springfield 1911 sights

[craig]

i just bought a springer mil spec loaded. been getting used to it. so far no functioning problems at all. i had to move the rear sight 1/4 inch to the left to hit center target, but it shoots about 4 to 5 inches low at 50 feet. what are some of the adjustable sights i can get for it? it will be used for casual practice and backup home defense. i'm new to the 1911. thanks, craig

 

[longtom4570]

Don't know if you have tried other ammo or not, some ammo will shoot low some point of aim others high try others and find one that your gun likes. Where you hold your sights can also make you shoot low. if you use a 6 o'clock hold you will shoot low(your sights are below the X ring otherwise known as lolipopping) this is not to say you can't change your sights if you want to, just some advice for you. Good shooting!

 

[craig]

i was using umc 230 gr. round nose and rem. 230 gr. golden sabres. the goldens were a little better but it still shot low. i'll try different sighting picture next week. ran out of light today. it surprised me that i had no problems with this new gun. it's much better than my government model i had about 20 years ago. thanks for the advice, craig

 

[BigRedBowtie]

I'll try my best to put this politely, as I may be about to tread in some rough water. My handgunning life is only three months old, as is my Mil-Spec. (first handgun, and we're learning together ) My mil-spec was shooting low and left when I first got it, but after a few range sessions, it's punching out a nice hole in the middle of the target... hmm... I'll not question your technique, only suggest that you do, as that is what made my gun shoot better! BTW- I have since realized that this hunk of steel can out-shoot me any day of the week!!! Good luck with the loaded- it's a beautiful weapon!

on edit: nevermind me- I re-read and saw that you've been shooting for 20yrs... but it's still a good suggestion for a new shooter, so I'll let it ride- if you don't mind.

 

[1911Tuner]

Shootin' Low

Howdy craig,

BigRed touched on something that might be a player. It might be your technique, and it might be the way the barrel fits. The only way to check it is to have another shooter...one who is known for his abilities...to try the
gun and see if it shoots low for him too...OR HER! (Sorry Tamara)

The barrel in a 1911 doesn't sit parallel to the slide axis, but rather on a slight downward tilt...about one degree or so. If yours is tilted a little
lower at the muzzle than specified, it will throw the shots low. One
sign is off-center firing pin hits.

The problem can be solved by making the front sight shorter, or the rear
sight taller. If you decide to file the front sight, you'll have to keep it
flat and square on top. The easy way to do it is to lay the front sight
on a mill file with the file arranged to cut when the slide is pulled toward
you...The file will only cut one way. Keep the rear sight flat on a sheet of
glass, and be careful not to let the slide tilt to one side while you cut.

It will be a trial and error operation. Take 2-3 strokes and target the
gun from a rest against a control group that yiu fire before altering the
sight. When you get close...withing about 2 inches...shoot a target
from your normal offhand stance and see where you are on the target,
then get it down to one stroke at a time and shoot. 3-shot groups
will make it go faster and save ammo. Remember to throw the first shot
away. The gun will probably throw the first shot out of the group, and
it won't give you an accurate indication of where the gun is shooting.

Touch up the front sight with cold blue after thoroughly degreasing it
and getting it warm in an oven. When the color is dark enough, stop the
rusting process with oil. Reshape the sight to the contour that you want with a flat miniature file by drawing the file sideways on the sight with
short, even strokes to "sculpt" the shape that you want.

Hope this helps. Luck to ya!

Tuner

 

[craig]

it could be me. i can hit pretty good with my .22 tracker and my mk.1 .22 and my wifes 908. got lucky, the local range is opening back up this weekend so i'm gonna go there and have one of their instructors try it before i go filing on it. i may have been shooting off and on for 20 years but i'm not that good at it . if they have the same instructors they had before and the gun hits where it's aimed, it's lesson time for me and the wife too if she wants. thanks, craig

 

[silent one]

CRAIG,
you mentioned that you were new to the 1911. It could be that your anticipating your shot. Most .45 shooters do this when they're getting used to the recoil. Have you ever emptied your mag and thought there was another round in the chamber and tried to shoot the round and noticed the muzzle dips downward when you squeeze the trigger? That's anticipating your shot. Try holding the pistol in your shooting hand,and use your other hand wrapped around your shooting hand in the two handed hold position. Now push out with your shooting hand, and pull in with the other hand causing a push pull effect. This helps steady the weapon. Line up your sights on the target and very gently squeeze the trigger until the weapon fires. Don't jerk the trigger, this can cause the weapon to pull from your center of aim. As I stated earlier, gently squeeze the trigger. The round going off should be a surprise if your squeezing the trigger, and not jerking it. I hope this helps you put the rounds in the 10 ring. There are other things you can do to perfect your shooting, but I think those these will come with practice, especially with the 1911. They're great firearms, and a lot of fun to master.
Good luck, and be safe.

SILENT ONE

 

[Swamprabbit]

I have been around 45s for several years and my latest mil-spec came out of the box printing very low at 25yds. I had to have the front sight milled down to the white dot to bring the POI to the point of aim at 25yds. My first mil-spec is of the older style and was purchased several years ago but it always shot where it needed to. The noticeable difference with the new mil-spec, other than the slight design changes, was that it was incredibly tight. It has loosened up a little (enough that I don't feel I need a large hammer to field strip it) after a few hundred rounds, but the point of impact never changed.

 

[craig]

didn't get to the range this weekend but i tried it some more at the backyard range. you all were right. i was yanking the trigger. it shoots much better now. only 2 inches low. gonna try some more this weekend if i have time. then i'm making an appointment with an instructor at the local range. he's gonna check the gun. probably make me look like an idiot but then he can teach me to hit what i'm aiming at. thanks for the advice. craig

 

[Zenon]

Go here -> http://www.bullseyepistol.com Click on "Error Analysis and Correction." This chart (and the website) have helped me go from dud to stud at the range.

 

[craig]

springfield sights

finally got to the range with it. it's me not the gun. there was an instructor teaching my wife so i listened in. it now hits about 3/4 inch low at 15 yards with umc 230 gr. round nose and 1/2 inch low with 230 gr. golden sabers. looks like a lot of practice is in store for me, then maybe a little fine tuning on the gun. got some laser grips for it too, but i still need to hit without using them. thanks again for all the advice. craig