Shot my new 1911 finally.

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Trey Veston

Trey Veston

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Finally had a break in the weather and was able to run out to the "range" for some impromptu plinking between errands today. Sunny but very windy. I normally go to my dad's place with an indoor bench and official targets, but didn't have time and just wanted to verify functioning, so gravel pit outside of town it was.

Good news is that the pistol functioned 100% both with factory Mecgar mags and Wilson Combat mags. Recoil was of course, mild.

Initial 5 rounds using Speer Lawman 180gr .40 S&W were disappointing. At 10 yards offhand, pistol was shooting about 3" high and the group was all over the place.

New gun with completely different system than I've been shooting for decades, so some warming up is to be expected.

Fired a second group using my reloads with 180gr XTPs that are a bit hot. Grouped better, about 2 1/4".

Fired more groups using some American Eagle 180gr and 155gr and the Speer stuff. Didn't bring any more flavors of reloads since no bench and really wasn't going for groups just yet; just a function check.

Adjusted the sights a few times and the last group was fired aiming at the bar code on the box. Just about perfect point of aim and a decent 1 1/4" 5-shot group.

Overall it was OK. Recoil was noticeably less than my other .40 S&W pistols, but this one is not as accurate as my other defensive pistols.

Perhaps with some more load development and trigger time, it will improve, but overall, I really wasn't that impressed with the accuracy or handling. Maybe too many decades with Glocks and M&Ps.

IMG_20200608_172434376.jpg

IMG_20200608_195609284.jpg
 
It'd be surprising if it's the gun, the Remingtons I've owned have all be very accurate, even for 1911s.

Likely just adjusting to the trigger and platform, although I have zero experience with .40 1911s so maybe there's something there too.
 
JR24 said:
.40 1911s so maybe there's something there too.
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Other than the OP acclimating himself to a single action trigger, that would be my suspicion. The .40 S&W has never had a big accuracy reputation, and the 1911 isn't designed for the round. However, I suspect you'll eventually find a round that works in the Remington.
 
Shot my 1911 just the other day as well. Aim center mass and I was shooting the left shoulder. I figured it was trigger finger amnesia, as I have been shooting striker fired for years now. Turns out the front sight was so loose I could push it out with my finger.
 
I know with 1911 pistols with GI sights, the sights should be regulated for 25-50 yards. I know that with my full size GI 1911's I use a combat hold (covered) at 7-10 yards, 6 O'clock hold at 25 yards and center hold at 50 yards. This is with GI sights and with both my 45 and 9mm full size pistols. With adjustable sights, you can set them for what ver distance you want/shoot the most.

Trey,
If you are used to shooting striker fired pistols, then it will take time/practice getting use to a single action trigger. I'm sure that once you get used to your 1911 and find ammo that it likes, it will shoot accurate for you. If it does not shoot accurately, check the barrel to slide fit and barrel bushing fit.
 
I’ve only got one 1911 and I find that when I shoot it for the first time after a while it takes me a bit of time to re-learn the trigger. I find it helps to really focus on pulling the trigger smoothly.
 
Yeah, that is disappointing!

Hopefully it’s just familiarization. Looks like the trend was headed in the right direction (last group smallest) for that.


I would inspect for obvious issues (e.g. loose sights) then spend some time in dedicated dry fire practice before running a few hundred rounds through it over at least a few range sessions. If it doesn’t meet expectations at that point...well, you’ll have a choice to make.
 
I recently bought my first 1911 as well, a 9mm SR1911. I’ve shot DA/SA revolvers and pistols almost exclusively up to this point, and my Walther PPS. My groups with the 1911 aren’t nearly as good as I’m used to, but I’m chalking it up to not being used to the single action trigger. I shoot my revolvers double action so the 1911’s trigger is quite a change for me. I’m sure my 1911 groups will tighten up once I get used to it, and I bet yours will too.
 
If it doesn’t shoot to your satisfaction after an honest try then by all means send it down the road.

On the other hand, there are other uses for a handgun beyond bullseye target shooting or self defense where this thing may actually shine. USPSA Single Stack division perhaps?
 
Yeah, it took me 40 years to finally get a 1911, so I'm not getting rid of it, lol.

Hopefully I can get my hours changed to allow me more range time with it.

Changed out the grips today and it feels a little better in the hand and looks better, too...

IMG_20200610_181002963.jpg

Tried a set of Magpul grips as well, but they were a tad too thin and didn't look as cool, IMO...

IMG_20200610_180116825.jpg
 
Troy Veston

Might take you awhile to adjust to the new 1911 platform but i think you'll do just fine once you do. I also was not too enthralled with the accuracy potential of the three .40 pistols I owned. Tried different loads and still couldn't get decent groups.
 
Tap the trigger with your finger, its single action, no creep or tension building. Just line up the sights and quickly tap.
 
One piece of advice I will give you since you have been shooting Glocks and M&Ps for so long. When you pick up your 1911 to fire it say to yourself, out loud, “Single Action Trigger”. It’s just to remind yourself of the trigger and how different it is from what you are used to.

Some may think that’s silly but what’s sillier is an unwanted firing of your gun when you are not ready or when you don’t have it pointed where you want it. At a 5.5 pound pull I doubt it’ll be a problem but you are going to want to remedy that trigger pull at some point. :cool:
 
Trey Veston said:
LOL. At 5.5lbs, there is no "tapping" of that trigger.

Besides, I'm pretty sure I know how to get good groups out of a pistol with a challenging trigger...
View attachment 923959
Click to expand...

You missed my point. You are used to striker and double action, you came here asking why not so good with single action 1911. If you don't want the advice fine, just dont go back to showing how you can shoot a glock great. 5.5 pounds is fine to tap the trigger, its how you shoot 1911s. Now try it first before you discount the advice.

Looking back at your post, i also need to ask if you have a 1911 in .40? If thats the case its unique! Recoil would be greater vs. 45, so that may also be an issue.
 
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Yo Mama said:
You missed my point. You are used to striker and double action, you came here asking why not so good with single action 1911. If you don't want the advice fine, just dont go back to showing how you can shoot a glock great. 5.5 pounds is fine to tap the trigger, its how you shoot 1911s. Now try it first before you discount the advice.

Looking back at your post, i also need to ask if you have a 1911 in .40? If thats the case its unique! Recoil would be greater vs. 45, so that may also be an issue.
Click to expand...

Let me be as "High road" as possible here...

It sounds like one of us is misunderstanding the term, "tapping". To me, tapping is taking my finger completely off the trigger, then hitting it with the tip of my finger rapidly. This essentially sounds like jerking the trigger, which is the worst thing you could tell someone to do.

This trigger is not that different from my Glock or M&P trigger. It has much less take up and much less overtravel and creep, but it still takes 5.5 lbs of pressure to release the hammer. It's very similar to the trigger in my Ruger M77 rifle, or my Ruger Super Blackhawk in single-action mode. All of which I get outstanding groups with.
 
Trey Veston said:
Let me be as "High road" as possible here...

It sounds like one of us is misunderstanding the term, "tapping". To me, tapping is taking my finger completely off the trigger, then hitting it with the tip of my finger rapidly. This essentially sounds like jerking the trigger, which is the worst thing you could tell someone to do.

This trigger is not that different from my Glock or M&P trigger. It has much less take up and much less overtravel and creep, but it still takes 5.5 lbs of pressure to release the hammer. It's very similar to the trigger in my Ruger M77 rifle, or my Ruger Super Blackhawk in single-action mode. All of which I get outstanding groups with.
Click to expand...

To say a glock or m&p trigger is not that different vs a 1911 single action is weird to me, they are entirely different animals.

You're defining tapping as I am, but it's not jerking. How about you give it a try man, if it doesn't work all it costs you is a few rounds.

I had asked, is this a 40 or a 45 in the 1911 you have?
 
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