Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 08:25:09 PM

Title: Shooting Low
Post by: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 08:25:09 PM: Got a new 1911 Remington .45, today I finally got to break her in. Was a lot of fun but I was shooting consistently low. The gun had never been fired before, and I have never fired a .45 before. So that could be part of it. I think maybe I was pulling too hard on the trigger. If that's the case, I think im just gonna get a new trigger with a lighter pull.
Any other adjustments or things you could suggest? Thanks in advance.
Also, I fired 200 rounds off in about an hour, so the gun was pretty hot. Not sure how much that would affect it's shooting.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: j_h_nimrod on July 14, 2017, 08:51:29 PM: There are a lot of different possibilities. It could be your shooting technique ("pushing" to compensate for recoil), heavy trigger, sights not regulated right for your ammo, distance, etc. Have someone else shoot it and see what happens. If you are consistently low then ged a different front or rear sight.

I had a short barreled .500 S&W that shot a foot low at 7 yards regardless of my technique. Front sight was just too high, I modified it to shoot dead on. My thoughts for that one was that S&W was compensating for stress on that one.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: 700xcr on July 14, 2017, 08:56:07 PM: Could be Breaking wrist down or relaxing too soon. Or front sight is too high for the load that your shooting. Here is a handgun target that will help you.
https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Targets/Shoot-N-C/Shoot%E2%80%A2N%E2%80%A2C%C2%AE-12-Sight-In-Target-(1).aspx
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: Alchase on July 14, 2017, 09:00:22 PM: As other pointed out, pushing, or your wrist breaking on the shot is a common cause of shooting low.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 09:04:00 PM: Thanks guys. I think I was breaking my wrist down. For pistols I've never shot as powerful of hand gun as this, so I think after the recoil I was dropping my wrist too low.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: Alchase on July 14, 2017, 09:06:44 PM: Anticipating recoil can cause shots to go low as well. Before you buy a new trigger, practice slowly squeeze the trigger until the break surprises you. You can practice this dry firing as well. Before you know it you will know exactly when the trigger will break.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 09:08:50 PM: Thank you alchase, and everyone else. I will give dry firing a shot to get more used to the trigger, and then test it out.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: Alchase on July 14, 2017, 09:13:44 PM: Quote from: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 09:08:50 PM
Thank you alchase, and everyone else. I will give dry firing a shot to get more used to the trigger, and then test it out.

I know you probably know this, ensure the pistol is empty, before shooting the dog dry firing, LOL
Snapcaps can help as well.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: EmeraldBullet on July 14, 2017, 09:17:37 PM: I know that, but always good to remind. Thank you.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: 762Armo on July 15, 2017, 12:09:48 AM: Quote from: Alchase on July 14, 2017, 09:06:44 PM
Anticipating recoil can cause shots to go low as well. Before you buy a new trigger, practice slowly squeeze the trigger until the break surprises you. You can practice this dry firing as well. Before you know it you will know exactly when the trigger will break.

This is what I was going to say too.
Seen it happen with shooters. One way to eliminate the mentioned possible sight height is to have another person shoot the gun.
Title: Re: Shooting Low
Post by: AWS on July 15, 2017, 07:48:32 AM: I don't know what load you are shooting but 170gr target loads will shoot lower than 230gr ball ammo.