Getting better with revolver, auto skills going to &%!$

[45Badger]

OK, I used to be Mr. Hot Snot with with a 1911 in .45 acp. Consistently in top tier of shooters in my club's pistol league. Then I decided that I needed to expand my skill set, learn about SA/DA revolvers, and get good with them (especially in DA).

Last year I started shooting a S&W Model 19. Did OK, and continued to practice through the winter. I'm getting pretty good, and I'm going very well in the matches with the revolver.

My 1911 trigger time has diminished, and my match results are heading south. I'm missing targets and timing is going to heck in a handbasket.

Anybody else have this problem/issue? Any corrections/training techniques that that support enhanced performance in both disciplines?

 

[Majic]

I can understand your timing being off as trigger reset is very different in the 2 different handguns, but how are you missing targets?

 

[nemoaz]

I'm missing targets and timing is going to heck in a handbasket.

Turning targets? Or do you mean you are yanking the trigger enough to miss a stationary target completely? (!!!!)

That being said, I always had difficulty switching from DA revolver (or a DAO auto with a heavy trigger) to a light triggered auto. In fact, I used to qual with many pistols on the same day. I found that doing lotsa dry firing (with snap caps) between quals would help some to reacquire the trigger feel for the other weapon. Maybe that will help you.

 

[kmrcstintn]

light-hearted sarcasm...

1) if you want to keep .45 acp performance, get a S&W 625 revolver

2) if 9mm is .45 acp on stun, you better upsize to a nice S&W N-frame chambered in .45 acp, .45 Colt, or .44 Spl and sell me that 'puny' S&W 19 which shoots a '9mm' diameter bullet

seriously, I used to toil with the same problem...I found that I would have to dump more and more $$$ and trigger time into both platforms that I got disgusted with shoot, clean, shoot, clean all the time;

I reevaluated my 'needs' and what 'pleases' me the most...I deleted the semiautos and rounded off the .38 spl & .357 mag collection and concentrate on wheelies solely...

 

[Steelharp]

Well... if that's the case, I'll take that old CE off your hands...

 

[MrBorland]

How 'bout this: Shoot your 19 at the range, and an Airsoft 1911 at home. You can find Airsofts 1911 clones with blow-back feature and are about the same weight as an authentic 1911. Read up on Airsofts and you'll find a lot of people use them as training aids. Since it shoot plastic bbs, you can even shoot it indoors! I set up a carboard box with a target in the front. I put a towel inside the box to keep the BBs from breaking so I can collect them and re-shoot. In a garage, you could set up all kinds of target scenarios.

I have the one listed below, but you can probably find them cheaper, although, from what I've seen the cheaper ones seem to be lighter than a real 1911.

http://www.airgundepot.com/we-hicappa-tsd.html

 

[KINGMAX]

I will bust the top of my thumb switching back and forth from revolver to an auto.

 

[45Badger]

I can understand your timing being off as trigger reset is very different in the 2 different handguns, but how are you missing targets?

Let's see, 5 steel plates, various sizes, varying distances, drawing from "surrender" (hands up) position, and sub 4 seconds is competitive in this club. Yeah, sometimes I miss. It aint bullseye

Well... if that's the case, I'll take that old CE off your hands...

Sorry, the upper is sitting in my safe, and the frame is attached to a .22 conversion kit for my son. He is shooting great.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I was a very fast, very accurate shooter with the 1911. Since diving into the Model 19, I've got my revolver timing as low as sub 5 seconds (averaging in the mid-5s). Just feels like I've lost a second on the 1911. I know I can concentrate on one, but want to be very good on several platforms. Next year I might even throw Glocks into the mix (I really stink with them!).

 

[Jim K]

What you report is natural, which is why not many NFL quarterbacks also play defensive tackle, MLB pitcher, and NBA center just to keep busy through the year.

It is also the reason a person who carries a gun for serious purposes should stick to one gun.

Jim

 

[Dienekes]

Agree. I cut my teeth on a 1911, and for a few years carried one (LW Commander) as a plainclothes LEO. Management weenies shut me down on that, just about the same time as I became an instructor. Most officers used wheelguns in those days so I figured I'd best get up to speed on them. Didn't like it, but I basically parked the 1911s for the rest of my career.

I still do ok with a 1911 and like them, but for the first 6 rounds I am better with a revolver. So much of it gets to be subconscious and muscle memory that when things go right you are almost an observer watching it happen.

As Mr. Keenan suggests, beware the man with one gun. He probably knows how to use it.

 

[saltydog452]

I don't want to start a flame fight about this, but...

At least for me, shooting well double action forces you to do what used to be called 'follow through'.

With a single action, you need to work at it. By that I mean, follow through is not part of the trigger stroke in a single action as it is on a double action.

Part of the trigger stroke is the return. At least that is what is left of my memory cells seem to recall.

I don't shoot well enough these days with either method and the X-Ring is considerably safer than the 9-Ring so you might want to take my comment with more than a grain or two of salt.

salty.

 

[22LongRifle]

How about just sticking to one weapon and never changing? Beware of the man with gun, he might just know how to use it!

Jerry