Colt 9mm semi Auto can't hit a barn with it

[judewhopper]

I assume there is no trick to it because I have a $25 Raven 25 automatic that I can hit anything with as well as a couple of other hand guns and rifles. For some reason I have never been able to shoot this colt and hit a target. I've had it since the early 80s and it's had about 1 box of shells ran through it.

Do I just need to practice more or is there something that could be wrong with the gun? I love to look at it but I'd sure like to be able to shoot the stupid thing.

Danny

 

[ku4hx]

Of course you need to practice. One box of ammunition (50 rounds?) is nowhere near enough to assess your potential or the gun's reliability.

I no longer instruct, but when I did my standard advice was 200 rounds to determine gun reliability then another 200 to determine shooter proficiency. After that it all depended on the shooter. If the idea was competition then they needed to shoot several hundred rounds per month if not per week. If the idea was self defense, they needed to shoot at least 50 rounds per month.

It all depends on what you want to do, how dedicated you want to be and what your ultimate goal is.

 

[JustKen]

Let someone else shoot it and see how they do

or put it in a bench rest. Then you'll know rather quickly if it's you or the handgun.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Colt 9mm semi Auto can't hit a barn with it

I can help with this. Go inside the barn and close any doors and windows. Now shoot. That should improve your odds of hitting the barn.

As noted, get more practice and getting someone else who is a better shooter to shoot the gun can reveal if the problem is with you or the gun.

 

[bannockburn]

Well first off you want to ascertain whether it's a problem with the gun or with your shooting technique. As others have already suggested try having someone else use your gun to see how it does. If the gun is inaccurate it could be a problem with the sights, the barrel and barrel bushing, the slide to barrel fit, the frame to slide fit, or a combination of all these components. If you think it is definitely a problem with the gun, have a qualified gunsmith look it over and see what they recommend so as to improve its accuracy.

 

[2zulu1]

Have you tried shooting at someone else's barn?

 

[Pilot]

Burn down the barn. Then there is nothing to hit anyway.

Everybody wins!

 

[judewhopper]

Thanks for all the responses. It gives me a better idea what to look for.

Like I said I can shoot and have a few other guns I have no problem with - automatics and revolvers. This gun has been shot by other people and they can't hit anything with it either.

I asked one gun smith about it once and he told me to leave it alone - it was too rare to mess with and should be left like it is. I'm not sure he understood the problem though.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

What do you have against the barn, anyway?.......................

 

[BYJO4]

50 rounds fired in 30 years, at least it will never wear out. I suggest you shoot it every week. Also let someone else shoot it and see how accurate it is. If it should turn out to be the pistol, then take it to a good gunsmith for adjustment. That pistol was made to shoot.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Clearly the problem is the overconfidence you acquired with the Raven. As they are smaller and more easily handled - it is not unusual that you can hit more with it. I could hit most anything I threw a Raven at too.

Nah... Just give it time and experiment with different ammos in the Colt as well.

 

[Dr.Rob]

WHICH Colt 9mm do you have?