Issues with my Glock or me?!

[treebeard]

Okay, so I go to the range today to shoot my G19. Once again I can't seem to hit the center of my targets at 10yards. I am confused here because halfway through the range session my friend hands me his G19 and I fire 5 shots on a clean target and almost all 5 shots were in the bullseye. The only difference is his gun has the 3.5# trigger and his sights are not adjustable. Darn that 3.5# trigger is sweet. I am getting slightly frustrated because I keep playing with the rear adjustable sights and no matter what I do I cannot seem to group consecutive shots in the middle. I can group low and to the left with no problem. I really like the way the gun shoots, but I am wondering if perhaps I just suck with this gun? I am thinking about getting the 3.5# trigger and some fixed sights. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[orangeninja]

I recommend you center your sights, even if you have a friend do it for you, then try the trigger on your gun to see if that is it. I suspect it is trigger control.

 

[Redhat]

Sounds like you need to work on your trigger control with at pistol. How longa have you been shooting it?

Usually low means either tightening the grip fingers as you press the trigger, or anticipating recoil.

Try concentrating intensely on maintaining perfect sight alignment all the way through the shot. A good way to practice is firing at a blank sheet of paper with no bullseye to worry about...just sight alignment. Also ,if you can have a partner runs some ball & dummy drills for you.

Hope that helps

 

[Broadhead]

I shoot G21 and G27, so I have no direct experience with the G19. It does seem odd that 2 G19s would behave so differently. I wonder if the cartridges were identical (same weight).

I do like the "3.5" pound connector. I have found this connector alone produces about 4 pounds of pull required to fire. Adding a competition trigger spring (slightly stronger than the stock trigger spring) gives me around 3.5 pounds actual pull to fire. I don't alter the firing pin spring.

I suggest comparing the accuracy of shooting your G19 with the stock connector and with the 3.5 pound connector to see if that is a factor. I have made similar trials with mine and didn't see a lot of difference, but like you, I prefer the feel of the lighter connector.

 

[possum]

i agree with redhat, it sounds like that you just need to work on your trigger pull and control. normally groupings like the ones you explained normally come from trigger control issues, just practice and get used to it, it took me a while with my xd but after i got it i got it good! and you will too just keep practicing!

 

[rocky]

Try lots of dry fire practice. (be sure the gun is empty first) Might help you get used to your trigger.

 

[BevrFevr]

a classic trigger training method is

To dry fire while aiming with a dime on top of the slide near the front of the barrel. Problem is you have a glock and you would have to rack the slide each time. If the dime move you need mor pratice.

 

[Redhat]

Not to mention the slide is wider than the dime so it probably wouldn't be much of a challenge

 

[treebeard]

Okay, thanks for all the input. Maybe I should stop shooting my revolvers so often and get back to shooting my Glock. I have gotten very accurate with both of my revolvers so perhaps I should put them down for awhile. Next time I go to the range I will have my friend shoot my G19 and sight it in and then see how I do. Happy shooting!!

 

[DunedinDragon]

If you're used to shooting longer barreled guns, the shorter sight radius on the G19 could be giving you a problem. I've found this from personal experience. A simple difference of 3/4" in sight radius can really throw you off. You have to be MUCH more meticulous in your getting and maintaining a good sight picture with a G19 than you have to be with a longer barreled gun.

I'd suggest getting yourself, or borrowing, a laser sighter and get the sights set up correctly. Then you can focus on refining your technique without having to worry about the sights possibly being out of alignment.

 

[Seraph]

He shoots his friend's G19 just fine. He obviously has no problem with the sight radius. If one throws out the possible psychological factor of anticipation, the low-left symptom suggests a problem with trigger control. I'd be willing to bet the 3.5# connector will cure the symptom, but only good practice will cure the ill.

 

[treebeard]

Yeah, it's weird that I shoot 5 shots of the same ammo out of my friends G19 and my group was about 2" with 3 of the shots in the middle. I did notice a HUGE difference in the 3.5# trigger. I think what I am going to do is have him shoot my G19 to see how he does and then order some fixed sights so I don't keep screwing with the one's I have on there now.

 

[HSMITH]

You need to keep shooting your revolvers, but shoot them DA only. If you can shoot them you can shoot the Glock. SA revolver shooting is fun but does little or nothing for your ability to learn trigger control.

 

[Redhat]

Go here for some good instruction on fundamentals.



http://www.bullseyepistol.com/

 

[Kevinch]

Odd no one asked:

Are you getting an acceptabe group size, but just not to POA or is your group size poor?

Also, are you shooting off a rest and/or sandbags, or off-hand?

I'd try to determine if it's in the pistol, or the way you're shooting it before I made any changes to the gun at all.

Just my opinion - worth maybe $0.02 with a coupon....

 

[RON in PA]

Groups low and left with a Glock are classic and indicitive of trigger control problems. If you shoot your revolvers SA you are used to a light, crisp trigger, something you don't get with a Glock standard trigger. The proof of this is the shooting you are doing with your friend's Glock and its lighter trigger. Glock triggers are learnable, dry firing helps. Concentrate on your sights, what happens after trigger release? And stop dialing your sights.

 

[treebeard]

I shoot my Trooper and my 586 DA only. SA is fun, but if I had to use the gun for any reason I would not want to have to pull the hammer back. I shoot off-hand always, I don't even ever shoot one handed. I find the G19 comfortable to shoot and I don't want to dump it so I will just have to slow way down when shooting so I can feel the trigger and get used to it.

 

[Chris Rhines]

You're four-fingering your gun - that is, you're squeezing the gun with all four fingers when you depress the trigger. Stop doing that.

Dryfire will help.

- Chris

 

[treebeard]

Hmmm......the more I think about it you are right. And I know why. I have bad right elbow tendinitis and when I shoot my .40's I tend to really hold the gun tight to manage the recoil. Thanks for pointing that out, I probably would have never thought of that one on my own.