+% of the time.

I'm considering a couple of things to try. First is touching a little of the red paint to the very top of the rear sight in an attempt to give me enough contrast to see the rear sight better. I seem to have a problem getting the top of it aligned with the top of the front sight. That black rear sight just seems to disappear in my vision.

Second is changing the sights. Novak has 3 dot replacements in either white or tritium. It looks like an easy swap, drift out the old and drift in the new, but I'm concerned that I'll not get them aligned properly and just compound the problem. Novak installs for a pretty reasonable price--does anyone know how the accuracy would be? You just send the slide, so they can't test fire.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[johnmcl]

Same Problem (Sights Replaced)

Hey Freeholder,

I had *exactly* the same problem with my parkerized SA Loaded. I was shooting inches low at close range. I felt sure it was Operator Head Space (OHS) until I validated the problem by shooting off sandbags. You may remember seeing a posting with paper plate targets here from me on the subject.

Well, the summary is that Springfield replaced the rear sight with a slightly taller Novak. Now it shoots better than me.

My advice is to move out promptly on a taller rear sight replacement.

JFM

 

[Old Fuff]

I suspect that the cause of the problem is that the barrel is not truly horizontal when locked into battery - a condition that is fairly common in tody's "lock 'um tight at the breech" pistols (which in itself is usually good).

The solution is to get a higher rear sight. How well someone else can shoot the pistol is a moot point. Your eyes may see the sights differently.

 

[ChillyW]

Don't use red

I have no opinion on the high/low sight issue. But I do want to speak up and say don't use red for visibility. Red is actually a dark color. You're much better off with white or yellow.

 

[Rockstar]

The fact that his buddy shot the pistol fine kind of negates the theories on mechanical problems, doesn't it? Some of us shooters wear "special" contacts that allow for near vision in one eye and distant vision with the other eye.

The problem here is obviously that the shooter isn't able to see his sights well enough to line them up properly. It is possible that changing to a different brand of sights would provide easier-to-see sights.

 

[Bobby Lee]

I'm considering a couple of things to try. First is touching a little of the red paint to the very top of the rear sight in an attempt to give me enough contrast to see the rear sight better.

You have no business looking at the rear sight.

 

[mpthole]

Hmmm.... I had a SA Loaded model that shot low as well. I didn't like that particular gun anyway, so I sold it off for what I paid for it. The other day I took delivery of a _new_ SA Loaded model. Hope to test fire it tonight or tomorrow night. If it has the same problem, its going back to the factory.