Bullseye pistol centerfire/45 scores are poor

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SoCalShooter

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Well let me start by saying my centerfire and 45 scores are just plain poor shooting ball ammo.

I am using a pre-series Colt Gold Cup national match, I believe the trigger is part of my issue because it regularily breaks around 4 1/2 to 5 pounds its sort of a rolling trigger break also. It also seems like every time I do pull the trigger and go back to the next shot like the trigger has reset itself in a different pull weight. My dry fire practice is going well, I can pull the trigger without disturbing the sights and I can do it repeatedly. My .22 scores are great I am shooting high master in .22 repeatedly shooting about 95 in every part of the match.

I am having a really hard time determining what I am doing or not doing that is causing my shots to low and to the left usually in the 7 to 8 position, I have my pinky relaxed and I am giving it positive pressure to the rear when I pull the trigger.

Things I know:

1. I check my stance and NPA every time I approach the bench.
2. I relax and avoid locking any joints especially my knees
3. I get a good firm grip on the pistol, and I relax my pinky and thumb.
4. I use the pad of my index finger to positively pull the trigger to the rear.
5. recoil does seem to be an issue and I do not seem to know how to control it so it does not screw up my shot

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Sounds to me like a classic flinch, bucking the recoil. The primitive brain is winning the battle of "BANG" and "Sudden Movement" = Threat. A consistent trigger break is unlikely to help, 'cause your finger and brain are now anticipating a result different from what they anticipate when shooting the rimfire.

I was shooting 95-98 rimfire RF scores, but couldn't get above 90 with the .45 back when I was practicing (of all the regular matches I've shot, BE is not one of 'em...). SF scores were about the same, flinched only 1-2 shots per 10, but that durned target is twice as far away.

One trick that seems to helped recently has been to consciously "will" or "accept" or "welcome" the recoil. For some reason, it reduces my desire to push against the anticipated recoil.

Some people report good results doubling up with plugs and muffs. Sound is the most reliable trigger of the startle reflex which is behind this trouble, for most people.

To confirm whether this remote diagnosis is correct, do some ball and dummy drills. Mix a few (well-marked!) dummies in with your live rounds and fire away. Practicing with a mix of at least 50% duds is actually another way to train around it.

HTH.
 
Besides anticipating the recoil, you may be pushing the gun to left and down with your trigger finger. You may want to pay attention to where you're placing your finger on the trigger.

As far as the trigger pull being different, your pistol may need a good cleaning. I just broke down my Clark .38 Special 1911 since the trigger pull seemed to "different"...too heavy for how it should be and I could not feel the roll when I would start to bring pressure to bear. After taking out the sear, etc., I removed the trigger. It had a lot of gunk on it that I cleaned off with break cleaner. I also cleaned out the grooves on the frame that the trigger rides in. They had some nasty build up. If you know how, you may want to lighten the pull to just over 3 and half pounds, which is the legal limit for NRA matches. If you're using it for EIC Leg matches, you'll have to leave it at just over 4 pounds.

You might also check your magazines and see if there are any wear marks where the trigger might be dragging on them. Guys forget that the mag fits between the rails on the trigger and an out of spec mag can cause some drag and change how the trigger feels.
 
Grump the dummy rounds is a GREAT idea I never though of.

CDRT I am shooting EIC not NRA just for clarification.
The mags look fine nothing outside of normal insertion wear. I bought the gun used and it is in great shape but it could possibly need a thorough internal cleaning. I am using good metal form magazines in the weapon,they feed reliably and eject just the same.

I am also going to change out the sight, the current rear sight does not have any positive feedback on its change in position, this is another small problem but not really related to the flinching issues.

http://www.championgunsights.com/proddetail.asp?prod=860-301

I am definetly going to load some dummies tonight and test them on the range on friday, I will come back with a report later that day. Thanks so much!
 
Once you do the cleaning, have someone with a set of NRA trigger weights check the pull. If it's still over 4 and half, try and adjust it down to 4 and a quarter; that way it will always pass the Leg Match weight test. That's what I had mine set at for Leg matches and it seemed to work okay.

Keep in touch and let us know how your scores shape up.
 
45 bullseye

what distance??? I shoot up to 50 yards.my load is 200 gr swc with 3.6 grs of bullseye/700 X.you shooting full ball??gold cups were made for target loads.
they wont break but wear is heavy.:uhoh:---:D
 
While I don't recommend shooting "hardball" loads out of Gold Cup or similar target .45, it can be done. I used my Series 70 Gold Cup for Leg matches until I had a regular hardball gun built. I used an 18 pound recoil spring and one of those spring loaded recoil reducers in place of the regular recoil spring guide. It certainly helped reduce the amount of felt recoil and made the gun more manageable. I was shooting 4.5 grains of BE with the std 230 grain FMJ bullet that is legal for Leg matches.

There is less metal in the rear end of a Gold Cup slide versus a regular Govt Model, but the worse thing that can happen is, the rear sight pin will break. I know. I've had it happen twice; once just shooting regular wadcutters and once after I shot hardball for a while.
 
Gold cup is currently what I have you cannot shoot SWC in LEG matches which is what I am working on, PACFLT and ALL NAVY are next month and I need to get myself figured out before then. Its enough time but I just need to quit flinching so much.
 
Just remember, if you're a civilian, you can only shoot one Service match a year, as part of the three allowed matches (plus Camp Perry makes four max). Last year, the EIC results were delayed because some civilians shot in both matches and it took the CMP a couple months to sort it all out.

If you're active duty/reserve, go for it and have a great time.
 
My friend shot both matches for rifle and they allowed him to distinguish and I remember some civies from phoenix raising a stink about it.

I'll just let you know though I broke down and have ordered a les baer dcm hardball gun. It will be here shortly if they are in stock.

I still plan to get the gold cup fixed.
 
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