how accuratte are you with a semi auto pistol?

[JackOfAllTrades]

If you practice....

5" Kimber 1911 that's been tightened up a bit shooting 45acp target loads...   

One hand. 50yds. 50rnds. 50 minutes. Iron sights for this first target. Red dot sight for the second target.

[jeepasaurusrex]

"Aim small, miss small"

Truer words have never been spoken when it comes to marksmanship. I was taught not to aim center mass at a target, but pick out a small feature. Be it a number on the ring, a small dot drawn on the kill zone of the target, etc. I focus on that small point and concentrate on that spot. The sights will naturally follow. When the gun fires, it should actually surprise you.

With my Beretta 92F that has an 80lb trigger with 4" of creep( ) I can consistently hit a 4" diameter gong 25 yards with it by using these techniques.

[fishngamereaper]

All good points.....Remeber- Push/pull, front sight, trigger PRESS.

And to get over anticipation, dry fire more than live fire. Bad habits are only re enforced if you continue to live fire without fixing the problem.

[jyerxa]

Damn! That is 50 yards!!! 

I'm a *censored*y shot. 

[wraithen]

Something else that helped me a lot with my glock is only let the trigger go forward until you feel the trigger reset. That improved my accuracy immediately by a lot. Just be careful as it's easy to get yelled at for an accidental double tap  The last bit of advice is on every shot remember to focus on the front sight. I'm still trying to get that last one down myself.

[runamuk]

Jeepasaurrus I think your gun is related to my ruger....I only have a 22 but I practice on golf balls and shotgun shell soilders at at 10 to 30yds I am good enough... sent the pistol off for trigger work the slop is annoying....

[jyerxa]

"Aim small, miss small"

Truer words have never been spoken when it comes to marksmanship. I was taught not to aim center mass at a target, but pick out a small feature. Be it a number on the ring, a small dot drawn on the kill zone of the target, etc. I focus on that small point and concentrate on that spot. The sights will naturally follow. When the gun fires, it should actually surprise you.

With my Beretta 92F that has an 80lb trigger with 4" of creep( ) I can consistently hit a 4" diameter gong 25 yards with it by using these techniques.

That must be it. I could never shoot well on a flat two dimensional paper target. But give me a pine cone to shoot at and I could make that dance around all day. (Not really, I'd blow it to pieces.) It is the way we focus on the target.

[fillthefreezer]

If you practice....

5" Kimber 1911 that's been tightened up a bit shooting 45acp target loads...   

One hand. 50yds. 50rnds. 50 minutes. Iron sights for this first target. Red dot sight for the second target.

hes not telling you the size of that target is a picnic table...


(kidding)

[JackOfAllTrades]

If you practice....

5" Kimber 1911 that's been tightened up a bit shooting 45acp target loads...   

One hand. 50yds. 50rnds. 50 minutes. Iron sights for this first target. Red dot sight for the second target.

hes not telling you the size of that target is a picnic table...

(kidding)

Proof!  (A standard Colt 1911 magazine) (50yd target)

I will add though... I shoot thousands of rounds from my 45's every year. 

[Bean Counter]

My range goes to 25 yards. I carry a compact 40S&W. Im usually 100% on a man sized target to that distance. +1 to the above on aim small, miss small. If I wanted to get better id shoot smaller targets, not look for a 50 yard range.


I don't carry a.handgun to hunt or to win competitions. I carry it to shoot people who endanger my family or myself. While my situational awareness extends as far as I can see, some legal fuzzyness arises in shots farther than seven yards as far.as articulating  an emminent.threat to your life.

[Helix]

see avatar for answer... That was the first shot from a Taurus PT1911AR.  A surprize trigger break is the key to good handgun shooting.  Try shooting your handgun from a rest to make sure it is sighted in then work on trigger pull, straight back even pressure every time will yield the best accuracy your gun is capable of. 

[FC]

Sounds like that crappy Glock trigger is helping you build a flinch, get a trigger job done on your gun.

[JackOfAllTrades]

'If I wanted to get better id shoot smaller targets, not look for a 50 yard range.'

I don't carry a.handgun to hunt or to win competitions. I carry it to shoot people who endanger my family or myself. While my situational awareness extends as far as I can see, some legal fuzzyness arises in shots farther than seven yards as far.as articulating  an emminent.threat to your life.

OK.. Smaller target.  50'.     I do carry a handgun to hunt with, for competition, and protect self & family.   But, I tend not to carry my competition guns. It is the thugs best guess to figure out when I'm not. Be rest assured though, I am quite accurate with a snubby revolver too.  True reference to protecting one's self at closer range though. All you need to accomplish is consistency at less than 10yds or so.

[ArrowH]

A couple of things for you to try. Use a 30/70 grip. 30% grip in strong hand/ 70 % grip in weak hand. This will place more force on your left hand pulling the gun back towards the right. Use the index finger of your left hand and press up on the bottem of the trigger guard as you are shooting, this will compensate for the downward pull. These should help you hold a tighter group on center of target. Also make sure your thumbs are laying parallel to the slide along the frame, and not over lapped.
One good way to pratice trigger control..i.e. press the trigger, is to use a electric drill for dry fire trigger press control. This will teach you to put constant pressure on the trigger, and you can see the results as they happen.

[AWS]

Don't shoot handguns much anymore because I can't see the sights or if my vision is corrected enough to see the sights I can't see the target.  I used to shoot bowling pin matches.  I used a Star PD that was as accurate as any Goldcup I've handled.  Sitting resting my elbows on my knees at 70yrds i could keep 5 in a 4" circle.  My accurized HiPower would shooting off sand bags on my bench consistantly ring a 12x16 gong at 200yrs.  I used to hunt fox, rabits and squirels with the PD.  Now I just pack a small 41mag for close in stuff.